Table of contents

• What can air purifiers do?
• Testing the Levoit
• Compared to other air purifiers
• Cost of Levoit air purifier filters
• The bottom line

What can air purifiers do?

The High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter standard means a filter can capture 99.97% of the tiny, most-difficult-to-trap particles in the air — tiny means 0.3 microns in diameter, the size of some virus and bacteria bodies. Note that performance with bigger or smaller particles is even better.

But even with that amazing capture rate, if the air purifier fan doesn’t move all the air in your room through the filter a few times per hour, even dust coming in through windows and doors may be more than the purifier can keep up with.

If you’re making a lot of dust or smoke inside, ventilation or more effective cleaning will make a much bigger difference than filtering the air. Check out our full review for a list of steps you should take before you resort to an air purifier.

What about the coronavirus?

When we researched our review of the best air purifiers, we asked experts at the California Air Resources Board if the 99.97% capture rate of a HEPA filter is enough to protect against virus exposure.

Jeffery Williams, from the Indoor Exposure Assessment team, sums up the science: “There’s really no clean-cut answer. The tests for these devices are using a very contrived scenario when they’re quantifying efficiencies. Specific dust sizes are generated and then the amount of dust before and after the filter is measured and you get an efficiency. In the natural world, you’ve got a very broad range of particles; some bacteria and viruses are large enough to get captured, some aren’t.”

If you want to take the precaution of filtering your air, remember that air purifiers are only effective at removing particles that are floating through your room — they can’t do anything about a virus body trapped behind a closed door or stuck to surfaces.

The good news is that a virus like SARS-CoV-2 is killed easily with soap and water, or a 60–70% alcohol solution in hand sanitizer if you don’t have access to a sink.

Testing the Levoit

The differences between air purifier models come down to three questions: how big of a room can it clean, how loud is it, and how much will it cost to run?

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (“AHAM”) with their Verifide program have developed a standard to answer the first question. They test air purifiers with three categories of air pollution: large dust particles, pollen-size particles and smoke-sized particles. The result is certified as a “clean air delivery rate” (CADR) — the cubic feet of air per minute an air purifier can clean. (Multiply the CADR number by 1.66, and you’ve got an estimate for square footage the purifier can handle.)

We mostly purchased air purifiers that are already certified this way, but a few top-selling models like the Levoit weren’t. Levoit gives their own specification for how big a room the machine is supposed to be suitable for, so we set up a controlled test to get a fair comparison.

We sealed off a test chamber (equivalent to a very small 68-square-foot room) with a plastic barrier and introduced controlled amounts of dust and tobacco smoke, then recorded the falling number of ultra-fine half-micron particles detected by a laser-powered Dylos particle counter.

We ran tests with each air purifier on both high and low speed settings to see how much performance you’re giving up in order to turn down the noise. Along with the performance tests, we also checked noise output of each model and checked power draw at different fan settings.

Levoit performance results

The chart above is a comparison between the Levoit – LV-H132 and the GermGuardian – AC4825. They retail for about the same price and have similar performance claims in their advertising. The biggest difference is that the GermGuardian has been tested and certified to deliver 108 CFM (cubic feet per minute) of clean air when filtering smoke. (We tested one more certified CADR-100 air purifier, and its performance was similar to the GermGuardian.) If you believe the advertising, these machines should be able to clean the air in a room double the size we were testing in.

The Levoit took 10 minutes longer to clean half of the thick cloud of dust particles out of a small room, and after 40 minutes at top speed it still didn’t take out as much as the competitors on their lowest speed settings.

Levoit used to simply claim that this air purifier was suitable for rooms up to 129 square feet. They’ve since updated their marketing to include a theoretical CADR of 40 cubic feet per minute, which means you’d filter the air in a room that size just more than twice per hour. With dust coming in the door or a person moving around, you could easily have more dust coming into the room and swirling around than the Levoit can keep up with.

If you leave the Levoit running for long enough, it can probably capture all of the dust from some small rooms. If your outside air quality is good enough (or your room is sealed tightly enough) that you’re not worried about outside dust coming in through the doors and windows, you probably don’t need an air purifier at all.

If you’re making dust and smoke inside from moving around, cooking and cleaning, we recommend a bigger air purifier that can actually make a noticeable difference quickly.

Compared to other air purifiers

The bigger Winix 5300-2 is our pick for households that actually need an air purifier, because it only costs $50 more than the Levoit, but it moves about five times more air — a CADR of 232 vs. 40. Winix also includes an air quality sensor and a timer. The main downside to the Winix is that it’s a larger machine, almost as big as a carry-on-size rolling suitcase. It also doesn’t let you turn off the light when the fan is running at full speed the way the Levoit does.

The Best Air Purifier: Winix 5300-2

Winix makes air purifiers in all sizes, but this model has been a top seller for years, thanks to its quiet, speedy cleaning performance. It's also far less expensive than most others this size.

See Price at AmazonSee Price at Home Depot

If you need a smaller air purifier, we liked the GermGuardian – AC4825 better than other compact models. It’s not much quieter or less expensive than the Winix, and it draws more power to do the same job, but it will fit more easily in the corner of a small bedroom.

Cost of Levoit air purifier filters

If you’re wondering about the overall cost of maintenance, the LV-H132-RF Levoit air purifier filter is very affordable at about $13 per replacement. If you calculate cost based on the manufacturer’s recommended schedule, with a new filter every 6 months, you would spend about the same on filters as you do for a bigger air purifier like the Winix.

It’s important to note, however, that HEPA filters will work for a very long time before they get plugged with household dust. Levoit made their filter quite a bit bigger than it needs to be for the airflow capacity of the machine, so many households can count on it lasting a year or more.

Our Winix filter has lost about 10% efficiency over two years of regular use in a small household. Typically these filters lose some of their ability to attract ultra-fine dust first, then slowly plug up with larger dust and start to restrict airflow. If you’re really giving an air purifier a workout with dusty conditions, smoke, cooking oil and pet hair, it’s wise to stick to the annual replacement schedule.

The bottom line

If you need an air purifier the size of a box of tissues, this is technically a product that will clean your air. The housing and controls are designed well, and you can turn off the blue light if you run it after dark.

But on all the points that matter most — speed to clean your air, efficiency and noise — the Levoit is beaten easily by bigger air purifiers turned to their just-as-quiet speed settings. The small fan inside this machine is simply not moving enough air to keep up with the competition.

Too Small for the Price: Levoit - LV-H132

While the appeal of this compact air purifier is easy to see, it can't keep up with better-equipped competitors. The biggest room this would be effective in is a 6-by-10 closet.

See Price at AmazonSee Price at Home Depot

The post Levoit LV-H132 Air Purifier Review appeared first on Your Best Digs.

How we selected these books

Don’t think of this as a list of books that are only good for men — in most cases, the stories and information they contain will appeal to everyone. We’re assuming that you’re reading this list either because you’re a man who’s run out of ideas for what to read next, or you’re someone trying to encourage a man to read more by picking up a book for him. If you are looking for a gift, the best book light makes an excellent pairing.

We’ve had people making lists of books for almost as long as we’ve had books. The invention of the printing press means that nearly anyone can publish a book; that means there are dozens of books written by somebody, somewhere you’d love to read that you’ll never even know about. From lists of banned books to bibliographies of niche topics compiled by academics, book lists have always been a way for people interested in specific ideas to tell readers how to find (or avoid) relevant books.

As we put together this list, some of the readers we surveyed insisted that since male authors and readers have dominated the publishing sphere throughout history, the idea of a specific set of books for men is redundant and silly, if not offensive.

Nobody is saying that men and women can’t read the same books. But just as there are specific topics that interest women in general — or enough women to keep the publishing industry looking for new ways to tap into that market, anyhow — we’ve found that there are specific topics that most men are interested in. Remember too that a “best book” list pretty much has to be controversial — Michael Caines of the Times Literary Supplement calls book lists “one of the oldest and dodgiest forms of literary criticism.”

