For a lot of people, swimming without ear plugs is simply out of the question. And they're right – with the constant threat of swimmer's and surfer's ear as a result, eliminating any discomfort or medical risks with a dedicated set of ear plugs is the smartest thing to do before you jump into the water.
Zoggs, Speedo and Mack's have designed mouldable silicone plugs to keep your and your kids' ears protected, whether in the pool or the cold open waters around the UK. To help you choose, we've ranked the 10 best ear plugs for swimming from Amazon, John Lewis, and Boots ensuring no ear is spared when keeping those nasty infections at bay.
Quick List - Top Ear Plugs for Swimming
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Ear plugs for swimming come in two distinct types, each of which have their own unique way of protecting your ears. This simple buying guide will shed some of the light around these different styles, ensuring you'll be at the helm and ready to pounce on a suitably fitting pair of plugs for your next swim session.
Although all silicone ear plugs are soft when compared to plastic, some are undoubtedly more soft and formable than others. Understanding the pros and cons of each style of silicone plug will help your decision along and into your ears!
Soft silicone plugs are popular among all sorts of water lovers including swimmers, divers and surfers. They are a solid style of plug that can be used time and time again, making for both an economical and an environmentally-friendly option.
Although each brand constructs their soft silicone plugs a little differently, there are still some familiarities to look out for. Flanges are the part that offers the all-important watertight seal, making them a crucial element to every soft silicone set of plugs.
The stem or wing is the bit that projects from your ear, and again, these vary significantly between brands. Some of the more specialised plugs have wings that specifically sit in the outer part of the ear for a faultless fit. If you want a budget option, you'll find they only have a single protruding stem that has more chance of coming loose.
Putty plugs, on the other hand, allow you to mould each one to fit your ears for a water-tight fit. By rolling and warming the plugs before use, you'll get them feeling as formable as possible, which will enable you to create a highly leakproof seal.
Putty plugs are also the cheaper of the two types, making them a good option for more casual swimmers who aren't planning to take on the Channel any time soon. It's lucky that they are on the cheaper side though, as, though it isn't always stated, they most definitely have a finite number of uses.
Even with a carry case, putty plugs are also infamous for gathering dirt and grime, making them pretty unappealing and unfit for purpose. Brands know this, which is why they always offer multipacks – choosing one of these will ensure your ears can remain plugged for a while, though their disposable nature will put some people off.
Swimmer's ear is very common in children who spend sustained periods of time in and around the water. As their ears are still developing, they often fall victim to infections, especially from lake and river water where bacteria is in abundance.
This makes keeping your kids' ears protected from the offset not just smart but downright essential. Look for any type of silicone plug that has been slimmed down for a child-specific fit. Often brands will categorise their plugs into recommended age ranges, giving you the choice of 3-6 or 6-14 years.
If your child is over 14, then it's common practice that they take on adult-sized swimming plugs for a more suitable fit.
Ear plugs for swimming are great at keeping water out, but they're also notorious for keeping sound out. Although this may not bother swimmers who enjoy following the black line in the pool while they crush laps in their own time, it can be a huge hindrance for open water swimmers, divers and surfers who all rely on sound.
This is where hearing retention ear plugs step in. These are purposefully fitted with a mesh membrane that offers an elevated transfer of sound, all while keeping the plug watertight and your inner ear dry.
This feature isn't just gaining traction in the watersports world either, with people in swim training sessions being instructed by coaches that they too will benefit from an increase in sound. A great feature to look for however you spend time in the water.
As previously mentioned, the flange of a plug is the integral part that provides a watertight seal. Most soft silicone styles offer a one-size-fits-all approach by including one, two, three or four flanges per plug. These flanges increase in size the further up the plug they go, ensuring each person a solid seal.
While this is a widely accepted and workable way of protecting ears, a few brands have given the swimming community a more tailored plug experience by offering interchangeable flanges in varying sizes – something worth keeping an eye out for, especially if you've not had much luck with plugs fitting you very well before.
Any included feature, no matter how big or small it may seem, will ultimately help each set stand out from the next. One feature that'll heighten your swimming experience is safety strings, which will ensure no plug has the potential of sinking down to Trident's abyss.
Bright and colourful designs are also good in helping you to spot a wayward plug, while different coloured plugs for your left and right ears make getting prepped for your swim much easier. Another feature that is always handy is a devoted carry case for each set of plugs, helping you to keep them sterile and clean when not in use.
Though usually found in higher-end plugs, one final feature we recommend looking out for is the inclusion of multiple wing sizes for a just-right fit.
Let's face it, no matter how hard we try, for whatever reason, ear plugs seem to evaporate out of thin air. Even with the previously mentioned features, it's not uncommon to see ear plugs swaying solemnly on the pool floor as you swim on by.
Opting for multipacks is a clever way of keeping stocked up in the unfortunate case of a missing plug. Due to their untimely demise through grime, putty plugs can be found in pairs of three but also right the way up to 36, giving you a whole year or more of protection.
