Budget Earplugs (Foam)

Foam earplugs are the most basic, poor-tier solution for achieving quiet. While they are highly effective at blocking sound when inserted correctly, they are often uncomfortable for long-term use and can be difficult to fit properly. They are a disposable, last-resort option for situations like sleeping on a plane or blocking out a loud neighbor. They offer no sound quality control and are purely for noise reduction.

They are included here as a comparison point for more sophisticated, reusable noise-reduction technologies.