EtymoticResearch ER20 High-Fidelity Earplugs (Concerts, Musicians, Airplanes, Motorcycles, Sensitivity and Universal Hearing Protection) - Standard, Clear Stem w/ Frost Tip

I've owned these for a bit over a year and used them a few times now. Perfect product and as my headline says I think they're vital for anyone who's planning on being in a loud environment (like a concert, rave, etc) to own. I've suffered hearing loss a couple of times in my life due to a physical injury to my head. I've recovered (at least like 95% anyway) but I take hearing damage very seriously now. It's miserable.These earplugs don't alter sounds in any noticeable (or at least not negative) way, just bring down the dB levels overall. So at a rave or a concert or whatever, you'll be hearing the music clearly almost like you didn't have earplugs in, it'll just be quieter. I don't know if I'd say you'll forget they're in, but they definitely aren't uncomfortable. I wore these to a rave where I was almost right by the speakers for like 1-2 hours and I didn't feel the need to take them out at all.20 dollars sounds like a lot for earplugs, but these aren't just some ordinary plugs you can buy at like CVS (well maybe you can, I've never looked lol). And 20 dollars is a small price to pay for significantly lowering your risk of hearing damage over time if you're someone who is around loud noise a lot, whether for work or fun. Heck, even if you only ever plan to go to a loud event just once in your life, I'd still say these are a must buy to avoid some temporary (or if you're unlucky, permanent) tinnitus after.

I like these. They are the fourth pair of "nice" earplugs I've tried (I'm not counting the regular foam ones, which don't even fit into my ears), and have so far been the best. They fit snugly in my ear and really filter the sound well, and generally stay put well too (I dance in them, including fast spins, and they do not slip out at all - however, like most earplugs, you may notice when you smile or move your face in certain ways, they may open up slightly, or if you exercise vigorously in them like me and get sweaty. I've found this with every earplug I've tried, but these seem to do it less than others). They also are not very noticeable with the clear stems, which I like. They are also easy to insert and remove. The only issue I have is that they are uncomfortably tight - at the end of a couple of hours, while my ears are thankfully not ringing, they are in pain from being squeezed by these things. As a caveat, I do have really tiny ear canals, so it may just be me. They also are better than another pair I tried that was really inflexible and even more painful - these at least have some give. Then again, I wonder if these would be snug enough for large ear canals, but maybe the flexibility would make them adaptable. Regardless, they've worked well for me overall and I find myself reaching for these every time and leaving my other ear plugs at home. I haven't used them long enough to see how they'll hold up, but the plastic seems sturdier than another brand I tried with a similar construction. I would recommend trying them, especially if you have smaller ear canals and regular plugs don't fit.Update 7/16: I have changed my rating from 4 to 5 stars and ordered a second backup pair, because these earplugs have remained a favorite. The main downside is that if you are using them during heavy activity when you are sweating and moving a lot, you might find yourself having to push them back in fairly regularly. I only use them for dancing so I don't know if this would be an issue for other activities. However, compared to the benefits and considering the price, I think these are a great buy. Also, people almost never notice that I am wearing them, even when my hair is up, which is great - I love that they are discreet. They also really filter sound well without giving you that muffled feeling. Highly recommended!Update 5/17: I am still using and enjoying these earplugs. However, I must note that they are NOT sufficient for very high volumes. I recently attended a music event and wore these throughout, but experienced horrible ringing in my ears for days afterwards. They are still good earplugs and have saved me at other times, but be aware that for a certain level of noise you will need something with more protection.

A year ago I bought the ER20's and DownBeats. Initially I used the Ety's just because of the string attaching both of them made it easier to take on and off. After a year of using the Ety's at over 20 concerts, I had really grown to love using earplugs. Never an issue understanding what someone was saying and the music sounded great. I lost my Ety's about three weeks ago and had to switch to the DB's. After using them at two concerts, they just aren't as enjoyable. Conversations are harder to hear, and the music sounds muddled. I found myself consistently aware of the reduction and effect they had on the music and as a result fiddling with them throughout to find a sweet spot that was never found.As a result I just ordered the ER20XS and, as a backup, another pair of ER20's. The downside to the ER20's is the stem sticks out from the ear slightly and is almost perfectly smooth. I have had the string come off one plug and the result was it essentially being stuck in my ear and I ended up scratching my ear canal slightly removing it. Therefore, the string will be super glued on the new pair to prevent this. The stem sticking out slightly has worried me in mosh pits that a stray arm or elbow could jab it, causing a major issue, but luckily the ER20XS should take care of both these issues.After a year of use and many concerts the major difference I found is that they cut out the crowd noise. The dull roar of people is knocked down significantly allowing the music to be the main thing you hear while still being able to hear your friend talking to you over the music.