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'They stay in all night': Side-sleeping insomniacs swear by these comfy earplugs

'They stay in all night': Side-sleeping insomniacs swear by these comfy earplugs

Yahoo08-03-2025

Losing an hour's sleep to daylight savings time means we're clinging to every precious snoozy minute we can get. So if any little noise is going to interrupt your nightly rendezvous with sweet, sweet slumber, it's time to get serious about blocking out the world. Loop Quiet 2 Ear Plugs are Yahoo's pick for the best earplugs for sleeping, they're Amazon's No. 1 bestsellers in earplugs and shoppers say they're among the most comfortable and secure they've ever worn, especially for side sleepers.
Made of soft, flexible silicone, these reusable earplugs muffle unwanted noise so you're able to fall asleep more easily. Yahoo writer Lindsay Boyers raved about this very feature in her review: "They formed a tight seal that blocked out most sound and turned my partner's jarring, chainsaw-like snoring into a dull background noise," she wrote. (We'll take five pairs!)
And, unlike so many other options on the market, they come with four sizes of ear tips, S-XL, since our ears are like fingerprints — everyone's are different. "This is the first time I've seen an extra-small option, and the choices allowed me to get the right fit," Boyers said of the included ear tips. "They also have a loop shape (hence the name) that makes them easy to pull out in the morning."
Though many buyers use their Loop earplugs as a sleep aid, others reach for them to de-stress, focus or block out distracting noises while flying. They come in seven colors ranging from black to lemon lime.
Over 3,000 Amazon shoppers give their Loops a five-star rating, saying they're the most comfortable earplugs they've ever worn.
One shopper said they've never once slipped out of his ears. "They fit and stay in all night even when side sleeping," the fan wrote. "They reduce ambient sound so well. Helps get rid of the annoying sound of my CPAP machine. It works so well [that] it makes it hard to hear my alarm go off in the morning."
If your partner doesn't exactly sleep like a baby, shoppers recommend adding these to your cart immediately: "I use these for sleeping as my husband snores and these are the only earplugs that stay all night," this shopper noted.
They also come in handy for blocking loud music: "I'm a bartender at a live music venue. We have music every day and some bands are just louder than ever," the five-star reviewer wrote. "I not only wanted to save my ears from future issues, but also be able to work without my ears ringing for hours afterwards. These are perfect. I can still hear my customers, but it muffles the sound of the bands and helps keep me comfortable throughout my shift."
"The first night I used them, I was amazed at how much noise they blocked out," another impressed shopper wrote. "I finally slept soundly throughout the night. The Loop Quiet 2 are comfortable, discreet and incredibly effective. They've been a lifesaver for me."
One four-star reviewer had this note of caution: "These are not earplugs that will completely block out all sound. They are designed (and redesigned from the original line of Loop earplugs) to minimize occlusion (what makes you feel like you're underwater when you put earplugs in) while also reducing the harshness of sounds. [The] only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is that I wish the material these are made of was just a little bit softer/squishier."
If you have Amazon Prime, you'll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.

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Want stronger legs without running? I tried rucking for a week, and it's a game-changer
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Want stronger legs without running? I tried rucking for a week, and it's a game-changer

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Ask Kerry: Readers weigh in on Medicare and more
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Ask Kerry: Readers weigh in on Medicare and more

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Kerry: Yes, you can tap your health savings account to pay for Medicare premiums and other qualified medical expenses, including those covered by Medicare Parts A, B, C (Medicare Advantage), and D (prescription drug coverage). But it's a hard no on using HSA funds to pay for Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plan premiums. Learn more: What is a health savings account (HSA)? My husband and I are retired, in our 70s and living in Mexico. My husband has a HSA he set up through his work probably 15 years ago. Can he use it for medical and similar expenses outside the US? Can we continue to contribute to the existing HSA? Kerry: Yes, you can use your HSA to cover medical costs when you live outside the country as long as the expenses are qualified medical expenses under US law. You, however, might be docked a 1%-3% transaction fee if you are accessing your account with a credit card. As for amping your account up, for now, you can't contribute more money to an HSA at your age. 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Social Security recalculates monthly benefits when you reach full retirement age to credit back the withheld benefits. In general, the way the earnings test works is if you're between age 62 and your full retirement age and earn over $23,400 (the limit is adjusted annually) and collecting Social Security, the administration will withhold $1 for every $2 over that limit. For people hitting their full retirement age in 2025, the annual exempt amount is $62,160. This higher exempt amount applies only to earnings made in months prior to the month you hit your retirement age. The good news is that the earnings test goes away at full retirement age. But nothing is simple here. There is another method called the foreign work test. With this method, your income could impact your current benefit. If you are receiving Social Security benefits and are younger than full retirement age, SSA will withhold your benefits for each month you work more than 45 hours outside the United States and you are not subject to US Social Security taxes. It does not matter how much you earned or how many hours you worked each day. Check out How Work Affects Your Benefits (Publication No. 05-10069). I'm 69 years old and plan to work until at least 72 or 73. My Social Security Income (SSI) benefits will be the bulk of my income upon retirement, and I am currently $40,000 in debt with a repayment plan that will eliminate all or most of the debt before I retire. The caveat is that I will need to claim my SSI benefits to support this payment plan. I turn 70 in September 2025 and would like to know when I can apply for my Social Security Income benefits to maintain the 8% increase until I reach 70 years old. Is it on my birthday in September, or do I need to wait until October 1st? Kerry: To receive the maximum 8% increase in your Social Security benefit, you should apply for your benefits the month before your 70th birthday. This will ensure your benefits start the month of your 70th birthday, and you receive the full 8% increase for each year you delayed taking benefits after your full retirement age. It typically takes at least a month, or 30 days, to receive your first Social Security check after your application is processed. It could be 45 days in some cases. The precise timing of your check delivery relies on processing times at the Social Security Administration. Read more: When will I get my social security check? During a recent operations meeting in April at SSA, an official from the agency reported that the field offices 'are struggling right now to keep pace with the timeliness this year.' The fact that they are aware of this is a good thing, and, if they take action, the SSA will have this under control by the time you apply for your benefit. In general, I recommend applying up to four months before you want to start receiving benefits. Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist and the author of 14 books, including the forthcoming "Retirement Bites: A Gen X Guide to Securing Your Financial Future," "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in the New World of Work" and "Never Too Old to Get Rich." Follow her on Bluesky. Sign up for the Mind Your Money newsletter Sign in to access your portfolio

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