We surveyed 25 men who are avid readers, many of whom take part in regular book-club discussions. We also surveyed lists from magazines and websites that focus on stories for men. We studied the reader-generated lists on the Goodreads network, a website that helps people find and review books.

After surveying these other lists of books and looking for common threads, we identified a few themes or features of the books that the men in our survey thought were most important:

• Insight: Learning what’s going on behind the scenes, how things work, and how to strategize. This kind of insight is important in biographies of powerful leaders, but dramatic depictions of relationships can also provide much-needed food for thought.
• Adventure: Similar to the epic journeys of classic myth, but with more character development and gritty detail.
• Coming of age: How to pass on or inherit a legacy (be it elevating or burdensome) is a weighty question for many modern men.
• Survival: In both fiction and non-fiction titles, situations where the outcome is uncertain and the stakes are life-or-death.

Our list

After we compiled a list of over fifty candidate books to include, we narrowed that list to a group of thirty-six finalists. After that, our researcher used surveys to rank the fifteen best books for men.

The post The Best Books for Men appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Table of contents

• Compare the best reading lamps
• 1. Best reading lamp for desks Ominilight
• 2. Best reading lamp for bedsides Newhouse Lighting
• 3. Best reading floor lamp Newhouse Lighting
• Other finalists we tested
• How we selected finalists to test
• How we tested
• What makes a good reading lamp?
• Important features to consider
• The bottom line

Compare the best reading lamps

1. Best reading lamp for desks

Our testers loved the sleek and shiny Ominilight – Desk Lamp, in no small part thanks to its one-touch control: A fingerprint-sized groove in its base helps you easily find the control even in the dark. The Ominilight has three different brightness settings that could cater to different needs. The lowest setting gives enough light for you to read without bothering someone beside you. The brightest setting was quite bright but still gentle on the eyes.

Best Desk Lamp: Omnilight

The Omnilight’s one-touch control makes it easy to find in the dark, and its gooseneck feature allows you to focus the light on one particular area.

See Price at Amazon

The Omnilight’s color temperature is a little cooler at 6,500 kelvins, meaning that it’s better for stimulating the brain than for reading right before bed, making it better-suited as a desk lamp.

Another great feature of Ominilight is its curved head, specifically designed to allow the light to reach further without causing any harsh shadows. The gooseneck feature makes it easy to point the light to any particular area of a desk. The Omnilight is an excellent choice for someone looking for a modern-style bedside or table lamp.

Key takeaways:

• Touch control on the base makes controlling the lamp a breeze.
• Brightness is adjustable with three adjustments.
• The curved head makes this lamp easy on the eyes.

2. Best reading lamp for bedsides

The Newhouse Lighting – Clip On is a 350 lumens clip-on light that’s great for brightening up a page with its warm 3000K LED light. It has a 6-foot cord and a clip that can grip a surface up to three inches wide, which performed best when we clipped it to the edge of a desk or nightstand.

The Newhouse had a few standout features, including an exceptionally flexible metal gooseneck, a simple and easy to use switch and a strong clip complete with six suction cups for extra stability on a glass surface. While the plastic clip’s strength may make the Newhouse lamp extra stable, we needed to exert some effort in clipping and unclipping it.

Best for Bedside Reading: Newhouse Lighting - Clip On

Well-constructed with a strong clip for gripping to any surface, the Newhouse clip-on lamp also provides a warm, bright light for nighttime reading.

See Price at Amazon

Overall, the Newhouse reading lamp is a great option for someone who prefers a small lamp that can be moved around to suit their needs, whether they are reading at a desk or in a bed.

Key takeaways:

• The Newhouse’s 6-foot cord gives it an especially long reach.
• Small and compact, the Newhouse lamp is a great space saver.
• With a strong clip and and flexible metal gooseneck, the Newhouse stays exactly where you put it.

3. Best reading floor lamp

The Brightech – Sparq is a unique arcing lamp that makes a big impact. Its minimalist design provides a surprising amount of coverage by throwing light from the side and overhead, thus diminishing shadows. Because of this feature, the Sparq could easily double as an efficient task and accent light.

Best Floor Lamp: Brightech - Sparq

Sleek and lightweight, the Sparq’s arching light source eliminates shadows by illuminating from above and to the side.

See Price at Amazon

Another great feature is the foot button. While our testers thought it performed well placed near a couch, bean bag chair, or bed, they preferred it placed near a desk where its three brightness settings could be adjusted with a simple tap of the foot. The Sparq’s light is gentle on the eyes and made a substantial difference in lighting our testers’ desk.

Key takeaways:

• Arcing light source provides lighting from above and from the side for shadowless illumination.
• The floor button makes it easy to adjust the brightness between three settings.
• Lightweight and sleek, the Brightech Sparq can be easily moved or turned.

Other finalists we tested

Tomons – Swing Arm Desk Lamp

Aesthetically, the Tomons – Swing Arm Desk Lamp is somewhat reminiscent of the Pixar logo. It consists of a base, three different joints and an opaque hood. This is actually the only lamp on our list with an exposed bulb. While adjustable up and down, compared to our gooseneck lamps, the Tomons desk lamp has much less range of motion.

The power switch is located on the cable (which can’t be concealed) and produces a clicking noise when switched on or off. The lighting is pleasant, easy on the eyes, and the LED bulb doesn’t heat up. This is a tasteful, pleasant lamp and while it didn’t get our top pick, this is a lamp for a person who wants something straightforward and trendy.

KEDSUM – Clip On Lamp

The KEDSUM – Clip On Lamp, powered by USB, has a whopping 11 settings on its dimmer control. We were inclined, however, to use the brighter settings and found the other settings excessive. Like the Newhouse, the KEDSUN has a flexible gooseneck, and though it shook slightly during testing, it stayed secure, thanks to its sturdy metal clip.

The KEDSUM has nicely diffused and even lighting, and although it didn’t make our top pick for a clip-on reading lamp, its adjustable features makes it a good space-saving choice for a reader looking for versatility in a reading lamp.

Brightech – Litespan

The Brightech – Litespan stands a little over 5-feet tall and has an adjustable upper half. Its light is daylight bright, which our tester felt was too harsh. Our consensus on this lamp is that with its 6,000K natural-daylight spectrum white light and 2,000 lumens output, it would be better as an office or shop light rather than a reading light.

How we selected finalists to test

We consulted reviews online, searched through Reddit for considerations when buying reading lamps and discussions on LED lighting, and referred to some of the same concerns addressed in our review of the best book light. We also spoke with Arthur Smith, editor of LEDwatcher.com, about what we should be looking for in a reading lamp. We narrowed down our choices to include two floor lamps, two desk lamps and two clip-on lamps.

How we tested

After assembling our six reading lamps, we carefully inspected and noted their features. This included measuring cords, testing switches, bending flexible parts and generally assessing the quality of materials.

Over a two-week period, our group of participants tested the lamps for at least 30 minutes a night and responded to questions we provided them. Using these questionnaires, and combined with our initial inspection of each lamp, we determined the winners for three categories: best reading lamp for desks, best bedside reading lamp and best floor reading lamp.

What makes a good reading lamp?

There are three basic types of lighting:

General:  Provides an even distribution of light to a room

Accent: Shines light to draw attention to a particular area of a room

Task: Lights a smaller area where a “task,” such as reading, occurs

Reading lamps fall under the category of task lighting. Because reading lamps are physically much closer to the task at hand (in our case, books), they keep an area brightly lit to protect readers from straining their eyes in dimmer conditions.

As Arthur Smith told us: “Reading in dim light will make your eyes tired more quickly, which often results in eye strain, dry eyes, blurred vision and even headaches.” The best reading lamp, he emphasized, will be the reading lamp you actually use.

When looking to make the purchase, consider your habits. Do you usually read in bed, on the couch or at a desk? Do you need a light that can move around with you?

