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Tired of getting water in your ears while swimming? Here's the ultimate guide to the best earplugs for swimmers.
Swimmer's ear plugs prevent water from entering the ear canal in the pool or outdoors, reducing infections and itching.
I've been swimming competitively and recreationally for decades, and have worn earplugs my whole life, so I've tried every earplug on the market (and along the way I've ended up with quite a few painful ears). I also experienced an infection).
Earplugs for swimmers should be comfortable, durable, and most importantly, prevent water from entering the ear canal while swimming.
In this guide to the best swimming earplugs, we evaluate the top options on the market, the pros and cons of each earplug, the different types of swimming earplugs, and tips to keep water out of your ears at the pool. To do.
By the end, you'll have a clearer idea of how to choose the best earplugs for a more enjoyable swimming workout.
Let's dive right in.
best earplugs for swimmers
Here we will briefly introduce the best earplugs to prevent water from entering when swimming.
Next, we will take a closer look at each swimmer's earplugs, highlighting their main features, pros and cons, how they compare with each other, and which earplugs are suitable for swimming.
Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs
⭐ Comprehensive earplugs perfect for swimmers
Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs are by far the best earplugs for swimmers thanks to their soft, moldable earplugs that perfectly fit the unique shape of your ear canal.
This waterproof seal effectively prevents water from entering your ears while swimming, whether you're taking a leisurely afternoon swim or competing by standing on blocks in a swim meet.
These earplugs can accommodate any type or shape of ear, Mac's also includes a carrying case to protect them between swims, and they're very inexpensive at about $6 for a six-pair set.
I have been using Mac earplugs since my early days in the pool as a summer league age group swimmer.
I've tried other earplugs from time to time, from competing silicone earplugs to custom earplugs that cost over $200, but none are as effective at keeping water out while swimming. There was nothing like that.
As for durability, after about two weeks of use with one set of earplugs, they will begin to harden naturally from exposure to pool chemicals, heat, and moisture.
Mac's continues to lead the way when it comes to the best earplugs for swimming, and the competition isn't even close.
Comfortable, leak-free, and inexpensive, Mack's earplugs are perfect for keeping water out of your ears while swimming.
| ✅ Reasons to buy: | ❌ Notes: |
| The most comfortable and leak-free earplugs for swimmers | Silicone earplugs naturally harden over time when exposed to heat, moisture, and pool chemicals. |
| Inexpensive; only $6 for 6 pairs | |
| Mac's ships it with a carrying case to protect it between swims. | |
| Customizable to suit ear shape and ear canal | |
| They work! |
Sporti silicone earplugs
⭐ Runner-up: Best swimmer's earplugs
Sporti silicone earplugs are another moldable earplug that can be placed outside the ear canal and molded to your specific ear opening to prevent water from entering while swimming.
Each set of Sporti earplugs comes with four earplugs and costs about $1 per pair (similar to Mack's earplugs). Comes with a clear plastic case to keep the earplugs dry and clean between swim training sessions.
Young competitive swimmers or those with smaller ear canals may want to choose the junior version of the Sporti silicone earplugs, which provide a watertight seal with a smaller plug.
Inexpensive, highly functional, and available in adult and junior sizes, Sporti silicone earplugs are excellent earplugs for lap swimmers young and old.
| ✅ Reasons to buy: | ❌ Notes: |
| The soft silicone fits perfectly to the shape of your ear canal and prevents water from entering. | Like Mac earplugs, they will harden over time and use. |
| Carry case to extend the life of your earplugs | |
| Budget-friendly pricing | |
| Junior sizes also available |
FINIS earplugs
⭐ Best reusable pre-molded earplugs
FINIS earplugs are pre-formed silicone plugs designed to stop water intake without cramming the plug too deeply into the ear canal. Unlike other pre-shaped earplugs, FINIS earplugs have a small clip that can be rotated into the cartilage of the outer ear to effectively secure the earplug in place.
