The best earplugs for musicians

No one can argue that being a musician is one of the most enviable skills, hobbies, crafts, and careers out there; the appeal of being able to create and perform the art form that is loved by just about every person with a pulse is indisputable. There's a reason humans have been playing music for literally tens of thousands of years (seriously, look it up). However, this is one major drawback to being a musician that is not discussed often enough: hearing damage.

Being constantly exposed to loud music is proven to be incredibly harmful for one's hearing health, especially since hearing damage is irreversible - when the hair cells in your ears that allow you to hear are damaged by loud sound, they do not heal or regenerate. Once it's gone, it's gone. Damage to these cells in your ears can lead to not only deafness, but also tinnitus, a consistent buzzing or ringing in your ears that never goes away.

Loud acoustic instruments (like drums, woodwinds, and brass instruments), and amplified electric instruments generally produce between 100 decibels and 120 decibels. At 100 decibels, hearing damage occurs after just 15 minutes of exposure and at 120 decibels, hearing damage occurs in a matter of seconds! Now, think about all the hours and hours you've spent practicing and performing...

Many musicians choose not to wear hearing protection for obvious reasons. Standard bright, bulky foam earplugs do protect your ears, but are uncomfortable, embarrassing to be seen wearing, and prevent you from being able to hear the music clearly, which is pretty critical to being a musician, and custom-fitted musician's earplugs cost hundreds of dollars and require a time-consuming visit to an audiologist to get fitted.

Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs (as seen on ABC's Shark Tank) are affordable, reusable earplugs designed with musicians in mind, without the downsides that come with other types of hearing protection. Instead of blocking and muffling sound, Vibes decrease the volume of music to safer and more comfortable levels, while still allowing you to hear yourself and your fellow musicians clearly. Plus, Vibes' clear design makes them virtually invisible, allowing you to be discreet about wearing earplugs. Each pair of Vibes also includes three sizes of interchangeable eartips, ensuring a proper and comfortable fit for any sized ear, without requiring you to get fitted by a doctor.

Vibes are used by musicians who are just starting out, professionals who have been playing for decades, and everything in between. From heavy metal rockers to classical violinists to marching bands, Vibes are the earplugs for musicians.

Think about it, if you can't hear, you can't play. If you want to keep being able to listen to and play music throughout your life, hearing protection is a must! Vibes are here to help.