Extremely comfortable, fairly low-pressure, and best of all- they absolutely will NOT fall out while you sleep.
As a nurse, I have been working 12 hour night shifts for the last 7 years, and sleeping during the day with a 2 little kids and a wife who likes to vacuum is a bit a challenge. Noises like gardeners and lawnmowers, trash trucks and loud (apartment) neighbors have been constant problems that I have mostly learned to ignore.
Over the years I have tried many different solutions including other brands of disposable earplugs, fans, and static brown noise. Frankly, usually a combination of several things helps me sleep. However, I always seem to wake up from either noise or uncomfortable changes when one or both of the ear plugs fall out.
I stumbled upon this cost-effective solution and overall, I am pretty pleased with these earplugs.
Pros: light, soft and comfortable. They don't move around once they're in and I can't think of any activities where they might accidentally fall out. Since they are custom-molded they of course fit like a dream and work well. Bottom line: these earplugs are better than anything I've used and they are 10 times cheaper than custom earplugs made at the audiologist office. I am not ready to invest $150 bucks or more on something that I am likely to misplace, and these custom earplugs are fantastic. Get some, and if you get a good fit you won't be disappointed.
Now for the cons. These are somewhat minor, and here is how I overcame these issues. Once these ear plugs dry they are stiff and not pliable or spongy. So, if you don't get a good fit with the initial mold, they probably won't work very well, and I imagine they won't be very comfortable either. The comfort of these ear plugs result from an accurate custom fit, but if you want something soft and squishy these might not be a good product for you. When molding them for the first time just note that it takes a little bit of work to get a deep fit when working them into your ear. I used almost all the material and found that it was a bit too much once it had set. It made the outside surface of the earplug stick out over some more of the sensitive parts of my outer-ear, and when I was side sleeping on my pillow it became sore after a few hours, and I had to roll over. This by no means is a deal breaker though, because for me this is WAY less irritating then regular earplugs, which extend much further past the outer ear, which eventually causes them to loosen and dislodge. I would suggest that you either use less of the included putty material for each ear (especially if you have smallish ears), or you could do use more material, but clean up to extra material after it hardens. My goal was to have as much of my ear covered as possible for better sound blocking. I really filled nearly half of my outer ear- just like the photos on the packaging show. However, the finished surface was not as flat as the advertised picture and so after letting it cure for another day or two I pulled out an exacto knife and sliced off some of the outer surface for a more flat, uniform look. This was an immediate improvement in comfort and it looks a lot more even and gives the plug a more finished and professional appearance. I had some 150 grit sand paper laying around and so I ran them back a forth on the paper to even out the surface and they look and feel perfect now. You can see my results in the pics I uploaded.
Before you try and mold these to your ears for the first time I also recommend watching a video (you can Google how-to videos on YouTube and you'll get a great idea of how to do it, or a trip to the official website will work too). You will probably get a better, more comfortable, and more effective fit if you know what you're doing first. In fact, after making several pairs over the last couple of years, I might suggest that you buy 2 kits and makes several pairs, because some attempts might turn out significantly better than others. Also, a little research shows that the putty has a shelf-life of a year after packaging and the product comes with a card with a date of production. I ordered mine on Amazon and it had a packaging date three weeks old. Basically, brand new.
Final thoughts: If you take your time and watch an instructional video before proceeding you will probably end up with a better result. Also, do yourself a favor and really clean your ear well before starting this process. If you're like me that means you might want to use an ear hair trimmer get rid of anything that might impede a good fit. This review might be a bit overkill for a product as simple as earplugs, but as a day-time sleeper, I felt like I might be able to help fellow night-shift workers get better rest.
This product was very easy to use and works better than any other earplugs I've tried to date. My husband snores like a Silverback Gorilla and I have tried various ways to drown out his snoring without success. These earplugs do not block out noise completely, however they mute the defining snoring going on 14" from my head enough to where I can fall asleep by focusing on my breathing sounds (which is amplified when you put the earplugs in). I didn't use all of the material provided since I am a female with smaller ear canals so I left about a pea sized amount out. I'm able to sleep on my side comfortably and they stay in secure. If you are about to suffocate your spouse with a pillow due to their snoring, I'd suggest giving these a try before adding a life-sentence onto your record.
