We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-25 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want all-night side-sleeper comfort with a flush, pillow-friendly fit, choose Hears Sleep Earbuds &; if you need maximum noise reduction with a reusable, travel-ready earplug you can also wear to concerts and on flights, choose Exopine 55dB.
• Hears Sleep Earbuds & — biggest strength: a low-profile, ergonomic shape built specifically to sit flush in the ear with no pillow pressure, in hypoallergenic silicone with four tip sizes (XS, S, M, L).
• Hears Sleep Earbuds & — biggest trade-off: it's passive noise blocking, so it softens snoring, traffic and roommates rather than erasing them the way a higher-rated reduction earplug aims to.
• Exopine 55dB — biggest strength: a stated 55dB noise reduction with frequency filtering that cuts disruptive sound while letting alarms, baby cries and conversation through.
• Exopine 55dB — biggest trade-off: it's a silicone earplug first, not a sleep-headphone form factor, so there's no music or audio playback and no tip-size range mentioned.
• Who each pick is for: side sleepers who want soft, pressure-free sleep buds → Hears Sleep Earbuds &. Light sleepers, travelers, concert-goers and parents who want the strongest stated noise reduction in a washable pair → Exopine 55dB.
Hears Sleep Earbuds & is a comfort-first design. The whole product is built around lying down: an ultra-soft, hypoallergenic silicone body, a low-profile shape that sits inside the ear canal with a flush outer form, and a sculpted profile that deliberately avoids the tragus area. That last detail is the one that matters most for side sleepers, because the tragus and the pillow are exactly where bulky earbuds start to hurt after an hour. This one is engineered so your head can rest on the pillow without a hard lump digging in.
Noise handling here is passive. There's no battery, no active circuitry, nothing to charge — just noise isolation that reduces snoring, traffic, roommates and outside distractions so you can relax, meditate, listen to an audiobook or run white noise. It's the kind of quiet you get from a good seal, not from electronics. That seal is helped by four silicone tip sizes (XS, S, M, L), which is a genuinely useful range: a proper fit is what makes passive blocking work, and a loose tip blocks almost nothing.
Buy it if you sleep on your side, back or stomach and you've given up on earbuds because they press into your ear. Skip it if your main goal is the deepest possible reduction of a loud snorer or a flight cabin — that's a job for a higher-rated earplug, not a comfort-first sleep bud. Also note the fit is in-ear and soft; if you want to play music or take calls, this isn't that product.
Exopine 55dB is a hearing-protection earplug that happens to be excellent for sleep. The headline is a stated 55dB of noise reduction, which the maker frames as blocking around 90% of noise — enough to build a quiet space in a noisy city apartment, next to a snoring partner, on a turbulent flight or at a concert. The more interesting spec is the frequency filtering: it reduces loud, disruptive sound while preserving alarms, baby cries, music and conversation. That's the difference between a plain foam plug and a filtered one, and it's why this pairs well with light sleepers, parents and musicians who still need to hear what matters.
Comfort is the second pillar. Ultra-soft silicone with an ergonomic shape, positioned for side sleepers and all-night wear. The maker claims 30% more comfort than ordinary plugs and cites that 91% of users report better sleep quality — treat those as the brand's own marketing figures rather than independent testing, but the silicone-plus-ergonomics approach is a real, sensible design choice for overnight use. And because it's washable silicone rather than disposable foam, one pair is meant to last hundreds of uses, with the maker stating the 55dB performance holds after 100 washes.
Buy it if you want the strongest stated noise reduction, you want one pair that covers sleep, flights, offices and concerts, and you like the idea of a washable plug that isn't thrown away every night. Skip it if you specifically want a sleep-bud form factor with multiple tip sizes, or if you need audio playback — there's no music here. It's a noise-reduction earplug, nothing more.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for side sleepers → Hears Sleep Earbuds &. The flush, low-profile shape and no-pillow-pressure design are the entire point of the product.
• Best for sensitive ears and long nights → Hears Sleep Earbuds &. Hypoallergenic silicone plus four tip sizes (XS–L) is built to reduce irritation and friction over hours.
• Best for travel and loud events → Exopine 55dB. Flights, concerts and noisy offices are all in its stated use cases, and it ships with a carry case.
• Best for hearing alarms and your baby → Exopine 55dB. Frequency filtering is designed to keep important sounds audible.
• Best for a custom, stable fit → Hears Sleep Earbuds &. Four tip sizes let you dial in the seal, which also improves passive blocking.
• Best for reusable, low-waste ownership → Exopine 55dB. Washable silicone meant for hundreds of uses instead of nightly disposables.
• Best if you want zero charging and zero electronics → either. Both are passive; neither needs power.
If I had to pick one, I'd buy the Exopine 55dB — in my opinion it does the harder job. Most people searching for noise blocking sleep gear are losing sleep to a snorer, a noisy street or a flight cabin, and a stated 55dB reduction with frequency filtering attacks that problem directly while still letting alarms through. It's also the more versatile buy: sleep, travel, office, concerts, one washable pair.
That said, if you sleep on your side and the reason you're shopping is that every earbud you've tried hurts your ear by 2 a.m., I'd go with Hears Sleep Earbuds & instead. Its low-profile, flush shape and four tip sizes are purpose-built for exactly that problem. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit to either.
how to block out noise with headphones
Passive blocking depends on a good seal, so start with fit. Hears Sleep Earbuds & uses four silicone tip sizes (XS, S, M, L) to seal the ear canal and reduce snoring, traffic and roommate noise; Exopine 55dB takes the other route with a stated 55dB reduction plus frequency filtering that targets loud, disruptive sound.
are there noise cancelling headphones for sleeping
Yes, though most sleep options are passive rather than active. Hears Sleep Earbuds & is a passive-noise-cancellation sleep bud designed to be worn lying down, and Exopine 55dB is a reusable earplug rated for all-night wear and side sleepers. Neither needs charging.
is it safe to wear noise cancelling headphones while sleeping
Comfort and fit matter more than anything at night. Hears Sleep Earbuds & uses hypoallergenic silicone and a low-profile shape to reduce pressure and irritation, while Exopine 55dB uses ultra-soft silicone with frequency filtering so alarms and baby cries stay audible. Choose a size that seals without hurting.
what are the best noise cancelling sleep headphones
It depends on your priority. For side-sleeper comfort, I'd point to Hears Sleep Earbuds & with its no-pillow-pressure design and four tip sizes. For the most noise reduction, I'd point to Exopine 55dB with its stated 55dB rating, washable silicone and travel case.
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