Should I get 15 or 25dB ear plugs?

[Fourstar]

Anyone have subjective experience with how much these mute the world?

I currently have some ER20 plugs that I find a nice level of noise reduction while still allowing normal conversation with people. Unfortunately wearing them for long periods is annoying as they move around making creaking and popping sounds.

I have decided to get some custom moulded "musician's plugs" from Ultimate Ear and have the impressions being taken on Monday.

Had they a 20dB option I would have gone for that and I'm not sure if 25dB will feel like I'm too isolated?

The background is last year I went to the Reading Festival and came away with constant ringing in my ears

I find myself generally more sensitive to noise than my friends and often find loud bars or live music on the verge of being too loud.

I'd like to wear them all day long at Reading this year and generally carry them when going out. Being able to hold down a conversation with them in is also a requirement.

If I get the 15s I can always take the ER20 or foam plugs with me if I know I'm going somewhere loud.

 

[Fourstar]

Think I will try out the 15dB ones and also get 25dB cartridges for them if they are not too pricey.

For most situations I plan to use them I suspect something nearly 4 times quieter than my ER20 will be too much.

What I'm looking for is something to wear in noisy, at least partially social environments where the majority of people will not be wearing hearing protection.

When I go and watch the DTM (German touring cars) at Brands Hatch in a month you can bet my life I'll be wearing something with a lot more attenuation than 15dB. The cheapo foam plugs I bought at the track last time were very effective though do make normal communication next to impossible. The ER20 sound like I'm wearing nothing in comparison.

 

[Fourstar]

Thanks for the advice. I'll go for the 15dB ones and see how they go.

Will post back my experiences in a month when I've had a chance to wear them a while.

Edit: if I were to buy again I would get these. Read the part about occlusion to see why

I saw those and would most likely go for them if I could be sure of getting the mouldings and finished product completed quickly enough.

My decision to buy moulded ones came a little too late for comfort and ultimate ear offer an expedited 2 week turnaround.