I tried earplugs designed specifically for motorsports at one of the loudest races in the world — here’s the verdict

So what’s the verdict? (That’s me this past June at the famous Dunlop Bridge on Le Mans’ Circuit de la Sarthe, by the way.)

Matthew DeBord/BI

I took my Etymotic earplugs with me this past spring to test them at one of motorsports’ greatest events: the 24 Hours of Le Mans, an endurance race that starts on Saturday and ends on Sunday — an entire day of racing, designed to break men and machines.

It’s a big race, and there are lots of cars, and once they start running, the noise never lets up.

I had access to much of the race track and had the chance to see how the Etymotics performed over the long haul.

They did very well — far better than foam plugs, which do indeed block out too much sound and can be uncomfortable, with a tendency to fall out of my ears. The Etymotics stayed put in my ear canals and were comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

For $25, I think they’re worth the substantial premium you might pay over a decent pair of foam earplugs (the kind you might use for a few races), and they’re less expensive and cumbersome than full-on over the ear hearing protection.

I had one minor problem, however, that has to be mentioned. Because they’re so light and unobtrusive, after the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans was over and I took the earplugs out, leaving them dangling around my neck, the French winds carried them away, to a place I know not where. (Etymotic was kind enough to send me another set so that I could take some photos.)

Aside from that drawback, they were amazing. Highly recommended if you take in a lot of auto racing and don’t want you love of the sport to ruin your hearing.