Custom moulds

Professional musicians and DJs usually buy these, but if you are regularly at loud gigs and clubs you could think about investing in a pair. They are at the more expensive end of the earplugs range because they are tailor made to fit your ear. To get a pair, you have to visit an audiologist who will take a mould of your ear, then your individual mould is fitted with a filter. There are many companies who can arrange this process for you, no matter where you live in the UK.

There's a new product on the market too, being described as custom made earplugs in a box. The ProGuard earplugs streamline the process, and provide all the information and answers you could need. You still need to get impressions made of your ears, but this is all included in the price, and a list of accredited audiologists is provided for this.

Approx price: £70 to £150 for a pair.

What's it like to get custom made earplugs? Read about our campaigner’s experience

One size fits all - filtered earplugs

Re-usable so you can use them again and again, and ideal for using at gigs and clubs. Filtered earplugs reduce the noise level that reaches your ear, but have a far better sound quality than non-filtered earplugs. This means you can still hear the music the way it is, but at a lower volume (usually about 15 - 20 decibels quieter). Don't worry about feeling self-conscious - if you put them in correctly most people won't even notice that you're wearing them.

Approx price: £10 - £15.

• One size fits all - non-filtered

Reusable non-filtered earplugs are ideal if you aren't exposed to noise much and don't want to invest in a pair of filtered earplugs. They reduce the volume by 10-25 dB - depending on how well you put them in! - and have a better sound quality than foam, disposable earplugs.

You can order the earplugs pictured along with t-shirts, posters and postcards, from Don't Lose the Music.

Additions to in-ear headphones

These are designed to fit onto any in-ear headphones you might have, like your personal stereo or mobile phone earphones. When the new plug is placed in your ear it creates an acoustic chamber which reduces background noise. This means you don't have to turn up the volume of your personal stereo/mobile phone/radio to drown out other noises.

Approx price: £5 to £10.

Disposable earplugs

These muffle sound, so we don't recommend these for use at gigs and clubs. However, they are the earplugs most people are familiar with - and they are the easiest to find in the shops. They come in all sorts of colours and shapes and are usually quite comfortable as they are made out of foam or wax. Worth remembering at festivals in case you need to block out the noise from the next tent at 5am!

Approx price: £2 for 3 pairs.