Loop Earplugs Review: Put a Damper on Noise Overwhelm

As a person with sound sensitivities, I can get overwhelmed and agitated in loud, chaotic environments which leads to headaches, crabbiness, and exhaustion. When a friend with similar sensitivities recommended Loop earplugs, I was intrigued but honestly hated earbuds, so I was skeptical. Then my (also sensitive) kids and I tried them out and I am now a convert, that’s for sure.

What are Loop earplugs, and how do they work?

If you’ve been to a concert and have popped those foam earplugs in your ears, you may think you know what you’re in for, but Loop earplugs are a much more intentional design. They do not cancel sound but rather filter it so you can still hear, just not everything at full volume. They can help protect your ears from the damage you might get from listening to music or hearing noise at high decibels.

The website has a handy quiz which you can take to determine which model works best for you. They have you identify why you’re considering Loop earplugs: noise sensitivity, sleeping, parenting, events, and traveling. While I want to reduce noise in all those areas, I chose parenting because I was trying to (lovingly) tune out my kids at the exact moment I was taking the quiz. The quiz also asks whether or not you want to be able to control the sound reduction and I said yes. They told me to try the Engage 2 Plus earplugs, so I did, along with Engage 2, Experience 2 Plus, and the Engage Kids 2 with the size medium tips for my adult ears. My kids also tried the Engage Kids 2, but didn’t like having something in their ears.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Noise reducing: I need to hear a bit so I know if someone’s bleeding, so these are nice for reducing the sounds without completely obliterating them. You can add on the Loop Mute accessory for an extra 3- to 9-decibel noise reduction for Loop Experience and Engage earplugs.
• Lots of options: There are multiple products available from Loop to customize your experience. Each comes in several sizes and colors to maximize comfort and preference.
• Comfort: Compared to over-the-ear headphones, earbuds, and foam earplugs you’d get at a concert, Loops are the most comfortable for me by far. When I wear earbuds I get a tickling sensation, like moisture is trapped between the speaker and my ears. I don’t have this feeling with Loops.

Cons

• Learning curve: Getting them to sit just right takes a little bit of finesse and switching out the rubber tips is tricky but not impossible.
• Sensory issues: There’s no getting around the sensation that there’s something in my ear. And while I like the dampening of noise, it makes me a little anxious to not be able to hear everything around me at all times. I realize that’s a “me problem,” but still.
• Occlusion effect: The sensation of certain sounds being louder, hollow, or echoing when you have something in your ear is called the occlusion effect. With the Loops, you can really hear the way your own voice sounds compared to everyone and everything else around you. The Plus designs with the Mute accessory had significantly less of this.

Price

• Engage Kids 2: $34.95
• Engage 2: $34.95
• Engage 2 Plus: $44.95
• Experience 2: $34.95
• Experience 2 Plus: $44.95
• Quiet 2: $24.95
• Quiet 2 Plus: $34.95
• Switch (Earplugs with volume control that switches between Engage, Experience, and Quiet modes): $59.95

Key features

Colors

Whether you have a hankering for a bright or metallic look or want something more toned-down, there are many color combo options to choose from.

Different modes

Depending on the model, there are different modes for some of these Loops. The Plus models come with Loop Mute accessories which decrease sound 3 to 9 more decibels. The Engage is more for everyday use, the Experience is for louder events like concerts, and the Quiet is for sleep. The Switch—you guessed it—switches between the three types. No matter the design, these earplugs dampen sound, not cancel.

Sizes

The Loop itself is one-size-fits-all (which I would say is a flaw with the kids’ version), but there are many different sizes for the tips, ranging from XXS (kids) to L.

Performance

How to fit Loop earplugs

To fit the earplugs, try each tip size in each ear to determine which is best. You should get a good, comfortable seal. The Loops shouldn’t move or pop out when you shift your jaw from side to side or up and down. Once you push in the tip, rotate until the ring is toward the back of your head and not sticking out.

Ease of use

The hardest part of using Loops is replacing the tips. You have to turn them inside out and pop them on and off, which requires a bit of manual dexterity. Once in your ear, there’s not too much to do besides rotate it until it fits. I would say it took me a few tries to get it just right, but it’s a very user friendly product, much simpler than over-the-ears headphones. They have a small carrying case that keeps them clean and easy to find in my purse pocket. I keep a pair in the car and in my purse or on my desk while working.

