Ear Protection at Festivals

For years now I have been adamant about wearing ear protection at festivals and shows, but it was not always that way. I was hesitant that wearing ear protection would drastically lower the volume and muffle the sound. Could I still enjoy festivals and shows like this?!

We all have that friend who loves dragging you up to the very front of the crowd, right next to the speaker. It’s fun at the time, but you pay the price later. Most of the time after events my group of friends could barely communicate. People either had a temporary loss of hearing or their ears were ringing.

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Hearing loss due to music exposure is 100 percent preventable. The best part is you do not have to sacrifice sound quality to protect your ears! Over the years I have tried many different brands. These are the ones that stand out to me:

(3.5/5) Dubs ($20)

I started off with a pair of dubs that came with everyone’s Coachella Wristbands in 2015. It was an awesome way to introduce a mass audience to ear protection and give everyone a free pair. The dubs are very sleek looking and very discreet for those that do not want to attract attention to their ears. 

(4/5 Stars) Etymotic ($14)

After losing my dubs a few times, I decided to look at cheaper alternatives. I decided to try Etymotic. To my surprise, the sound comes through better on these earplugs. The sound is clearer compared to the slightly muffled sound with the dubs. They even come with an optional cord that lets you hang the earplugs around your neck when they are not in use. This helps prevent you from losing them. The downside is that they are not as aesthetically pleasing as the dubs and protrude slightly from your ears. 

(5/5) ACS Custom Ear Plugs

If you are willing to spend the money to get a professional pair of ear protection, I recommend ACS Custom Ear Plugs. They are custom molded to your ear to ensure the most comfort and the best sound quality. Personally, I have smaller ears and the other alternatives tend to hurt. After a few hours, I find myself having to take other ear plugs out for short breaks. With ACS Custom Ear Plugs, I can keep them all night and feel perfectly fine. They are small and discreet and it is hard to tell that someone is wearing them. The sound is still great and I can go the whole night without having to take a break. 

Remember kids, always use protection!

(Feature Photo Credit: https://acscustomusa.com/)