If you have trouble sleeping sometimes, you might agree with me on this:
Sharing a bed with a snoring partner or living in a noisy neighborhood only makes it worse.
One day I decided to take the matter into my own hands and do something about it.
That’s when I discovered soundproof earmuffs. I bought an inexpensive one and quickly noticed the huge difference it makes when it comes to getting a peaceful sleep.
In my research, I discovered a few ear muffs with incredible noise cancellation abilities.
Ready to pick the best one for you?
Let’s get started!
- 1. 3M PELTOR X5A Over-The-Head Ear Muffs
- 2. Wrap-a-Nap (Good for Travelling)
- 3. MZOO Sleep Eye Mask With Earplugs (Great for Sleeping)
- 4. Pro For Sho Safety Ear Protection (Good for People With Sensitive Hearing)
- Buying Guide: Factors to Consider Before Buying
- Comfort
- Headband Length
- Safety
- Airflow
- Frequently Asked Questions
- The Bottom Line
Note: Trouble sleeping? You might also benefit from investing in a top-notch white noise machine. It produces a calming sound that will allow you to fall and stay asleep longer.
1. 3M PELTOR X5A Over-The-Head Ear Muffs
The 3M PELTOR X5A is one of the best earmuffs for attempting loud noises.
It is foldable and compact—making it easy to carry them along with you wherever you go.
The doughnut-shaped cushion makes them extremely comfortable. It can cut off about 96 decibels of sound which is the best on my list. The Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 26 is also pretty stellar. It comes with a cushioned steel headband and can cancel the low-frequency noises.
The cushions can be replaced and the earmuffs are easy to clean.
It might be a bit uncomfortable to sleep with it on your side, though.
Pros:
- Foldable
- Cushioned steel headband
- Can attenuate up to 96 dB of sound
- Easy to clean
- Replaceable cushions
Cons:
- Sleeping on your side might make you feel uncomfortable
2. Wrap-a-Nap (Good for Travelling)
Looking for good ear muffs for carrying it along with you on your trips? Wrap-a-Nap might be worth looking into.
It comes with an NRR rating of 27 and can block noise in the range of 27-35 dB effectively.
These earmuffs come with an eye mask to further improve your sleep. It comes with a pillow set too—which is a great bonus.
You can machine wash it. It is super soft and lightweight too.
The only gripe?
It lifts the head slightly while you sleep which might be a minor discomfort to some. Also, there’s a little heat generated between the head and the surface of the earmuffs.
Pros:
- Great for traveling
- Comfortable
- Protects you from bright light with the eye mask
- Can be used as a travel pillow
- Easy to clean
- Soft and lightweight
Cons:
- Users might feel a bit uncomfortable as the earmuff elevates the head slightly.
- Friction might produce some heat
3. MZOO Sleep Eye Mask With Earplugs (Great for Sleeping)
MZOO is another comfortable eye mask with earplugs.
With an NRR rating of 32—its the second-highest on my list.
The unique heat-bonded technology makes it extremely durable.
The best part about the product is that it fits perfectly—no matter your head size, thanks to the adjustable buckle strap.
Built with low-rebound foam, it is extremely soft and comfortable to put on. The silk mask is spacious and provides enough area for your eyes to help you relax completely.
It also comes with never-stain bed sheets or pillows that are made using high-quality fiber fabric.
Pros:
- The low-rebound foam makes it very comfortable
- Silk mask is pretty spacious
- Unique heat-bonded technology makes it very durable
- Never stain bed sheets or pillows included in the package
Cons:
- None
4. Pro For Sho Safety Ear Protection (Good for People With Sensitive Hearing)
If you have a sensitive hearing, this might be worth checking out.
It comes with an NRR rating of 34 dB which is the highest on my list. These earmuffs are one of the best affordable earmuffs for firearm practice.
These earmuffs are sturdy and durable. Its compact size and lightweight make it travel-friendly. This model stands out from many products of its type due to the fact that its much thinner, lighter, and more comfortable.
I’d say that they don’t sport the most appealing looks—but that shouldn’t deter anyone from buying it.
Pros:
- Beneficial for people with sensitive hearing
- Cancels out extreme levels of noise
- Sturdy and durable
- Travel-friendly
- Good for firearm practice
Cons:
- Bland design
Buying Guide: Factors to Consider Before Buying
Noise-canceling Ability
If you are looking for earmuffs to help you get sound sleep, then you will have to consider the comfort that it provides while you sleep.
