Etymotic Research ER20 High-Fidelity Earplugs (White with Clear Stem)

These are perfect for gigging and not losing my hearing in the process ! Keeps the jam spirit up also as the instruments can still be heard well enough.

This is probably the 5th or 6th pair I've bought. As a referee in a very noisy indoor sport - roller derby - hearing protection is vital. These are tons better than loops (which I also like but they're just not good enough for sport). They come with a strong cord too which means I can pop them out with no worry of losing them.

very good but I lost them the day I tried them out but really good would buy again for my next show

This type of earplug was initially recommended to me many years ago by a musician. I have used them for 8-10 years hunting with my dogs... for protection against shotgun blasts, and more importantly protection against my shrill dog whistle. Has worked well on both counts. The plugs are sold in STANDARD SIZE and LARGE SIZE. I bought some of each.... and found the standard size just fall out of my ears. I'm only 5' 8"... not a big man. Had a friend of mine try these...same thing... standard size just wouldn't stay in his ear. So... this is a good product... but sizing is important.

I have gone to many concerts and always used the same old foam 32 Db earplugs, which I use for other activities like working with power equipment and shooting. Although these foam earplugs are comfortable and they lower the sound decibels to prevent your ears from ringing, they are not ideal for listening to music because they muffle the sound. I attended one concert where I tried to listen without any earplugs and that turned out to be a mistake; my ears were ringing for weeks. I finally decided I must do some research to find a better option for listening to concerts. The other two alternatives of no earplugs or the foam earplugs that muffle the clarity of the sound just weren't working. That's when I came across these Etymotic ER High-Fidelity earplugs. There are other H-Fi earplugs on the market, but based off the reviews and the information on the Etymotic website I decided to choose these. Since receiving the earplugs I have only tired them once, but was very happy with the results. In December I went to a Metallica concert and used these earplugs for the first time. The sound clarity was much better than previous Metallica concerts I had attended when I used the standard foam 32db earplugs that always muffled the sound. When the concert ended and I removed the Etymotic earplugs I was please that I had zero ringing in my ears. This was compared to a few of my friends, who chose not to wear earplugs and were complaining that their ears were ringing. The only downside I can see with the Etymotic earplugs is that they do not fit in your ear like a standard earplug. Regular earplugs tuck into my ear and most people may not even know that I am even wearing earplugs; these Etymotic plugs have a stem which sticks out of your ear a little and may look a little funny. It is not too bad though especially when you get the clear stem model. But I figure who cares what they look like, at the end of the day as long as they perform their main function of protecting my ears and allowing me to hear the music clearly, than I am happy. I have told my brother and some friends that they should purchase these earplugs for concerts but they are reluctant, I don't know if it is because of the price compared to foam earplugs or they are just worried that they won't look "cool" wearing any type of earplug. As for me I am just happy that I will protect my hearing and won't have to worry about my ears ringing anymore, while still enjoying the concert without the muffled sound. Other than having custom molded earplugs made for you, these earplugs are probably some of the best you can find for listening to live music. I will continue to wear these for all my future concerts.