Important features to consider

Styles: Depending on the location of where you normally like to read and what kind of aesthetic you like, you’ll be able to better pinpoint what works for you. Some lights have flexible goosenecks that allow readers to point the light in many possible directions. Other lights have clips that can grab onto a headboard. Preferences for switches or buttons, metal or plastic, or even the length of the cord are just some of the many options.

Brightness: Brightness in LED lights is measured in lumens. More mature eyes will generally need more lumens. Children can handle lower lumens around 450, adolescents and adults do well with 800 to 1100 lumens, and seniors need about 1600 lumens. Some lamps conveniently have adjustment controls for the reader to change the brightness to a range that better suits them.

Bulb Type: Every reading lamp on our list is an LED lamp. According to Arthur Smith, “LED lights aren’t any better or worse for your eyes than incandescent bulbs, but they do have other benefits that incandescents or other types of bulbs don’t. They last a lot longer than incandescent light bulbs. They also don’t heat up even when you have them on for hours. And they consume a lot less energy, meaning that your energy bill will be lower when using LED bulbs.”

Thanks to their long lifespan, the bulbs in the lamps on our list don’t actually need to be changed out. However, the Tomons – Swing Arm Desk Lamp’s bulb could easily be changed out for a different color.

Color Temperature: Just like we found in our review of the best book light, warmer lights are more soothing for the eyes while cooler tones stimulate brain activity. It really comes down to personal preference. If you are a nighttime reader and like to read before going to bed, you might be better off with a warmer light as the cooler tones could make it more difficult for you to fall asleep. On the other hand, if you are reading to study, you may just need those cooler tones to keep your brain alert.

The bottom line

Choosing a reading lamp is more personal than it might seem at first. But understanding your reading habits can help you make the investment in keeping your eyesight safe and clear and the headaches away.

Stylishly designed, the Ominilight – Desk Lamp has three different brightness levels, a flexible gooseneck that allows you to focus light on one particular spot, and a one-touch control that’s easy to find even in the dark.

The Newhouse Lighting – Clip On is our top pick for a bedside reading lamp. Its strong clip can grip to any surface, and the LED lamp provides a warm, bright light for nighttime reading.

The Brightech – Sparq is a unique arcing lamp that we chose as the best floor reading lamp. Its sleek, minimalist design provides wide coverage by throwing light from the side and overhead and eliminates shadows.

Best Desk Lamp: Omnilight

Its lowest settings give you enough light to read without disturbing anyone beside you. The Omnilight is a great choice if you’re looking for a modernist bedside or table lamp.

See Price at Amazon

The post The Best Reading Lamps appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Why vacuum?

Dust, pollen and other asthma-inducing allergens circulate in our breathing air everyday, and they settle into carpets and in between floorboards and tile grout. A little known fact is that humans shed 30,000 – 40,000 skins cells an hour, and in 24 hours, they can add up to 1 million skin cells. Where does all that shed skin go? It collects in dust that accumulates all over your home.

Adding to this dust collection is our hair, which the American Academy of Dermatologists estimates to be 50 to 100 strands per day. If you have longer hair, this normal hair loss is more noticeable and gets entwined in carpet fibers.

Cats and dogs also shed regularly, and they — along with most other pets, including birds and reptiles — shed microscopic flecks of skin known as dander that can trigger allergic skin and sinus responses in their owners. Also consider that indoor/outdoor pets track in bacteria that can cause intestinal illness.

Something you might not be aware of: many vacuums actually kick back dust and allergens back into the air. Older vacuums are usually the culprits, so look for a newer model that has a HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filter, like one of the Dyson vacuums. Another option is to add an air purifier — especially in an allergy-sufferer’s bedroom — which should help clear your air of most allergens.

Basically, vacuuming is essential for maintaining good health. A recent study by Indiana University cites that vacuuming (and all home hygiene) increases physical activity for stay-at-home people and improves mental well-being in seeing the rewards of their efforts.

How often should you vacuum each floor type?

Carpets: twice a week

Carpets and area rugs serve another purpose besides decorating the home: They trap airborne particles and thus keep them out of the air we breathe. But other than professional steam-cleaning, the only way to remove the entrapped allergens, dust and tracked-in dirt is by vacuuming them twice a week.

We’ve tested dozens of vacuums, and the best one for thick carpet is a powerful upright vacuum, like the Shark – Apex, which has a lift-away canister that you can easily carry from room to room. The lift-away canister will also help you suck up those dust bunnies under your bed once and for all.

Area rugs: twice a week

Area rugs should also be vacuumed twice a week, but you’ll need a versatile canister vacuum that can handle multiple surfaces, for example, the Kenmore – Elite. The floors underneath the area rug should be vacuumed as well, and if you have hardwood floors, a vacuum specifically designed to handle hardwood floors will be the most effective.

A general rule-of-thumb is if the area rug covers more than three-fourths of your floor, then the floor beneath the rug can be vacuumed every other week.

Non-carpeted floors: once a week

Hardwood floors and kitchen tile floors don’t cling onto dust and bacteria as hungrily as carpets. Their flat construction and sealant or glaze prevent grime from building up. However, dirt can still collect between floorboards, beneath kitchen cabinets, under appliances and in tile grouting.

You only need to vacuum these surfaces once a week, but you’ll need a vacuum that can handle carpets as well as hardwood floors, like the Shark – Rocket, a stick vacuum that’s been specifically designed for both surfaces. For occasional spills and spot-vacuuming on non-carpeted floors and hard-to-reach corners, a handheld vacuum will do the trick, like the budget-priced Dirt Devil – Scorpion.

High-traffic areas: every two days

Hallways, kitchens, mudrooms and children’s play areas are considered high-traffic areas and need to be vacuumed more often than low-traffic areas, such as guest rooms or formal dining rooms used mostly for special occasions.

High-traffic areas should be vacuumed every two days. If all of this vacuuming has you weary just thinking about, there are great lightweight vacuums that will ease arm fatigue and make the job a lot easier.

If you have pets: daily

Certain dogs and cats don’t shed as much as others, but they all shed. It’s better to avoid build up of hair and dander by vacuuming every day, especially if you or a family member has allergies. This may seem like an onerous task, but it can be a quick going-over with a pet hair vacuum, like the handy Black+Decker that automatically senses when you’re vacuuming carpet, upholstery or bare floors.

If you only have time for occasional vacuuming, then focus on the areas where your pet spends the most time, like a pet bed, chair or couch and around the litter box.

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What is a bladeless fan?

A bladeless fan does, in fact, have a blade, but it’s concealed inside the fan’s motor. The more accurate term for a bladeless fan is an “air multiplier.” The most popular — and the most expensive — air multiplier is the Dyson, and we’ve reviewed the Dyson – AM07 and one of the company’s newest models, the Dyson – TP01, which has a new added feature of an air purifier with a HEPA filter.

Latest model: Dyson - TP01

Dyson's latest bladeless 'air multiplier' is a luxurious way to cool a room. These models now include an air purifier with a HEPA filter.

See Price at Amazon.com

The original Dyson air multiplier was a tabletop-style fan, composed of a large hoop that disperses air on top of a squat cylinder that houses its motor. The Dyson – AM07 and Dyson – TP01 are similar in shape to the tower fans we reviewed, but they have the same air-multiplier technology as the original models.

A major downside for some people will be the high cost of any Dyson fan. You could buy one of our recommended tower fans instead and combine it with an air purifier to get an approximation of what the new Dyson fan does.

Best Budget Tower Fan: Seville Classic - Ultraslimline

At a fraction of the price of a Dyson, the Seville cools a large room just as effectively. Powerful, user-friendly and inexpensive, the Seville is a great budget option.

See Price at Amazon.com

How does a bladeless fan work?

A traditional bladed fan pulls in air and chops it up, with each blade sending a slice of air towards you at high velocity, which creates a turbulent and forceful airflow. The air multiplier works much differently.

