No. 4 in our top list
Alpine SleepDeep
Reusable oval plug for side sleepers. Alpine states an average 27 dB, with no US NRR.
Loop Dream Earplugs Review: Comfort, Fit and Noise for Side Sleepers
This Loop earplugs review sums up owner reports on Loop Dream: comfortable on a pillow and good on steady noise, once the fit is right.
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Our verdict: good, with a catch
- Best for
- Side sleepers bothered by steady noise. Owners say it sits flat on a pillow.
- Skip it if
- You want near-total silence, or sound in bed: loud noise gets through, and it plays nothing.
- The catch
- The fit takes trial and error, and Loop says to swap the tips about every 100 nights.
Loop Dream specs at a glance
A passive, reusable sleep earplug: no electronics, no sound.
- 21 dB NRRUS rating; 27 dB SNR in the EU
- XS, S, M, LTip sizes, with M fitted
- About 100 nightsBefore a tip swap
- Low profileLoop's softest silicone
- 2 tip typesFoam-silicone and Double Tips
- Bedside caseWith a no-slip base
- 4 colorsBlack, blue, lilac, peach
- 100-day returnsEven used; 2-year limited warranty
Specs from Loop's pages. Loop calls 21 dB its lineup's highest rating, lab-measured with a perfect fit; NRR and SNR use different tests.
Loop Dream pros and cons, from owner reports
The themes owners and reviewers raise most, in our words.
Pros
- Sits flat in the ear, comfortable on a pillow
- Clearly softens steady noise: traffic, engines, snoring
- Stays in all night once the size is right, most say
- Reusable, easy to wipe clean, small bedside case
Cons
- Finding the right tip size and angle takes trial and error
- Tips need replacing about every 100 nights, an ongoing cost
- Muffles rather than cancels: loud sounds still get through
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- Some report soreness or pressure after several nights, or with larger tips
- A few find it hard to remove, or the silicone layer comes loose
Comfort and fit for side sleepers
The fit is the catch: Loop fits size M and puts XS, S and L in the box.
Sizing rule: loose or falling out, go up a size; tight or sticking out, go down. Size each ear on its own.
How to insert Loop earplugs
- Hold it with the tip facing your face.
- Pull the back of your ear back gently; slide it in, no twist.
- Hold it about five seconds; don't push too deep.
- Move your jaw: hearing your voice louder means a good seal.
Steps and sizing from Loop's Dream guide.
Foam-silicone tips Fitted
Memory foam under soft silicone, per Loop. The foam is the part that wears.
Double Tips In the box
Two layers of soft silicone, per Loop. Try them if the foam won't seal.
Sleep Foundation warns against pushing any earplug in too deep or pulling it out fast. A few owners find Dream hard to remove: ease it out.
How much noise gets through
Dream softens noise; it doesn't remove it, reviewers report.
Softened
- Traffic and street noise
- Engine noise
- A partner's soft-to-moderate snoring
- A ticking radiator
Still comes through
- Loud snoring
- Sirens and other sharp, loud sounds
- A morning alarm: two reviewers still heard theirs
Sleep Foundation notes muffled sound can make you less likely to wake for an alarm or a crying child. Check your alarm on night one.
Loop Dream vs Loop Quiet 2 and the range
Dream is the one Loop markets for sleep, and the only one it rates above 20 dB.
| Model | Loop's rating | Loop makes it for |
|---|---|---|
| Dream | 21 dB NRR | Sleep; seals the canal |
| Quiet 2 | 14 dB NRR | Focus, travel, light sleep, naps; seals the canal |
| Switch 2 | 14, 17 or 20 dB NRR | All day: a dial switches Engage, Experience and Quiet |
| Experience 2 | 12 dB NRR | Concerts: keeps music clear at a lower volume |
| Engage 2 | 8 dB NRR | Conversations, noise sensitivity: keeps speech clear |
Loop's own US figures. A full Dream vs Quiet 2 comparison is on the way: see the earplugs hub.
How to clean Loop earplugs and swap the tips
Loop's steps for Dream are short: wipe, dry, never soak.
- Take the tips off
- Wipe with a damp cloth and a little skin-safe soapy water
- Let every part dry fully
- Never soak them
- Swap tips every 100 nightsThe foam loses its shape and stops sealing, Loop says. Owners count it as a cost.
- If the silicone folds backUnroll it, then roll it back over the foam, per Loop. A few owners say it comes loose.
Steps from Loop's Dream page. For foam tips, Loop's care blog says to wipe them without water.
Not medical advice: Cleveland Clinic lists frequent earplug use as a risk factor for earwax buildup, and advises seeing a provider for ear pain, fullness, ringing or hearing changes.
Alternatives to Loop Dream
If the fit or the tip swaps put you off, try these. Three sit in our top 6 earplugs for sleeping.
No. 3 in our top list
Mack's Pillow Soft
Silicone putty that covers the ear opening. Mack's states 22 dB NRR.
No. 2 in our top list
Howard Leight MAX
Disposable foam for a loud snorer: 33 dB NRR on PIP's spec sheet. Now sold as Howard Leight Maximum.
If you want sound
Ozlo Sleepbuds
Sleep earbuds that play masking audio and stream; up to 14 hours of battery, per Ozlo.
Loop earplugs FAQ
How do Loop earplugs work?
Passively: no Loop earplug has electronics. Dream and Quiet seal the ear canal with a soft tip to turn noise down. Experience and Engage are built to let a quieter version of sound through, so music or speech stays clear.
Source: LoopAre Loop earplugs worth it?
It depends on what you need. Owners who sleep on their side report that Dream sits flat and softens steady noise. The trade-offs are the fitting effort, tips to replace about every 100 nights, and loud noise still getting through. Loop takes returns within 100 days of delivery, even used.
Which Loop earplugs are best for sleeping?
Loop markets Dream as its sleep model and gives it its highest rating, 21 dB NRR. Loop pitches Quiet 2, rated 14 dB NRR, at focus, travel, light sleep and naps.
How do you clean Loop earplugs?
Loop's steps for Dream: take the tips off, wipe the earplugs and tips with a damp cloth and a little skin-safe soapy water, let everything dry fully, and never soak them.
Source: LoopHow do you insert Loop earplugs?
Pull the back of your ear gently backward, insert the tip (Dream needs no twist, Loop says), hold it for about five seconds, then move your jaw from side to side to check the seal. If it feels loose or falls out, try a larger tip.
Source: LoopDo Loop earplugs play music?
No. None of Loop's earplugs are electronic. If you want sound in bed, sleep earbuds such as Ozlo Sleepbuds play masking audio. Our sleep earbuds hub covers them.
Do Loop earplugs work?
For steady noise, owners report they do: traffic, engines and moderate snoring are clearly softened. Loop's ratings are lab figures measured with a perfect fit, and loud sounds still come through.
By RestfulPicks
We sum up owner reports and check makers' specs. We don't lab-test or score products.