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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-19 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Mack's biggest strength: moldable putty that you shape to your own ear, creating a custom airtight, watertight seal — a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 22 decibels, made in the USA, and a formula designed around swimming, flying and sleeping.
• Mack's biggest trade-off: it's a putty, not a plug. It's a 4-count pack with no storage case and no replacement tips, so it's not a wash-and-reuse-forever product the way a flanged plug is.
• HOYIO's biggest strength: four ear tip sizes (XS, S, M, L) plus a matching set of replacement tips, a storage pouch, and a 27-decibel SNR rating for noise reduction — all in a reusable, washable design.
• HOYIO's biggest trade-off: foam and flanged plugs only work if the size is right. If you pick the wrong tip, HOYIO either hurts or falls out, and it's not built for water the way a moldable putty is.
• Choose Mack's if you swim, fly, deal with ear pressure, or want a plug that adapts to an unusual ear shape.
• Choose HOYIO if you want the highest noise reduction of the two, a reusable plug, and the ability to fine-tune fit with four tip sizes.
Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone is the original moldable silicone putty earplug, and the whole design philosophy flows from that word: putty. You don't insert it into the ear canal. You warm it in your hands, roll it into a ball, and press it over the opening of your ear so it molds to the unique contours of your ear and sticks in place. That's what creates the seal — a custom one, formed fresh every time. The listed NRR is 22 decibels, which is lower than HOYIO's 27, and that's a real, honest difference you should weigh.
Where Mack's earns its keep is anywhere water and pressure are the problem. The waterproof putty seal is what makes it a swimming plug: it keeps cold water and moisture out of the outer ear canal, which is the whole mechanism behind preventing swimmer's ear and Surfer's Ear. It's also designed to help relieve airplane ear pressure and pain during flights, which is a use case most flanged plugs simply aren't built for. And because the putty conforms instead of pushing, it's comfortable enough for long wear — sleeping next to a snoring partner, studying, concerts, motorcycle rides.
Who should buy it: swimmers, surfers, frequent flyers, parents who need a non-toxic, non-allergenic plug for a kid with ear tubes, and anyone whose ear shape has never fit a standard plug. Who should skip it: if you want maximum decibel reduction, or you want one pair you wash and reuse for months, this isn't that product. It's a 4-count pack of putty with no case and no spare tips. It's also white and putty-textured, so if you want something discreet and light green, look elsewhere.
HOYIO takes the opposite approach. This is a proper flanged silicone plug: you pinch it, insert it into the ear canal, and turn it slightly until it sits comfortably. The headline number is a 27-decibel SNR — the highest noise reduction rating between these two, and the spec that matters most if your goal is blocking sound rather than blocking water.
The real story here is fit adjustability. HOYIO ships four tip sizes, XS through S, M and L, plus a second set of replacement tips in the same sizes. That's the whole game with in-canal plugs: too small and they don't seal, too big and your ear aches after an hour. HOYIO even spells out the troubleshooting — if your ears hurt, size down; if sound still leaks through or the plug falls out, size up. For people with genuinely mismatched ear canals, that's a meaningful advantage over a one-size product.
It's reusable and washable, which makes it a sustainable alternative to disposable foam plugs, and it comes with a black storage pouch so it doesn't end up lint-covered in a drawer. Light green, soft silicone, built for sleeping, working, studying, concerts, travel, and for noise-sensitive people — musicians, parents, anyone triggered by ambient sound. It's also honest about its limits: it blocks noise to an acceptable volume, but it isn't silent.
Who should buy it: anyone who wants the strongest noise reduction, a reusable plug, and the ability to dial in fit across four sizes. Who should skip it: swimmers. There's no waterproof claim here, and a flanged in-canal plug is not the tool for keeping water out of the ear canal.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for noise reduction → HOYIO. 27 dB SNR versus Mack's 22 dB NRR. If blocking sound is the entire point, HOYIO wins on the spec sheet.
• Best for swimming and water protection → Mack's. The moldable putty forms a watertight seal over the ear opening. HOYIO makes no water claim at all.
• Best for fit on unusual or hard-to-fit ears → Mack's. Putty doesn't need to match a size; it molds to whatever shape you have.
• Best for fit adjustability with standard ears → HOYIO. Four tip sizes (XS–L) plus a replacement set let you tune the seal yourself.
• Best for long-term value → HOYIO. Reusable, washable, with replacement tips and a pouch. Mack's is a 4-count consumable with no case.
• Best for sleeping next to a snorer → either, but for different reasons. Mack's for comfort over long wear; HOYIO if you need the extra decibels.
• Best for kids, ear tubes and post-surgery protection → Mack's. Non-toxic, non-allergenic, and explicitly noted as safe with ear tubes.
• Best for noise sensitivity and shared spaces → HOYIO. The four-size system plus a pouch makes it the better everyday carry.
In my opinion, the right pick depends entirely on what you're protecting your ears from. If water, flying or a snoring partner is your problem, I'd buy Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone — the moldable putty seal does something no flanged plug can, and the comfort over long wear is the whole reason it's endured since 1962. If your problem is pure noise, I'd buy HOYIO — 27 dB, four tip sizes, replacement tips and a pouch is simply the more complete noise-reduction package for the money. Neither one is a compromise; they're built for different jobs.
On paper, yes. HOYIO lists a 27-decibel SNR, while Mack's lists a 22-decibel NRR. Note that SNR and NRR are different rating systems, so they aren't a perfectly apples-to-apples comparison — but HOYIO's higher figure reflects its in-canal sealing design.
I wouldn't. HOYIO's materials and features are aimed at noise reduction, comfort and reusability, with no waterproof or watertight claim. For swimming, swimmer's ear or Surfer's Ear prevention, Mack's moldable putty is the one designed for it.
They're multi-use, but they're putty — a 4-count pack with no case, no replacement tips and no wash-and-reuse claim like HOYIO's. Once the putty loses its tack or gets dirty, you replace it. HOYIO, by contrast, is explicitly reusable and washable and even includes a spare set of tips.
Start in the middle and adjust. If your ears hurt, go down a size; if noise still gets through or the plug falls out, go up. You get XS, S, M and L plus a replacement set, so there's room to experiment.
Yes — the page has a button to check the current price on Amazon for each. Since these are different product types (a consumable putty pack versus a reusable plug kit), compare cost per use, not just the upfront number.
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