【bell hooks eros, eroticism, and the pedagogical process】

Let the record show that I will do bell hooks eros, eroticism, and the pedagogical processalmost anything for Beyoncé. I will fight for my life in a Ticketmaster queue. I will spend hours covering a cowboy hat in mirror tiles only to wear it once. I recently learned that I'll even shelter in the basement of Soldier Field for three hours when there's a tornado in my city.

I will not, however, give myself hearing damage. Concerts can hit noise levels of 95 to 110 dBA (A-weighted decibels), according to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) — that's well above its recommended 85-dBA threshold for long or repeated exposure. And that horse lady can belt.

Heeding the advice of the Beyhive on Reddit, I decided to wear a pair of Loop Earplugs to Chicago's first night of the Cowboy Carter Tour in mid-May. Here are five reasons why I now recommend them to anyone who's attending a concert or music festival this summer.

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Loop Experience 2 Earplugs $38.95 at Amazon

1. They really do work (maybe a little too well)

Loop's earplug lineup covers a variety of different use cases, including sleep, noise sensitivity, parenting, events, and travel. I bought the Loop Experience 2 because they're specifically designed to preserve the sound quality of live music while dampening damaging noise. The Experience 2 Plus, which are slightly pricier, come with a Mute silicone insert for extra noise reduction.

I was genuinely impressed with how well the show sounded while I wore my Loops. I could hear Beyoncé and her band perfectly, but the din of the stadium was almost completely suppressed. Curious to hear what I was missing, I removed my right earplug at one point during the set and was shocked to hear that the crowd was close to singing over Bey. The Loops were tuning out everyone else without making her sound muffled.

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By the end of the night, I had two very sore feet but two very happy ears — no tinnitus, no headaches. I reported my findings to the friend who went to the show with me, who laughed and said that my Loops may have worked a little too well: He apparently made a few mid-song remarks that I totally ignored. Sorry, Conor!

2. They don't look dorky

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Most concerts double as fashion shows nowadays, but Beyoncé concerts demand maximum slayage. I love that the ring-shaped acoustic channels on the end of Loops make them look like daith piercings when worn. They blend right into an existing earring stack, especially if you opt for one of the metallic colorways. (One r/beyonce member recommends TikToker @mollyvivianmcg's Hush Holders, which are earrings that clip onto Loops for safe-keeping —genius.) My Experience 2 are silver, but they also come in shiny gold, rose gold, matte black, and in limited-edition ombre and holographic finishes.

Opens in a new window Credit: Loop Tomorrowland x Loop Experience 2 Earplugs $39.95

3. They're super comfy

I have a hard time finding earplugs and earbuds that fit well — for reference, I need to wear a tight beanie whenever I use my Apple AirPods Pro or else they fall out. I had no such issues with my Loops, which twisted easily into place and stayed comfortable for the full two hours and 45 minutes from "AMERIICAN REQUIEM" to "AMEN" (even when I ran to the restroom during an interlude). I occasionally forgot I was wearing them.

The Experience 2 come with four swappable sets of soft silicone ear tips so the wearer can customize their fit. I tried them all before heading to the show and wound up using the smallest size.

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4. They come with a keychain case.

Credit: Haley Henschel / Mashable

Loop Earplugs are no bigger than a couple pieces of Froot Loops cereal, so it's really easy to lose them inside of a backpack or purse. Fortunately, each pair includes a carry case that's roughly the size of a silver dollar. There's a rubbery loop on one end so you can attach it to a keychain, and a silicone insert inside to keep the earplugs secure. It hardly took up any room inside the NFL-mandated clear clutch I brought to the Cowboy Carter Tour.

5. They're available for fast, free shipping via Amazon

If you need a pair for an upcoming show, Loop Earplugs are available on Amazon with free next- or two-day Prime shipping. I should note that the Experience 2 cost $4 more there compared to the Loop website, but the latter charges a $4.95 delivery fee for all orders under $44.

Keep a lookout for deals on Loops come Black Friday; they haven't gone on sale outside of the holidays. However, loopearplugs.com offers a year-round 15% discount on a bundle of two pairs for you and your shotgun rider.

Shop Loop Experience 2 Earplugs:

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Loop Experience 2 Earplugs $38.95

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Loop Experience 2 Plus Earplugs $44.95

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Loop Experience 2 Earplugs (two pairs) $59.42 (save $10.48)

Topics Music Gadgets