Don't waste money on noise-canceling products; the best earphones and headphones for isolation rely on sealing the ear canal/external ear respectively. And with regard to earplugs and canalphones, you can get models molded to fit your ear shape for comfort, if desired.

Personally, I use these canalphones for listening to music when walking, riding, or using the laptop. Work nicely at reducing outside noise once they're settled in my ears, which allows me to listen at lower volumes without damaging my hearing.

However, they don't fully block out external noises (in fact, no phones/muffs are capable of doing so); it's simply a matter of degree. I'm getting a pair of shooting range muffs tomorrow to allow me to study in the living room while my family's watching TV.