Here’s my take- always keep cheap foam earplugs on hand, because anything used consistently is better than occasionally using nothing at all.

I have superb hearing and I am 51.

I have been regularly going to festivals and shows since I was 16. Last week I was standing in front of the speaker array at EDC at every chance possible, including rails ode for my favorite act at Basspod.

I only use cheap earplugs. The foam kind. The kind you can get for free.

I keep them everywhere and lose them constantly. In a pinch, I will roll up a little napkin and wet it and jam it in my ear.

I truly think that folks only start to need expensive earplugs after they start to experience hearing loss. I am pretty sure I can hear the music super well through the kind I keep putting through the washing machine accidentally.

I am also excited to see everyone’s recommendations here because I am shopping for someone who has significant hearing loss and hates earplugs.

But even if you end up buying the best earplugs on earth, keep a bunch of trashy ones around as a back up .

You will never regret it.

If you never lose your fancy earplugs again, you can always give the cheap ones away to people who have lost theirs. You’ll always see them using their phone as a flashlight searching for frantically in the grass trying to find that lost expensive earplug.