CURVD Earplugs Review
These noise-reducing earplugs may be the most stylish we've tried
Credit:
Reviewed / Jaqueline Raposo
Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
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Curvd Everyday Earplugs
Most of us live in a consistently noisy world. We’re constantly navigating loud offices, restaurants, and concerts. Then there’s the seemingly endless hum of leaf blowers, air conditioners, and street traffic to filter out if we want a good night’s sleep. If your like me, you may also have medical conditions that make the process of achieving peace that much more difficult.
A quality set of reusable earplugs can turn the volume down. But why get one set of earplugs for concerts and another set of earplugs for sleeping? Enter CURVD Everyday Earplugs ($30). In one ultra-stylish set, you get powerful noise reducing for sleep, noise sensitivity, concert-going, and more.
How do CURVD earplugs work?
CURVD’s Everyday Earplugs are ergonomically designed to mimic the natural curve of the ear. Made of soft, high-grade silicone, they claim to offer a flush fit in the ear while reducing unnecessary pressure on the ear and head. This means you can wear them far longer than traditional foam earplugs. They are also plastic-free and sustainably made from recyclable silicone. Easily washed with soap and water, they can be reused over and over again.
What I like about CURVD earplugs
CURVD earplugs come in an array of colors with soothing names.
I’ve tested several of the newer reusable earplug options for Reviewed. I haven’t found one perfect plug that makes all the others redundant, but CURVD’s Everyday Earplugs offer a few unique benefits. Here’s what to look for.
They’re excellent noise-reducing earplugs for studying and working
CURVD's Everyday Earplugs reduce volume by about 30 dB. That’s enough to reduce background noises by about 25% and slightly more reduction than the Happy Ears, Vibes, and Loop earplugs we've tested.
They’re still not noise-canceling earplugs. They’ll soften the ambient hum of a crowded library, busy office, or raucous coffee shop. But you’ll still hear someone calling your name, a dog bark, a microwave bell, or a barista yelling that your order’s up. This makes them ideal decibel-reducing earplugs for study or work. They can help you stay focused despite the bustle—but you won’t miss out on the world at large.
They’re helpful earplugs for sensory overload
When you have noise-triggered cognitive overload or anxiety, earplugs can help calm an overactive fight-or-flight response. You need noise-reducing earplugs to dull the sound, but they have to be comfortable enough to wear for long periods of time.
The Everyday Earplugs are made of lightweight, flexible, hypoallergenic silicone that won’t irritate most people's skin. They come with four sets of tips in various sizes that curve to fit the hollow of the outer ear (the concha). This makes these noise-reducing earplugs very comfortable for most ears. Some online reviewers claim they’re the most comfortable earplugs they’ve ever worn.
I wouldn’t give CURVD this honor. (More on that below.) But as someone with sound sensitivity, I found them comfortable enough to wear for several hours at a time. They helped me focus and softened my sound-triggered cognitive fatigue—two vital productivity components when you’re disabled and work with words.
They’re stylish concert earplugs
The unique shell-like design of the Everyday Earplugs comes in six stylish color options you’ll want to wear when out and about. The colors come with catchy names like Balanced Black, Peaceful Purple, Mindful Mint, Blissful Blue, Harmony Honey (grey), and Calming Cloud (white).
Kinda cheesy? Sure. But the muted colors do encourage chillaxed vibes. If you’re already outfitting yourself for the next Swiftie tour, CURVD offers options to match your mojo.
They make a statement
We loved the CURVD carrying case.
Where other brands aim for subtlety, the Everyday Earplugs aren’t shy about making their presence known. They look less like traditional earplugs and more like earbuds you use to talk on the phone or listen to music. This makes it easy for someone who notices the earplugs to assume you can’t hear them, which I find helpful when I'm wearing them in public. Otherwise, I often find myself awkwardly taking out my earplugs after a conversation has started.
The included case is perfect
The included screw-top aluminum is the best of any earplug sets I’ve tested. It’s larger, sturdier, and easier to find than its counterparts (which are small and often made of plastic).
A separate Case Clip ($14.99) makes finding and storing the earbuds even simpler. It includes a silicone ring in the same range of colors as the earbuds and two metal spring clips. You snap the ring over the aluminum case, then use the clip to attach it to a backpack, purse, or briefcase.
The whole outfit is so helpful that if they made a separate set of the case, ring, and clips, I’d buy it to store my other earplugs!
They may be the most sustainable earplug option yet
Everything included with the CURVD Earplugs and Clip Case set is entirely plastic-free.
The earbuds are made of hypoallergenic, recyclable silicone. Your local recycling center can’t recycle them, but, unlike plastic, they won’t break into microbeads if they end up in a landfill. Or you can send them to CURVD to use the brand's in-house silicone recycling program.
The included aluminum case is plastic-free. All packaging is made of certified sustainable paper that’s 100% recyclable, too. Altogether, these practices will help CURVD become a carbon-neutral company by the end of 2023.
What I don’t like about CURVD earplugs
They may not be comfortable for people with small ears
Our testers found that, for some users, CURVD may not be comfortable to sleep in.
The shell-like shape makes contact with more of the concha than other earplugs. This design offers a greater surface area to assist with sound reduction—but may not make them comfortable long-term for people with small ears. Those with nervous system disorders (like fibromyalgia) may even find the pressure of the buds on their tragus nerve causes a little pain.
I have smallish ears and mild fibromyalgia. I wore the earplugs comfortably for a few hours, but with those considerations included, I’d only give them a 7/10 in the overall comfort department.
They’re not the best earplugs for sleeping for everyone
Some online reviewers claim they’re the best earplugs for snoring and other nighttime sounds when it comes to overnight comfort. But people with small ears and side sleepers may find pillow pressure on the buds cause discomfort—or even a little pain. This may be doubly true for side sleepers with a nervous system disorder.
Should you buy CURVD Everyday Earplugs?
There are lots of reasons to buy this stylish, sustainable, and comfortable brand of earplugs.
Yes—unless you have small ears or nerve sensitivity
If you have smaller ears and/or nerve sensitivity, Loop Experience earplugs may be a better fit. Otherwise, CURVD Everyday Earplugs are a powerful and stylish addition to the earplug market.
With 30 dB sound reduction, they lower the volume slightly more than brands in the same $20-$30 range, like Loop, Vibes, and Happy Ears. They come with a far superior case. Happy Ears are also sustainably made and incredibly comfortable, but they don’t look quite as sleek as the Everyday Earplugs.
If you’re looking for moderate sound reduction, a truly eco-friendly product, and significant style options, CURVD Everyday Earplugs may be the best earplugs for you.
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