I live in a noisy neighborhood and found it difficult to sleep due to all the noise coming from outside. So, I tried several methods to block all the sound. I eventually did settle with a mix of a few solutions, one of them being soundproof earmuffs. I know some people find it uncomfortable to sleep while wearing earmuffs as did I initially. If you don’t feel comfortable wearing an earmuff then soundproofing the room is a better option.
On the other hand, If you spend a lot of your time traveling or you are in a job like aviation, construction or shooting where you have to use the earmuffs than in this article I am going to recommend some of the best soundproof earmuffs for sleeping or for your job. These earmuffs are selected on the bases of many factors including, noise absorption capabilities, comfortability, safety, price, style, and most importantly, customer reviews.
If you are looking for an inexpensive solution than this lightweight earplug or Eargasm High Fidelity Earplugs is the far better option. You can read the detailed review of eargasm earplugs here in this article. They offer better noise absorption than the earmuffs, but they are also less comfortable. You have to decide between the tradeoffs. You can also try it in combination with the earmuffs for much better results.
Table of Contents
Do the soundproof earmuffs really work?
Yes, they do block sound. But keep a fact in mind that nothing can block 100% off the noise. However, the best earmuffs for sleeping on this list will reduce a significant amount of sound. These earmuffs use a thin layer of sound-absorbing material, and their heavier material also helps in blocking the noise.
What is the NRR rating?
In the U.S, every soundproof earmuff comes with a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) this indicates the sound absorption capabilities of the earmuff. NRR for earmuffs ranges between 10-31, 31 being the highest. The higher, the better, so always go for the earmuffs with the higher NRR. If an earmuff has no label indicating NRR value don’t buy it.
In the EU Single Number Rating(SNR) is used instead of NRR. They are not the same things, and SNR tends to be a lot higher than the NRR. Even in the U.S, many manufacturers advertise SNR in ads instead of NRR as it makes their earmuffs look better than the competitors.
Advantages of using Earmuffs over Earplugs
Earplugs are a great alternative to earmuffs and are significantly cheaper than the earmuffs, and they also are better in soundproofing. So, why not choose earplugs instead? There are several advantages that earmuffs have over earplugs. Some of them are as below.
Comfortability:
Unlike earmuffs, you have to put earplugs inside your ear, and many people may find it uncomfortable to sleep with something inside their ear.
Universal Fit:
Earmuffs can fit almost any head. This helps you in avoiding the hassle of finding the perfect fit for your ear. While in the case of earplugs, you would have to try several sizes before finding an excellent fit for your ear.
Not Easily Misplaced:
Due to their small size, earplugs can be easily misplaced. While earmuffs are large covering with a headband. It is unlikely to lose such a thing.
Can Be Worn With Ear Infections:
If you even have a minor ear infection, you can not use earplugs. While earmuffs can still be worn. In the case of infection, earmuffs are your only option.
Top 5 Best Soundproof Earmuffs For Sleeping
Product | Highlights | Price |
---|---|---|
3M Peltor X-series earmuffs X5A |
NRR of 31 Comfortable to wear |
Click here to check the price |
Mpow [Upgraded] Noise Reduction Safety Earmuffs |
NRR 29 Lightweight Soft and comfortable |
Click here to check the price |
Wrap-a-nap ear muff and a sleep mask |
NRR 28 25 dB – 35 Made out of soft material Great for traveling Very comfortable and can be used as a neck pillow |
Click here to check the price |
Howard Leight Leighting L3 |
NRR 30 7.4 cm deep cups Comfortable |
Click here to check the price |
Pro For Sho 34dB Shooting Ear Protection |
The Highest Hearing Protection Ratio Earmuffs – 34dB Industrial Grade Sound Reduction Compact, lightweight and easy to carry |
Click here to check the price |
Snug Kids Earmuffs |
5 years Guarantee on parts Ideal for children on autistic spectrum for blocking out noise from crowd. Compact, lightweight and snug |
Click here to check the price |
Criteria for selecting the best soundproof earmuffs
There are several brands in the markets offering soundproofing earmuffs; each of them has different features. So, which one is better? To find the best earmuff, you have to consider the following points and then make a decision based on your requirement to choose the one more suitable for you. Some may want better comfortability despite the added cost, and some will prefer budget-friendly earmuffs.
Noise absorbing ability:
The most important feature that we are going to look into an earmuff is their ability to cancel the outside noise. For this purpose, we will check their NRR. Remember, the higher the value, the better the noise reduction.
Comfortability:
You have to ensure that you feel comfortable wearing the earmuff you may end up buying. If an earmuff of a particular brand is irritating, you can try from another brand. Ideally, an earmuff should be made up of light material and make you feel as you aren’t wearing them in the first place.
Customer Review:
The best way of ensuring the quality of an earmuff is by checking what opinion does the current and previous owners of the said brand/product have? Amazon helps us in this regard as you can read the reviews of the customers. In this article, I have included only those earmuffs that have a high number of positive reviews and are rated on average between 4-5.
Safety:
Even though some earmuffs excel at blocking the sound but they also come with their share of problems. Some earmuffs can pose a danger to your ears. The best way to verify it yourself is by reading the reviews. Even though I have eliminated those brands which have such issues to be on the safe side, you should also check the reviews. The best way is to check out the 1-2 star reviews and make sure that the recent comments are not negative. If a review is older than two years, give it less weight in your final decision-making process as compared to recent ones.
