I’m a headphone junkie. I have headphones in all shapes and sizes, but there’s one small problem: I don’t like things that dig deep into my ears, which most traditional in-ear headphones do. So I’ve embarked on a search for more comfortable options…and it’s been more complicated than I expected.
Some people have no problem with in-ear headphones, but there seems to be a group of us that absolutely hate them. It must be the size or shape of our ears, because I have numerous problems with in-ear headphones that otherwise come well reviewed—they hurt, they don’t stay in my ears, and none of the sizes seem to fit me. So what’s a headphone junkie to do?
I’ve spent the past few months trying out different tricks, products, and DIY solutions for more comfortable in-ear headphones. After a lot of trial and error, I found a few things that worked—some better than others—and gave me the beautiful mix of comfort and portability I’ve been looking for. Which method you usedepends on the headphone, how much you’re willing to spend, and—most of all—your preferences (both when it comes to sound and comfort).
Option One: Foam Tips
If you find that traditional silicone tips just aren’t giving you a very good seal, foam tips may be the next best option. Comply Foam is a popular brand with many different styles, which you can read about in our review—though they do cost a bit ($10-17). The “Comfort” and “Active” style are the most comfortable, and the Comfort style is the least intrusive when it comes to your ear canal.
Comply Foam Tips Make Your Earbuds More Comfortable, Isolate NoiseComply Foam Tips Make Your Earbuds More Comfortable, Isolate NoiseComply Foam Tips Make Your Earbuds More…
Most earbuds use a silicone tip that works okay, but doesn't always give you the best…Read more Read more
I found that, while these were much more comfortable than silicone tips, they had their annoyances. They still weren’t as comfortable as I’d have liked (after all, you’re still pushing something into your ear), and they take a little longer to insert since you have to “prep” the tip. They give a great seal, though it will alter the sound of your headphones—most notably by boosting the bass.
If you don’t like Comply tips (or don’t want to spend the money), you can try the cheaper Bluecell foam tips, or DIY it with a pair of foam earplugs.
Option Two: Custom-Molded Tips
Truly custom-molded tips can cost hundreds of dollars from an audiologist, but there are some cheaper do-it-yourself options that work well enough. I like Decibullz’ custom-molded tips. They fit on a ton of in-ear phones, you mold them to your ears, and then they fit you perfectly—without digging into your ear canal. (Make sure you buy the custom tips separately and use them with your favorite headphones, rather than buying Decibullz’ mediocre headphones).
These have downsides as well, though. They won’t fit as many in-ears as foam tips will. My beloved Monoprices, for example, were too heavy and bulky to fit properly. They’ll also alter the sound of your headphones, in the opposite way foam tips will: you’ll lose a lot of bass since you aren’t getting a good “seal”. I fixed this by a) ditching the Monoprices and using a more traditionally-shaped earbud, and b) lightly pressing on the molds—on the upper, lower, and middle part of my ear—as they harden. I did this for about 10 minutes—twice as long as the instructions called for—and with my mouth open, biting down on a small piece of plastic. Since Decibullz are plastic, they actually shrink a bit as they cool, so you want to make sure they’re molding the countours of your ear as closely as possible, and following normal instructions, they don’t do that very well. (They’re still far from perfect with these tips, but it’ll be a little better.)
Sponsored
If you don’t like the Decibullz, you can try this similarly-priced DIY method using Radian earplugs. I found that, while they fit my ears better (since they expand as they harden), the sound was absolutely awful. Some prefer it, though (they’d make good in-ear monitors for live performances, for example).
Option Three: Specialized Comfort Earbuds
If none of the above options work for you, it may be time to buy some new headphones focused on comfort. Unfortunately, that often means going the earbud route as opposed to in-ear headphones, which means they won’t always sound as good. There are a lot of different ones out there, from the more exercise-focused Yurbuds and Sennheiser PMX line to pseudo-in-ear headphones like Bose’s SoundTrue line. I’d even argue that Apple’s EarPods (gasp) are pretty comfortable and sound decent—though they are one-size-fits-all, so it really depends on the size of your ears. I was shocked to find that I actually liked them.
Five Best Exercise HeadphonesFive Best Exercise HeadphonesFive Best Exercise Headphones
The best headphones for sitting at your computer or in your home listening to music may not be the…Read more Read more
In the end, I’ve landed on the Decibullz (paired with these Panasonics) for my portable headphone needs. They aren’t perfect, and they’re a pain to mold properly, but after re-molding them for what feels like 100,000 times, they’re the best option I’ve found. I have a headphone that sits just inside my ear without digging into my ear canal, and without losing too much bass—for only $25. If you’re part of the in-ear-hating club, experiment with the above to see what works for you.