Earplugs for flying

monkeypants

I've started a new job this year and I'm having to fly more than I've ever flown before. My ears have always given me problems when flying due to the noise and the pressure, but I always shrugged it off as a temporary inconvenience. Now it's becoming a greater part of my life and I want to try earplugs and see if they help me cope.

Does anyone else use earplugs on flights?
Do they work?
Any drawbacks to using earplugs?
Any recommendations on a particular brand of earplugs?
Any recommendations on where to buy them?

fergusb

I used to never use earplugs flying, but recently have started to use them and find can be great on Long-Haul. Won't completely kill noise but cust out any sharp noise so dont' get woken as much if trying to sleep. I'm not sure they will help anyway with pressure, I haven't noticed any difference with them relating to that though.

I usually just use the foam ones you get in any pharmacy, can also get wax ones but tried them once and didn't like them as much, guess its personal preference.

skibum

Friend of mine swears by these: http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/bose-quietcomfort-2/4505-7877_7-21165521.html

I havn't tried them on a flight, but did try them on at a noisey party and I could not believe how good they were.

They look bulky but are very comfortable. Shop around for the best price.
I have used normal (yellow spongey type) and waxy type earplugs and they both helped to reduce noise, but if I was flying regularly I would probably stump up for the Bose headphones.

fergusb

skibum wrote: »

Friend of mine swears by these: http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/bose-quietcomfort-2/4505-7877_7-21165521.html

I've tried using noise canceling headphones on a few flights and found them to be great for music and tv's etc. But found them useless for trying to sleep since they stick out to much so not too comfortable with a headrest or pillow. I think can get in-ear noise canceling ones which could be great....

mikedragon32

I have these: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shure-SE115-Sound-Isolating-Earphones/dp/B002ACNZFS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1298665835&sr=8-1

They don't have noice cancelling however they fit snugly into your ears and come with loads of different sizes and types of earbud so you can tinker around until you get the best fit. I use the foamy type which you pinch before you insert them in your ear and they then expand in your ear to fill the ear. You hear nothing at all when your listening to music or whatever or if they're not plugged into anything, external noise is nothing more than a distant murmour.

I bought mine in HMV for less than Amazon are charging about a year ago.

undo

Be very careful with earplugs on a flight not to damage your hearing! As the plane ascends and descends, the pressure in the cabin changes and your ears must adjust to this. Earplugs get in the way of that by tightly blocking your ears. There are special earplugs designed for flying that allow the pressure adjustment to take place. My lawyer has trouble with his ears when flying and uses a pair of those. They are expensive but apparently they work well for him.

sherdydan

Try boots, i have a pair that I use whenever I'm on a plane, they're specifficaly for use on flights, theyre silicone and have a sort of valvey thing in them, they work brilliantly!

monkeypants

Just checked and seen some on the Boots website. I'll see about picking up a pair during the week.

Four of a kind

skibum wrote: »

Friend of mine swears by these: http://reviews.cnet.com/headphones/bose-quietcomfort-2/4505-7877_7-21165521.html

I havn't tried them on a flight, but did try them on at a noisey party and I could not believe how good they were.

They look bulky but are very comfortable. Shop around for the best price.
I have used normal (yellow spongey type) and waxy type earplugs and they both helped to reduce noise, but if I was flying regularly I would probably stump up for the Bose headphones.

I have these the past two years and they are the best tbh. Really comfortable and noise reduction is unbelievable.