Ear Plugs & Plane?

[Jack Straw]

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone is having a good day so far!

I have a plane ride coming up this weekend for a vacation and had some questions regarding earplugs and the plane. I plan on bringing a couple different ear plugs in case one is uncomfortable and I need to switch. I also bring a variety of plugs for different situations I encounter so this may seem like a lot, but I use them for various occasions outside of flying. Currently I am bringing Earplanes (supposed to help with ear pressure with 20 NRR), Foam ear plugs (34 NRR), Decibullz (31 NRR), KAT Percussion KTUI26 Ultra Isolation Headphones (26 DB reduction).

What my current plan is, is to wear the Earplanes only for take off and landing. Once I get to altitude I will switch to foam ear plugs and wear my noise isolation headphones. I will not use the headphones for music but, maybe a podcast but kept VERY low. If i can't hear the podcast at a low volume setting, I will just use the headphones for the noise isolation and nothing more.

My questions are as follows:

Has anyone had experience with Earplanes? From what I read on the forums people thought they were very uncomfortable.

Is it safe to wear foam earplugs as I take off and land? I ask because they are foam and should allow air to pass through for adjustments in pressure right? If i can wear the foam, I would prefer to do that over the Earplanes since it has a better NRR.

If anyone has any other advice or helpful suggestions I would appreciate it!

Please be constructive and without unnecessary negativity in your answers please because I am a sensitive soul/baby!

Thanks again,

Jack

 

[Michael B]

I've used Earplanes for takeoffs and landings. They're spiral in shape and supposedly helps regulate ear pressure. Since I've never had an ear pressure problem on flights, I couldn't tell you if they work or not. I've since stopped using them.
Mike

 

[Jack Straw]

I've used Earplanes for takeoffs and landings. They're spiral in shape and supposedly helps regulate ear pressure. Since I've never had an ear pressure problem on flights, I couldn't tell you if they work or not. I've since stopped using them.
Mike

Do you use any alternatives?

 

[Tinker Bell]

I have used earplanes on flights. My ears are small, so I purchased the child size. They were definitely not as comfortable as my normal musician earplugs, but they were okay. I only wore them for take off and landing. Otherwise I wore my Bose NC headphones. I felt they did a much better job cutting down the sound.

 

[Jack Straw]

I have used earplanes on flights. My ears are small, so I purchased the child size. They were definitely not as comfortable as my normal musician earplugs, but they were okay. I only wore them for take off and landing. Otherwise I wore my Bose NC headphones. I felt they did a much better job cutting down the sound.

Thank you for the response @Tinker Bell. I will definitely use the Earplanes if I don't get a response back about the foam plugs. Did you feel the provided adequate noise reduction when taking off and landing?

 

[Bill Bauer]

Has anyone had experience with Earplanes? From what I read on the forums people thought they were very uncomfortable.

Yes, extremely uncomfortable, and they provide zero noise reduction. @Alue flies for work a lot, and he just wears foam earplugs throughout the flight and has had no problems. I tried it twice, and I didn't have any problems.

Please be constructive and without unnecessary negativity in your answers please because I am a sensitive soul/baby!

If you protect your ears, everything ought to be ok. You might consider wearing your headphones over foam earplugs. Some airlines (e.g., Air Canada, it is possible that this is not an issue in the US) might ask you to not wear your noise cancelling headphones until the plane reaches its cruising altitude (beginning as early in the flight as the time when the safety video is playing). You might convince them to leave you alone by demonstrating that you can easily hear human voice. You could also wear a hoodie, concealing your earphones.

 

[Jack Straw]

Yes, extremely uncomfortable, and they provide zero noise reduction. @Alue flies for work a lot, and he just wears foam earplugs throughout the flight and has had no problems. I tried it twice, and I didn't have any problems.

If you protect your ears, everything ought to be ok. You might consider wearing your headphones over foam earplugs. Some airlines (e.g., Air Canada, it is possible that this is not an issue in the US) might ask you to not wear your noise cancelling headphones until the plane reaches its cruising altitude (beginning as early in the flight as the time when the safety video is playing). You might convince them to leave you alone by demonstrating that you can easily hear human voice. You could also wear a hoodie, concealing your earphones.

So you didn't have any pressure issues with the foam ear plugs? I may just go with my 34 NRR foam plugs then instead.

I don't think I will have a problem with the noise isolation headphones, but if I do, I can mention that I have a medical condition that requires me to protect my hears. I feel like they may not care about that unfortunately. I think the 34 NRR plugs should do the trick though for take off an landing. I will most definitely, use my headphones once we are at cruising altitude.

 

[Bill Bauer]

if I do, I can mention that I have a medical condition that requires me to protect my hears.

I showed the flight attendant an actual note from a Doctor saying this, and she wouldn't leave me alone.

 

[Jack Straw]

I showed the flight attendant an actual note from a Doctor saying this, and she wouldn't leave me alone.

How insensitive. Just because our illness isn't visual, I think people don't take it as seriously. A similar issue that people with mental health issues deal with.

 

[Michael B]

Do you use any alternatives?

I used to use noise cancelling headphones which work great in reducing cabin sound.