What Loop Earplugs does

Loop Earplugs (legal entity: Loop BV) is a Belgian consumer-products company founded in 2016 by Dimitri O and Maarten Bodewes in Antwerp, manufacturing reusable passive noise-reduction earplugs and adjacent hearing-protection/sleep products. Its core technology relies on acoustic filtering that reduces decibel levels evenly across frequencies rather than active noise cancellation, preserving sound clarity for music, speech, and ambient awareness. The portfolio spans use-case variants — Experience 2 (concerts/events), Quiet 2 (focus/sleep), Engage 2 (social/parenting), Dream (sleep), Switch 2 (multi-mode adjustable), Engage Kids 2 (ages 6–12) — alongside complementary products including the Eclipse sleep mask and Cocoon baby earmuffs, plus accessory bundles and limited-edition collaborations (McLaren Racing, Tomorrowland, Pleasing/Harry Styles, Swarovski).

Revenue is generated almost entirely through direct-to-consumer one-time unit sales priced from €19.95 (Quiet 2) to €54.95+ (Switch 2 and premium collaborations), complemented by a dedicated B2B portal (b2b.loopearplugs.com), retail distribution via Target, in-studio placement at SoulCycle, festival channels at Tomorrowland, and a Loop Circle loyalty program. The company operates localized Shopify storefronts across at least eight markets (Belgium, US, UK, Netherlands, Japan, Australia, South Korea, India) and runs an AI-assisted customer support layer via Ada. Reported 2024 revenue was £149 million against over 20 million units sold and 14 million+ customers.

Loop has executed a product-led growth strategy amplified by viral cultural moments (notably Taylor Swift's Eras Tour), high-visibility brand partnerships, and design awards (Red Dot 2023 and 2025, SleepTech 2024, TIME100 #1 Wellness 2026). Despite minimal disclosed venture funding (cumulative sub-$2M across early grants and seed rounds between 2016 and 2020 from PMV, ING Belgium, and Akiles), the business scaled organically to 251–500 employees and multi-hundred-million-dollar-equivalent revenue, while remaining founder-controlled with no parent company or institutional investor disclosed.

Name

Loop Earplugs

Legal name

Loop BV

Website

https://loopearplugs.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Loop Earplugs is a Belgian consumer-products company that designs and sells reusable passive noise-reduction earplugs and adjacent sleep and hearing-protection products directly to consumers across concerts, sleep, focus, social, parenting, and children use cases in 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hearing Protection Products

SIC

Ophthalmic Goods (3851)

akta.pro primary industry

Wired Headphones & Earphones (CRACANAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wireless Headphones (Over‑Ear & On‑Ear) (CRACANAB), Hearing Enhancement / Assistive Listening Audio Devices (CRACANAL), Studio / Pro Monitoring Headphones & Reference Speakers (CRACANAK), Headphones & Personal Audio Retail (Earbuds, ANC, DACs) (CRACAEAG)

Keywords

• Reusable earplugs
• Hearing protection products
• Acoustic filtering earplugs
• Concert earplugs
• Sleep earplugs

Headquarters

HQ city

Antwerp

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales (B2C): Loop generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales of earplugs and accessories via their e-commerce platform (loopearplugs.com), selling products like Loop Switch 2, Dream, Experience 2, Quiet 2, Engage 2, and specialized variants at price points ranging from €19.95 to €54.95 per unit
2. B2B / Enterprise Sales: Loop operates a B2B shop (b2b.loopearplugs.com) selling earplugs to businesses, with partnerships providing products for corporate wellness, event sponsorships, and bulk purchasing
3. Limited Edition & Collaboration Products: Loop generates revenue through premium collaboration products including McLaren Racing bundles, Tomorrowland limited editions, Swarovski crystal-encrusted versions, and Harry Styles' Pleasing collaborations at higher price points

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Loop Earplugs manufactures and sells a portfolio of reusable, stylish earplugs and complementary hearing-protection products designed to reduce noise while preserving sound clarity. The core line includes certified concert earplugs (Loop Experience 2), sleep earplugs (Loop Dream), focus/travel earplugs (Loop Quiet 2), social earplugs (Loop Engage 2), children's earplugs (Loop Engage Kids 2), and multi-mode earplugs (Loop Switch 2), along with baby earmuffs (Loop Cocoon) and a sleep mask (Loop Eclipse). Products are sold direct-to-consumer online and through select retail, festival, and B2B enterprise channels, with premium limited-edition collaborations driving brand prestige.

