Specialized earplugs for airline passengers. They offer modest noise reduction ("NRR 22" rating), but their big benefit is slowing the pressure change as experienced by your inner ear. My set worked, and worked reasonably well, but they are dependent on correct placement. And that's the catch, as this brand was a very difficult (tight) fit in my adult-male ears. It's possible my ear-canals are unusually small, but at 5'10" (XL hat size), I'm not exactly a small guy. It was a struggle to get them inserted correctly (and I've worn different kinds of earplugs without problems). I could sort of partially wedge them in and they worked that way, but were prone to working their way out, so I was constantly checking them and adjusting them. When I say very difficult, not exaggerating. I used my set on 4 flight segments, and it often took a good chunk of each flight to insert them (and keep them inserted). Only one ear on one flight was fully inserted, the rest was just sort of wedged in (and in that state, one fell out during final approach, the worst time for pressure changes). The one fully inserted (at takeoff), I didn't want to remove until after landing, and noticed the size also makes them uncomfortable to wear for a long time (3.5 hour flight). As a bonus, the earplugs offer a decent amount of noise reduction without the aural pressure of noise cancellation headphones; voices are still clear, but white noise is reduced. The negative is you can't wear most low-profile or earbud headphones during the flight, you'll need the over-the-ear kind. For many of us, the rapid pressurization changes at takeoff/landing can be painful, and some people's inner ears (including mine) are structured such that it's very difficult to release unequal pressure. After a particularly bad set of flights on Spirit recently (a bad combination of rapid descent, irritated/dry mucus membranes, and who knows what), that left me with un-relievable ear pressure for days, I decided it was time to try out earplugs designed for this issue. From now on, I won't be flying without some kind of earplugs. My rating is 5* for function, but 3* for fit/use. The major positive works as advertised: slowed pressure changes in the inner ear. I was much more comfortable, felt only minor pressure, and had no trapped pressure for the first time in many flights. But they're difficult to insert, and I suspect the constant fiddling (to keep them in place) will shorten their expected lifespan. I'll keep using these, but will try out EarPlanes to see if they fit better. Anybody with small ears or small builds should pass on these Flents. UPDATE Nov 2017: I tried out the the competition (EarPlanes) which fit much more easily, but essentially didn't work. I also found these Flents were a (little) easier to insert after a few more reuses, presumably as the plastic gets worn out. This first pair has now lasted through more than 6 flights (and a lot of fiddling trying to get them to fit), and they still work well. So I'm increasing my rating from 3 to 4 stars. Still not the best choice for somebody with small ears, but they are the best I've found yet.
