New Year's Eve is the one night a year when almost everyone voluntarily stands next to explosions. A standard firecracker reaches 120 to 150 dB peak within a few metres, a rocket about 120 dB at launch. For impulse noise there is no safe duration: a single bang right at the ear can trigger ringing that lasts for days. Anyone who has had that on New Year's morning knows what this is about.
Which hearing protection for whom?
Celebrate and still hear everything: The Strong+ membrane filter earplugs attenuate SNR 23 dB to EN 352-2:2020. Conversation, music and toasts stay intelligible, the bang loses its peak. For small ear canals there are the Women+ with a 3-flange design, also SNR 23 dB.
Party with music, fireworks on the side: The Music+ (SNR 18 dB) are designed for sound and attenuate evenly across frequencies. For the moment at midnight on the street the Strong+ are the better choice; for the rest of the evening indoors the Music+ are enough.
As much quiet as possible: If you skip the fireworks but live in town, take the Work+ earmuffs with SNR 33 dB. Quick on, quick off, no inserting.
The night after: The banging goes on until two or three in the morning. The Sleep+ (SNR 22 dB, 2 flanges) or the softer Soft+ (SNR 27 dB) let the alarm through and take the edge off the firecrackers. Which sleep plug fits better is covered in the comparison Sleep+ or Soft+?.
Out with children? There is a separate article: New Year’s Eve with kids: hearing protection against fireworks noise.
Insert properly before it starts
Insert the earplugs before going out, not when the first firecracker flies. Pull the outer ear up and back with the other hand, insert the plug with a slight twist until the flanges seal. If it sits right, your own voice sounds a little muffled. Take gloves off first; with gloves you will not find the ear canal. Afterwards clean with lukewarm water, let dry, back in the case.
If your ears ring anyway
Ringing or a feeling of pressure after the fireworks that is still there the next day belongs with an ENT doctor. The sooner the better. No reason to panic, but nothing to sit out either.
What the SNR value means
SNR states in decibels by how much a hearing protector lowers the level on average. At 130 dB of firecracker noise, the Strong+ (SNR 23 dB) leave roughly 107 dB in theory, the Work+ (SNR 33 dB) roughly 97 dB. Distance remains the most important protection. More in the guide What is SNR? and the comparison SNR 23 or SNR 33?.
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