I’m about to start a new job working in an arcade and diner and want to wear some earplugs for when I’m working in the noisiest parts on-site, partly to protect my hearing but also to make it easier to hear customers and colleagues over the noise.
Do you guys have any recommendations for brands or particular earplugs types that would be good for this purpose?
Go to your local ENT and have yourself custom fitted for plugs. They will be shaped to your ear, and come with inserts for different levels of cancelling. Can cost up to $200 but better than going deaf or getting tinnitus. Source: am a musician and audio engineer and this has saved my hearing.
FWIW not everyone likes custom molds. My last job paid for them and some folks loved them, some did not.
I’d start with regular ear plugs. Try as many different kinds as you can get your hands on, see which ones work for your ears. Every job I’ve had requires them and they’ve all had different kinds; I tried what they had and picked my favorite.
I love the 3M classics and hate the flared green ones. The tye dye ones are just OK. The rubber Christmas trees feel gross so I prefer foam. Others I work with have the opposite opinion, it is very personal.
I got my custom molds for concerts from an audiologist, all in they were $150 and well worth every penny. Also, because they are for work, they got written off on my taxes.