Air is pulled in through a small vent in the pedestal base of the fan. A small, brushless motor forces the air through asymmetrically aligned blades — known as a mixed-flow impeller — which increases pressure and airflow.

The air is then pushed up through and over a wing-shaped slit at the base of the hoop. This action propels the air up through the hoop at high velocity and — also drawing in the air that surrounds the hoop — multiplies its volume by as much as 15 times.

This simultaneous pushing and pulling motion of air results in a gentle airflow that eliminates the buffeting sensation of bladed fans.

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Table of contents

• Dyson technology
• New features
• Dyson – TP01 vs. Dyson – AM07
• Air purifier performance test
• The bottom line

Dyson technology

The Dyson company revolutionized vacuums with its cyclone technology and cordless designs, and we’ve reviewed and recommended several of them. Dyson also threw its team of engineers in designing a new type of fan, the so-called bladeless fans.

There’s no denying the amazing technology in a Dyson fan or more precisely — as we explain in our article about how bladeless fans work — an air multiplier. In brief, a Dyson’s motor is designed to force air upwards through the upper body’s loop. It then pulls in air surrounding the loop and multiplies the air volume before expelling it outward.

This explanation is still probably too technical, but put simply, the result is that the airflow is smoothed out. You feel a constant, gentle breeze, rather than the buffeting sensation you feel from a traditional bladed and oscillating fan.

The first Dyson fans were table fans, and instead of a loop, the upper body was a silver or black ring, something you might catch Sauron peering through. They were also notoriously noisy. The company spent three more years researching how to muffle the motor’s sound, and they succeeded in designing a much quieter model, which is now Dyson’s claim to fame. When we tested the Dyson – AM07 with other tower fans, it was quieter, but only by a few decibels, and the difference was not noticeable when compared with our top (and much cheaper) pick, the Seville Classics – UltraSlimline.

Dyson continues to refine their air multiplier’s technology, and Dyson has incorporated air purifiers, heating elements, humidifiers and air-pollution sensors into the newest models.

New features

The TP series, also called Dyson Pure Cool, has a built-in air purifier with a high efficiency particulate-arresting (“HEPA”) filter, which Dyson claims only needs to be replaced once a year. The Pure Cool air multipliers pull in dust and allergens and expel clean air that is virtually free of pollutants (a 99.97% reduction of particles in air that passes through the filter).

The TP02 is Wi-Fi compatible and has an automatic mode for air purification, meaning it can turn the fan speed up when a sensor detects pollution in your air. The TP03 was an updated version of the TP02, but it’s no longer available.

The TP04 is the most significant change, adding an LCD display, thicker filters, and more pollution sensors to show you a more complete picture of your air quality. Its oscillation can be set up to 350 degrees to reach every corner of a room. You can also change the airflow direction, and a nighttime setting lowers airflow to a quieter level.

There’s no question that the TP series is remarkable, but is it worth almost $600 for the ability to see your air quality status in an app? You could buy a tower fan and an air purifier with a HEPA filter and perhaps get better results for less than half the cost.

As much as we love technological marvels, we found the newer models of the TP series too expensive and chose to test the TP01 — not exactly a bargain at $400 — to see how it compared to the discontinued AM07.

Dyson – TP01 vs. Dyson – AM07

The Dyson – TP01 is very similar to the Dyson – AM07: It has 10 speeds that can be easily controlled manually by simply holding its power button, which increases the airflow incrementally. The TP01’s remote control does the same function, but you can also program the amount of time the fan will operate at a selected speed. To ensure the remote control won’t get lost or mixed up with other remotes, you can attach it magnetically to the top of the unit.

We tested the Dyson – TP01 for a full week, running it 24 hours a day in a bedroom that is approximately 155 square feet. We then tested it intermittently in an irregularly shaped living room/dining room that is approximately 400 square feet.

Levels 1 through 3 are intended for just removing low levels of dust in an empty room, since the airflow is minimal. However, in the bedroom, cooling at level 3 was quite effective. Overall the Dyson performed better in the smaller room. Despite Dyson’s marketing that the TP series can cool a large, airy room, we did not find that to be the case. Like other Dyson fans, it oscillates (only by using the remote control) at a limited 70-degree angle, which was fine for the bedroom. In the living room, however, even at its highest level, we felt almost no cooling from either side of the fan.

In our previous testing of tower fans, the AM07 had only modest airflow at 6.3 mph, while the inexpensive Seville clocked in at 8.0 mph. Dyson clearly made improvements on the TP01’s engineering, since its airflow was noticeably stronger at 7.8 mph. (We were curious about how the upper body’s engineering affected airflow, so we detached it and got a reading of a blustery 24.6 mph.)

As we noted in our review of the AM07, the Dyson’s selling point is its low noise level. The AM07 measured at 61 dB; the TP01 measured slightly higher at 63 dB. So Dyson improved the TP01’s airflow speed, but the noise level is about the same as its older model.

Air purifier performance testing

After receiving many requests from readers, we ran the TP01 tower fan through the same trials as other air purifiers we’ve tested.

Most air purifiers on the market today, even the poor-performance models we don’t recommend, use a similar HEPA-class filter that’s very good at capturing particles. The difference in performance mostly comes from how quickly the air in your room can be filtered — the thick filters slow down the air and require a strong fan. This crucial performance rating is usually certified by an independent agency in a Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) test.

The most frustrating thing about Dyson products is the deceptive tactics they use in their marketing. Dyson does some great engineering, but they hide most of the important performance numbers behind misdirection so that you can’t compare their products directly with the rest of the market. Dyson is betting that the high-performance features and unique look will make you love using their products, even if there are some low-performance trade-offs you don’t know about.

In this case, rather than submitting their tower fans for testing with the American Home Appliance Manufacturers’ Verifide program to get an apples-to-apples CADR rating for smoke, pollen and dust, Dyson came up with their own test, something they sometimes call the “POLAR” test. The most important thing about Dyson using their own test is that they don’t have to tell you the result, and you can’t look up a comparison with competing products.

They claim their test is better because of the size of their test chamber, the number of sensors they use, the number of pollutants they test for and the fact that they don’t have a circulating fan in their test chamber. But it doesn’t matter how many gaseous volatile organic compounds they test for, since they haven’t published the results or a performance comparison — not even between their own models.

In our tests, the Dyson’s maximum air velocity was at nearly the same as the best air purifier on its highest speed setting. That’s why it’s good for cooling. But the bigger-volume fan in the Winix moves 40% more air — 393 cubic feet per minute compared to Dyson’s 275. In testing, it took roughly four times longer to get the same improvement in air quality from a Dyson compared to a $130 Winix. The TP01 is also missing the air-quality sensor of its strongest competitors — you have to spend $100 more for the TP02 to get a sensor and Wi-Fi-based control.

At the lowest speed setting, the Dyson wasn’t even creating enough pressure to fill up the plastic bag we were using for air volume testing unless we took the filter off. There’s a gentle breeze because of the excellent air multiplier engineering, but it won’t make much difference for air quality unless you turn it up. For our low-speed test, we bumped the Dyson up to the fourth setting, which gave similar airspeed to the Winix set on its lowest setting.

In a small bedroom, the Dyson will be effective enough to manage dust, but that’s true of many air purifiers that cost less than a quarter its price.

The bottom line

We still can’t deny that the Dyson – TP01 is an amazing piece of engineering, particularly with the new addition of an air filter and the improvement in airspeed over the old model. Although this model doesn’t have an LCD read-out (as the TP04 has) to display what air pollutants have been removed, the air in the bedroom where we tested the TP01 did seem fresher.

We also found that the TP01 kept a smaller room cooler than it did in a large, open-air room, primarily because it does not have a side-to-side airflow. Likewise, while it would manage a certain level of dust in a quiet, well-kept apartment, there’s not enough airflow moving through the filter to make this an effective air purifier if people are stirring up dust every ten minutes.

