So is anyone who has an ipod with earbuds as well.
As for my hearing protection, I use Vater ear plugs. Cheap and effective, and cost about 15 dollars.

I won't go anywhere near a drum without earplugs anymore. The foam style I find uncomfortable and disorienting because they block to much sound. I really like the rubber style that have three or four curved ribs and a rounded blunt tip. E.A.R. is labeled on the case. They still allow conversation and lower noise in but the echo and overtones as well as louder sounds are all cut out.

I guard them with my life and are always cleaned and well taken care of so I don't loose them even though they aren't expensive at all.

I had been using Etymotic ER-20's. Great plugs for the cost, but I found that they sometimes blocked just a little more than I liked. My new favorite are these Killnoise earplugs. I find them to be a little more comfortable and they allow just a little bit more sound to pass than the Etymotic ER20's.

Haha. I use some of the shooters ear plugs. The squishy kind that you roll in your ear. They work really well and its good cause you can tell if your playing dirty or not.