Earplugs for Flying: Which Pair for Noise, and Which for Pressure
Verdict:Loop Quiet 2 ($24.95) is the best earplug for flying if cabin noise and sleep are your problem. Mack's Flightguard ($11.99) and Alpine FlyFit ($16.95) are the picks if your ears hurt on descent, because they are built with pressure-regulating filters.
Earplugs for flying solve two different problems, and most roundups blur them together. One problem is cabin noise that keeps you awake. The other is the pressure in your ears on descent, and only some earplugs are built for it.
This guide draws on the Loop, Mack’s, and Alpine product pages, a long thread on the Rick Steves Travel Forum, and a European roundup from The Flight Club, all checked on 2026-10-18.
Some links in this review are affiliate links. Intastravel may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we pick.
The short answer
Buy the Loop Quiet 2 if you want quiet and sleep. Loop lists it at up to 24 dB (SNR) of noise reduction, and it costs $24.95.
Buy Mack’s Flightguard or Alpine FlyFit if your ears hurt during takeoff and landing. Both have a pressure-regulating filter, and Loop itself says its own earplugs are for noise, not pressure.
Noise or pressure: pick your problem first
Noise earplugs are solid or foam plugs that muffle sound. They help you sleep and take the edge off engine drone. They do not fix ear pain.
Pressure earplugs have a small filter that slows the pressure change on your eardrum. Mack’s says its filter gives your ears more time to equalize, and Alpine says its filters act like a valve. Both still muffle some noise, but less than a dedicated noise plug.
Neither type replaces the basics. Mack’s says to gently blow with your nose pinched before you insert the plugs and to keep clearing your ears on descent. Loop lists swallowing, yawning, chewing gum, and the Valsalva maneuver for pressure.
The three picks, compared
Loop Quiet 2
Mack’s Flightguard
Alpine FlyFit
Best for
Noise and sleep
Ear pressure
Pressure plus light noise cut
Price
$24.95
$11.99
$16.95
Noise rating
Up to 24 dB (SNR), 14 dB (NRR)
26 dB on the box
17 dB
Pressure filter
No
Yes, ceramic filter
Yes
Reusable
Yes, washable
Replace every 2 to 4 weeks if used often
Alpine says 100 uses
Sizes
4 tip sizes
One size
One standard size
Ratings come from each maker’s own page, and Loop’s SNR and NRR figures use different rating systems. Do not compare them to the others number for number.
Loop Quiet 2 is the one I would pack for an overnight flight. It is made of soft silicone, and the kit includes four pairs of ear tips from XS to L, so small ear canals are covered.
Posters on the Rick Steves Travel Forum return to it again and again. One side sleeper says it blocks a partner’s snoring and does not fall out overnight, and several say it reduces noise a lot without removing it entirely. Another poster warns that cheap Amazon knock-offs of Loop exist.
It is reusable. Loop says to rinse the tips with mild soap and water and let them dry before putting them back in the case. If you want to still hear announcements and conversation, Loop sells a separate Engage model at up to 16 dB (SNR).
Flightguard is built for the descent. Mack’s describes an AERO FILTER that regulates ear pressure, ultra-soft flanges, and silicone with no latex. The pack is one pair plus a storage case, and the box lists 26 dB.
Mack’s gives specific rules. Insert them before takeoff, remove them after landing, and always put them in an hour before landing. If you use them often, Mack’s says to replace them every 2 to 4 weeks because the ceramic filter can clog with dust.
The catch is that they are an aid, not a cure. Mack’s says you still need to clear your ears yourself, especially on descent. It also suggests checking with an ENT doctor if you are unsure they are safe for you.
Alpine FlyFit costs $5 more than Flightguard and says it is good for 100 uses. It has a pressure-regulating filter and a 17 dB attenuation, so it softens the cabin without shutting it out.
The box holds two earplugs and a storage case. Alpine sells FlyFit in one standard size, so people with very small ear canals should check the fit before a long trip. Alpine offers a 100-day satisfaction guarantee, and it asks you to test the product for at least 10 days first.
The Flight Club, a European travel site, also points to FlyFit for people who get ear pain in flight. That is a recommendation, not a test, and we have not tested it either.
If you only want noise reduction, foam plugs cost the least. The Flight Club lists the 3M 1100 orange foam plugs at 37 dB and says they are unbeatable for a budget under 15 euros. That is the site’s claim, and we have not tested them.
One poster on the Rick Steves Travel Forum uses Mack’s foam plugs and likes that they are cheap and light enough to carry several pairs. The same thread has a blunt reality check: one poster says the best you will get from any earplugs is about 25 dB, and that even custom-molded plugs do not block everything.
Who should buy which
Buy the Loop Quiet 2 if you sleep on planes or fly long haul. Buy Mack’s Flightguard if your ears hurt on descent and you want the cheapest fix. Buy Alpine FlyFit if you want a pressure filter and a longer life.
For noise and sleep, the Loop Quiet 2 at $24.95. For ear pressure, Mack’s Flightguard at $11.99 or Alpine FlyFit at $16.95.
Do earplugs help with ear pressure on a plane?
Only pressure-regulating earplugs are designed to. Mack’s and Alpine make filtered plugs for this, while Loop says its plugs reduce noise and do not equalise pressure.
When should I put earplugs in on a flight?
Mack’s says to insert its Flightguard before takeoff and always at least an hour before landing. For noise, Loop says you can put plugs in as soon as you board.
How long do flying earplugs last?
Loop earplugs are reusable and washable. Mack’s recommends replacing Flightguard every 2 to 4 weeks if used frequently, and Alpine says FlyFit is reusable 100 times.
Can I use earplugs with noise-cancelling headphones?
Yes. One Rick Steves Travel Forum poster wears soft earplugs under noise-canceling headphones on planes.
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