Remember when I reviewed the Engage Plus and Experience Plus earplugs from Loop earlier this year? Well, I’m excited to review the new Switch earplugs from Loop today!
And no, I’m not just buying earplugs to test them from time to time (although is that a real job? Because I might be interested). Once I got the Engage and Experience actually got the Loop Switch earplugs after losing one of my beloved Engage earplugs after wearing them out for Halloween trick-or-treating — these are a holiday lifesaver for the sugar-induced screaming and squealing that comes from all that candy consumption!
(I’ve had the box kicking around my purse for a few months now so please forgive the scuff marks)
Although I was sad to have misplaced my Engage, I had a feeling it would be tough to find, especially since I got the Arctic Crystal color, which is essentially clear with only the black earbud visible.
But losing the earplug gave me the excuse to order a pair of the Switch earplugs to try them out!
When I was first looking into Loop earplugs, I spent a long time debating whether I needed the Engage or the Experience. I ended up going with both, and for someone like me who works hard to protect their hearing for their job (podcast editor), having those options so I can do the things I love without worrying about my ears ringing the next day is particularly important to me.
The Switch earplugs intrigued me and I wondered if I would have purchased just those had they been available a few months earlier when I was first ready to invest in good earplugs for everyday use.
After a few months of regular use, I’m excited to share this honest review for those of you who may be considering buying the popular Loop earplugs for yourself or a loved one.
I wear my Loop earplugs almost daily, and when it came to prepping for my recent surgery, I was wearing them a lot when I wasn’t editing to give my ears a much-needed break.
Most days, I wear the Engage earplugs to block out the kids’ TV shows, video games, or music. I find there are days I don’t even realize how aggravated just the sounds of the house can make me. The dishwasher running, one kid’s TV show blaring from one room, another kid’s music coming from the other direction, and then add my husband trying to get my attention to ask a question — some days the chaos of it all adds up and I’m overwhelmed with the noise and have trouble focusing.
There’s a reason these earplugs are marketed with neurodivergent brains in mind — the overwhelm tends to lead to anxiety for me. More anxiety usually means more aggravated ADHD, more emotional dysregulation, and sometimes anger or burnout.
So how does the Switch compare to my other Loops? Here’s my experience, broken down into Pros and Cons.
What I liked:
3-in-1 was great. They’re easily switchable and after years of editing podcasts and being able to pinpoint even the slightest of volume dips, the difference between the settings is noticeable enough that it’s a great value, especially if you can’t choose between the Engage (recommended for conversations), Experience (recommended for concerts), and Quiet (recommended for sleep).
The case is significantly better than what came with the Engage and Experience and seems more robust. I would feel comfortable with my Loop Switch earplugs in just the case inside my purse, but I can’t say the same for my Engage or Experience cases. I believe I mentioned in my previous reviews that I keep the Engage and Experience earplugs in their case AND in the boxes they came in. But the Switch’s case has a more reliable-feeling closure mechanism.
Cool Blue color. On one hand, they make it look like I have some fancy-schmancy earbuds in, but on the other hand, they are more noticeable than my clear Engage earbuds I wear most often and aren’t really seen. That said, I tend to wear my hair down often enough that they’re not noticeable.
What I didn’t love::
Because there’s a mechanism to, ahem, switch, between the different modes, these earplugs are a bit heavier than simply the Engage or Experience, and even more heaviness compared to the very light Quiet Loops.
As mentioned, these are more noticeable than the mostly clear-colored Engage earplugs. The color I got is a nice powdery Plue and the other shades available are Pink, Black, and White. The Experience earplugs generally come in metallic shades and I opted for gold, which look like jewelry, which comes in handy for weddings and dressing up nicely for concerts. But because this blue is more casual, I may still opt for my gold Experience Loops for loud events where I want to dress it up a bit.
They’re not as long-wearing for me as the Engage or Experience. Because of the added bulkiness, my ears tend to tire of them after an hour or two. Comparatively, when I wear the Loop Engage or Experience, they’re lighter and I can wear them for longer periods of time before feeling any type of ear fatigue. I found switching the size from medium, which is the default size that comes when you open the case for the first time, to the small size helped.
Overall, if you were looking for all-around earplugs for general use a few hours per day, these are fantastic and I’m glad I have them in my purse for on-the-go use.
That said, if you’re looking for a set you’ll want to wear all day, I would recommend assessing your daily noise level and getting the earplugs specifically designed for what you’re looking for.
Again, the Loop Engage is great for parenting, conversations in restaurants, and generally takes the edge off when it comes to those ongoing or unexpected sounds that pop up throughout the day in busy houses or businesses.
The Loop Experience is designed for louder environments, but still lets in quality sound so you can enjoy the music of concerts or hear what your friends are saying in a crowded bar or sports arena.
The Loop Quiet are the softest and are designed for sleep. I picked up a pair for my mom recently who loves them for use at night in her nursing home room when her roommate plays her TV loudly a little too late into the night for my mom.
But if you aren’t looking for earplugs for daily wear, but want something versatile for any occasion, Loop Switch earplugs are fantastic for you or a friend 🙂
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