I have a snoring husband, and have tried quite a few different ear plugs trying to deal with it. My ear canals are tiny, and regular foam plugs would make my ear canals sore as hell! I would wake up after a few hours with my ears in severe pain and it felt like pulling a knife out of my ear while trying to get the foam plugs out. Even the slim fit ones did this to me. The silicone moldable ones were sort of okay, but dried out quickly and the costs of constantly keeping them in stock were adding up.
Then I stumbled across this product.
I was sceptical at first, but thought it was worth a shot. I really wasn't expecting much.
I got these and immediately started molding them to my ear. Directions were simple enough, and the process went smoothly and didn't take very long. I let them harden, and what do you know? They blocked noise out amazingly for me. One of them went further back into my ear canal, so it caused some pain while laying on my side. I took some scissors and clipped a little off the end and filed the edges smooth with a clean nail file, and after that they've been amazing! I experience no more pain and can actually sleep at night comfortably now! Also since my ears are so small I had enough to make myself 2 pairs. :) Extremely happy I gave these a try, thank you for this product!
Please read the whole review Radians redeemed themselves and it will make you think twice about buying these online
Well if these were marketed as ultra-tacky non-setting ear plugs that were permanent then man these would be great.
I had to get a friend that is a doctor to come over and carefully remove the ear plug that has cemented itself into my ear canal. It wasn't placed overly far into my ear canal either, I had used another brand before this many times, but couldn't find it anywhere so I decided to go with these since I needed some new ear pro for shooting, doing loud odd jobs, or for using as custom fit ear bud with in ear head phones.
I am really glad I didn't clean my ears to do this, the cleaner the surface of my skin was the more it stuck.
It's all over my sink, and I've been scouring it with steel wool...
I've never been this dissatisfied with a product in my life.
Well I emailed Radians and they had me look into the product date codes, I was sold product that had expired over a year prior to my purchase, Radians has been trying to tell retailers that the product does go bad. Also Radians improved the life and formula a lot. They sent me 3, that's THREE, sets to try out. I got one and didn't let it touch my ears, just played with it, worked flawlessly, audiologist quality. So I'm very pleased with the results.
That being said I would make sure you are getting "fresh" product, which is hard to do online, not saying that it can't be done, but make sure you buy from Amazon and not a third party vendor.
Radians customer service is amazing, I got such prompt response and their absolute concern for my health and safety was nice to see.
I bought these to use with my ear buds to make custom molded ear buds. I bought two in case I screw up the first time, but got it done on the first attempt. These have been great, they are way better than any other kind of earbud ear attachment. For $12, it's a steal. These are much more comfortable than the inner or outer ear clips. They do an excellent job of keeping music from being heard by nearby people since they completely cover the inner ear. They will never fall out while moving, working, running, jumping.
Instructions mentioned while setting the mold, to keep in ear for at least 10 minutes. I let it set for over 20 minutes because the putty kept crackling for closer to 20 minutes. I used this mold with TaoTronics Bluetooth Headphones, it work perfectly.
Feature Product
- Custom Molded Earplugs. Easy, do-it-yourself kit, molds in 10 minutes. Soft, Permanent, Custom Fit
- Made in the USA
Description
Easy, do-it-yourself kit, molds in 10 minutes. Dozens of everyday uses including shooting sports, sporting events, construction, lawn care, assembly lines, farming, auto races, swimming, flying, factories and much more!. Note: Best before 12 months from date of manufacture.
8/3/17 : Mine didn't come out (see photo). Purchased on July 21, 2017, opened the package and formed them on Aug 3, 2017. Date of manufacture (stamped inside the package) is Nov 23, 2016.
