Happy Ears Earplugs Review

My day-to-day life isn’t boisterous. As a chronically ill adult still in the workforce, I’ve altered my physical environment to suit my disability needs. I live alone and work from home. A few years ago, I moved out of New York City so a more quiet, rural lifestyle could reduce the overwhelm.

Still, I’m often left grappling with too much volume and vibration from loud noises encountered throughout the day. Lawnmowers screech. Hammers slam. Truck motors roar. Air conditioners buzz. On days when my symptoms are already flaring, it only takes a cellphone ping on a television show or the slow boil of my electric kettle to trigger my tension.

Fortunately for me—and the millions of other people with noise sensitivity—comfortable, affordable, and reusable earplugs exist.

This brings me to Happy Ears (available at Amazon) —a Swedish company that’s been making comfortable, eco-friendly earplugs since 2010.

How do Happy Ears earplugs work?

Traditional foam earplugs reduce only low sound frequencies, muffling the remaining sounds. Like Vibes Hi-Fidelity Earplugs, Happy Ears reduce the volume of all frequencies equally by around 25 decibels (dB). This means that, while volume significantly lowers, you can still clearly hear what remains.

Unlike most earplugs on the market, Happy Ears tips are neither round nor removable. Instead, a unique oval shape attaches to a clear, short stem. This sleek design mimics the shape of our inner ear canal, creating clear (but significant) volume reduction.

Happy Ears Earplugs

The Happy Ears Earplugs reduce noise to a more manageable level, all while offering customizable comfort that you're sure to appreciate.

$32 at Happy Ears

What I like about Happy Ears earplugs

They’re lightweight and comfortable

Until Happy Ears, I’ve fervently believed Loop earplugs were the most comfortable on the market. While I’m still not a huge fan of a protruding stem, I found Happy Ears to be even lighter and more comfortable than my Loops—so much so that it was easy to forget I had them in.

Sizing the entire earplug is perfection

The attached earbud tip is the biggest (and most unique) thing going for Happy Ears.

Happy Ears Discovery Packs include three earplug sets in small, medium, and large sizes. (Unlike comparable earplugs—which come with a base earbud and a few tips of various sizes.) At first glance, I considered this a bit wasteful—especially for a company that claims to offer an eco-friendly alternative to disposable earplugs.

After a few wears, this choice made sense. The small and medium sizes work equally well for me, and I can easily find a grateful person to take the large size off my hands. Individual packs in specific sizes are also available for those who want to buy a new set or already know their size preference.

Most importantly to this disabled reviewer, this design means I never have to worry about an earbud tip coming off in my ear. Because of constant noise sensitivity, I tend to wear earplugs for hours on end. The longer a removable silicone tip sits in my ear, the more moisture helps it adhere.

This happens more often than I’d like with my adored Loop Experience Pro earplugs, but it’s not a problem with Happy Ears.

Their noise reduction is just enough

Several online reviewers commented that the sound reduction of these earplugs wasn’t enough for them. Happy Ears seems to appeal primarily to concertgoers and travelers, so I can imagine how a 25 dB reduction may not be enough in those environments.

Those who need more noise cancelation or hearing protection be better served by Loop Quiet earbuds and the add-on Loop Mute accessory.

Loop Quiet Earplugs

With up to 27dB noise reduction, certified hearing protection and a variety of settings to use them in, the Loop Earplugs are a buy you can remain confident in.

$25 at Loop

That said, I found the reduction offered by Happy Ears to be perfect for my relatively quiet life. I wore the earplugs primarily when working outside, where constant nearby traffic noise tends to grate on my brain. With the earplugs in that noise settled to a quiet hum, but I still felt confident I’d hear my phone ring or my dog barking for attention.

Inside, they calmed the chaos even more. Fan hums and boiling kettles did not distract my brain from the work in front of me. That's a big deal if your brain and body constantly fight for focus.

They have several eco-friendly features

Climate change disproportionately affects disabled people, so I’m thrilled by the minimalistic packaging that enshrouds Happy Ears earplugs.

According to the brand's website, people toss out 1 billion single-use earplugs yearly, and less than 60% of “recyclable” packaging is actually recyclable. In 2021, the founders launched their current recyclable, compostable, and biodegradable packaging. Instructions are printed on the back of the package rather than on a box or additional paper, and they are shipped with minimal fuss—just an envelope with the earplug package and a packing slip.

I tested the Original Earplugs, which are eco-friendly in their own right. But in 2020, Happy Ears started offering a recycled version made of 100% recycled plastic. By 2021, the company introduced Happy Ears OP—a version made entirely of post-consumer ocean plastic—which reduces sound by 27 dB. In my book, any product that keeps plastic out of landfills is exceptional.

Happy Ears Earplugs

The Happy Ears Earplugs reduce noise to a more manageable level, all while offering customizable comfort that you're sure to appreciate.

$32 at Happy Ears

What I don’t like about Happy Ears earplugs

The case is fiddly

If I had to reach for a complaint, I’d add that the tiny included earbud cases are somewhat hard to open—which may be an issue for people with dexterity issues.

Should you buy Happy Ears earplugs?

Absolutely, especially for casual settings

A fellow disabled person recently asked me which earplugs would be most helpful for reducing noise in doctors’ waiting rooms and hospital settings. They were considering both Loop and Flare Audio’s Calmer earplugs—both are excellent options.

However, I’d recommend Happy Ears for such settings. They reduce volume enough to calm the clatter, but you’d still be able to hear an intercom announcement or a nurse calling your name. They’re also easy to take out and store if you ever need to engage in conversation.

If you’re looking for a comfortable and eco-friendly way to turn the dial down without tapping entirely out of the world’s sound—buy these!

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