8 best earplugs for a good night’s sleep in a tent, campervan or hostel

You can’t really go wrong with these no-nonsense foam earplugs from Haspro – they’re ultra-soft, super-comfy and block out noise effectively. They fit snugly into the ear canal, gently adapting and expanding to the shape of your ear, and with an impressive 38dB noise reduction rating they’re at the very top of the earplugs effectiveness chart.

Weighing next to nothing (a pair registered as 0g on our albeit rather basic kitchen weighing scales), they certainly won’t break your back if you’re trekking into a Scottish bothy or spending a night under canvas on a mountain. Strictly speaking, each pair is designed for one use only, but we found they’re good for at least a few nights (to help reduce our environmental guilt). They sometimes fall out overnight, but ultimately we loved these earplugs – the softness, comfort and noise reduction helped us sleep like a baby.

These putty-style, soft silicone earplugs are moulded into shape with your fingers and placed over your ear opening (not inserted into the ear canal), forming a sealed covering. We found this method very effective at reducing irritating night-time noises and, while it’s rather tricky to be scientifically objective, for us they probably blocked out sounds better than foam buds.

However, they weren’t as comfortable and we found the sealed-in sensation a little odd. For £8.99 you get six pairs (reusable three times each), a plastic carry case and a 27dB rating. They are suitable for use during swimming and water sports too.

Ultra-modern, cutting edge and stylish, the Bose sleepbuds II are in a class of their own. Designed like a pair of wireless earbud headphones (“they are earbuds, not earplugs” Bose tell us), the sleepbuds II work with the Bose Sleep app to play relaxing sounds – a library of 40 natural sounds such as rain and rustling leaves, as well as quiet musical selections with soothing tones – to help you fall asleep. And then use Bose’s noise-masking technology so you can stay asleep all night.

For a night in a busy hostel or a lively Scottish bothy, this could be a game-changer. Though, the sky-high price-tag will be a deal-breaker, but for anyone who finds that standard earplugs just don’t cut it, the Bose sleepbuds II might just be your ticket to regular restful sleep.

Bringing contemporary, sleek designs to the earplug game, the confidently-branded Flare Audio lives up to its name with the isolate. These earplugs not only look good (think smooth lines, metallic finishes and bold colours), they work well too – up there with our favourites on test.

Like a 21 st upgrade to the humble foam earplug, the isolate consists of a solid billet of aluminium fitted with a domed, ergonomic memory foam tip. They reduce noise by 32dB, according to the official stats, using the metal to help ‘block noise like never before’. We got on well with them. They fitted comfortably in the ear canal (you get three sizes to choose from) and didn’t give an under-water sensation like some earplugs.

Except for the colour, there’s almost nothing between the BioEars soft silicone earplugs and EarHub’s sleepwell earplugs (£8.99, Amazon.co.uk) – they are very similar in almost every regard. BioEars block out 23dB of noise (according to the official stats) and felt relatively comfy and snug. For £5.99 you get six pairs – perhaps the best value deal available for silicone earplugs – and a plastic carry case. Each earplug also features an “activaloe” antimicrobial treatment for improved hygiene.

Travel accessory brand GoTravel offer a set of earplugs with two key selling points: a custom fit and multi-use design. The former comes courtesy of tiny plastic rods – sized small, medium, large or extra-large – which slide into a cavity inside the earplugs, thus expanding their shape for a fit bespoke to your ear. The latter is achieved by the use of highly durable silicone, which can be hand-washed in a mild detergent nightly usage.

This non-disposal approach is planet-friendly, while the overall performance of these earplugs is impressive too. We found the fit inside the ear canal very snug and close, with the mini applicator helping to position the buds in exactly the right place, and the quoted 26dB rating seems accurate. If you’re struggling with basic disposable earplugs – or want a more permanent product – this custom fit option might be the answer.

These triple-tiered earplugs – which consist of a stem with three bowl-shaped moulds that decrease in size towards the tip – have a 27dB rating and can be used over 100 times. Made from a washable, hypoallergenic silicone, they slide into the ear canal smoothly and muffle noises pretty well. The concertinaed, triple-layer design moulds to your ear and is particularly well-suited to side sleepers.

According to the marketing blurb, Pluggerz sleep earplugs feature a “unique filter” which selectively dampens out background noises without completely sealing off the ear – so you can still stay alert to your morning alarm (or crying baby). Some packs include two pairs of different sizes, enabling you to find the best fit for your ears, while others contain just one. They weren’t our favourites overall, but we still slept solidly with these earplugs, which blocked out the noise of a nearby A-road effectively.

Self-proclaimed “sonic innovator” Flare Audio take a different approach with the calmer night, aiming to remove the “harsh edge” and “stress-inducing effect” of sounds rather than blocking them out. You will still hear these sounds but won’t be disturbed by them in the same way; the logic being that it’s the alert-triggering shrillness of the sounds that wake you, rather than the noise alone.

We struggled to notice the difference initially, but the very small buds – which are made from a soft-touch silicone suitable for multi-use – fitted comfortably and we still slept well with them. For £19.99 you get one pair of earplugs and a little carry pouch.