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I'm a fairly complicated creature when it comes to sleep. I require total darkness and a soundless void, hence why my bedside is always cluttered with an oversized sleep mask, a personal fan, an essential oil diffuser and earplugs. Specifically, Loop Earplugs.
The latter are a fairly new addition to my nighttime routine, and one that fits neatly into the category of ‘borecore’ essentials I can no longer live without. Namely, because my boyfriend yaps in his sleep, but also because we live on a hectic main road.
Having tried a host of the best earplugs for sleeping in recent years — single-use, foam, banded — I was sceptical that I would, one day, find something to stick to. However, I can confirm I am now in a monogamous relationship with the Dream Earplugs, best suited to silence snoring partners and noisy neighbours, reducing all surround sound by 27 decibels (dB).
Quick recap: The Belgian brand, launched by two pals in 2016 who were sick of temporary tinnitus ruining their listening at live music events, has since expanded its collection to offer options tailored to supercharging your sleep, supporting overstimulated parents, or even a multi-mode option for those unwilling to choose.
But it seems I'm not alone in donning ear defenders, with research suggesting that Gen Z are more likely to purchase a pair of earplugs than the generations before. And perhaps rightly so, considering The British Medical Journal has reported that 1.1 billion young people worldwide are at risk of hearing loss from unsafe listening practices (listening to sounds at 80 dB for 40 hours a week is considered the safe limit).
Now, while other GLAMOUR guinea pigs are fans of the brand's rave-ready earplugs, it's the Dream variety I'm ready to label as my wellness buy of the year. Yes, it's April, but considering I now get eight hours of uninterrupted kit every night, it seems fair. So, keep reading for a rundown of everything you need to know about the newest Loop earplugs.
SKIP TO: Loop Dream Earplugs, at a glance | How we tested the Loop Dream Earplugs | Product Deep Dive | GLAMOUR's verdict
I now can't sleep without it.
Loop Dream Earplugs, at a glance:
| Use | Sleep. |
| In the box | One set of Loop Dream Earplugs, a bedside carry case and four pairs of ear tips (XS, S, M and L). |
| Noise reduction | 27 dB. |
| Colour options | Black, lilac, peach. |
The first of the brand's earplugs with a closed-loop design and a soft silicone outer to improve your comfort, Loop's Dream Earplugs look and feel a little different to previous iterations. It's also rare that a brand offers up multiple options with adding an extra charge on top — or asking you to add extras at the checkout. However, the brand has chosen to include a range of oval ends, ranging in size (extra small — large) to ensure a comfortable fit, acknowledging that the contours of everyone's ears are different.
Loop claims that during the initial round of testing, 87% reported feeling more focused throughout the day after using the Loop Dream, while another 79% said they felt more rested – and I can confirm I side with the majority on both points.
How I tested the Loop Dream Earplugs:
As a wellness writer, my weekends revolve around trying yet another gadget promising to solve a problem, be that an LED face mask, a facial cleansing brush or the latest fitness tracker from Oura. Rather unsurprisingly, testing the Loop Earplugs involved a quick examination of the packaging before pairing them with my pyjamas.
For three months, I slept as I normally would — on my right side, with an eye mask — while also wearing the carrot-coloured ear accessories, considering their comfort, noise-cancelling power, and value for money. But, because we're all different, I also scoured the reviews — to date, there are more than 4,800, including 1.9k giving them five stars — to hear others' positive praise and constructive pointers. Find out more about how we test.
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GLAMOUR's verdict: Loop Dream Earplugs
| RATING: | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Pros: | Oval foam silicone tips follow the ear's natural contours for a snug, comfortable fit. Successfully shut out my partner's snoring but not my morning alarm. Easy to clean, thanks to those removal tips and minimal hard-to-reach crevices. |
| Cons: | While the carry case offers ample room, I didn't find the base to be non-slip, as advertised. |
I was sceptical: having given the foam variety multiple chances, I was convinced earplugs weren't for me. There's something a little claustrophobic about squashing something in my ear — plus, I missed having the option to sleep on my side.
But my initial thoughts on opening the box? I was impressed by the sheer number of options in terms of silicone tips. The various oval tips, designed to close the gap without squashing and squeezing your inner ear, rather meant I quickly found an option (for reference, I'm a small) that slid in with little to no force. I also loved how the fact that this piece is removable would make for easy cleaning the next morning.
As a fairly active sleeper – my boyfriend can confirm I last no longer than 20 minutes in any position — I was sceptical about whether these would stay put. But I was impressed when I awoke to my usual 6:45 am alarm with both still inside my ears.
It's also worth mentioning how they successfully silenced his snoring — this model works to reduce noise by 27 dB — without making me feel like I was in some kind of noiseless void. Essentially, I'll hear the fire alarm but likely not his nonsensical midnight musings.
While aesthetics are something I care less about when it comes to sleep aids, I also appreciated the soothing pastel hues. One thing that did leave me wanting? The carry case. While I appreciated the addition and the small size, meaning I could chuck it in my carry-on case or travel washbag without complaint, the shallow, fairly slippery dish meant that I had to be fairly careful when stowing them away.
Granted, it's a very small sacrifice for a product that does exactly what it promises otherwise, but if I could ask for one improvement for iteration two, it would be headphone-style slots to keep them in place.
Shop more GLAMOUR-Approved Loop Earplugs:
GLAMOUR's verdict: Loop Experience 2 Plus Earplugs
| Use | Live music and events. |
| In the box | One set of Loop Experience 2 Plus Earplugs, a keychain carry case, four pair of silicone ear tips (XS, S, M and L), three sets of foam ear tips (S, M and L), and two sets of Loop Mute accessories. |
| Noise reduction | 17 dB, or 20 dB with Mute accessories. |
| RATING: | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Pros: | The cases come with a rubber loop attached, meaning you can put them on your keys without ever forgetting them. This is honestly key to making sure you don’t forget them. Just make sure you put them back in the case at the end of the night, even if you’ve had a few… All loops are easy and quick to put in without any faff. No need to squeeze any foam and struggle to put them in. Simple! |
| Cons: | Sometimes you want to take them out briefly so you can have a quick chat outside the gig, so you end up holding them, which is a little annoying. The Loop Link does resolve this problem but may not go with your aesthetic. |
I remember when I first started to go clubbing and saw fellow dancers wearing fluorescent-coloured foam earplugs. You’d occasionally see people point and comment on them, and while I had a lot of respect for them for using earplugs, I rarely did myself. I didn’t want to attract attention.
But Loop Earplugs are subtle and could even pass as a fashion accessory. Even better news: they're designed to reduce sound without affecting its quality, mimicking your ears’ acoustical function. This patented technology combines an acoustic channel with mesh to reduce ambient sounds by as much as 18 dB.
The best thing about using these earplugs? You can have a normal conversation with a mate while the music carries on in the same space. Don't get me wrong, there have been a couple of times where I've wanted to take them out mid-rave – either I've felt too conscious of what people would think of me, or I have genuinely noticed a difference in volume. Rare, though. But if you're off to a festival this summer, I urge you to give them a try. It's the protection and comfort I didn't know I needed, and hopefully, this is a trend that doesn't go quiet.
Looking for more high-scoring sleep aids? Shop the best body pillows, the best pillows for side sleepers, the best cooling mattress toppers, the best duvets, the best silk bedding, and the best ottoman beds, all tried, tested and approved by GLAMOUR's shopping editors.