Durability

The loop of the earplug is a thick, sturdy plastic. The rubber tip is like many earbuds and will break down after prolonged usage, especially without proper cleaning. You will need to replace the tips from time to time, about every three to six months if you’re using them daily.

Ease of cleaning

According to the manual, to clean the Loops, take off the tips—and Mutes if applicable—and wipe down all surfaces with a damp cloth and mild soapy water. Make sure everything is dry before reassembling and do not submerge the Loops in water to clean them.

Sound reduction

The Engage 2 Loops reduce sound by 16 decibels. The product description says the Mutes reduce sound by an additional 9 decibels. Experience 2 Loops reduce sound by 17 db and 3 more with the Mutes in. Decibels mean nothing to me so I will say, anecdotally, these reduce sound significantly without totally blocking it out. I can’t hear the dialogue of my kids’ movie, but I can hear that they’re now bickering and I need to check on them.

Low-profile

Depending on the color, Loops are nearly unnoticeable when in place. So, if you don’t want to carry around big headphones or let anyone know you’re wearing earplugs at their concert, these are a good option.

My experience using the Loop earplugs

I used the Engage 2 for a while when I began testing the other types. My go-to place to pull them out was at my kids’ Tae Kwon Do classes. The class was held in a smallish storefront in a shopping center. You know the type: low ceilings and almost nowhere to sit.

The teacher, for no reason that I can fathom except his ego, insisted on wearing one of those SoulCycle microphones while teaching. The man did not need a microphone. When his assistants taught, they didn’t use a mic and didn’t need one.

Anyway, mic-ed up or not, the class contained a lot of people yelling “HA!” and hitting things, including the mats, which made a particular sound. This class was stressful for me because of the noise and also because my son hated it (and has since quit).

So it was the optimal environment for trying out sensory-reduction earplugs. They helped so much! I slipped them in discreetly when the class started and was still able to hear the teacher berate my kids for not following directions and the sound of my son’s cries. But, joking aside, they helped me keep my head in this stressful situation.

I was curious about what the difference would be with the Engage 2 Plus versus the Engage 2s. With the Engage 2 Plus, you can add an optional Mute to the inside of the ring, which creates more of a seal and blocks more sound. I couldn’t tell much of a difference between the two, but there was slightly more dampening with the Mutes in.

Without the Mutes, the Experience 2 Plus earplugs had the loudest occlusion effect when I talked, but it toned down random outside noises. I didn’t notice a huge difference with the Mutes in versus out, but they were less muting than the Engage 2 with Mutes, at least in my testing of taking them out and putting the others in a few times. They are almost exactly the same. I refuse to go to a loud concert to try these, but reviews are good.

I didn’t try the Quiet line, which I hear is more comfortable long-term because of the material, which allows you to sleep in them. (Read more on headphones for sleeping in our guide.)

The difference between the Plus and regular models is more tip sizes and the Mutes. The Engage 2 Kids had sizes XXS up to M. The ring, or loop, is the same size on the kids and adult models, which might be one reason why my kids in particular found them uncomfortable. They would have found anything uncomfortable, though.

How I tested Loop earplugs

Different environments

I tried the Engage 2, Engage 2 Plus, Engage Kids2, and Experience 2 Plus designs in a variety of environments including inside my house with my kids playing (yelling) in the background, while watching martial arts classes, attending an outdoor concert, and while working both in a generally quiet environment and while my next door neighbor was leaf blowing.

Driving

In my state, it’s legal to drive with earplugs, so I tried them while driving as well, but make sure you’re aware of any laws in your area before doing this. I switched between earplug models to notice the differences.

Should you buy Loop earplugs?

If you want noise reduction but not total noise cancellation, then yes. I found these comfortable, easy to use, and effective for putting a damper on the chaotic noise that brings me anxiety in my day-to-day life. If you hate earbuds, these may still be a no from you, but as an earbud hater, I found these to be significantly more comfortable than any earbuds I’ve ever owned. They stay put, don’t bother me once they’re in, and help me focus.

Final verdict

In the end, I think the quiz was right and the Engage 2 Plus were the best for me. With the Mutes in, I feel calmer than when the plugs are totally out. However, the difference between Mutes in and out was slight enough that I believe I would have been fine with the regular Engage 2 as well. I don’t frequent loud concerts and whatnot, but the Experience 2 Plus also felt nice during work and parenting, but has the bonus of being good for music performances.