Our Silicon Ear Plugs are a bit different to the foam or ring-style earplugs you might be used to. Instead of sitting inside your ear canal, the silicon moulds over the opening, giving you a custom-fit seal without the pressure or that "underwater" feeling that makes traditional earplugs so uncomfortable for sensory-sensitive ears.
They are ridiculously simple to use once you know how, but because they work differently from what you are used to, here is the full guide.
Step 1: Prep the earplug
Take one of the bright pink mouldable silicon balls from the carry case. Make sure your ears are clean and dry: a good seal depends on the silicon sticking to clean skin, so if you have just come out of the shower or the gym, give yourself a minute. No other prep required. The silicon is ready to go straight from the case.
One silicon earplug and its carry case. That is the full toolkit.
Step 2: Seal over the ear opening
Press the silicon flat over the entrance to your ear canal. Gently mould the edges so it forms a tight seal against the outer ear. You should feel the sound around you dampen immediately.
Important: do not push the silicon deeply into your ear canal. It is meant to cover the opening, not go inside it. This is what eliminates the occlusion effect (that underwater, hear-your-own-heartbeat feeling you get with foam and ring-style earplugs) and makes these comfortable for long wear.
Silicon sits over the ear canal, not inside it. That is the whole trick.
Step 3: Build your sensory cocoon (optional)
For deep focus or working in noisy environments like open-plan offices, silicon earplugs have one trick no other earplug on the market can pull off: they work perfectly under closed-back over-ear headphones.
Press the silicon flat over both ears, then put your headphones on directly over the top. The headphones form a proper seal against your head (because silicon does not stick out like Loop or Happy Ears earplugs do), and together you get a noise-reduction stack that makes an open-plan office feel like a library.
To block out visual distractions as well, pair this setup with Focus Frames. Silicon handles the noise, Focus Frames handle the peripheral visual distractions, and together you have built a portable sensory cocoon for under £105.
The full sensory cocoon: silicon earplugs under closed-back headphones, Focus Frames on top.
Care & usage tips
- Take a breather. They can get a bit warm over long stretches of wear, so feel free to take them off for a quick break every hour or two. Your ears will thank you.
- Keep them in the case. When you are not wearing them, pop them back into the clear carry case. It protects them from dust and hair and helps them last longer.
- Reshape when needed. If a silicon ball loses its shape, just knead it back together in your warm palm for a few seconds and it will be as good as new.
- Replace when they stop sticking. With proper care a single pair lasts a reasonable amount of time. When the silicon stops gripping cleanly, it is time for a new pair. At £2.99 for two fresh pairs that is not exactly a financial crisis.
That's it
Three steps, one product, and a noise-reduction setup that genuinely holds up in the real world. If you want the longer version (including how silicon stacks up against foam, Loop, and Happy Ears), read our complete earplug ranking, or head straight to the Silicon Ear Plugs product page to grab a pair.