More and more people are now reaching for custom moulded ear plugs as their preferred form of hearing protection. A great alternative to one-use-only ear plugs, the custom moulded variety makes sure the wearer is as protected as possible, whether flying, working, or at a music concert.
Most commonly, mouldable earplugs are made of acrylic or soft silicone that moulds to the contours of the ear giving the wearer the best possible fit.
Here we’ll give you a quick idea of everything you need to know about mouldable earplugs and how to make sure you find your perfect match.
How do custom mouldable ear plugs work?
Custom-moulded earplugs are warmed in the hands and pushed into the ear until the material is lying flat. Once set, these earplugs will sit perfectly in the wearer’s ear to offer the best hearing protection possible. We’ll go through exactly how to mould a pair later on.
Advantages of custom moulded ear plugs
They’re super long-lasting
We’re all trying to be more environmentally friendly as of late, and swapping your disposable ear plugs for custom moulded ones is a good start. Mouldable ear plugs could last as long as five years when formed and looked after correctly- simply clean them regularly with warm water and keep them in a case when not in use.
They fit every ear, regardless of size or shape
A lot of people struggle to find the right size ear plugs and end up with multiple packs at home they simply don’t get along with. The good thing about custom mouldable ear plugs is just that - they’re custom and will fit any healthy ear.
They’re super comfortable
While other ear plugs can leave users feeling uncomfortable and overly aware of their ears, moulded versions tend to make people forget they’re even there. These ear plugs should fit perfectly to the ear with no sensation of pressure or pain, meaning the wearer can go about their day as normal.
They’re extremely cost-effective
Buying one pair of great fitting, moulded earplugs is so much better for the bank than constantly buying disposable variants. Most will cover the user against a range of activities, too, so there’s no need to buy multiple pairs.
How to create the perfect mould
Here’s the important part, as making sure your ear plugs fit your ears well is the difference between a great pair that will last you years and an ill-fitting pair that will end up straight in the rubbish bin. Here’s how to use mouldable silicone putty to get a tight fit:
- Make sure your hands and ears and clean and dry.
- Mix the two given components by hand to create a putty of one solid colour.
- Use your fingertips to warm the putty up
- Roll the material into a ball
- Place the putty into the outer ear canal, avoiding the inner ear - do not insert it into the ear canal
- Press the material flat against the head and leave to set for the amount of time instructed on the packaging.
It really is that easy!
Top tips to get the perfect fit
- When fitting the putty, pull the top part of your ear up and away from your head. This will make it easier for air to escape.
- Open your mouth when inserting the putty, as your ear canal changes depending on your jaw’s position.
- Remove excess putty once you have fitted the moulds to make them comfortable to wear in the future.
The best mouldable ear plugs to buy this year
Radians DIY Custom Moulded Ear Plugs
This DIY kit moulds to the perfect fit in just 10 minutes, and be used across dozens of daily activities including swimming, working, sports, and flying. With simple and easy to follow instructions, these no-mess ear plugs provide a soft and permanent custom fit with safe, non-toxic silicone. These ear plugs are long-lasting and can be cleaned easily without losing their shape.
One Earjobs reviewer said: “I’m so thrilled with these. They’re so perfect for little ears and so affordable. This way, when my kids lose one, I won’t need to panic. Moulding process so easy too. So pleased.”
Check the Radians moulded earplugs here.
Earjobs™ DIY Custom Moulded Ear Plugs
Our very own mouldable ear plugs are very affordable and create perfect-fitting ear plugs in just ten minutes. They’re especially ideal if you’ve been on the search for hearing protection for a while but aren’t sure what to buy. Use Earjobs’ DIY ear plugs for motorcycling, swimming, flying, working, shooting, and a whole range of other activities without worrying about your hearing. This product comes with straightforward instructions and is completely reusable and washable.
One reviewer on our site wrote: “(These are) easy to make earplugs with more than enough material, as I have small ears only used 2 thirds. Very pleased, they work great, and cut sound by about 50% on my motorcycle.”
Check out the Earjobs mouldable earplugs here.
Decibullz DIY Custom Moulded Ear Plugs
If you’re looking for a product that’s a little more high-end, check out the custom moulded earplugs from Decibullz. These DIY ear plugs use thermo-set plastic moulding to achieve a custom fit - simply warm the moulds in the microwave, let them cool to a safe temperature, attach them to a set of included ear tips, and mould to fit your ear shape. The best thing about this product is if you mess up, you can simply reheat the moulds and try again! This no stress, no mess approach means it’s never been easier to create a pair of ear plugs.
One reviewer wrote: “(These are) great for general purpose use from cutting the grass, using the chainsaw to riding the motorbike to cut wind noise. They are perfect, simple to mould, very comfortable with no internal valves to rattle. Cheap to purchase so I have more than one pair to cover all areas of need.”
Check out the Decibullx DIY Custom Moulded Earplugs here.