Earplugs

[brazae]

Currently commuting 150 miles a day in and out of London on my F800GS, most of this on the motorway. I have the BM touring screen and an Arai Astro R helmet but find it really noisy even with standard foam earplugs.

Anyone used or using any higher spec ear plugs (like the custom moulded silicon ones) and are they worth the rather salty £60 a pair?

 

[Mort]

Currently commuting 150 miles a day in and out of London on my F800GS, most of this on the motorway. I have the BM touring screen and an Arai Astro R helmet but find it really noisy even with standard foam earplugs.

Anyone used or using any higher spec ear plugs (like the custom moulded silicon ones) and are they worth the rather salty £60 a pair?

Yes I am and yes they are

 

[Slowdown]

Custom earplugs aren't any better than decent foam ones. In fact, I found them much worse.

I got a 200 pair box a couple of years ago for ~£25 from a local tool hire place

http://solutions.3m.co.uk/wps/porta...E3E02LECFTDQKKT1_nid=QQW8MNBCGXbeR368QNB3XLgl

 

[brazae]

Thanks guys, a firm argument for and against. Maybe try some different cheaper plugs first and see how I go.

 

[francismaxey]

I've used both types of ear plugs

The made to fit ones are very slightly better but as esy to loose as the cheap ones. Is it worth it?

I'm now using some £2.50 I picked up from a BMW dealer (double ribbed yellow ones). At the moment Ilike them.

 

[Balders1450]

Currently commuting 150 miles a day in and out of London on my F800GS, most of this on the motorway. I have the BM touring screen and an Arai Astro R helmet but find it really noisy even with standard foam earplugs.

Anyone used or using any higher spec ear plugs (like the custom moulded silicon ones) and are they worth the rather salty £60 a pair?

These are great, just as good as £60 custom ones!!



http://www.earplugshop.com/motorcycling-earplugs/motosafe.html

 

[Wicker]

I typically ride 14-16k miles per annum and ear plugs are a must. Even the quietest helmets (as tested by Ride, etc) still leads to a significant amount of wind noise reach your ears, typically well in excess of 80dB. If you were regularly exposed to this level of noise at work, H&S would insist of ear defenders / earplugs. In my younger days I regulalrly used to ride without earplugs and wondered why I ended up with headaches and tinnitus for a few hours after a long ride; wind noise!!

I used to use the Howard Leight orange foam cone shaped ear plugs for years. Found they did a decent job but the foam got grubby quite quickly if you used them for a few days or were regularly putting them in / out of your ears. Not washable so I tended to replace them quite often.

Been using the same set of custom fitted earplugs for approx 5 years so the value equation is probably better than buying lots of disposable ear plugs. The silicon is also washable, I pop them in glass of dilute TCP to sterlise them every couple of weeks. All day comfortable and you can still hear GPS commands through the in-helmet speakers.

There are some nasty custom earplugs out there made to stuff which akin to hard foam albeit shaped for your ear. If going the custom route, go for medical grade silicon.

I got my earplugs from Hearing Resolutions of Bolton (Tel: 01204 655 530). They tend to visit bike shows such the BMF Kelso, and Scottish Bike Show.

 

[(RIP) Bin Ridin]

Google ulimateear, i have moulded set and very happy. Foam good too but a faff to get right in.

 

[Coolcarbon]

Custom moulded plugs are just that, shaped to fit your ears and your ears alone.

Now, for those that say that the generic one they use are just as good, that may well be the case for you but that by no means applies to everyone.

Every Ear Canal is unique and as such, the manufactures of generic plugs, by definition, cannot produce plugs that fit everyone from one shape.

So if you find that you can't get on with any of the cheap generic plugs, you may well be better off going the custom moulded route

 

[brazae]

Thanks everyone, loads of great tips as usual. Will buy in some different types first of all and see how I get on. Think my Arai is quite a noisy helmet too which can't help but it is very comfy!

 

[GSmonkey]

I tried cheap disposable earplugs and didn't get on with them, so had some custom plugs made by ultimateear. After a few months I decided it was still too noisy.

