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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-08 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• ANBOW's biggest strength: a complete, low-fuss kit — 3 pairs (2 uncorded + 1 corded) in individual storage boxes inside a waterproof bag, so you can keep one pair by the bed, one in a bag and one corded pair around your neck.
• ANBOW's biggest trade-off: the sheets describe noise reduction in general terms rather than a specific decibel figure, so there's no number to compare against.
• IDE11's biggest strength: a stated 35dB noise reduction claim backed by an acoustic structure with built-in silent cotton, plus 7 pairs of replaceable ear tips in XS/S/M/L with single-ear and dual-ear caps.
• IDE11's biggest trade-off: it ships as one pair, so you'll be moving the same set between bedside, desk and travel bag.
• Choose ANBOW if you want several pairs and don't need a decibel number to decide.
• Choose IDE11 if you want the higher stated reduction and the widest fit-tuning range.
ANBOW Soft Ear Plugs are built around a flexible, soft silicone body, and the sheets are explicit that this design suits side sleepers in particular — a real consideration, because the pressure of a pillow against a hard earplug is what usually wakes people up. The pitch is noise reduction rather than total silence: the stated goal is to take the edge off snoring and background noise while still letting critical sounds through. If you need to hear an alarm, a baby monitor or someone calling your name, that framing matters.
The kit itself is the selling point. You get three pairs — two uncorded and one corded — each in its own plastic storage box, all inside a waterproof bag. That's a genuinely practical setup: uncorded pairs live by the bed and in a gym bag, the corded pair stays around your neck so you don't lose it on a plane. ANBOW also positions these for swimming, concerts, flying, work, travel and construction sites, and because they're BPA-free silicone rather than wax or foam, you can wash and reuse them. Insertion is a twist-in motion with a gentle upward pull on the top of the ear, and removal is the reverse.
Who should skip them? Anyone who wants a hard decibel figure before buying, or who needs fine-grained size adjustment. The sheets describe an ergonomic shape meant to fit any ear, but there are no alternate tip sizes here — it's one design, three pairs. If your ear canals are unusually narrow or wide, IDE11's multi-size tip system is the more sensible route.
IDE11 Ear Plugs lead with a number: 35dB of sound reduction, achieved through what the sheets call a high-performance acoustic structure with built-in silent cotton. Whether or not you take that figure at face value, it gives you something concrete to weigh, and the underlying design — a precision acoustic cavity plus noise-blocking material — is the standard approach for passive isolation. For sleep, study, an open-plan office or a long flight, that's the spec that matters most.
Comfort gets real attention too. The silicone molds to the ear, and there are strategically placed pressure-relief holes to cut the "plugged up" feeling that makes people rip earplugs out at 3am. IDE11 explicitly names side sleepers as a target user and talks about long sessions without ear fatigue. Fit is where this product pulls ahead of most: seven pairs of ear tips in XS, S, M and L, including both single-ear and dual-ear caps, so you can dial in the seal yourself. A poor seal is the single biggest reason earplugs underperform, and this kit is designed to eliminate that variable.
It's also light — 0.9g — and comes with a lanyard to keep the pair within reach. It's washable and reusable, so rinsing after use is all the maintenance required. Who should skip it? Someone who wants a pair in every bag without repacking. IDE11 ships as one pair, and while the tip variety is generous, the price-per-pair math changes depending on what you'd otherwise buy. If you want redundancy built into the box, ANBOW is the simpler answer.
• Best for side sleepers who want a named decibel figure → IDE11 Ear Plugs, with its 35dB claim and pressure-relief holes designed to reduce pillow-side discomfort. If you've been searching for headband headphones for side sleepers and realised you'd rather have no electronics at all, these are the equivalent passive option.
• Best for people who lose earplugs constantly → ANBOW Soft Ear Plugs. Three pairs, each boxed, plus a corded pair on a string.
• Best for hard-to-fit ears → IDE11 Ear Plugs. XS/S/M/L tips plus single and dual caps is the widest adjustment range here.
• Best for swimming and water sports → ANBOW Soft Ear Plugs. The sheets specifically describe protecting the inner ear while swimming, and the waterproof bag makes the kit pool-friendly. If you'd been looking for the best waterproof head phones for side sleepers, this is the low-tech, no-charging alternative.
• Best for travel and flights → IDE11 Ear Plugs on weight and portability, thanks to the 0.9g build and lanyard; ANBOW wins if you want a spare pair in your carry-on as well.
• Best for long sessions without ear fatigue → IDE11 Ear Plugs, based on the pressure-relief design and the comfort-first framing.
• Best for concerts, work and general noise control → a tie. ANBOW frames itself around controlling volume in loud environments; IDE11 frames itself around office and event use. Both are reusable silicone, both are washable.
• Best for anyone who wants the quietest result → IDE11 Ear Plugs on the stated specs, because 35dB is the only concrete reduction figure between the two.
My Verdict
are there earbuds for sleeping
Yes — though the two products here are passive earplugs rather than electronic earbuds. ANBOW Soft Ear Plugs and IDE11 Ear Plugs are both reusable silicone plugs designed for sleep, and both sheets specifically call out side sleepers as a target user. Neither needs charging or batteries.
what are the best noise cancelling earbuds for sleeping
For passive isolation, IDE11 Ear Plugs make the stronger spec case with a stated 35dB reduction, built-in silent cotton and a pressure-relief design, plus XS/S/M/L tips so you can get a proper seal. ANBOW Soft Ear Plugs take a softer approach, reducing everyday noise while letting critical sounds through, and give you three pairs in the box. Fit matters more than any single number, so the one that seals properly in your ear will win.
can you sleep with noise cancelling earbuds
Yes, and both of these are designed for exactly that. ANBOW's sheets highlight the flexible soft design as ideal for side sleepers, and IDE11's pressure-relief holes are there to reduce discomfort during long wear. If you sleep on your side, softer silicone and a low profile matter more than maximum blocking.
is it bad to sleep with noise cancelling earbuds
There's nothing in either data sheet suggesting these are unsuitable for overnight use — both are described as reusable, washable silicone plugs intended for sleep. The practical concern is comfort and hygiene: keep them clean, don't push them in too deep, and if you feel pressure or irritation, switch to a smaller tip or take a break. IDE11's range of tip sizes makes it easier to find a fit that doesn't press.
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