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Home»Gear»Earplugs That Tackle Every Noisy Event
Gear

Earplugs That Tackle Every Noisy Event

News RoomBy News RoomMay 15, 2025No Comments10 Mins Read
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I WILL ADMIT, I’m still new to Formula One. Like many Americans, I was entirely blind to the sport’s existence prior to the Netflix docuseries. But while Drive to Survive’s behind-the-scenes look revealed the heated rivalries and drama that have made the sport so popular worldwide, there is one aspect of the races the show never fully captured: these events are insanely loud. And if it were not for my Loop Switch 2 earplugs at the recent Miami Grand Prix event, I fear my ears would not have survived to hear the new Haim album drop next month.

Loop McLaren F1 Team x Loop Switch 2

Cons

  • ConLimited edition costs $5 more than standard

Loop Founders Maarten Bodewes and Dimitri O have been F1 fans since childhood, so it’s no surprise these things are perfect for the noisy environment. The brand started in 2016 to solve the problem of uncomfortable and ineffective hearing protection at loud events, like nightclubs and concerts, inspired by Bodewes’ personal hearing loss struggles. “I went out to a very loud bar in my last year of university, and I came home with ringing ears or tinnitus. And that’s where my interest in earplugs started.”

Loop gained early momentum thanks to its signature silicone donut design that helps reduce noise without sacrificing sound clarity. Unlike other common noise-cancelling plugs, they didn’t muffle sound or make it too bassy, they simply reduced the volume. Not to mention, these earplugs didn’t poke out of your ear or look goofy. As Bodewes remembers it, the design was, “based on a personal frustration. We were thinking, why can’t earplugs become cooler?”

Loop is not only reimaging event-ready ear protection, but shifting the conversation around the importance of wearing earplugs, helping make it more commonplace. It’s a development that Bodewes believes is a bit overdue. “When it’s bright, people put on their sunglasses. It’s loud, they put in their earplugs,” he tells Men’s Health before noting that roughly half of Loop customers report never before buying earplugs. The Switch 2 is the culmination of every iteration of Loop earplugs, including Quiet, Experience, and Engage. It allows you to effortlessly switch between three tiers of noise reduction based on the previous Loop models.

After launching the Switch 2 late last year, Loop recently partnered with McLaren for a limited-edition version ahead of the 2025 F1 races. The McLaren Formula 1 Team x Loop Switch 2 comes in the classic McLaren papaya orange and features the same signature Switch three-in-one feature. McLaren is Loop’s first racing partner, a move that Bodewes credits to their shared value of precision performance and technical nuance.

SHOP LOOP SWITCH 2 EARPLUGS

F1 races can reach noise levels up to 140 decibels (dB), which is equal to the sound given off by an average jet engine, according to Yale’s Decibel Level Chart. It’s like having the sounds of New York City traffic shot through a megaphone placed one inch from your ear, or worse, the volume of every conversation had between the family that lives above me.

So, before heading to the 2025 Miami Grand Prix, I got my hands on a pair of Loop Switch 2s to see if they allow me to enjoy the race without risking permanent damage—and hopefully help me tune out my neighbors when I get back.

Design and Features

The Switch 2 features Loop’s signature circular design, which is essentially a tiny donut for your ear (or a loop). It comes with four interchangeable silicone plug sizes for ear holes big and small. But where these plugs really stand out among other noise-reducing earplugs is the three-way dial surrounding the silicone, which allows you to “shift gears” between three modes.

wireless earbuds in a charging case with an open lid

Sean Zucker

First, there’s Quiet mode, which offers a 26 dB Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR), meaning that the earplugs can effectively reduce noise by 26 decibels. This is the most intense level of noise reduction, the one reserved for tuning out the most sound possible. For slightly less noise reduction, you can click over once to Experience mode with 23 dB SNR. This will reduce volume by 23 decibels, while still allowing for a more natural race experience.

The last option on the dial is Engage mode, which reduces 20 dB. This protects your ears without limiting your ability to hear the person next to you. Bodewes explains that the Loop Switch 2 earplugs use a mesh material to block high-frequency sounds and a drum-like membrane to reduce low-frequency noise.

“The way that it works is, if you put it on the Engage mode, the sound goes through an entry hole and only goes through the mesh, so you have more of the high frequencies that are being stopped, and you have the least noise reduction,” he says. On the other hand, when it’s in Quiet mode, the sound is blocked by both the membrane and the mesh, halting both high and low frequencies, for maximum noise reduction.

Plus, these earplugs are entirely non-electric, so they never need to be charged. Every size plug is also designed to be reusable and easily cleanable. Simply pop off the silicone as if you were to change the size and wipe it down with a Q-Tip or napkin. They also come in a compact holding case that’s barely larger than a quarter, so you can keep them in your pocket when not using them to avoid getting dirty.

