EAR PROTECTION!!!!

[Jon]

I have a set of Ultimate Earplugs bought at the NEC a few years back. I've mostly gone back to the E.A.R. foam plugs as the Ultimates end up hurting me after about an hour.I don't know why this is as they sit nicely within my ear and don't protrude at all. But still I end up with sore ears. In fact, I was wearing them yesterday (Fri) and had to give in to the pain and luckily had brought a back-up pair of 'ole yellers'. The wee yellow jobbies are an all day solution and I bought a veritable bucket load of them allowing me to change them every other day which considering the amount I paid for the Ultimates, I really shouldn't have had to do.

Could be your helmet pressing down or against your ears. I've had that in the past.

 

[sparkplug]

First I should say to those who don't know me that I'm a Green Leopard agent. No prizes for guessing which plugs I use

Ear infections from custom earplugs? The only reason for this is either that you're not storing the plugs in a clean environment or that you aren't washing them often enough (or that you lick them before putting them in?)

Custom earplugs painful? SEND THEM BACK! You've paid for a custom product and with the best will in the world sometimes they aren't comfortable for a customer. There are a number of reasons for this but if you explain to the manufacturer what the discomfort is they should be able to figure it out.

 

[Fanum]

I've had some Ultimate ear monitors and they were good...very good.

While they lasted.

They failed twice though, and I paid to get them repaired..then the ridiculously thin wires that come from them broke internally, one breaking through the sheath....the're just too delicate for daily use IMO.

They may well be fine for occasional use, but use them every day and take your helmet off half a dozen times and I think they're just going to break down like this a lot....so....on to Green Leopard.....

The Green Leopard monitors seem much better designed to me......the drivers (I think that's what they call the mini speakers ) are actually a couple of inches down from the ear, then the plugs themselves are linked to them by some coily silicone tubing.....the sound is superb and because the drivers themselves are seperate from the ears, I can see these lasting a lot longer and not having any of the wax build up problems that the UE's do.

Plus, the Green Leopards are substantially cheaper than the Ultimate Ears.

If you haven't tried them, get some ......as well as having the pleasure of the very special Mr Schiannini fondling your head while he injects goo into your ears, they are dead comfy and transform your riding pleasure on longer trips...I wouldn't be without mine now

 

[Davy F]

Could be your helmet pressing down or against your ears. I've had that in the past.

Unlikely as it is the same for all my helmets.

 

[Davy F]

Custom earplugs painful? SEND THEM BACK! You've paid for a custom product and with the best will in the world sometimes they aren't comfortable for a customer. There are a number of reasons for this but if you explain to the manufacturer what the discomfort is they should be able to figure it out.

I think I'm way too late to do that. I suppose living in Norn Iron and trying to get something like this sorted out with a company based in England made me kinda accept I had just wasted my money.

 

[Jon]

Unlikely as it is the same for all my helmets.

Unfortunately, it's probably your plugs then.........

 

[Jon]

The Green Leopard monitors seem much better designed to me......the drivers (I think that's what they call the mini speakers ) are actually a couple of inches down from the ear, then the plugs themselves are linked to them by some coily silicone tubing.....the sound is superb and because the drivers themselves are seperate from the ears, I can see these lasting a lot longer and not having any of the wax build up problems that the UE's do.

Plus, the Green Leopards are substantially cheaper than the Ultimate Ears.

If you haven't tried them, get some ......as well as having the pleasure of the very special Mr Schiannini fondling your head while he injects goo into your ears, they are dead comfy and transform your riding pleasure on longer trips...I wouldn't be without mine now

Slight thread hi-jack. Bill, how many times did you put your helmet on and pull the tubes out of the plugs, with or without them looped over your ears..........My helmets are quite snug, so I have to wear a neck buff up over my ears and pull it down after putting the helmet on or it all goes Pete Tong...........

 

[bustupbiker]

****Ear infections from custom earplugs? The only reason for this is either that
1) you're not storing the plugs in a clean environment or
2)that you aren't washing them often enough
3)(or that you lick them before putting them in?)


1) stored in the placcy box supplied to me...box also kept clean...
2) washed after each days use...
3) you may do that but i did not...

Doctor told me to chuck um in the bin so i did, no more
ear infections...
I did like them though and would test them again but for
the cost...

 

[Gaulois]

Green Leopard with built in speakers for the last couple of years thanks to Schianni . No problems, pains or infections (touch wood). Really pleased with them.

 

[sparkplug]

Unfortunately, it's probably your plugs then.........

+1

1) stored in the placcy box supplied to me...box also kept clean...
2) washed after each days use...
3) you may do that but i did not...

Doctor told me to chuck um in the bin so i did, no more
ear infections...
I did like them though and would test them again but for
the cost...

