Earplugs for Raves
& Concerts

Most people who go to concerts, clubs and raves don't wear earplugs. Most of those people will have some degree of permanent hearing damage by the time they're 40. The two facts are related.

This isn't a lecture. You already know loud music is a trade-off with your ears. The question is whether the earplugs that solve that trade-off are any good, because the ones you've probably tried aren't.

Why most earplugs don't work for a night out

There are two categories of earplug that most people end up trying before they find something that actually works.

The first is foam. Put them in at a rave and the bass becomes a dull thud, the highs disappear, and the mix sounds like someone left the music on in the next room. Foam plugs block high frequencies far more aggressively than low ones, which wrecks the balance of the sound entirely.

The second category is the branded "music" or "festival" earplug. These are better; they use acoustic filters that reduce volume more evenly, so the music stays recognisable. The problem is the attenuation level most of them land at. The majority sit between -16dB and -22dB. At a nightclub running at 110dB, that still leaves you hearing somewhere between 88dB and 94dB. The safe threshold is 85dB. You're wearing earplugs, you think you're protected, and you're still over the limit.

WAX PACKAZ™ work differently. The acoustic filter reduces volume evenly across all frequencies at -24dB, which actually puts you inside the safe zone. The music doesn't change shape. The risk does.

How loud are raves and clubs?

The average nightclub floor sits between 100 and 110 decibels. Festival main stages regularly hit 110 to 115dB during peak sets. At 100dB, the safe exposure limit before hearing loss begins is around 15 minutes. Most people stay for hours.

Hearing damage is cumulative and permanent. It doesn't show up immediately; it builds over years. The first symptoms are usually ringing after a big night and reduced sensitivity at high frequencies. Once those hair cells are damaged, they don't come back.

Why most festival earplugs miss the point

The average festival earplug sits between -18dB and -22dB. Your ears are safe at 85dB. Here is what happens at a typical 108dB club environment:

• -16dB (entry-level music earplug): 108 - 16 = 92dB. Still 7dB above safe.
• -18dB (mid-range festival earplug): 108 - 18 = 90dB. Still 5dB above safe.
• -22dB (top of most branded ranges): 108 - 22 = 86dB. Still 1dB above safe.
• -24dB (WAX PACKAZ™): 108 - 24 = 84dB. Inside the safe limit.

Every 3dB increase in noise doubles the sound energy reaching your ears. The difference between 86dB and 92dB is not small. The ringing after a night in generic music earplugs is not a coincidence; those earplugs were not doing the full job. WAX PACKAZ™ are built at -24dB because that is the number that actually gets you inside the safe zone.

What does -24dB mean?

The dB rating tells you how much an earplug reduces sound pressure. The key with WAX PACKAZ™ is that the 24dB reduction is flat, meaning it applies equally across all frequencies. The music doesn't change shape; it changes volume. That's the whole point. 24dB is the level built for nightclubs and festival stages, not for offices or planes.

What to look for

Hypoallergenic silicone is more comfortable over 6 to 8 hours than hard plastic and safe for sensitive ears.

Earplugs only work if they seal properly. WAX PACKAZ™ use a triple-slat silicone tip that adapts to different ear canal shapes.

WAX PACKAZ™ clean with mild soap and water and last for years.

An aluminium carry pod and carabiner are included. Earplugs that live loose at the bottom of a bag get dirty and lost.

The two pairs thing

One earplug falls out on the dancefloor at 2am. You feel it go, look down, it's gone. Most earplugs are sold as a single pair with no backup.

WAX PACKAZ™ come as two pairs per pack. Wear one set, keep the second in the pod clipped to your bag. Drop one at midnight and you still have a pair ready to go. You don't have to decide whether to stay or leave.

Do you get used to them?

Yes, quickly. The first time feels slightly unfamiliar for about 10 minutes. After that most people forget they're in. The difference becomes obvious the next morning when you wake up without the ringing. Most people who start wearing them regularly say the bigger adjustment is going to events without them.