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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-22 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
• Mack's biggest strength: moldable silicone putty that seals to the unique contours of your ear, with a 22 dB NRR (US) / 30 dB SNR (EU) rating and a plug that's safe for ear tubes and post-surgery use.
• Mack's biggest trade-off: it's a putty you shape fresh each time, so it's not the grab-and-go, one-piece design some people want for quick daily use.
• Haveself biggest strength: three pairs of interchangeable ear caps in XS, S and L, a 48 dB noise-blocking claim via AIRFeeling Technology, and a compact carrying case for travel.
• Haveself biggest trade-off: it's a newer, lesser-known brand, and the sealing depends on picking the right cap size rather than molding the plug yourself.
• Who Mack's is for: sleepers next to a snorer, swimmers, flyers and anyone who wants a soft, custom-fit seal.
• Who Haveself is for: side sleepers and commuters who want reusable, washable plugs with size options and a case.
Mack's Pillow Soft is the original moldable silicone putty earplug, and that putty format is the whole point. You warm it between your fingers, press it over the ear opening, and it conforms to your individual shape rather than forcing your ear canal to accept a fixed-size tip. That's why it works for such a wide range of ears — old, young, narrow, wide — without a sizing chart. It carries a Noise Reduction Rating of 22 decibels under the US standard and a Single Number Rating of 30 decibels under the EU standard, and the brand states it's lab-tested to help relieve airplane ear pressure and pain.
The use-case list is unusually broad for one product: sleeping, snoring, swimming, bathing, studying, travel, loud events, concerts, flying and motorcycling. It's positioned as safe for use with ear tubes, protective after ear surgery, and helpful for preventing swimmer's ear (otitis externa) and surfer's ear. The material is non-toxic and non-allergenic silicone, and it's made in the USA. This is the plug I'd point a swimmer to first, because the putty creates a waterproof seal over the canal rather than inside it.
Who should skip it? If you want a plug you can pop in and out in two seconds without touching putty, or if you dislike the feel of silicone sitting over the ear opening, this format will annoy you. It's also a consumable-style product — each plug eventually loses its tack and needs replacing — so people who want one durable pair for years may prefer a reusable design. For everyone else, the moldable seal is the reason this format has stuck around so long. Check the current price on Amazon before deciding, since the value calculation depends on how often you'd replace them.
Haveself takes the opposite approach: instead of a plug you shape, you get a reusable earplug body plus three pairs of ear caps in XS, S and L so you can match the tip to your ear. The silicone is described as ultra-soft and food-grade, and the slim profile is explicitly aimed at side sleepers who roll over during the night — the plug stays put instead of digging in. For anyone who has woken up with a sore ear from a hard plug, that design choice is the main selling point.
The headline spec is noise blocking: Haveself claims up to 48 dB of reduction using what it calls AIRFeeling Technology. That's a much higher number than Mack's 22 dB NRR, though it's worth understanding they're not measured the same way — NRR is a standardized US rating, while a "up to 48dB" figure is a manufacturer claim about maximum reduction. There's also a white-noise feature: the structure is said to enhance natural sounds like fans and rain while blocking harsh noise, which is a nice touch for light sleepers who find total silence unnerving.
Beyond that, Haveself is built around ownership rather than replacement. The silicone is waterproof, sweatproof and reusable, and the brand says one pair replaces 60+ disposable earplugs — an eco angle that matters if you go through foam plugs constantly. You get a hygiene case for storage and travel, the plugs come in black, and the package includes a 2-year warranty plus 24-hour online support. One important note straight from the product: keep them away from children, since they can be a choking hazard.
Who should skip it? If your priority is a waterproof seal for swimming or post-surgery protection, the moldable putty format is the safer fit — Haveself doesn't make those claims. And if you've had bad luck with fixed-size tips, the three cap sizes help, but they're still fixed. Otherwise, for daily sleep, commuting and office use, this is a well-equipped kit.
• Best for swimming and water protection → Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone. Moldable putty seals over the canal and is positioned for swimmer's ear prevention and ear-tube use.
• Best for flying and ear-pressure relief → Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone. It's lab-tested to help relieve airplane ear pressure, per the brand.
• Best for side sleepers who roll over → Haveself Ear Plugs. The slim, soft design and XS/S/L caps are built specifically for all-night comfort.
• Best for maximum noise blocking on paper → Haveself Ear Plugs. Its 48 dB claim outpaces Mack's 22 dB NRR, though the figures aren't measured identically.
• Best for a custom fit without sizing → Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone. You shape it yourself, so it adapts to any ear shape.
• Best for long-term value and less waste → Haveself Ear Plugs. Reusable, washable and stated to replace 60+ disposables per pair.
• Best for travel organization → Haveself Ear Plugs. It ships with a compact carrying case; Mack's is a standard multipack of putty plugs.
• Best for the widest range of uses → Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone. Sleeping, snoring, swimming, concerts, studying, flying and motorcycling are all covered.
If I had to pick one for the average buyer, I'd buy Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone. In my opinion, the moldable putty is the more versatile format — it adapts to whatever ear it meets, and it's the one I'd trust for water, flying and side-sleeping without any sizing guesswork. That said, if you mainly need reusable plugs for sleep and commuting, want size options and a case, and care about cutting disposable waste, I'd recommend Haveself Ear Plugs instead. Different jobs, different plugs.
On paper, Haveself claims up to 48 dB of reduction versus Mack's 22 dB NRR. But those numbers use different measurement methods, so treat the comparison as directional rather than exact — real-world blocking depends on how well each plug seals your particular ear.
They're moldable putty, so they can be reshaped and reused for a while, but they're not a durable long-life product like Haveself's washable silicone. Haveself is the better pick if you want one pair to last and cut down on disposables.
I'd lean toward Haveself here. Its slim, ultra-soft design and three cap sizes are specifically made so the plug stays comfortable when you roll over, whereas moldable putty can shift against the pillow over a full night.
Mack's. Its moldable putty creates a waterproof seal and is positioned for swimmer's ear prevention, ear-tube use and airplane ear-pressure relief. Haveself doesn't make those claims, so for water and air travel I'd choose the putty plugs.
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See also: Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone vs Hulaed Invisible Sleep Headphones, SLuB 5.3 vs Haveself Ear Plugs, Mack's Soft Foam Earplugs vs PLAFOPE 2