Latest news with #Loops
Stuff.tv
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- Stuff.tv
I wore a pair of Loop earplugs to the F1 – now I wouldn't attend a race or festival without them
I've been to a few Formula 1 races over the years, and one thing never changes: they're loud. Gloriously, thrillingly loud – but also the kind of loud that makes your ears ring for hours afterwards. This year at the Miami Grand Prix, I tried something new: the McLaren F1 Team x Loop Switch 2 earplugs. Honestly? I don't think I'll ever go back to a race (or a festival) without them. Now, I've used earplugs before. The cheap foam ones they hand out at concerts. They're fine for cutting noise, but they also cut out everything else – conversations, atmosphere, the good stuff. They feel like stuffing insulation into your head. The Loops were different. First off, they look good, more like a pair of the best wireless earbuds than earplugs. McLaren's papaya orange accents give them a clean, minimal, jewellery-like look. They're not chunky or clinical. No one stared at me, wondering if I was trying to sleep through the Grand Prix. In fact, a couple of people asked where I got them. But here's the real magic: I could still hear everything I wanted to – the roar of the engines, the commentary, even people chatting beside me – without any of the painfully sharp, high-decibel chaos that usually builds up during the day. When you're standing trackside and the cars scream past at 190mph, it's thrilling. But those loud sounds do get exhausting fast (for me, anyway). With the Loop Switch 2 in, the edge was taken off just enough that I could enjoy the spectacle without my ears begging for mercy. I started the day in Experience mode, which brings the volume down a notch (23dB reduction), but still lets a lot of the environment through. It was perfect for watching the action without feeling disconnected. When we moved closer to the grid for the pre-race build-up (and while watching the loud Porsche Cup support race), I clicked the dial into Quiet mode (26 dB reduction) – the max protection setting. It really helped. Later in the day, when we were queuing for food or just hanging out, Engage mode came into its own. This mode (20dB reduction) softens the background noise while keeping voices crystal clear. I didn't have to shout to be heard, and I didn't feel like I had pillows over my ears. Being able to switch modes on the fly like that, with just a twist of the dial. The fit was surprisingly comfortable, too. You get four different tip sizes in the box, and once I'd found the right ones, they stayed in all day without any irritation or need to adjust them. That's more than I can say for the cheap foam ones I used to wear for half an hour before binning them. And that's another point: these aren't throwaways. They're built to last. Washable, reusable, and they come with a neat little case that clips onto your bag or belt. No more fishing around in your pocket for a crumpled pair of foam plugs wrapped in a napkin. If you're into racing, or you've ever left a gig or festival with your ears ringing like an old landline, I honestly think Loop's Switch 2 earplugs are worth it. The Loop Switch 2 earplugs are priced at $64.95 in the US and £59.95 in the UK Liked this? I tested the Cambridge Audio Melomania A100 noise-cancelling earbuds and while excellent they make this one key compromise
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'They stay in all night': Side-sleeping insomniacs swear by these comfy earplugs
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.
