Why wear earplugs for swimming? A selection of earplugs for under £10 

I've used them for about 6 years now and tried lots of types before ending up with the soft zoggs ones. These became my favourite because they're soft and also because there isn't any 'sticky out' bits, to risk them being pushed in further by a swimming hat or any other pressure to the side of the head. :-)

I have a perforated eardrum and was recommended some 20 years ago, by an ENT consultant, to use vaseline and cotton wool . They create a complete seal and because you throw them away after there is less risk of infection. I have tried some of the bought ones over the years but have always gone back to these home made jobs. Had to go to the ENT guys last year (other ear) and on asking was told these are still considered the most effective option for keeping your ears dry. I make batches by melting the vaseline (clingfilm around a small tub and drop in hot water) and dip bits of cotton wool in it. It will probably take a few go's to get the right size to fit in your ear but you can also add a dap of vaseline over the top for a better seal.

What a terrific video. Thank you for the extremely useful overview of the different types of earplugs.

Four years on and your earplug video is still helping people - thank you for the reviews. Zoggs Aqua Plugz are now *$16* USD on amazon US 😮

Excellent, Speedo for pool, Zoggs propeller outdoors and putty for noisy hotels. 👍

I have had earplugs custom-made for me and have been super satisfied and absolutely thrilled with them for years. They simply fit most comfortably and are absolutely perfectly sealed and keep all water out. As soon as I put the earplugs in, I am very focused on swimming and completely unaware of my surroundings. Of course, you should still be aware of dangers when swimming in public areas. But if you want to try out earplugs, the cheap standard products you show are definitely worth using. It's great that you go into this in such detail, it will definitely help some people make their selection 😊👍

Oh thank goodness for this video. Amazingly hard to find useful videos about how plugs go in, and should look! Great overview of types.

Thank you Rachel, I've by chance stumbled across your site. I'm delighted. Looking forward to learning from you. Take care Therese

Such a useful video, thank you for doing it. I think I get the Zoggs ones

I’m off to Docs tomorrow for minor ear infection picked up whilst doing my new swim fitness training in local swimming pool. I’ll be getting a couple of the ear plugs you reviewed. Many Thanks, Great video.

Thanks ordered the zoggs and the litter picker upper ;)

Great info here... I don’t know how the availability of these earplugs in the UK would compare to availability in 🇨🇦, but there is a lot to be said for having a broad knowledge base about a product before making a purchase. I have always used the putty type of ear plug, but I do worry that over time, pushing a putty-type product against the cartilage part of the external ear may cause damage or distortion. I like the look of the Zoggs propellor type... I think I might search out this brand/style or a similar option in my country. Excellent info, thank-you!!

Speedo BioFUSE!!! From Russia with love ))

Thanks for the video! I will give earplugs another try! My main issue was that they tend to have bits that stick out and touch the swimming cap, this then creates a noise that is more unbearable than having the cold water flowing in...

I’d already ordered the Zoggs earplugs before watching this vid. Looks like I made a good choice. I find getting the cold water in my ears makes me feel disoriented and slightly queasy, and it’s really unpleasant, and makes it impossible for me to do crawl. Funny thing is I NEVER get seasick on boats! Never heard of surfer’s ear before but it sounds horrible.

Excellent video, thanks for your efforts

A nice inexpensive device to add to the Xmas list.

Hello dear maam from INDIA THX for great video love you there

I've used speedo ones that are like zoggs , must remember to use them.when surfing or iam dizzy fir a few days after . I have surfers ear, tinnitus and hearing aid from water sports

Thank you so much, I will try out 3 this summer🤞🏽

So helpful. Thank youuu

Loved everything you where telling. And what I find a pity is that I always swim with some friends but when I wear earplugs I'am more active in the water but don't hear them anymore, which is also a part of the swimming ritual.. When I do where the earplugs only in winter I feel more active and less restricted to do movements i rather not do (when I don't wear earplugs)because of the freezing water in my ears. So it keeps beiing always a bit of a dilemma...do I or do I not... :(

Very nice tutorial it helps me coz I don't know how to use it. Thanks

Thank you so much for doing this video. Really informative..

By Zoggs, do you mean the ones that look like christmas trees? I'll try them again, but the last time I inserted them, I still had a bit of a gap that allowed water in. It seems ear canals are not a "one size fits all"!

Great video! I do wish the title reflected the comparison portion though

Thank you.

Il y a quelques années j avait de lunettes de natation avec les bouchons d oreilles attachés à la sangle ! Je trouvais qu c'était une très bonne idée 💡 ! Car avec l'expérience vous est perdez toujours dans les vagues de bord . Ou dans le sac ! J'ai des ZOGG et avec une aiguille je les ai percés pour y passer un fil de pêche ! C'est impeccable et je ne Perds plus mes bouchons !

Hi Rachel . étant ancien 🏄‍♂️ surfer , j'ai été exposé à la " maladie du surfer " : l'oreille qui se bouche à l entrée ! Par contre je me permets de faire une petite rectification qui est importante ! : opération dont vous parlez n'es pas pour enlever un dépôt où quoi , il s'agit d'enlever un os qui petit à petit va boucher votre canal auditif ! Et vous devenez SOURD ! si rien n'est fait avant ! Donc pour la nage en eau froide régulière c'est impératif d'en mettre . C'est un opération délicate car elle se situe près de nerfs importants et doit être bien faite ! Sinon vous pouvez avoir un paralysie faciale du côté de l opération ! Voilà, j'espère que ça vous aura éclairer et pour tous les nageurs en eau froide . ( il y a des chirurgiens à Bordeaux spécialisés pour les 🏄‍♂️ surfer du pays Basque) merci de France pour vos vidéo très plaisantes . Bye

Thankyou for your explanation

Speedo earplugs are the best

One good choice is zogg

Thanks for the great video! Doesn’t a swimming cap keep water out of ears? I tried some speedo ear plugs and lost one within a minute of a swim so rather reluctant to throw good money after bad.

I bought the Speedo ones today. Pretty desperate, have swimmers ear right now for the 2nd time in 2 months. 😢

Hello.thanks very helpful.question.except for the zoggs ones that grab the ear...all the other ones can fall of right?

I think I may have read something about earplug use preventing vertigo fro sea swimming. Do you know anything about that? Thank you again. So helpful.

Hello Rachel I am enjoying the videos! I am looking for any shots of Gunner's hole on the Itchen.. hooked in by ' Waterlog' Do you or anyone have any footage ? thanks Steve

Don 't forget each 👂 is different ! One model is good for me and other personne no ! Try any more plugs....

Nice video 👍🏼

Hey mate! Great video. Did you try to swim with the declathlon one?

love it

Awesome

Do you need to wear a swimming cap to be able to use the plugs properly?

According to you which one is the best water proof plugs ??

Hi im watching you from Turkey . Should I buy arena ear plug pro ? İs it works?

can i use daily ? ent doctor suggested me to protect ur ear from water is it harmful for eardrum?

Very difficult to see how it stays in the year!

what country do you live in? happy swimmer😊

which one is better, Speedo Biofuse or Speedo Ergo?