What kind of ear plugs work best?

Question

ones that block out noise completely?

Answer 1

Large wood screws - preferably installed with a high-speed drill.  Yeah, that ought to work...

Answer 2

The foam ones are best for everyday use or to sleep in a noisy environment. The ones I use are rated for noise reduction of 32 decibels which lets me sleep next to a noisy machine, loud tv or AC unit and not be disturbed. I think I picked up a bottle of 40 of them for about $10 at Walgreens.

For air travel I don't suggest these since you may get a painful earache from pressure changes. There is a brand called 'Ear Planes' I think, specifically designed for air travel. They allow air to circulate to avoid the problem with pressure while still doing a good job at blocking noise.

Answer 3

No ear plugs can block out the sound completely.  Sound waves can easily enter to the ear drum through the head if the ears are blocked.  The best option is wearing headsets (head phone-looking ear protection).  

If ear plugs are the only option, foam types are the best.  You can roll them into a small enough shape to fit in your ears.  Once in the ear,  the foam expands to fill the outer ear.