Fit and Comfort

I spent much of my youth playing in and listening to punk bands, where the primary objection was essentially to be as loud and fast as possible. Needless to say, my ears have been hanging on by a thread since my early twenties. As a result, I have been wearing earplugs to pretty much any event larger than a dinner party for the past decade, and the Loop Switch 2 are by far the most comfortable I’ve worn. They don’t feel restrictive or expand in your ear like the foam, construction-style ones, nor do they easily slip out like many of the more popular concert-ready options.

SHOP LOOP SWITCH 2 EARPLUGS

The four sizes offer a customizable fit to ensure both comfort and top functionality. These are also the only earplugs I’ve ever been able to sleep in, as they don’t feel like they’re stabbing the side of my brain when I turn to my side. And the case is the perfect size. Unlike other similar circular cases I’ve tried that both look and feel like you’re lugging around a pack of Zyn in your pocket, this case is just barely large enough so that I won’t lose it. But tiny enough that it can casually fit in a pants or even shirt pocket, largely unnoticed.

loop switch 2 earplugs

Loop Earplugs

Effectiveness

The moment I got to the parking lot outside of Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, I needed to pop the Loops in. I could hear the practice sessions zooming by, and they were enough to give my poor ears flashbacks to leaning against a bass amp, unaware of the permanent damage I was doing. But once they were in and set to Quiet mode, the sound was so muffled I could have lain down on the pavement and taken a nap. I then switched to Engage mode so that I could mind my surroundings and chat with those around me (and because, truthfully, I was getting a little sleepy).

Experience mode proved to be my go-to setting throughout the event, however, as it kept my ears safe while still allowing me to properly hear the audible mayhem inherent to major F1 races. I was also able to communicate with other bystanders thanks to this setting, albeit with a hefty dose of shouting. All in all, my eardrums felt as well as they have after any loud event I’ve been to over the past decade. There was no lingering ringing, and I felt no pain whatsoever.

Here’s a mild hot take: I still really enjoy flying. I’m a pretty patient dude, so I don’t mind a delay (a near guarantee these days, as I tend to fly out of Newark). But as someone who is perpetually online, I like being forced to sit still and read or look out the window thinking about the liberating insignificance of my life from 35,000 feet above. So, when somebody or something inevitably decides to interrupt my airborne meditative introspection, it can feel gutting. This is why I’ll never again fly without these Loop earplugs.

Sure, noise-cancelling headphones also do the trick, but part of the appeal of flying for me is the ability to unplug, and it’s hard to do that while still listening to music or a podcast. With the Switch 2s, it’s a more natural silence. When a baby started crying, I simply clicked over to Quiet, and continued flipping through Nick Hornby’s A Long Way Down (elite plane book, by the way). At one point, a large gentleman decided to start an uproar about the bathroom line, Engage mode axed that noise real quick (and allowed for just enough curiosity-fueled eavesdropping).

loop earplugs

Sean Zucker

Final Verdict: Should You Buy The McLaren Formula 1 Team x Loop Switch 2 Earplugs?

The McLaren F1 limited edition earplugs run at $65 ($60 for the standard Switch 2s), which is admittedly more expensive than old-school foam plugs. But seeing as they’re much more effective, and don’t diminish the sound in the way those do, it’s more than worth it, especially when you consider other noise-cancelling options (for planes), like headphones, that’ll cost at least twice that.

Bodewes says that Loop initially devised its earplugs to be worn at nightclubs (its first website was loopnightlife.com), so these things know how to party. This came in handy, of course, as McLaren racers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris came in first and second place, respectively, at the Grand Prix. If the Loop Switch 2s protected my ears through the noise heard as these two crossed the finish line, I’d imagine they’d be more than successful at blocking any noise you’re after, sans naval pilots.

The Engage mode is perfect for shutting out daily annoyances like loud neighbors (can confirm it works, haven’t had to endure my neighbors chirping once since getting my Loops), Experience is ideal for concerts or festivals by minimizing noise without muffling sound completely, and Quiet will offer just that, complete silence. It’s all you can ask for in a pair of earplugs, along with McLaren’s winning color scheme.

SHOP LOOP SWITCH 2 EARPLUGS

More Headphones and Earbuds

Best Workout Headphones | Best Running Headphones | Best Wireless Earbuds | Best Travel Headphones | Apple AirPods 4 Review | Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 Review | Best Bluetooth Speakers | Best Outdoor Speakers | Best Bone Conduction Headphones | Best Portable Bluetooth Speakers

Headshot of Sean Zucker

Sean Zucker is the Grooming and Commerce Editor at Men’s Health. He brings over half a decade of experience covering health, wellness, and lifestyle. When Sean’s not writing about hair products, you can find him running for exercise, or toward the nearest food truck. 

Read the full article here

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