MO Tested: Loop Switch Earplug Review

Ear plugs were essential while standing next to the cement fence on Chuckwalla Valley Raceway’s front straight while our resident fast guy, Troy Siahaan, put down laps for our latest middleweight naked comparo. With amateur and pro racers sharing the track on their purpose-built machines, the difference between the decibels varied from ear shattering to Euro 5 compliant. Being able to switch between 25 dB of attenuation at the turn of a dial, to 17 dB which allowed for discussion with the folks at track direction made a world of difference – and had me sold on the idea behind the Loop Switch ear plugs.

The Loop Switch earplugs offer the company’s three earplug options in one switchable pair. With the mechanical dial on the back, users can switch between three levels of decibel killing: Engage (17 dB), Experience (21 dB), and Quiet 25 (dB). Of course, there isn’t much point in this tech while you’re cruising down the road with a helmet donned, one level will do. But when you pull your helmet off to have a chat alongside the highway, reaching up and switching the level of noise attenuation is as simple as rolling the dial, you’ll just need to pay attention to the level you set. While the Loop Switch earplugs were convenient for this, and comfortable to wear for hours on end in general, the biggest eye-opener was during track days. There’s always some sort of noise going on at track days – race bikes, generators, you name it. So, keeping ear plugs in all day isn’t a bad idea. Being able to switch to the full Quiet mode while against the pit wall as bikes blazed by, and then easily dialing the sound damping back to have a quick chat in the pits was a convenience I’d not yet realized, and fully appreciated.

The Switch earplugs were comfortable enough for a full day’s use at track days as well as under a helmet. Having used them under several different helmets at this point, I can also attest to the fact that they do indeed fit comfortably without being so large to get knocked around, which was my initial concern prior to the ear plugs showing up at my door. The design is surprisingly compact and fits within the ear snugly. Even with communication systems installed, I had no issues with fit.

Loop says the lowest setting, Engage, was designed to allow conversation with low and mid frequencies passing through while still attenuating higher frequencies. In the Experience and Quiet settings, all frequencies are dampened. Each set of Switch earplugs come with four sets of silicone tips to swap in for fitment, a compact carrying case, and the earplugs themselves.

Not resting on its laurels, Loop has now released the Switch 2 which has a revised dial design, new silicone tips said to more effectively dampen sound in Quiet mode, and of course, new colors.The Loop Switch earplugs are certified as “PPE hearing protection” and will run you $60.

After trying the company’s other standard earplugs – which are plenty useful and comfortable – the Switch earplugs just make too much sense to not keep in my normal rotation, and they’ll always make it in my gearbag for trackdays.

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