I have the Bose noise reduction headphones and they are amazing. I would also like to try the earbuds just cause they would be less bulky for travelling. Have you tried to contact the company - they must have a customer service number - to see if the earbuds work just as well?

I use foam earplugs alot ( the concert ones are really good) but my ear canals are very narrow so they are not always comfortable. Just got a pair of musicians earplugs and they allow me to hear conversations clearly while blocking out all the background noise. They are custom made so they don't hurt my ears. They were around 200 dollars.