I use musicians/high fidelity type universal earplugs. These reduce sound about 20db across the range. This means you still hear the highs and lows and everything in between, but it is now muted and although the full range is supposed to be there, the wind and road noise is almost totally gone!
here is a link to the plugs I use, they cost $13 a pair and are well worth it. You can look around the web site and find custom plugs.
http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.html
As for comfort, most any plug will hurt for a while, but if you wear them for an hour the first day, and again the next few days, in short time (a week for me) I can wear them all day without any pain. But you can get custom made plugs, even those with the headsets built in!
As for foam plugs, I tried them, they are just as painful, but block TOO much sound and cut out almost all the highs. I find them OK for factory work, but not for riding when you need to hear all the sounds, and the headsets.
I find with these plugs the headsets for music and CB are MUCH clearer and easier to understand, and at the end of a ride, I am much more relaxed. After you get over the effect, you soon realize you can still hear what is going on around you, and things like sirens are still there, just muted. I find I am more aware wearing these. YMMV of course, but for the small $ give them a try.