On the list above, we included the Neutron soft foam earplugs – one of many similar products on the market. These foam tips are at the cheaper end of the scale and in our opinion should only be used as a backup. Unlike some of the other options, foam earplugs muffle all sounds and don’t let much audio through unlike the more expensive models. As such, they’re better suited to getting a good night’s sleep than rocking out in a crowd.
On my gig travels, I’ve seen similar foam earplugs given away free at the bar but the uptake has never seemed that high – although at a Swans/Anna von Hausswolff concert several years ago, I was only too happy to see a cup of red foam earbuds perched on a table. In all my years of watching live music, I had never experienced music so loud, and I gratefully stuffed a couple into my lugs.
It was a memorable live event for all the wrong reasons as I couldn’t really pick out any intricacies in the music after only a short time. Even worse was that my head ached for several days afterwards and my hearing took a battering. Despite these negatives, it was that night that convinced me to invest in a good pair of earplugs and I haven't looked back.
So foam earplugs are better than nothing if you’re in a pinch, but remember that each pair should only be worn once and then disposed of. The shape will change with repeated use and they’re not the most hygienic option available.