A bit of research showed that the ultimateear plugs have a SNR of 30dB whereas the best disposable plugs get 35dB, which is a heck of a difference (every 3dB halves the noise power)

I now use Laser Lites, which happen to fit my ear the best. Now buy them in bulk and stuff them in every biking jacket, bag, etc.

I wouldn't go back to custom plugs.

 

[Micky]

Currently commuting 150 miles a day in and out of London on my F800GS, most of this on the motorway. I have the BM touring screen and an Arai Astro R helmet but find it really noisy even with standard foam earplugs.

Anyone used or using any higher spec ear plugs (like the custom moulded silicon ones) and are they worth the rather salty £60 a pair?

If you get up to South Yorkshire at all ...

Tea, coffee, sandwich FOC
B & B free ... but you buy the beer
Total 100% money back if not satisfied guarantee
Only me ... no middle men
Never had to give anyone their money back yet

 

[Dave Ett]

These are fantastic if you have samll ear canals (like me)

They roll tiny, and stay rolled long enough to get the plug right into your ear canal but are soft enough so that they are coomfortable for at least 13hours (longest I've had them in)

The world goes silent as soon as they expand. Heaven in a wee plastic bag!

laser

 

[RobA]

Hello,

I'm working my way through the five or so options offered by Boots. On Saturday I bought their silicone earplugs, made in the US. Just blobs of silicone which you roll and stuff into the outer area of ear. Not tried them on the bike yet but they look effective. They do two makes of the same type of product: buy their own brand, same manufacturer but cheaper.

They also do foam type and soft nylon, the type you insert.

I also use some made by Alpine: try

www.alpine.eu

Very cumfy in one ear, not as comfy in the other, but very effective.

RobA

 

[Micky]

Hello,

Just blobs of silicone which you roll and stuff into the outer area of ear.


Very cumfy in one ear, not as comfy in the other, but very effective.

RobA

"Just blobs of silicone which you roll and stuff into the outer area of ear"


"Very cumfy in one ear, not as comfy in the other, but very effective."

So how's that effective then if it's not comfy? About as much use as a chocolate fireguard if it's not comfy

 

[wessie]

get a test pack from Lucy Dell - 20 different types for a tenner
http://www.earplugsbypost.com/

I used to swear by EAR Classic until I tried a few others. Currently using EAR Neon foam plugs. A box of 250 pairs will last me years and work out at about 11p a pair.

 

[shugie]

I never got on that well with the foam sort, tried various types, but now use Ultimate Ear squidgy ones. Bit of a faff getting the moulds done, but they were at the Hograost a couple of years ago.

They are comfortable and effective and I'd not go back to the foam sort now.

 

[judge]

Plenty of choice out there for custom ear plugs, not many that are independently tested to EN352-2 and CE certified as hearing protectors for the use of personal protective equipment and of those that are their SNR (the amount of noise the plug is rated to protect you from) can be less than impressive.

I guess by asking you are doing some research but you really need to see for yourself what's on offer and no amount of opnion sharing will achieve that.

I spent the weekend at the BMF in Peterborough in a location along with 3 other ear pluggers, by far the majority of those who did their research on that show chose what they perceived to be the best product.

70 out of about 80 chose Ultimate Hearing Protection.

This weekend at the BMF our 30dB SNR custom squidgy would have cost you £42.50 (RRP £59 + p&p) - the fit is guaranteed as any custom plug manufacturer should offer.

BUT: Anything in your ears whilst riding is better than nothing so while you're doing your research get something in your lugholes and help preserve you hearing NOW!!!!

 

[judge]

I never got on that well with the foam sort, tried various types, but now use Ultimate Ear squidgy ones. Bit of a faff getting the moulds done, but they were at the Hograost a couple of years ago.

They are comfortable and effective and I'd not go back to the foam sort now.

They will be at the Hograost again this year too, no faff required if you come and see me there

 

[strod]

I have used the disposable foam plugs - used to find one ear fitted well, but the plug in the other would pop out. Having invested in the custom moulded squidgy plugs, I would recommend such to others who ride/commute regularly.

They are also good when touring and sharing tents/accommodation with those who tend to snore loudly!!