Loop Quiet 2 Review

Overview

The Loop Quiet 2 is a reusable silicone earplug built for sleep, focus, and everyday noise sensitivity rather than shooting ranges or job sites. It’s the second generation of Loop’s original Quiet plug, with a redesigned, smaller-nozzle tip aimed at reducing pressure for side sleepers. If you’re a light packer who wants to shave weight off your “just in case” hostel/tent-city noise kit, these are worth a look — though they’re a comfort-and-sleep product first, not a technical hearing-protection tool.

Key Specs

Spec	Value
Weight	30.0 g (with case)
Noise reduction (SNR)	24 dB
Noise reduction (NRR)	14 dB
Material	Soft-touch silicone
Ear tip sizes	XS, S, M, L
Reusable	Yes
Carry case included	Yes
Certifications	EN 352-2:2020 (EU), ANSI S3.19-1974 (US)

Performance

Noise reduction: On paper, 24 dB SNR / 14 dB NRR puts the Quiet 2 well below foam plugs, which routinely claim 29-33 dB NRR. In practice, that gap matters less than the spec sheet suggests for sleep applications. One tester who lives next to a nightclub noted that she was dubious at first because she could still hear shouting and singing from the street, since her usual industrial-style earplugs reduce noise up to 37dB compared to the Loop’s 24dB. But she found the Quiet 2 muffles bedroom sounds just enough for her brain to ignore them, and she fell asleep quickly and comfortably even side-sleeping. That’s the core trade-off with these: they’re designed to take the edge off noise, not create a silent vacuum. Loop is upfront about this positioning — the earplugs are designed to reduce ambient noise without completely blocking it out, for those who want to minimize disruptions without total silence.

Fit and comfort: This is where the Quiet 2 earns its reputation. The redesign brought a smaller nozzle specifically to cut down on ear canal pressure, and Loop states this makes them more comfortable to sleep in compared to the original Quiet. Independent coverage backs this up, describing the flush fit as the plug’s signature trait: it sits flush with the ear canal with nothing protruding, so when you lie on your side the earplug doesn’t dig in, shift, or make you rip it out at 3 AM. That’s a real advantage over foam, which tends to push out of the canal and create a pressure point against the pillow.

That said, comfort isn’t universal. One eBay buyer reported the plugs weren’t comfortable during sleep, and a Tom’s Guide tester who otherwise liked the fit still woke up more than once in the night to readjust them, and at one point took them out in a half-conscious moment because they’d become uncomfortable. Ear canal shape varies enough that even with four tip sizes, some people will need to hunt for the right fit or accept the Quiet 2 isn’t their forever solution.

Durability and upkeep: Silicone doesn’t degrade the way foam does, and Loop markets these as reusable and washable long-term. A third-party review estimated a single pair lasts 3-6 months of nightly use with occasional soap-and-water cleaning, though I’d treat that as a rough estimate rather than a guarantee — Loop doesn’t publish an official lifespan figure, and actual mileage will depend on how often you clean them and how much ear wax buildup you’re dealing with.

Everyday ratings: Aggregate retail reviews land in solidly-good-not-great territory — Walmart’s listing shows 3.9 stars out of 5,817 reviews, which tracks with a product that a lot of people love but that has a real minority of side-sleepers or small-ear-canal users who bounce off the fit.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Flush, low-profile design genuinely reduces the “digging into my ear” problem that plagues foam plugs for side sleepers
• Reusable and washable — no ongoing disposable-foam waste or cost
• Four tip sizes (XS-S-M-L) give you a real shot at dialing in fit
• Comes with a carry case, which matters if you’re tossing these in a hip belt pocket or stuff sack
• Certified hearing protection (EN 352-2:2020, ANSI S3.19-1974), not just a marketing claim

Cons

• 24 dB SNR / 14 dB NRR is noticeably lower than dedicated foam plugs (29-33 dB NRR) — don’t expect these to fully block loud snoring, generator noise, or a rowdy hostel common room
• Some users still report them working loose or needing readjustment overnight
• Fit is genuinely hit-or-miss for smaller or unusually shaped ear canals despite the size range
• At around 30 g with the case, they’re not meaningfully lighter than a handful of foam pairs, so the weight argument for thru-hikers is marginal — the appeal here is comfort and reusability, not grams saved

Who Should Buy This

The Quiet 2 makes the most sense for backpackers who prioritize sleep quality over maximum decibel blocking — think shared shelters, hostel dorms, or car-camping next to a noisy family, where you want to soften the edges of ambient noise without going deaf-in-a-jar silent. Side sleepers who’ve bounced off foam plugs digging into their ear on the pillow are the clearest use case. If you’re dealing with heavy snoring, close-proximity road noise, or need reliable occupational-grade hearing protection, look at a higher-NRR foam or a Loop Dream (27 dB SNR) instead.

Verdict

The Loop Quiet 2 isn’t the loudest-blocking earplug you can buy, but it doesn’t need to be — its job is comfortable, reusable, all-night wearability, and on that front it delivers for most side sleepers and light sleepers. If you want maximum noise cancellation on a job site or firing range, keep shopping; for taking the edge off camp noise so you can actually fall asleep, it’s a smart, low-maintenance addition to a gear closet. I’d put it at a 7.5/10 — solid and well-engineered, docked slightly for the fit variability some users report.