A someone who has spent well over 500 nights sleeping outdoors, I firmly believe that people don't enjoy camping because more often than not, they get a bad night's kip. Of course, being cold or uncomfortable are the first culprits here - but this is easily solved by getting yourself the correct sleeping bag for the conditions, and spending a little more on an inflatable mat that insulates you from the ground. But there is always one extra hidden element that people rarely consider when it comes to sleeping well outdoors.
And that is blocking out sound. Whether it's a rustling roll mat, the tent porch flapping in the wind, your partner getting up and unzipping the door for a midnight wee - not to mention the racket the birds make at 5am - sleeping outdoors can be a noisy business. We all know that when you've had disrupted sleep, everything from exercise to eating habits can be impacted, making the following day outdoors significantly less fun than if you'd got a full, uninterrupted 8 hours.
As such, I've long been a fan of using ear plugs while sleeping in tents. However, foam ones come with all sorts of issues: they're often too big, or uncomfortable, or they fall out in the middle of the night - and they get lost super easily too. If your tent isn't well ventilated, or they're in a pocket during the day that gets wet, they will often swell up and become unusable.
Enter: Loop Dream earplugs. You know, the company that seem to have an infinite marketing budget and sell all sorts of noise-blocking solutions, splashing their adverts across Youtube, Instagram and the rest of my non-blocked popups. Could these little bits of plastic finally be the solution to all my side-sleeping-tent-noise woes?
Well, I've been road testing them while camping since getting my hands on a pair last month, and I must admit, they've performed amazingly. Here's an honest breakdown of how they work for me as a side-sleeping camping enthusiast.
LFTOwww.loopearplugs.com
Pros
- Very comfortable for side sleepers
- Blocks out noise effectively
- Safe, friendly and reusable
Cons
- High RRP
Design and comfort
The first thing you notice about Loop Dreams is their unique design, which to me at least, looks like a tiny little mushroom. Unlike traditional foam earplugs, these have a circular loop structure on the outer ear that’s both stylish and functional, blocking out noise and being soft enough for side sleepers like me not to notice them.
The oval shape of of the actual plug part moulds gently to the ear canal without creating pressure, which is a common complaint with bulkier rounded foam earplugs. When they're in, you almost forget you're wearing them; a testament to their ergonomic design. After finding the right size bud for my ear (the pack comes with four different interchangeable sizes), they haven't come out once, despite me being a particularly wriggly sleeper.
The outer silicone skin, which covers the foam plug part does have a tendency to roll back after I take them out, but this can be solved by pulling it back down over the plug again before you re-use them. I think it's evidence than an effective seal has been formed.
Noise-blocking performance
Loop Dreams are not marketed as industrial-strength earplugs; instead, they focus on reducing ambient noise to create a more peaceful sleeping environment. They perform exceptionally well at dampening low-frequency sounds like wind in the trees, heavy rain on a tent, or your damn partner snoring. While they won’t entirely block out louder, sudden noises (probably a good thing when you're camping and want to know if the apocalypse is coming in the middle of the night), they significantly reduce the impact of such sounds, making it easier to stay asleep.
I've found them to be more effective than the Loop Quiets, by a significant margin - not least because these are are more comfortable and actually designed for sleeping rather than just noise blocking.
Being very honest, their noise-blocking performance is equal to, or perhaps even a little less effective than a traditional foam earplug, but the comfort and ease of use and adjustable sizing more than makes up for a few decibels here and there. I'm certainly not going back to foam anytime soon.
Ease of use and maintenance
These earplugs are reusable, eco-friendly, and easy to clean. A quick once-over with an antiseptic wipe every now and again keeps them fresh for repeated use. My ear also doesn't feel sweaty or gunky after using these, unlike the silicone Loop Quiets, or the foam earplugs, which can only be used a couple of times before being thrown away. The Dreams come in a compact case that’s perfect for travel, ensuring they stay clean and protected when not in use.
The catch
Ha. You didn't think this would be catch-free, did you? Well. There is a significant catch here and that's that these babies cost £44.95. That's a helluva lot for two little bits of foam and silicone, but the million dollar (well, £44.95) question remains: are they worth it for sleeping well in a tent? Our answer is a categoric yes. In fact, I now use these at home too, which helps block out traffic noise and other things that go bump in the night.
Loop do offer a 100 day money-back guarantee, however, so you can trial them with no financial stress if you don't happen to get on with them.
The verdict
If you're spending money on a decent sleep setup for camping, and know you'll be out and about for more than just a few weekends per year, then I'd highly recommend the Loop Dreams as a staple sleep aid. Indeed, if you're a light sleeper in general and will use these around the house as well as out and about, then I think they're an excellent investment.
However, if you're only festival camping once a year and can make do with a significantly cheaper set of foam earplugs, then don't let the marketing win you over - these are pricey and only worth it if you'll use them regularly.
About the author
Fliss Freeborn is LFTO's sleepiest writer, clocking in a good 9.5 hours a night, wherever she may be. She lives in Scotland, and although can be found in her flat in Glasgow for much of the week, her weekends are spent out and about in the local hills, mountain biking, hiking, running or simply farting about with a fire-pit and a tent.