Unlike moldable silicone earplugs for swimmers like the Mack above, FINIS earplugs do not lose their flexibility or become stiff over time. You could probably use her pair of these bad boys to get you through an entire swimming season.
FINIS includes earplugs in the carrying case to keep the plugs clean between swims, and SwimOutlet sells them for about $5 a set.
| ✅ Reasons to buy: | ❌ Notes: |
| Best reusable preformed earplugs | As with all molded earplugs, it can be difficult to get a perfectly leak-free fit. |
| It will not harden over time. You can gain a lot of yards in one set. | |
| Clip to keep in place while swimming | |
| Includes a carrying case to protect your earplugs between swim training sessions |
Speedo Kids Silicone Earplugs
⭐ Best kids earplugs for splashing
Speedo Kids Silicone Earplugs are designed for infants and small children to keep water out of their tiny ear canals.
Each set is bright and vibrantly colored, making it easy to tell if it's still attached to your child's body. And the moldable material ensures a custom fit every time your child steps into the pool.
Speedo includes four pairs of earplugs in each set. These earplugs are obviously better suited for the splash type of swimming, not lap swimming, so keep that in mind when comparing them to other swimmer earplugs.
Additionally, the Speedo doesn't come with a proper case, making it difficult to store it properly between trips to the pool.
| ✅ Reasons to buy: | ❌ Notes: |
| Vibrant colors make it easy to see if it's still in place | Perfect for splashing rather than swimming. |
| Each set includes 4 pairs of earplugs | Carry case is not very good |
| Can be molded to fit the shape of a swimmer's ear canal | |
| Made for small ear canals and small children |
Sporti silicone earplugs
⭐ Best tree shaped silicone earplugs
Sporti silicone earplugs are tree-shaped silicone earplugs that are easy to use for some swimmers.
The shape and structure of the earplugs makes them easier to place within the ear canal compared to putty earplugs. These earplugs are much more durable than putty earplugs, which can degrade and lose effectiveness over time.
That being said, I've always found it difficult to get a secure fit with this type of earplugs while swimming. Also, silicone putty earplugs don't provide a snug, personalized fit.
Sporti makes the best tree-shaped silicone earplugs for swimmers. The set has an elastic cord between her two earplugs and comes with a carrying case to hold and store the earplugs between swim practices.
And at only $2 a set, it's a great deal considering how much more you can use them compared to silicone putty earplugs.
| ✅ Reasons to buy: | ❌ Things to note: |
| Tree-shaped earplugs perfect for swimming | Compared to putty earplugs, the fit to the ear canal is not tailored to the individual. |
| Positioning is faster than silicone putty earplugs | Easy to fall off when swimming |
| Comes with a string to connect the carrying case and earplugs | |
| cheap |
Other swimming earplugs we tried and tested
In addition to the recommendations above, there are several other swimming earplugs on the market.
If the earplugs above don't tickle your chlorine taste, it's worth checking out the earplugs below.
They include:
Speedo silicone earplugs. A direct competitor to Mack's Pillow Soft, Speedo silicone earplugs use the same moldable putty design. I've tried it several times over the years and found it to be harder and leakier compared to Mac's. They're also expensive, with a 4-pack retailing for the same as 24 Mac earplugs.
arena earplugs pro. Made of silicone and with a three-layer design, his Arena Earplug Pros are great at reducing sound, but I struggled to keep them in my ears while swimming. Some users have reported success using them, but I wasn't one of them.
summary
Swimming is one of the best activities and sports on earth. But water in the ear and the associated potential for ear pain and infection are nothing short of terrifying.
Fortunately, swimmer's earplugs can prevent water from seeping in, allowing you to stay focused on swimming with great effort and efficient technique without water creeping into your ear canal.
To summarize the main points:
of Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Putty Earplugs These earplugs are perfect for swimming. They can be easily molded to fit the ear canal opening, maintain a watertight seal while swimming, and are inexpensive.
Hit the water with confidence by choosing the right earplugs for you and your swimmer.
Let's have fun swimming!
