Earplugs

[IV.]

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Earplugs are a good investment.
I use the silicone based ones, not the cheapy orange ones.
They reduce the stress on your body caused by wind noise at highway speeds.
You are A LOT less tired.
They do NOT black you from hearing what's going on around you.

I too ride with plugs in listening to music.

I did it in 15 minutes increments to get used to them. Now, I always use them on the highway.

In the long term they can keep you from going deaf or suffering hearing loss.

 

[Scary]

My helmet is LOUD! I ride with earplugs every time, mostly connected to an mp3 player. I find my bike sounds different (in a good way) with the plugs in... gotta keep an eye on my rearview for the popo though, as the plugs+music tends to drown out the sirens.

 

[5:12]

earplugs for some reason give me headaches. i even tried wearing them while sitting at home just to get used to them but either my ears/jaw area hurt and eventually i get a headache. i'm using those foam ones from shoppers. i also tried the silicone ones from walmart.

 

[IV.]

earplugs for some reason give me headaches. i even tried wearing them while sitting at home just to get used to them but either my ears/jaw area hurt and eventually i get a headache. i'm using those foam ones from shoppers. i also tried the silicone ones from walmart.

wrong size
the trick is to put them inside the ear but not too deep. It should make a seal in your ear canal.
The ones you had might have been too hard.

The bike shops have the multi color ones that I use. They last a long time.

 

[WoBblyCaT]

Have you ever brushed your teeth or eaten a meal wearing earplugs. It's a new experience hehe

 

[IV.]

Have you ever brushed your teeth or eaten a meal wearing earplugs. It's a new experience hehe

Comes in handy having sex with loud women.

 

[awyala]

I don't always wear earplugs, but when I do, they blast dope beats!

 

[catalyst4]

Not so, check THESE out.

+1... though I use the headset with iPod control. Not the cheapest going but definitely best of both worlds.
And if you aren't picky about L/R, you can swap the inline audio controls to the left side.

 

[5:12]

wrong size
the trick is to put them inside the ear but not too deep. It should make a seal in your ear canal.
The ones you had might have been too hard.

The bike shops have the multi color ones that I use. They last a long time.

didn't know they come in sizes except for the custom fit ones.

they the soft orange ones from shoppers. highest decibel rating they have.

i tried different ways, deeper, shallow, twisting before inserting, or just pressing/compressing.

i might try the silicone ones.

 

[Griffin]

I feel the same, however riding on a few windy days at about 100kms I'm seriously thinking about giving them a try. It's just that I'd be concerned if I couldn't hear a horn or a siren.

You can hear road noises just fine. I ride with noise cancelling ear buds and listen to music. I can hear horns, sirens and my engine. I can't hear people talk very well but that's fine with me, I don't ride to talk to people.

If you aren't protecting your ears and are riding at speed you are doing damage to your hearing. Just so you know.

 

[NealT]

You can hear road noises just fine. I ride with noise cancelling ear buds and listen to music. I can hear horns, sirens and my engine. I can't hear people talk very well but that's fine with me, I don't ride to talk to people.

If you aren't protecting your ears and are riding at speed you are doing damage to your hearing. Just so you know.

++1 from someone related to an audiologist, and it is permanent. If you already have a ringing in your ears when it's quiet, too late likely, you are on your way.

 

[Bermuda]

didn't know they come in sizes except for the custom fit ones.

they the soft orange ones from shoppers. highest decibel rating they have.

i tried different ways, deeper, shallow, twisting before inserting, or just pressing/compressing.

i might try the silicone ones.

I found those sets from Shoppers to be awful. Same with anything CT carries They would just push themselves out of my ear instead of expanding to fill the canal, or be too small.

I've since gone with 3M 1100 foam plugs. They look just like typical tapered cylindrical ones, but they are far more dense and fill the canal very well. They also do a great job of reducing noise. No gaps, no buffeting, no weird pressure, and they don't want to pop out when I put my helmet on. There are distributors around the GTA, I picked up a box of 200 pairs for $40. Beats the $10 you pay for a dozen crap-tastic pairs at Shoppers, and a pair is good for at least a few weeks of use.

 

[SlntSam]

Some info on the NRR ratings you see. I believe Shoppers Drug mart offers NRR 30 or 31 plugs so even if they're cheap, they're effective. As long as they fit in your ear properly and you are wearing them properly. They're not for everyone.

http://www.earplugstore.com/gennoisprot1.html

The highest rated ear plug in the market has a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 33, and the plugs with that level of rating are not made of wax.

The only way you can get higher than NRR 33 is by using ear muffs and ear plugs at the same time, and only then can you achieve an NRR of 34 or greater. An NRR of 34 requires NRR 20 ear muffs worn over NRR 33 ear plugs. You can get to an NRR of 36, but that requires the highest rated muff (NRR 30 or 31) and the highest rated plug (NRR 33) to be worn at the same time.

In ear headphones don't generally have NRR ratings so they are probably not very effective for that purpose. there are however some in ear headphones on that site as well.

 

[2fast2beat]

Can you please tell me where you bought the custom earplugs with audio from? I would like to try them on the bike and I am also a drummer so I would like to try them out for that as well. Thanks

 

[DJM]

After a 6 month trial at work we switched to Sparkplugs from this brand http://www.moldex.com/hearing-protection/plugstation/ and they are the most comfortable I have ever worn. I sometimes have to wear these up to almost a full 12 hour shift, plus after I get home and crash after a night shift. We tried 10 different styles and these ones were chosen for all Municipal workers in my town. They also work very well inside my full face helmet.

 

[Ould]

For people trying to find what works for them I highly suggest ordering some sample packs from ear plug superstore.

http://www.earplugstore.com/unfoamtrialp.html

This will allow you to try many different brands for relatively low cost. Once you find what suits you best you can order a box or whatever. Shipping is pretty reasonable, I have ordered from them numerous times and not had any issues with border fees or taxes yet. If anyone ever needs any at the track, look for me as I usually have quite a few pairs on hand and don't mend giving out a pair or three.

As others have mentioned, with the foam "roll-up" plugs it is essential that they are inserted far enough(but not too far as it can be painful) so that they work effectively. Most people I see(at work generally) don't wear them properly at all. I seem to have wonky ears(right one specifically) as I sometimes have a hard time getting the foamies in so I have been trying some alternative types to see what suits me. I did have a pair of custom ones at one time but somehow lost one in one of off-track excursions, my wife thinks it is still in my head somewhere.

Kevin

Kevin

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