As it was in our earlier review of an older model, the Dyson’s $400 price tag is its biggest drawback. However, with the inclusion of an air purifier with a HEPA filter that only needs to be changed once a year, you might be able to justify the cost. We still recommend, though, our top pick for tower fan, the Seville Classics – UltraSlimline and our top pick for air purifier, the Winix – 5300-2, as more affordable options.

Impressive But Pricey: Dyson - TP01

Dyson’s latest series of air multipliers incorporates an air purifier with a HEPA filter, so it cools and freshens the air. The TP01 is one of the least expensive models in this series, but it still has a hefty price tag.

See Price at AmazonSee Price at Best Buy

The post Dyson – TP01 Fan & Air Purifier Review appeared first on Your Best Digs.

What is the best reading chair for you?

Although we’re partial to propping ourselves up in an oversized sit-up pillow on the couch to read, even the best sit-up pillow can be terrible for posture and lead to an aching back or neck.

If you enjoy reading the latest bestseller or literature classic late into the night with a book light clipped to your book, you’ll want a chair that prevents you from slouching by supporting your lower back and keeps your arms high enough to hold a book comfortably.

Reading chairs come in different sizes, so before buying one, check its measurements. Many modern and retro reading chairs are low to the ground with legs only about five or six inches tall. This style allows you to keep your feet planted firmly and your back erect. You’ll want a seat cushion that gives a little but not so much that you’ll sink into it.

Traditional wingback chairs have slightly angled cushions that force you to sit into their higher backs. Although most wingback chairs are high enough to lean your head back, sometimes you might need a cushion to support your neck.

Most people consider a recliner to be the most comfortable chair for reading and relaxing. If you have the room in your home, a recliner could be a good option and may provide relief from lower back ache. However, your body needs to fit properly into the recliner and keep your feet elevated above your heart to have any benefit.

The post The Most Comfortable Reading Chairs appeared first on Your Best Digs.

Types of Bike Racks

Wall mount

This is the most common type of bike rack for either a vertical or horizontal mount. They can be as simple as a metal hook or a carefully designed adjustable bracket. In a vertical mount, the bike hangs off a rubber-coated hook by the front tire; in a horizontal mount, the bike hangs off two fixed arms by its frame.

A wall-mounted bike rack is ideal for small living spaces, since the bike’s footprint, when elevated, is reduced to the width of the bike’s handlebars (horizontal mount) or the diameter of the tires (vertical mount). Installation involves:

• Measuring how far off the floor the bike will hang
• Locating the studs in the wall where you plan to hang the bike by using a stud finder
• Drilling holes into the studs
• Screwing the rack’s base into the wall

Although several of the bike racks we tested included plastic drywall anchors, we strongly recommend that you do not install a bike rack into drywall alone: Even with the best drywall anchors, the shock of picking up and replacing the bike will eventually crack the drywall, and it will all come crashing down.

For a vertical mount, we also recommend purchasing separately (they’re not included with a vertical-mount bike rack) a wall plate that holds the back tire and prevents it from leaving scuff marks on the wall.

Free-standing

There are two types of free-standing bike racks: a parking rack and a gravity rack.

A parking rack is great for storing your bike in a garage or a larger living space and doesn’t require installation. It’s a folding metal frame that opens up, releasing a vertical arm that has a large hourglass-shaped spindle. The front bike wheel is rolled into the frame until the tire is held in place by the spindle. Although a free-standing rack is portable, convenient and easy-to-use, they can wobble and tip over when accidentally bumped.

A so-called gravity rack is designed to support one or two bikes upright in a horizontal position. Installation involves nothing more than screwing its ladder-like frame together and adjusting its arms from which the bike hangs. The rack simply leans against any wall. If you live in an apartment or rental home, and your landlord doesn’t allow holes to be drilled into walls, a gravity rack is your best option.

Pulley system

This type of bike storage is popular with people who have several bikes they need to store in their garage but have no floor space. It consists of two pulleys — positioned over the bike seat and handlebars — that are screwed into ceiling joists. Two double hooks are attached to the pulleys, which are then lowered, attached to the bike’s seat and handlebars. Pulling on the pulley ropes elevates the bike up to the ceiling. We did not test this type of bike storage because our tester’s garage did not have high-enough ceilings.

Whichever way you decide to hang your bike, always keep your tires fully inflated with one of the best bike pumps that we recommend. After installing and testing, we’ve ranked products below as the best bike rack for the home or garage.

The post The Best Bike Racks appeared first on Your Best Digs.

This is a review that covers ear plugs that allow more of certain frequencies into your ears in order to give you a more natural-sounding listening experience. They’re good for other activities like motorcycle riding and sporting events too, but if you’re wearing ear plugs for protection against extremely loud sounds, or to block out background noise when you’re trying to sleep, check out our best ear plugs review and our roundup of the best ear plugs for sleeping instead.

Table of contents

• How we selected finalists to test
• Compare the best concert ear plugs
• Important features to consider
• How does the NRR rating work?
• How much protection do you need?
• How we tested
• Best overall: Vibes – Hi-Fidelity Earplugs
• Best hearing protection: Eargasm – Slide
• Best earplugs for musicians: Decibullz – Professional
• Other finalists we tested
• The bottom line

How we selected finalists to test

As with all our reviews, we looked extensively at buyer testimonials and compared the top sellers to make up our short list of finalists to test. We picked one representative from each type of ear plug based on price, sales history and availability, rather than trying to find all the differences between products that appear identical.

Previous experience

We started this review with a long history of wearing earplugs and listening to music at live events. Daniel, our lead researcher and tester, has been mixing live bands for more than 15 years. Our other tester plays acoustic guitar or drums at weekend gigs.

Our testers have also used foam earplugs for situations that require them (including work with power tools and riding motorcycles), and both said they wouldn’t hesitate to wear foam ear plugs at an especially loud concert. Our musician tester regularly uses Earaser-brand filtered earplugs when he’s not wired up with in-ear monitors. (We tested the Earasers as well, but they offer so little reduction we didn’t include them in our results.)

Reddit, reviews and other recommendations

We read dozens of reviews of earplugs, and found that for the most part, they were recommended based on popularity or anecdotal experience with one brand. Wirecutter has the only review with detailed comparative information — other reviews, including a blog post from the Hearing Health Foundation, Producer Hive and Metal Insider describe real testing, but they and the hundreds of testimonials on Reddit’s r/ave and other sites for concert attendees are fairly vague about the details. Inner FIdelity published a review that includes measurements in 2015, but many new models have come out since then.

We purchased ear plugs with the best hearing-protection level for most concerts — between 10 and 20 decibels of noise reduction. We also looked for models that came with at least one size option so people with bigger or smaller ears aren’t left out.

Compare the best concert ear plugs

Ear Plug	Price Scale	Tester Score	NRR	Tip Options	Insertion Depth (mm)
1. Vibes - High Fidelity Concert Earplugs	$	3.75	15	3	14*
2. Eargasm - Slide (open/closed)	$$	3.75 / 2.5	15 / 22	3	11–19
3. Decibullz - Professional	$$$$$	5	14	5	11–20
4. Loop - Earplugs	$$	3.5	12	6	10–12
5. EAROS - ONE	$$	3.75	17	2	21
6. EarPeace HD	$	3.5	17	2 available	14*
7. Etymotic ER20XS	$	3.25	14	3	14–20
8. V-Moda Faders	$	2.75	12	4	13
*You can go much farther, just make sure you don't lose these in your ear canal

Important features to consider

Tip size selection: If you can’t seal your ear canals with your new pair of earplugs, you won’t get the full reduction you’re expecting. More importantly, if the earplugs aren’t comfortable, you’ll hate wearing them. All of the reusable plugs we tested have at least one alternative size option, and most give you three or more sizes to try right out of the box.