Even soft silicone plugs don't shy away from multipacks, with the more budget offerings dishing up multiples of between two and six for any avid swimmer.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Creatures of Leisure Surf Ears 3.0 | ![]() | Trailblazing, Pro Surfer Approved Plugs | |
2 | Hearprotek Ear Plugs for Swimming | ![]() | Hearing Retention for Adults With Three Wing Sizes | |
3 | Zoggs Ear Plugs for Swimming | ![]() | Choose From Two Sizes With the Iconic Zoggs Touch | |
4 | Speedo Ear Plugs for Swimming | ![]() | Biofuse Technology for an Irrefutably Watertight Seal | |
5 | Syosin Swimming Ear Plugs | ![]() | Well-Priced and Ready to Protect Teens and Adults | |
6 | Hearprotek Kids' Swimming Ear Plugs | ![]() | Hearing Retention Plugs Perfect for Kids' Swim Lessons | |
7 | Putty Buddies Putty Ear Plugs | ![]() | High Quality With a Carry Case of Everyone's Putty Buddy | |
8 | Mack's Kids' Putty Silicone Plugs | ![]() | Iconic Mouldable Putty Plugs for Infants and Older Kids | |
9 | Frienda Putty Ear Plugs | ![]() | Be Everyone's Friend With 36 Pairs of Putty Silicone Plugs | |
10 | Boots Swimming Ear Plugs | ![]() | An Inexpensive Two Pack From a Trusty Name |
Creatures of Leisure owned Surf Ears burst onto the ear protecting seen in 2011, quickly cementing themselves at the very top of the pack. This is the updated 3.0 version of their pro-surfer-approved ear plugs.
The interchangeable flange and wing design ensures you all the tailoring powers by creating a custom-made fit. The quick-release safety string will put an end to any lost plugs and the carry case even comes with a carabiner to keep it from going walkabout. With mesh hearing retention too, it's clear nothing has been left out with the Surf Ears 3.0.
Hearprotek are at it again, only this time it's all about protecting adults' ears while allowing them the gift of hearing. Through a high-grade mesh inner, these plugs offer a solid amount of sound transfer without the worry of water breaking through.
Owing to its high-end fashioning, this two-pack includes three wing sizes to give any and every ear the ideal fit. The two-flange inner will deliver the watertight seal you so desire, while choosing from three unique colourways will give you a personalised plugging experience like no other.
Zoggs have kindly offered up these premium soft silicone ear plugs in two distinct age-related styles. With a size for kids aged 6-14 years and a 14+ size for adults and teens, you should have no stress keeping the whole family's ears dry every time.
The single flange and thick wing design have been crafted from years of specialist tweaking to bring you an ergonomic fit that has to be felt to be believed. The left and right plugs have been marked for ease of use too, and the set comes equipped with a devoted Zoggs carry case.
Needing no introduction, Speedo have been equipping swimmers the world over for over 90 years now. These are their four-flange soft silicone plugs, featuring biofuse technology for a comforting yet tight seal that's set to impress.
This single pair comes equipped with a Speedo branded carry case, resulting in a well-rounded pack that will go the distance. The slim wing will slip straight into your outer ear for a truly seamless fusion, but we wouldn't expect any less from such a reliable brand.
Three pairs of soft silicone plugs for a more than reasonable price makes this offering from Syosin a great one for casual swimmers who don't fancy spending a fortune. Each pair is coloured differently in black, blue and white, so there should be no confusion between family members.
They also benefit from a single flange and wing design for a no-fuss, watertight seal each and every time. Sized for adults and children over 14 specifically, these strike a good balance of comfort and affordability.
Hearprotek are here to save the day with hearing retention for your young ones. By keeping the inner part of the plug (for the most part) hollow, they've created a channel for sound, helping your kids to stay alert when being instructed in the pool.
This two-pack of soft silicone plugs each come with a devoted carry case, perfect for both your children or to keep one pair clean and safe as a spare. The two-flange design is finished off nicely with a small silicone wing, giving a comfortable and tight seal for the keen little swimming beans.
Putty Buddies ear plugs are insanely popular putty plugs for swimming. Through their extra soft and tacky silicone, you should have no problems getting these plugs nice and formable for a truly tight seal.
Putty Buddies recommend these plugs for kids and adults alike thanks to the customisability. All three colours may not be the brightest and lightest, but they undoubtedly look very swim-smart. As a bonus, they come with a Surfin' Sammy temporary tattoo which only adds to the adorable, top-shelf nature of this pack.
Another putty offering here, only this time they're the official USA Swimming certified plugs from the iconic American brand Mack's. These are their kids-specific plugs, which are purposefully slimmed down for any and every child to find their fit with.
As well as being fun, the bright orange design ensures no plug will get left behind at the bottom of the pool. Six pairs are included in the pack alongside a free temporary tattoo to give your child something to get excited about.
Certainly the largest multipack of ear plugs the internet has ever seen, this 36-pack of putty plugs from Frienda ensures a certain commitment to the swimming cause.
Choose from blue, green and white depending on your mood for a personalised experience each and every swim session. They come with three carry cases to fit twelve plugs each, which, though it sounds useful, is probably a few too many to bring to each session. Acquiring a smaller case on the side is probably a clever idea.
First up, an inexpensive two-pair pack of soft silicone ear plugs from Boots' own brand to get you protected for less. In addition, the two pairs each come with their own dedicated carry case, giving you and a family member a complete set each.
The three-flange design should give any adult and child above 12 years the likely chance of a water-tight seal. The stem is a sign of their budget nature, however, this can be offset through a swimming cap or headband, which should keep the whole plug tucked in and secure.
Author: Connor Macanally
No. 1: Creatures of Leisure |Surf Ears 3.0
No. 2: Hearprotek|Ear Plugs for Swimming
No. 3: Zoggs|Ear Plugs for Swimming
No. 4: Speedo|Ear Plugs for Swimming
No. 5: Syosin|Swimming Ear Plugs
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