I don't lick my earplugs either, but I know plenty who do. There's more bacteria in your mouth than in your ar... ..er.. anywhere else in your body. No surprise to me when 'lickers' get infections.

The only other reason I can think that you'd be getting infections from custom plugs is if the outer sealing coat was damaged. The earplug material itself is often porous and the sealing coat stops dirt getting trapped. If the coating was damaged dirt could stay in the pores of the plug and even a good wash under the tap wouldn't get to it.

It's all speculation though as I'll never see the offending plugs.

Sorry you had a bad experience, but glad to hear it hasn't put you off protecting your hearing and that you've found a solution that works for you

 

[Annette]

I use Ultimate Ear plugs and they are fantastic. However, I had the problem of the cables fraying. Phoned Ultimate Ear and they said no problem, just send them back. They were repaired for free and returned within a week.

They are aware of this problem and are now reinforcing where the cables go into the plugs.

I use mine every day, twice a day at least and haven't had any problems since they were repaired.

 

[bustupbiker]

+1




I don't lick my earplugs either, but I know plenty who do. There's more bacteria in your mouth than in your ar... ..er.. anywhere else in your body. No surprise to me when 'lickers' get infections.

The only other reason I can think that you'd be getting infections from custom plugs is if the outer sealing coat was damaged. The earplug material itself is often porous and the sealing coat stops dirt getting trapped. If the coating was damaged dirt could stay in the pores of the plug and even a good wash under the tap wouldn't get to it.

It's all speculation though as I'll never see the offending plugs.

Sorry you had a bad experience, but glad to hear it hasn't put you off protecting your hearing and that you've found a solution that works for you

I'll give them another try when next i find some body who does them close to me....

 

[Palerider]

Had Ultimate ears now for 6 months (call me Bionic man....). With speakers. Had no problems AT all with them and found the customer service very good indeed.

As for ear infections, some people are more prone to these than others. I found an emergency ascent from 30 metres dive sorted that out when I got a reverse block. Never have a problem now - deaf as a post tho....



P

 

[russ996duke]

I've had some Ultimate ear monitors and they were good...very good.

While they lasted.

They failed twice though, and I paid to get them repaired..then the ridiculously thin wires that come from them broke internally, one breaking through the sheath....the're just too delicate for daily use IMO.

They may well be fine for occasional use, but use them every day and take your helmet off half a dozen times and I think they're just going to break down like this a lot....so....on to Green Leopard.....

The Green Leopard monitors seem much better designed to me......the drivers (I think that's what they call the mini speakers ) are actually a couple of inches down from the ear, then the plugs themselves are linked to them by some coily silicone tubing.....the sound is superb and because the drivers themselves are seperate from the ears, I can see these lasting a lot longer and not having any of the wax build up problems that the UE's do.

Plus, the Green Leopards are substantially cheaper than the Ultimate Ears.

If you haven't tried them, get some ......as well as having the pleasure of the very special Mr Schiannini fondling your head while he injects goo into your ears, they are dead comfy and transform your riding pleasure on longer trips...I wouldn't be without mine now

Totally agree.. the UE wires are just not up to the task, altho the sound quality is good they have been replaced by GLs... which Fil was very helpful with adjusting the fit, sadly I missed out on the head fondling bit eekas I used the original moulds made for the UE...GLs, a deifnite improvement, and even if a tube pulls out of the plug its a relatively easy task to replace it yourself, rather than ££££££££££££ to repair the UE equivalent

 

[davidgibson999]

I think I'm way too late to do that. I suppose living in Norn Iron and trying to get something like this sorted out with a company based in England made me kinda accept I had just wasted my money.

Hi Davy
I got my UE plugs made at the NEC last year. They got painful after an hour so I got in touch with UE, told them which part of my ear was hurting and they adjusted the plugs and now I can ride with them all day. I have the twin akra shotgun system on my 1200 and my UE plugs are getting mended at the moment so I'm back to foam disposable ones in the meantime - they are not anywhere near as effective as the UE ones. I'd get in touch with them and explain the scenario to them - they've been nothing but helpful in sorting me out...

 

[Davy F]

Well I guess I've got nothing to lose then, David. Thanks.

 

[muppix]

If I`m listening to my ipod I use these etymotic er6i`s http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er6i.aspx

+1.

Which of the supplied ear buds do you find best?

Mup.

 

[Happyhenry]

I have a set of the moulded ones that you can get done on the spot at the shows -got them done at the NEC about 4 years ago. OK, but now getting very hard and the surface is starting to grain.

I've gone back to foam jobbies, bought a big bag of orange pairs (Howard Leight - Max), which are the same shape as some excellent yellow jobbies I had once and that I haven't seen since. Use them for a couple of rides and bin them.

Sometimes I lick first and sometimes I don't. Never had a problem.