Tip shape and insertion depth: Everyone’s ear canal is different, so try a different shape if you don’t like the way your first set feels. Triple-flange tips need to go deep and bend through the inner curve of your ear canal to make a good seal, while round tips use pressure to fill up the space outside the first bend to stay in place.

Availability of other tips: If you’re not happy with the fit of tips supplied by the manufacturer, you can also buy foam or silicone tips made to fit in-ear monitor headphones. Comply sells reliable expanding-foam replacement tips for nearly every nozzle size and ear size, but Spinfit silicone tips are also worth trying out, and Westone sells a complete ten-option “fit kit” that will work with the narrow-nozzle ear plugs.

Noise Reduction Rating: See our discussion of the NRR below. This number averages out differences in fit and hearing sensitivity to give a reliable indicator of how earplugs should perform.

Filter options: In a few cases, you can buy these ear plugs with different filters for different levels of protection. We tested designs that rate between 12 and 22 in their NRR scale, and that’s typically on the more-protective end of the spectrum for the best high fidelity ear plugs.

How does the NRR rating work?

Because we all have different ear shapes, ear-plug manufacturers have to test their products in a laboratory with a group of at least 20 volunteers. The Noise Reduction Rating (“NRR”) is calculated after testing how well a pair of earplugs block a standard set of tones for all the test subjects, and the number averages out differences in fit and sensitivity between most people. (Standard deviation numbers are often listed so you can see that variability.)

This system is designed for people who use earplugs in loud work environments, where even boring tools like air compressors and leaf blowers can cause hearing loss because of constant noise every day. Exposure to noise at concerts is a bit different, and it’s important to understand how.

Decibels and weighting scales

Humans hear some sound frequencies better than others — for example, you rely heavily on higher-pitch details to know the difference between a P and a B when someone’s talking to you. That’s also part of what makes some sounds more annoying: Screaming children and squeaky bearings are overloading your ears with frequencies that are as painful as possible.

Decibels are measured with “perceptual weighting” applied, so that we’ll be able to more effectively compare how loud two different sounds seem to a human listener.

The A-weighted scale is the most common, and basically the only scale that’s been used for testing hearing loss. Unfortunately for musicians, an A-weighted sound pressure meter doesn’t pay much attention to low-frequency sound. It’s ideal for measuring the loudness of quiet sounds and works well for comparing the annoyance caused by a lawn mower, a neighbor’s dog or a grinding tool. But this system is terrible for judging subwoofer competitions at a car show or “percussive” sounds like gunfire.

The C-weighted scale, in comparison, includes most of the bass we can hear in its measurements, and it’s closer to how we perceive loud sounds. The scale is still filtering out a little bit of extra-low-frequency sound, but in a way that’s still effective for measuring music and movie soundtracks where people are paying attention to gut-rumbling bass.

Calculating ear plug effectiveness

If you have a measurement of the sound you’re worried about on a C-weighted scale, finding out the effect of your earplugs is simple: Just subtract an NRR number for a good idea of how well an earplug works in that situation.

• 102 dB(C) – 17 NRR = 85 dB(C)

But if you only have noise-level information from an A-weighted number (like what many “decibel meter” apps and inexpensive sound level meters give you), the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) standard is to subtract 7 from an ear plug’s NRR number before subtracting that from an A-weighted measurement.

• 102 dB(A) – (17 NRR – 7) = 92 dBA

If you make your calculation based on the wrong scale, you’re basically guaranteed to get double the exposure (remember that 6 dB represents double the pressure) you were expecting.

Many ear-plug buying guides recommend that employers go a step further and cut the NRR number in half when calculating safety requirements so to compensate for the possibility that someone will be wearing earplugs that don’t fit well. If you’re buying earplugs for yourself, you should just make sure they fit securely instead. Ear plugs that don’t fit are ineffective, uncomfortable and more likely to fall out.

How much protection do you need?

Our own experiences at small clubs and stadium shows has been that peak levels at moderately-loud shows of all genres tend to stay between 100 and 110 dB(A), while browsing fan subreddits we found that major outdoor festivals tend to stay below a more reasonable 100 dB(A). (If you stand 10 feet from a speaker stack, of course, you’ll get a lot more than that.)

The World Health Organization recommendation for recreational listening is 92 dB(A) for one hour of total exposure. Every 3 dB(A) over that cuts the time in half, and note that half the population is still likely to experience some temporary hearing loss at this level. Also note that tinnitus (ringing in your ears) isn’t predictable enough to make a recommendation. This is one of the few research papers that assumes you’re listening to loud music for pleasure rather than trying to protect workers, so they’re giving you a generous allowance to make your own choices about risks of long-term damage.

Under these guidelines, the outdoor shows averaging at 98 dB(A) would probably be OK for 15 minutes without ear plugs; using ear plugs rated at 14 NRR gives the following result:

• 98 – (14-7) = 91

Which means you’re up to an hour of loud songs before you’re likely to experience hearing loss. 14 NRR is too low for loud stadium concerts that hover between 104 dB(A) and 112 dB(A) for an hour of actual music; if we assume a hypothetical average of 107 dB(A), you’d want an NRR of 22 at least.

For nearly all of us, music sounds better when it’s louder, right up until our pain threshold, or until we find out how much damage we’ve done. Musicians who play and listen to loud music for a living are almost four times more likely to suffer hearing loss, and 45% more likely to suffer from tinnitus (ringing).

It makes sense to establish a “safe” level as a standard, but that’s more difficult than it might seem — even if you could get safety consultants, band members, concert promoters, and sound engineers to agree about what the best level is. As a study of music festival sound levels in Norway shows, even if event organizers are trying to keep sound levels under control your choices about where to stand and what shows to see can still get you in trouble if you aren’t wearing earplugs.

Part of the difficulty in establishing standards at concerts is that sound doesn’t hit all the seats in a venue evenly. Sound energy radiates out from conventional speakers in a cone-shaped pattern, and drops by half every time you double the distance. Put simply, standing closer to a speaker means you catch much more of the energy it’s pumping out.

Modern speaker technology like “line array” systems makes coverage at big concerts more even than it used to be, but most of the time you’ll still be guessing about what sound levels to expect.

The loudest concerts

The loudest music in the world is a controversial topic. After heavy metal band Manowar hit “129 dB” (no weighting is specified) during a certified record-breaking event in the early ’80s, the Guinness Book of World Records stopped recording concert sound levels out of a concern for public safety. Manowar still claims the title “world’s loudest band,” and their stadium contract rider requires sound systems on tour to provide a “minimum un-weighted SPL of 126 dB at FOH [sound board engineer] position.”

Motörhead and KISS have also jockeyed for the “loudest band” title in the past, but big acts have become less and less likely to advertise sound levels because of our increasing awareness of hearing loss.

If you’re going to a concert that aims to be the loudest, bring the highest-rated protection you can stand. Even if we’re generous and we assume Manowar is only pushing 120 dB(A) when our sound meter filters out the bass and kick drum, you’re still going to need an NRR of 35 if you want to follow the WHO recommendations.

For context, the loudest crowds measured at a sporting event hit 142.2 dBA as approximately 76,000 fans cheered the Kansas City Chiefs. That’s comparable to the sound level of gunfire or fireworks at close distances, though crowds make mostly high-frequency noise so they’re even harsher on your ears.

Since the NRR for foam ear plugs tops out at 33, you’d need something more for these extreme cases. That means adding over-ear muffs on top of ear plugs. This setup doesn’t get you the full NRR of both devices, though: You can only add 5 dB more to the official rating by stacking devices.

How we tested

Comfort tests

We tried all of these ear plugs on two different users, one with nominally larger ear canals and one who tends to take a size small. For the most part, our testers agreed that the pointy ends of triple-flange tips like the Etymotics and Earos include are most likely to be uncomfortable when you’re moving around, but for short sessions they’re fine.

