Is there any particular type or brand of earplugs you recommend, that are comfortable enough to wear for multiple hours and don't make the music sound too muffled (while still reducing the volume to safe levels)?
They're more expensive than something that is off the shelf, but being able to choose the appropriate filter for the venue you're in is really helpful. Also, the filters should give cut down the volume more evenly across the spectrum. If you get cheaper ear plugs, loud music may not be as enjoyable because certain frequencies may be more aggressively filtered than others.
I'm quite happy with mine. I can play with a loud band and still be able to hear enough of my own amp and everyone else to be able to play along, but my ears aren't ringing at the end of the evening.
While obviously this isn’t cheap, it’s well worth paying for if you’re a musician or you go to concerts frequently.
I got mine from Sensaphonics, they’re in Chicago. They also make in-ear monitors for professional musicians using the same molding process.
But recently trying to use some actual ear plugs to help sleep at a noisy location... I thought they weren't helping, and then I learned from my wife that I wasn't using them correctly. It seems the trick was getting them further in the ear (I think further in than my ear molds go), and voila, more of a difference; better than turning off my hearing aids. I've also noticed the difference recently, using ear plugs when using power tools in the garage (dremel, jigsaw).
So I'm curious if the fitted ones are all equivalent to properly inserted earplugs or not. It's also possible the hole for tubing is the culprit of my observations.
Just another anecdote that might be interesting: audiologists have been doing molded ear plugs since at least the 90s. I remember the posters of cool colorful "swim plugs" back then.
...re-reading: I see now your mention of using various filters. I'll have to read up on that too.
The molded plugs to me do feel a lot like a properly inserted ear plug and with the filters in, there should be no gaps. It should be a very snug fit. I've got 10db, 17db and 26db filters. The 17db filters are the sweet spot for me, but it's nice to have options.
With (high power) hearing aids, it's reasonably easy to know if you have a gap in the mold: I'll get a feedback loop (annoying noise, naturally) if one is loose or a poor fit. Interestingly, for the past few molds (a 4-6 year life per pair these days) the left ear definitely has more of a problem with feedback loops when my jaw is opened wide (i.e. eating) - the shape evidently varies more with this movement than the right ear does.
FWIW, I believe these are the filters that I use: https://www.warnertechcare.com/dec-filter-dm-ocean-attenuati...
I got myself a pair and if nothing else they are decently comfortable to wear.