But, if blocking the unwanted sounds is your sole purpose then, you may go for the ones which have specific acoustic structure and heavier materials.
Pro For Sho Safety Ear Protection is really an amazing product that can make your environment very tranquil.
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)
A noise reduction rating represents the level of noise that earplugs can block out when used without simultaneous noise-blocking objects.
Pro For Sho Safety Ear Protection is one of the noteworthy products in my list which effectively attenuates sound and has got a very high NRR rating.
Comfort
The next important factor that plays an important role while buying the product after the noise-canceling ability happens to be the level of comfort it offers.
Ear Comfort
If you are not comfortable with your current set of ear muffs then there is no point in looking at its noise-canceling potential. Therefore, going for a product that will fit perfectly depending on the size of your head, is crucial.
Pro For Sho Safety Ear Protection and Wrap-a-Nap are pretty good at satisfying these needs.
Sleep Position Flexibility
You would certainly love to get a peaceful sleep without getting disturbed with any sort of pain due to the headbands of the earmuffs.
Also, not all ear muffs can provide you with a comfortable experience is all sleeping positions. Some may inflict pain when you sleep on your side.
Pro For Sho Safety Ear Protection and MZOO Sleep Eye Mask With Earplugs are competent to provide you with all the comfort you crave while you sleep.
Headband Length
Usually, all ear muffs come with a headband to provide perfect fitting. It is crucial to check the headband length according to the size of your head to avoid unwanted troubles.
The earmuffs may slide down if the headband is oversized. On the other hand, if the headband is smaller than your head, then it might be a recipe for a headache.
Hence, you must carefully gauge the lengths of the headbands of different products to select the most perfect choice for yourself.
Safety
Going about purchasing an earmuff with very high noise-canceling potential might seem to be the best thing. But that is not always the scenario.
If it cuts off noise completely, you might be completely unaware of everything that is going on in your vicinity. This can be quite dangerous.
Hence, you should rather go for products that can reduce the noise to a tolerable level and still do not completely shut off the sound from reaching your ears.
Airflow
The purpose of attenuating the noise can be accomplished by either completely blocking out noise or by allowing some space for your skin to breathe and yet canceling out the disturbances.
The second is more preferable since it makes you feel more comfortable.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Do I Block Out Noise in My Sleep?
In order to combat noise while you sleep, you may take the help of earplugs, white noise machines, or noise-canceling headphones.
Soundproofing the room by covering all the gaps and crevices in the walls and ceilings, using soundproof curtains, using blackout blind and thick carpets goes a long way in reducing the overall noise while you sleep.
2. Can You Sleep with Noise Cancelling Headphones?
Yes!.
Back sleepers and side sleepers who like to listen to some music before going off to sleep, find these ear muffs very useful.
These are completely safe and are a very good alternative to earplugs. They also do not put any unwanted pressure on your ears which makes them very comfortable.
Noise-canceling headphones are very effective at blocking out external noises, including snoring.
4. How Can I Cover My Ears When Sleeping?
You can cover your ears with earplugs while sleeping to remain undisturbed. People suffering from high blood pressure, strokes, diabetes, heart attacks, depression, and obesity benefit hugely by using noise-canceling products to have sound sleep.
Low-tech foam earplugs are very good for covering your ears while you sleep.
5. Is There an Alternative to Earplugs?
There are ample alternatives to earplugs that are just as efficient as it is in providing a quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
The first option is to choose a white noise machine that can mask unwanted noise effectively. You may also select moldable wax or silicone putty earplugs for blocking noise.
Noise-canceling headphones are also a good alternative to earplugs. This is an ideal product for those who prefer listening to some music before going to bed.
The Bottom Line
I believe Pro For Sho Safety Ear Protection is the best soundproof earmuff for most people. It is effective in blocking noise and has a high NRR rating of 34. It’s also a perfect choice for people with sensitive hearing.
Wrap-a-Nap provides you with a travel pillow besides canceling out noise. This is one of the best products for traveling purposes. These earmuffs have got an NRR rating of 27 and can block noise in the range of 27-35 dB.
MZOO Sleep Eye Mask with earplugs not only blocks out noise but also prevents light from hampering your sleep with the eye mask. It has got an amazing NRR rating of 32. Its low-rebound foam makes it is extremely soft and comfortable to put on.