Critical listening tests

Our testers spent an afternoon repeatedly listening to their favorite test tracks; the reference tracks we used most were AC/DC’s “It’s a Long Way…” and “All Night Long,” with a smattering of other tracks (ranging from jazz to dance to metal) for closer comparison. Our testers listened for the clarity and detail of specific instruments and vocal harmonies in songs they knew, and also listened for frequencies that were slipping through at obnoxiously high levels. (Hence the bagpipe-loaded AC/DC song.)

We measured peak levels during our listening session at 115 dB(C) for the most-protective earplugs, but we matched the relative NRR to the playback level of our tracks so that the less-protective earplugs wouldn’t have a major advantage. (Just changing the playback level of a song a few dB tends to make it sound better in the short term.)

Frequency analysis

We attempted to get a basic comparison of the frequency bands affected by the different filters in these ear plugs, but the harmonics created by the tubing we used to couple the ear plugs to a microphone and the sound leaking in from outside the coupler made the curves too close to be useful.

The other problem with raw measurement data for ear plugs is that we do not perceive sound the way a microphone records it. Looking at the measurements from Wirecutter and Inner Fidelity’s reviews, you’d think these high fidelity ear plugs sound a lot more similar to normal earplugs than they really do.

Instead of raw measurements, here are some charts from ANSI-standard hearing threshold tests that show when a human being wearing the earplugs starts to hear a test tone.

We also experimented with playing the isolated test tones mixed with a loud “pink noise” background track: this way you can see how the ear plugs allow you to pick out details in a noisy environment.

Best overall: Vibes – High Fidelity Ear Plugs

This is a tough category to rank, since every ear-plug design has a few strengths and some inherent weaknesses. Vibes – Hi-Fidelity Earplugs offer good protection with a NRR of 15, and great sound quality, but most importantly they’re easier to insert and fit more people than other designs.

Vibes have a long stem so you can insert deeper into the ear canal for a secure seal without losing them. (An attached cord would make that even easier, but most of us don’t want cords dangling out of our ears.) The rounded silicone tips also won’t poke the sides of your ear canal like pointy triple-flange tips often do.

With three sizes of tips, and the excellent control offered by the long stems, our testers felt these were the easiest ear plugs to get a reliable fit with. Foam tips always offer slightly better maximum sound blocking, but they won’t last as long and aren’t as easy to insert.

Vibes - Hi-Fidelity Earplugs

For good sound quality that won't break the bank, our pick is the comfortable, easy-to-insert Vibes earplugs. There are less-expensive options that might work for you, but the practically-guaranteed fit of the Vibes is worth spending extra on.

See Price at Amazon.com

The sound quality from Vibes was also good, with one of our testers rating them as average and the other tester putting them near the top. The mid-range comes through reduced but without obvious changes; the biggest difference was in the bass frequencies, where a slight drop in mid-bass made the lower bass notes stand out.

Vibes came out with the highest average tester score for ear plugs under $25, but if you’re not as picky about sound or fit, the Earpeace and Etymotics plugs are even less expensive. We think the Vibes are worth the extra $10, and so long as you’re not going to an 8-hour maximum-volume rave they offer enough protection for safe, comfortable listening.

Key takeaways:

• Vibes offer the most comfortable silicone tips that still provide a reliable seal.
• Some ear plugs sounded a bit better, but these are above average.
• A NRR of 15 is perfect for big-name concerts that don’t go crazy with volume levels.
• Inserting these plugs deep into your ear canal is required.
• This is the sweet spot between low price and amazing sound quality.

Best hearing protection: Eargasm – Slide

The Eargasm – Slide is the most unique design we’ve tested, offering you the chance to adjust the level of protection you’re getting without carrying around a second set of plugs.

Eargasm has been successful in the past with a triple-flange silicone design, which we tested with our previous noise-reduction-focused ear plug review, but this new concept brings a lot of extra value to the table. Now, you don’t have to remove your ear plugs after an incredibly loud song just to understand that your friend is going to get a drink — just slide the circular covers away, and your hearing ability almost doubles.

If you’re one of those hardcore dancers in the mosh pit at metalcore shows, where levels often exceed 120 dB(C), you should still consider NRR 32 foam ear plugs like our top general-use ear plugs, the Moldex – PuraFit. But that’s overkill for many concerts. The Eargasm foam tips are also far easier to get a reliable seal with once you find the tip size that fits you best.

With the slides open, these plugs sounded good — not the best we tested, but better than most. Bass and mid-frequencies like vocals sounded great, while high-frequency details were the most altered.

With the slides closed we were not surprised that our favorite songs were noticeably less clear and detailed. (Even when we increased the music level to compensate.) Still, the quality was much better quality than the muffled sound you get with regular ear plugs. The biggest difference with the slides closed was when we listened for vocal harmonies; upper-mid frequencies were more difficult to pick out.

Eargasm - Slide

If you know you're going to an especially loud concert or sporting event, these earplugs offer you the option of easily switching between a strong noise reduction rating of 15 and an even stronger 22, which means you can talk to your friends without re-inserting the ear plugs for every song. They're more expensive than most options, but your hearing is worth it.

See Price at Amazon.com

As far as fit goes, the tips included are regular memory-foam tips in three sizes (with an entire spare set included). The notable quirk for these plugs is that the nozzles you slide the tips over are extra-long, which means those who prefer to insert a little deeper for a better seal with smaller tips have that option.

These ear plugs also include a cord to keep them from getting separated, and what’s more, they’re magnetized so they’ll snap together and stay around your neck until you need them.

Key takeaways:

• The Eargasm – Slide is an ear plug you can wear all night at a loud concert.
• Adjustable noise reduction levels mean you get more protection exactly when you need it, without taking out and re-inserting plugs constantly.
• If you’re only going to a moderately-loud show, you might never use the closed setting.
• Other ear plugs sound a bit better for less money, if you don’t need the higher protection rating.
• Magnetic backs and an included lanyard make these easy to carry.

Best earplugs for musicians: Decibullz – Professional

Decibullz is another newcomer to the ear plug game, and the Decibullz – Professional earplugs offer a unique approach to making a good fit. They’re more expensive than anything short of electronic or audiologist-crafted devices, but we still think they’re the best earplugs for musicians or anyone spending big bills on a premium concert experience.

Each product in the Decibullz lineup has a body made from low-temperature melting thermoplastic. The outer part of the ear plug turns into putty at about 150 °F, so you can just drop it in hot water for a few minutes, take it out and let it cool slightly, then press the ear plug into place and shape it to fill the auricle of your ear.

We were very impressed by the sound quality of these plugs. The other filters from Decibullz are competitive, but not anything special. For this professional version, the high end is clear and detailed, but there aren’t specific frequencies that get exaggerated by whatever filter Decibullz has used. If you’re willing to pay any price and put up with any inconvenience for the best possible sound, these are the winners.

Our enthusiasm is tempered by the middling noise reduction rating of 14. That’s still a huge difference compared to plugs that provide no protection, but for $100 we would have liked to see a more protective alternate option included in the box. The filter is quite easy to pop out and replace with the solid insert from their regular earplugs, but it’s a $14 accessory purchase (including spare tips) to get that flexibility.

Decibullz - Professional

Decibullz offers you a little bit more comfort with their DIY-custom-molded outer pieces, as well as a good selection of foam-tip sizes. The real win is their acoustic filters, which offer the most balanced tone along with a moderate 14 dB NRR. You're paying four times the price for that technology, though.

See Price at Amazon.com

Still, the only earplugs we tried that had a similar level of can’t-tell-you’re-wearing-them clarity were the barely-effective NRR 5 Earasers. Remember: Every 3 dB of reduction should double the amount of time you can stand loud music without suffering temporary reduced hearing (and risking tinnitus), but if the concert is already 24 dB over the limit then 14 is inadequate. In our experience and based on measurements we’ve seen, Decibullz are appropriate for some big stadium concerts and outdoor festivals.

