Loop Earplugs Review - Do They Actually Work?
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Loop Experience Plus 2 - via Loop Earplugs
Here is my honest review of Loop Earplugs.
First launched in 2016, founders Maarten and Dimitri wanted to revolutionise the way that we experience sound, inspired by their desire to enjoy concerts without damaging their hearing.
Nearly a decade later, Loop has now sold more than 4 million earplugs around the world for reasons that go beyond attending concerts, with products for different purposes and preferences.
Today they’re particularly popular within the neurodiverse community, as a way to help people who have a sensitivity to noise.
How do Loop Earplugs work?
Far from being a simple piece of silicone that blocks out noise, Loops have been developed using technology that filters out sound.
The earplugs themselves are structured to let in noise through a small opening, which travels down to an acoustic filter that lowers the frequencies of the noise. The ear canal is then sealed off with ear tips that comfortably sit inside your ear.
That’s the science behind how the earplugs work, but they also vary depending on the type of earplug that you buy.
For example, the ‘Experience’ loops which are designed primarily for concerts lower sound frequencies up to 18 dB (SNR) / 7 dB (NRR), while the Quiet loops reduce sound up to 26.2 dB (SNR) / 14 dB (NRR).
Which Loop products do I own?
I was gifted a set of Loop Earplugs by my partner as a birthday present about a year ago as he thought I would find them useful.
The Loop products that I own include:
Experience and Quiet earplugs in Violet
Loop Link in Speckled Lilac
Carry Case
My Review:
I first started using my Loops as a way to reduce noise when travelling.
I personally find airports to be very overstimulating environments that are bright, loud and uncomfortably hot. Using my Loops while I’m in the airport reduces one of those senses, and helps me to feel a lot better.
I’d never go to an airport now without my Loops or Apple AirPods!
Similar to airports, airplanes themselves can feel quite overstimulating, particularly as I always travel in economy where a lot of people are seated in a very small amount of space. They also produce a lot of noise, which can become irritating during long flights. I find that my Loops help to tune this out and make the experience more comfortable for me.
For this reason I also like to use my Loops on long train journeys which I also find to feel busy and overwhelming.
I was able to test out my Loop Earplugs’ concert abilities for the first time when I went to see the Punk Rock Factory perform at the end of 2024.
As a teenager I used to go to lots of gigs, and found that I would always leave with my ears ringing and reduced hearing that would carry on into the following day. This includes when I went to a Panic! at the Disco concert the night before my English Language exam - oops.
This can’t have been good for my hearing over time, and as an adult I really want to avoid that ringing feeling.
My partner and I both wore our Loops to the Punk Rock Factory show and had an amazing time. We both found that we could still hear the music really well, it was just less overpowering and our hearing was absolutely fine after we left.
I wish that I’d had these as a teenager and they would make a great gift for regular gig goers.
The Loop Link is also essential for me
As I have a tendency to lose things a lot - particularly if they are small - the Loop Link is essential for me.
I keep mine attached to my earplugs at all times, so that they can’t be separated and I never find myself with just the one earplug.
I also don’t use the carry case regularly even though I probably should to keep them safe from damage.
Aside from how well they function, I really like the Loop aesthetic which has actually made earplugs cool! They have a great design and lots of colours to choose from.
I never feel silly or self conscious wearing them, particularly as I usually wear my hair down covering my ears so they’re not visible.
Should you buy a set of Loop Earplugs?
If you’re someone who either travels a lot, regularly attends concerts or has a sensitivity to sound, then I highly recommend investing in a pair of Loop Earplugs.
As there are a few different types it’s worth taking at look at the quiz on their website, which will help you decide which pair of earplugs would best suit your lifestyle.
Lovely gold Loops via Loop Earplugs
Find out more and purchase a pair on the Loop website here.