I use these ones - there are interchangeable bits (filters?) that change the sound level. The lightest is great if I'm in a car or somewhere out in public with a lot of ambient noise. I can still hear people talking directly to me, or music playing, but everything else fades away. The strongest one is what I use for sleeping - it blocks out fans or air conditioners, but I can still hear my alarm, or my cat if she's close enough when she meows at me.
One person I talked to about CFS (not a specialist, but someone studying sports medicine strangely enough) pointed out that there's an effect on our central nervous system (well, at least some of us) which is why stimulants have an effect on symptoms at low doses (that's what the biphentin is, but the dose I'm taking is what a child would usually take to treat ADHD). Lots of stimulation has an effect on us - activity is the most obvious, but sound, light and temperature sensitivity are all part of it too. The less stimulation, the less energy use - or something like that.
I have user these for 5 years. Switchable filter depending on how loud the concert will be. Get them, they are amazing.
I've been going to concerts for about 10-12 years now. Festivals for the last 7. I'm 29. I and especially my wife has already noticed that my hearing is starting to get worse. I've tried cheap disposable foam ear plugs but they fall out or are so uncomfortable I remove them myself. I got a $20 pair off amazon before Backwoods a few weekends ago. I was very surprised at how good the music still sounded. Also they stayed in my ear and I was not constantly having to readjust. I wish I would have bought something like this sooner, but from now on I am wearing these to every show.
Amazon link for the ones I purchased. There are a lot of choices when you look on amazon or google. $20 is a tiny investment to start protecting your hearing that everyone should be doing if you go to a lot of concerts.
Also... no more loud music in the car or loud volumes on headphones/earbuds.
Damn. This sub really needs a sticky for this kind of stuff. This is what I have. You don't need anything better than that unless you are DJing and being blasted in the ears by booth monitors imo. In that case you would want custom earplugs that fit to the shape of your ear. Those can be very expensive. The earplugs I linked allow you to change the "filters" and let in more or less frequency. I typically use red, but for a lot of events, black would work.
I will not go to events without them as I find once I've used them, it makes not wearing them annoying and unbearably loud.
I've had those Etymotic plus and I'm personally not a fan mostly due to lack of comfort and it not fitting my ears well and falling out. My go to is Earpeace. They have free shipping on amazon and on their website. Super comfortable with a great carrying case and they come with 3 earplugs because no doubt you'll lose 1 at some point. They have a great replacement earplug program where you can replenish as often as you need for just $9. Can't recommend them enough - plus the founder/director personally responds to all emails.