The other disappointment with Decibullz is that the custom-molded aspect of the outer ear section does absolutely nothing to improve the fit inside your ear canal, where it matters most. If you wanted, you could get a very similar “custom” effect by burying some of the other ear plug bodies in the two-part silicone offered by Radians or a low-temperature-melt plastic that’s identical to what Decibullz uses.

Usually the most difficult part of forming custom in-ear devices is getting the nozzle to stay aligned with your ear canal, but Decibullz just uses a standard silicone or foam tip to do that job. It’s no less comfortable than any of the other earplugs we tested, but it’s not significantly better except in the way it nestles securely in your outer ear.

If you’re only going to one concert per year, these earplugs are probably too expensive. But, if you’re looking to get moderate hearing protection without sacrificing sound quality, they’re impossible to beat without getting into custom-fit plugs from an audiology lab.

Key takeaways:

• Decibullz – Professional earplugs offer sound quality that’s a step above the other plugs we tried.
• The noise reduction rating of these plugs is right in the middle of the pack.
• The custom-molded outer ear portion is a nice perk, but inner ear fit still relies on standard foam or silicone tips.
• For the price, the better sound quality is hard to justify.

Other finalists we tested

Loop

Rather than trying to make ear plugs disappear, the designers of Loop ear plugs made them jewelry. The most striking options are in silver, gold and rose-gold metallic finishes; fortunately, there’s also a basic-black option for those of us who aren’t ready for ear-plug bling.

Our testers liked the sound quality of the Loop plugs, which use the circular outer section of the plug as a tuned filter to allow more of certain frequencies in. Sound overall was impressive, with just enough higher-frequency sound getting through to preserve detail and atmospheric effects. The bass sounded a bit flabby, though, blocking the frequencies that add impact to kick drums.

The main reason these didn’t rank higher is fit: If you have narrow ear canals you may find the foam tips seal and stay in place well, but the nozzle is very short so they can’t go as deep as our testers would have preferred.

EAROS – One

The EAROS – One features a filter body that’s flat and wide, allowing easy control of the earplug when you’re inserting it but without any fear someone could bash it into your ear canal. The tips included are the long triple-flange silicone type, a bit softer than what Etymotics uses but still not as comfortable for long sessions as a foam or rounded tip. The nozzles are a smooth 3.2 mm shaft, so you can also use the EAROS with the same tips that fit Shure, Westone and other professional in-ear monitors.

The tonal quality of the EAROS is unique, but not in a way that our testers preferred. High-frequency tones were somewhat accentuated, such that the bagpipes and cymbals in our AC/DC test track were a bit too harsh. When we listened for detail on a jazz drumming set that wasn’t a bad thing; if you were mostly using these at a loud blues bar they’d probably be perfect.

EarPeace – HD

If you browse for a few minutes on the web, you’ll find a dozen or more ear plugs very similar to the EarPeace – HD set. They feature a soft, flappy silicone ear plug with a low profile to practically disappear in your ears, with an acoustical filter pressed into the center to tune what you hear. We tested a bunch of these in our general ear plug review.

We tested the EarPeace as a representative of this category because it only uses two flanges, instead of three, so it’s less likely to dig into your ear canal when inserted fully. EarPeace also includes two filters (NRR 11 and 14) and a solid plug (NRR 19) with this set, so you can customize them slightly.

EarPeace lost points, though, because the low-profile design was too difficult to remove with the tiny flap of silicone that’s provided. Even when we tried to get a shallower insertion, they were still difficult to grab. A longer “handle” stem or a cord attachment would make a big difference.

Etymotic – ER20XS

Etymotics is one of the best-known companies in this field, and the ER20XS is the newest version of a line that started with the ER15 in 1988. Etymotics has defined the category with our old pick for best musician earplugs, the ER20, and the same principles (and maybe some parts) are used by Elacin, Vibes, Vic Firth and a number of other companies.

The ER20XS provides 1 dB more protection than the older ER20, though their NRR is still only 13. The big advantage of the new model is that you can swap ear tips, where the old tips limited you to a built-in triple-flange tip. The body of the ear plug doesn’t stick out as much, either.

We didn’t like the tonal quality of music through the ER20XS as much as the old Ety plugs, and we still don’t like the way the included triple-flange tips tickle our ear canals. They’re one of the less-expensive plugs in this roundup, almost always less expensive than the brands that appear to be re-selling Etymotics technology; we think the Vibes are worth the price bump, since they’re better-sounding than these new plugs, more comfortable than the old design and have a better NRR rating.

V-Moda – Faders

The V-Moda Faders are another unique entry in our roundup; a set of ear plugs that are basically re-engineered headphones. V-Moda has had a strong following in the world of portable audio enthusiasts, and their fashionable Vibes had a bass-heavy sound that people loved.

The Faders live up to that legacy, so if you’re OK with the low NRR of 12 and like punchy bass these might keep you happy. Bass is the least-affected frequency range when you’re wearing ear plugs, though, so that’s faint praise. One of our testers ranked them below average for sound quality, since the high frequencies just sound squashed or missing compared to the bass.

The other reason we dropped the V-Modas to the bottom of our list is the sizing of ear tips included: If your ear canals are on the smaller side, you’ll probably appreciate the selection of tiny, small, medium-small and medium, but our testers were surprised at how much they had to twist and push these to get them to seal properly.

The bottom line

If you’re going to a concert more than a few times per year, spending $30 or $50 on excellent ear plugs that will let you enjoy your music without ringing in your ears for the next few days is an obvious win. If you’re not a frequent concert attendee, just keeping a few sets of regular foam ear plugs around is probably a better choice. (The biggest risk is not being able to find them when you need them.)

We think Vibes are the best value in high definition ear plugs, with a good noise reduction rating of 15 and a simple, comfortable fit that should work for almost anyone. The sound isn’t the very best, but they sound good enough that we wouldn’t hesitate if we had to buy multiple sets for a group where up-front cost was an issue.

If you know you’re going to an especially loud concert, the Eargasm – Slide is a unique design that switches from a moderate protection level of 15 to an impressive 22 without removing them from your ears. If you’re listening to louder music for more than an hour at a time, that extra protection could easily make the difference between epic memories of amazing concerts and the regret of lost hearing and tinnitus.

If you’re a working musician, or you want to get the very best sound possible, the Decibullz – Professional ear plugs are a step up in even tone quality. They’re very comfortable, with a good selection of foam and silicone tip sizes, though the molded outer-ear portion doesn’t mean you get a perfect fit to your ear canals. Note, too, that the protection offered is fairly low compared to the Eargasm plugs, just 14.

Vibes - Hi-Fidelity Earplugs

This design hits the sweet spot: not too expensive, good sound, easy to fit in almost any ear. The protection rating is right in the middle of our favorites, and they can be customized with commonly-available in-ear-monitor tips if you need a different size.

See Price at Amazon.com

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How we selected book boxes to test

We chose to test the most popular book box subscriptions across a variety of types and genres, which we found by selecting the boxes with the highest number of reviews and scores on Cratejoy. We tested at least two boxes from every subscription and checked for shipping or quality issues. For those that came with extras, such as coffee or bath goods, we considered their quality in rating each box. We also took into account late deliveries or poor customer service.

How you should select a box to purchase

If you’re considering purchasing a book subscription box, reading is probably a passion for you. There’s nothing more comforting than snuggling into a comfy sit-up pillow with the latest bestseller or tried-and-true classic and reading beneath the best book light.

Although some boxes are higher quality than others, most of your selection will come down to personal taste. We suggest looking at the Instagram hashtags for the box you’re interested in to see what it’s like.

You should note that most of the subscriptions lack a corporate finesse; the delivery dates can be unreliable, and nothing feels systematized. (That said, this is less true of our winning boxes, Once Upon a Book Club and Coffee and a Classic.)

You should also note that most subscriptions auto-renew, so keep an eye on your bank statement.

We suggest that you check out the CrateJoy page for your book box of interest to learn about subscription options and prices, as these can fluctuate.

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