Style:
There are several styles and sizes available in the market, choose one which fits you perfectly. If you purchase an earmuff with a bigger size than they won’t be as effective. The smaller size will cause strain and can be painful.
Price:
Price is another factor you should consider. You may be able to save a few bucks by going with a slightly cheaper variant.
Detailed Review Of Noise Cancelling Earmuffs For Sleeping
3M Peltor X-series soundproof earmuffs
3M Peltor X5A is the best soundproof earmuffs available in the market. They are the only one with NRR of 31 in this list. 3M Peltor is effective across the whole frequency range. They are capable of canceling the noise of low frequency to that of the high frequency. For their performance, they are priced reasonably. Now let’s check how much they satisfy our criteria for the best earmuffs. If you find it a little expensive, you can also check out the other variants from the same brand. They are named form X1A to X5A. X1A being the cheapest but it has NRR of 27.
1-Noise canceling:
Being the only one with the NRR 31, they are the best in blocking the noise. You won’t find any better options than these. You can also go for X1A which costs 50-60% less, but that comes at the cost of the performance.
2-Comfortability:
If you slide the ear cups from behind the ear, so the cushions fit around the ears, making it comfortable to wear. If you let some part of cushion rest on your ear, it may become uncomfortable after a few hours.
3-Customer Review:
There are nearly 1200 reviews on Amazon, and most of the customers have shown satisfaction with the product.
4-Safety:
I was unable to find any recent comment proclaiming safety risk or someone complaining about any irritation.
5-Style:
Their design is similar to a headphone. They come with a bid cup size and will fit most of the people.
6-Price:
They are priced reasonably for the quality you get from them.
Mpow [Upgraded] Noise Reduction Safety Earmuffs
Mpow [Upgraded] Noise Reduction Safety Earmuffs claims to have NRR of 29 on the box, but there is no EPA label to back this claim. Due to the recent surge in their popularity, I have decided to include them on this list. Their low price was another factor that I couldn’t ignore. I haven’t tested them myself. So, I would advise you to choose another one.
1-Noise canceling:
They claim to have 29 NRR, but there is no EPA label on the box, which doesn’t sit well with me. I would highly recommend avoiding them just for the fact that there is no EPA label.
2-Comfortability:
I haven’t found any complaint about comfortability.
3-Customer Review:
There are 600+ reviews. Most of them are 4 and 5 stars reviews. This was the main reason I decided to include them in the first place despite my reservations.
4-Safety:
I was unable to find any issue regarding adverse effects on the ears.
5-Style:
They also have a design similar to 3M Peltor. The cup size is enough to fit cover the ears of different sizes.
6-Price:
They are the cheapest earmuffs on the list.
Wrap-a-nap ear muff and a sleep mask
Wrap-a-nap is different from the previously mentioned earmuffs. Instead of being designed like a headphone, they are designed like a sleeping mask. Such a design choice can either alienate you from this or convince you to buy if you see it as an extra feature.
1-Noise canceling:
With a 28 NRR, they are going to dampen most of the noises.
2-Comfortability:
They use soft material instead of plastic, so they are one of the most comfortable earmuffs you are going to find.
3-Customer Review:
With 400+ reviews, most of them being positive, they are expected to do their job quite well.
4-Safety:
Usage of soft material ensures that your ears won’t be affected by them.
5-Style:
They are going to fit most of the people without any issue.
6-Price:
They are decently priced.
Howard Leight Leighting L3
Howard Leight L3 is a high-quality noise-canceling earmuff on par with the X5A. It cost nearly 50% less than X5A. The price difference makes it a much better option as compared to 3M Peltor.
1-Noise canceling:
This earmuff has an NRR value of 30. This puts it just below the Peltor X5A.
2-Comfortability:
It has snap-in ear cushions, which makes it very comfortable to use.
3-Customer Review:
The Leight L3 has 170+ customer reviews, and most of them are positive reviews.
4-Safety:
I was unable to find any adverse effects of using these earmuffs for a long time.
5-Style:
They are less flexible so they won’t fit most of the heads. You should make sure that they are fit for you before buying.
6-Price:
They are priced very low. The only reasons for fewer sales are flexibility and soft headband cushion.
Pro For Sho Ear Protection
If you want an industrial-grade solution at a reasonable price, then the Pro For Sho ear protection is the best option. These muffs are specially designed for shooters, and the promised 34 dB noise reduction is the thing you won’t find in my other brands. Such kind of noise reduction makes it useable in other areas too. Even if you performing woodwork or needs to deaden the noise to concentrate on something they have you covered.
The main thing I like about these earmuffs is that they are super compact and easy to carry around. It’s a tested and proven product. There are more than 5600 reviews on Amazon attesting to its quality. The company selling these earmuffs are so confident in their product that they provide 90-day money-back guarantee. In my opinion, for such a low price point, you won’t find a better option.
You can purchase one of them from here.
Conclusion
If you are comfortable wearing an earmuff than the best earmuff is 3M Peltor X5A soundproof earmuffs. They have 31 Noise Reduction Rating. The highest any earmuff can get. If you want a more budget-friendly option than the Howard Leight Leighting L3 is a great option it has an NRR of 30 and cost a lot less than the X5A. You can choose either one of these and will be satisfied with the result.