Product overview

Loop Earplugs is a lifestyle earplug company offering a portfolio of reusable, stylish earplugs designed for different use cases. The core product line includes Loop Dream (sleep-specific earplugs), Loop Quiet 2 (focus/travel/sleep), Loop Experience 2/Plus (events/concerts with certified hearing protection), Loop Engage 2/Plus (social conversations/parenting), Loop Engage Kids 2 (children ages 6-12), and Loop Switch 2 (multi-mode earplugs with three volume settings). Complementary products include the Loop Eclipse sleep mask and Loop Cocoon baby earmuffs. Limited edition collaborations feature McLaren Racing, Tomorrowland music festival, and Pleasing (Harry Styles' brand). The company also offers accessories (Loop Link, carry cases, ear tips), a custom bundle builder with up to 20% savings, and the Loop Circle loyalty rewards program. Founded in 2016 by Dimitri O and Maarten Bodewes, the Belgian company has sold over 14 million earplugs globally and generated £149 million in revenue in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Loop Dream: Earplugs designed specifically for sleep, with ultra-comfy design for side-sleeping and powerful noise reduction
• Loop Eclipse
• Loop Experience
• Loop Quiet
• Loop Engage
• Loop Switch
• Loop Cocoon
• Loop Engage Kids
• Loop Circle
• Loop Legends
• Loop Sphere

Products and services

• Loop Experience 2 Certified hearing protection earplugs for concerts, live music, festivals, and events that deliver crisp, clear sound quality while reducing volume levels (17+ dB).
• Loop Experience 2 Plus Upgrade to Experience 2 with Loop Mute included for extra noise reduction on demand during loud events.
• Loop Dream Silicone earplugs designed specifically for sleep with side-sleeping comfort and powerful noise reduction for a restful night's sleep; winner of the SleepTech 2024 Award.
• Loop Quiet 2 Ultra-comfy earplugs for deep focus, travel, commutes, and sleep providing quiet bubble isolation.
• Loop Engage 2 Noise-filtering earplugs for clear conversations and social interactions when parenting, socializing, and handling noise sensitivity; winner of the Red Dot Award 2023.
• Loop Engage 2 Plus Upgrade to Engage 2 with Loop Mute included for extra noise reduction on demand in social situations.
• Loop Engage Kids 2 Noise-filtering earplugs designed for children ages 6-12 for learning, playing, and growing with appropriate sound protection.
• Loop Switch 2 Multi-mode earplugs with three noise relief modes (mute, engage, and experience) in one convenient earplug for total in-the-moment volume control throughout the day; winner of the Red Dot Award 2025.
• Loop Eclipse Advanced sleep mask that combines complete light blocking with weightless cushioning for sleep anywhere.
• Loop Cocoon Baby Earmuffs Certified hearing protection earmuffs for babies and young children with a built-in FitGuide ensuring proper fit, designed for loud environments like weddings, flights, and parties; compatible with the Loop Sphere app.
• McLaren Racing x Loop Switch 2 Bundle Limited edition collaboration with McLaren Racing featuring the Loop Switch 2 in McLaren Papaya color, McLaren-themed carry case, Loop Link lanyard, and 4 sets of ear tips.
• Tomorrowland x Loop Experience 2 Limited edition festival-ready earplugs collaboration with Tomorrowland music festival in Consciencia Blue colorway, inspired by the festival's Consciencia theme.
• Tomorrowland x Loop Switch 2 Limited edition collaboration with Tomorrowland featuring the Loop Switch 2 in Holographic Black colorway for the 2026 festival season.
• Pleasing x Loop Experience 2 Collaboration with Harry Styles' Pleasing brand for a stylish take on the Experience 2 earplugs, combining sound protection with fashion-forward design in Love Enough/Loud Enough colorway.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20 million earplugs sold globally
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration12 records

AI capability3 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and premium.

• SoulCyclecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 February 2026SoulCycle partnership makes Loop Experience 2 earplugs available in SoulCycle studios across major U.S. cities. The earplugs provide 17+ dB of hearing protection while allowing riders to enjoy music during classes. This marks Loop's entry into the group fitness space and is part of both companies' wellness expansion strategies.
• TomorrowlandflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Tomorrowland partnership designates Loop as the Official Earplugs of Tomorrowland. Expanded collection inspired by the festival's Consciencia theme, including limited edition Tomorrowland x Loop Experience 2 and Tomorrowland x Loop Switch 2 products. Collection features unique colorways and design elements reflecting the festival's identity.
• Ada (AI Customer Service)Technology or Integration · 1 January 2026Loop implemented Ada's AI chatbot to handle customer inquiries, reducing customer response times from 5-6 days to approximately 2 hours - significantly improving customer service efficiency.
• Pleasing (Harry Styles' brand)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 12 June 2025PleasingLand pop-up activation at Carnaby Street, London featured a dedicated Loop collaboration room. The partnership aligns Loop with celebrity/fashion brand culture, positioning earplugs as lifestyle and self-expression accessories rather than purely functional products.
• McLaren RacingflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025McLaren Racing partnership makes Loop the official hearing protection partner of the Formula 1 team, providing earplugs for drivers and pit crew. Limited edition McLaren Racing x Loop Switch 2 products feature signature papaya color scheme and carry case. Partnership includes free lanyard with bundle purchases and positions Loop at major F1 racing events.
• SwarovskipremiumStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Collaboration with Swarovski produced crystal-encrusted earplugs combining hearing protection with luxury fashion aesthetics. Products designed for style-conscious consumers seeking both protection and premium appearance.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Eargasm: Direct competitor selling stylish, reusable earplugs for concerts, festivals, and musicians with similar acoustic filtering claims. Closest head-to-head competitor in the lifestyle earplug category targeting the same concert/event customer segment.
• Alpine Hearing Protection: Dutch company (geographic peer from Belgium) selling reusable earplugs for music, sleep, swimming, and motorsport. Comparable product categories across concerts, sleep, and motorsport use cases with similar acoustic filtering technology approach.
• Decibullz: Custom-molded earplug manufacturer targeting shooting sports, concerts, and industrial users. Competes in the same reusable earplug category with a different (thermo-fit) customization angle versus Loop's acoustic filtering approach.
• Etymotic Research: Specialist hearing science company producing high-fidelity musician's earplugs and in-ear monitors. Targets the same concert/musician segment as Loop's Experience line with deeper audiophile positioning and ER-series reference products.
• Vibes Audio: Direct competitor in concert/festival earplugs with high-fidelity acoustic filtering. Competes head-to-head with Loop Experience in the music event use case with similar decibel reduction claims and lifestyle marketing positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Mack's Earplugs: Long-established mass-market earplug brand (McKeon Products) offering sleep, swim, music, and industrial plugs. Broad incumbent in the same product category with deeper retail penetration but less lifestyle-brand positioning than Loop.
• Howard Leight by Honeywell: Honeywell-owned industrial and consumer hearing protection brand offering earplugs and earmuffs. Broad incumbent with much larger distribution and B2B presence, competing against Loop in hearing protection though primarily at the industrial end of the market.
• Bose: Established premium audio giant with expanding hearing health portfolio (Bose Hearphones, SoundControl Hearing Aids, QuietComfort Earbuds). Deep R&D, brand, and retail moat positions Bose as a key competitive threat in hearables and hearing protection adjacencies.

Emerging players

• QuietOn: Finnish company producing active noise cancellation sleep earbuds/earplugs. Adjacent competitor in the sleep use case but with active electronics rather than Loop's passive acoustic filtering — emerging threat as ANC miniaturization improves.

Regional players

• Quies: French heritage earplug brand with strong European pharmacy distribution. Regional peer serving sleep and noise sensitivity use cases comparable to Loop Dream and Quiet, but with primarily European/French market presence rather than Loop's global DTC footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/loopearplugs
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/loopearplugs
• Instagraminstagram.com/loopearplugs
• Pinterestpinterest.com/loopearplugs
• TikToktiktok.com/@loopearplugs
• Xx.com/loopearplugs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors3 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Loop Earplugs