UPDATE
8/5/17: I emailed the company that evening, describing the problem I had. I also emailed Amazon, asking if I was to buy another set would it be possible to get a newer product. Amazon responded by initiating a return and sending me a replacement set with one-day shipping. But the company (Radians) also responded immediately (first thing in the morning) offering to send a replacement set (I didn't take them up on that offer only because Amazon had responded minutes earlier with their own replacement). But Radians' opinion was that I mixed the material for too long. The package says to mix for 30-45 seconds, so I went for the long side and counted to 45 while mixing. Here is Radians' response:
"Crumbling is normally caused by mixing the two parts for too long. If the material is still being formed after the curing process has begun, cracks will form as the material will not properly stick to itself. I typically recommend kneading the material for no longer than 15 seconds or just until the color is uniform."
So on the replacement set I mixed quickly and put the material in my ear as soon as it was uniform. I couldn't get it uniform in 15 seconds, but it took until the count of 25. I was also pushed a little harder into my ear this time. Incidentally, the replacement was newer, manufactured June 26, 2017.
The second set came out pretty good.
I purchased two packages to make my own in ear monitors with average earbuds. Huge difference when I mow. The instructions say to use half in each ear I think, and that is what I did the first time, but it was to much. I made a second pair and used about 1/3rd with was perfect. I used a little drill bit in my dremel to create the hold to the ear bud. I used a little burr remover on the dremel to clean up the excess and everything worked fine. If you are going to do in ear monitors pay attention to where the ear bud is placed while the mold is hardening. My first set had the ear buds facing to far back and I couldn't get the hole drilled correctly. The second set was fine.
The mold is a soft rubber like mold so I could see them tearing after a while. So far so good though.
I use earplugs every night to sleep in. Until now I have used the Mack's swimmer's earplugs because they are soft and mold over the ear rather than go inside. I have extremely narrow and sensitive ear canals so normal foam earplugs are not an option for me. I have really enjoyed using the moldable silicone kind but they are not budget friendly so I found the Radians brand. Very economical pricing! When I received my unfolded earplugs the date was almost a year old which worried me. I tried mixing them up anyway and was pleased to find they set up just fine. The bubbling in my ear tickled and it was hard not to laugh and move my jaw since this could have affected the mold. I actually let them set up for 25 minutes in my ear Just in case. Afterwards I left them on the nightstand overnight to make sure they were completely done setting. Since I have small ears I could have actually made two pair from the material given and will make sure to do so next time I need to buy another set. These earplugs blocked the smaller noises but still allowed me to hear my alarm clock which was exactly what I wanted them to do. I am a side sleeper so it took a few nights to get used to the slightly harder earplugs but it's not an issue now. I'll be buying more when needed but they seem like they will last at least a few months of daily us.a
Wow it works pretty well! I can tell they will muffle my neighbor's loud TV at night. The process is super uncomfortable when it's curing in your ears! Super weird bubbling sounds and feelings- kind of like Pop Rocks are in your ear. But that meant the curing process was working.
1. Divide the colored silicone into 2 balls. Keep one out and one back in the container.
2. Divide the white into 2 balls. Keep one out and one back in the container.
3. Knead one of the colored and one of the white until it becomes a solid color.
4. Using a mirror and tying any loose hair back, Fit in your ear pushing gently in the ear and making sure the sides are smooth. You can fold the sides toward the center.
5. Use a gentle smoothing motion with your finger to make it look nice
6. Enjoy 10+ minutes of bubbling and sizzling in your ears!!
I get a full night's sleep now. Neighbors check their car door locks by remotely beeping the horn, cars with loud mufflers and stereos drive by, someone watches TV in the next room at normal volume, and I sleep through it all. Wasn't always this way. I tried regular foam earplugs but they were really painful in the morning, as I'm a side sleeper.
Followed instructions exactly and made a custom set that lay flush with the outside of my ears. These block out most all sound while not poking very far in. NO MORE SORE EARS when I awake. If you need something to stay in for an extended period of time, this is the way to go.
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