Ear plugs Question

[Mencius01]

as for earplugs, pick a good quality type that can be reused. your ears will thank you! as for me, i've done a bit of research on fitment since my two ear canals are different sizes. these are what i use:

http://www.earplugstore.com/coreean26.html

How do you know what size to get (I picked average)?

 

[Z3n]

Get them completely inserted correctly and they won't come out.

 

[Sane_Man]

Stupid follow-up question but how do you keep the earplugs in (so they don't fall out) when putting on your helmet? When I put on my helmet it's so snug sliding down I feel the plugs would come out (I can't even fit my glasses on my face after putting my helmet on ...) ...

What kind are you wearing?

If they are the soft squishy type, you aren't putting them into your ear deep enough so they don't stick out past your ear opening.

If you have tiny baby ears, you may need to cut a 1/4" off the ends.

 

[Sane_Man]

How do you know what size to get (I picked average)?

If you're a guy, always go for the biggest they got.

 

[Thateguhate]

Is there any alternatives to plugs themselves? I've seen wind guards that go on the front of the helment underneath you're jaw to sort of seal that open area off to reduce the wind noise but never heard how affective they are.

 

[KnifeySpoony]

Here's some professional advice:

Wear ear plugs. Hearing loss sucks. Tinnitus sucks.

Your ears may ring when your ear plugs are in, because your pre-existing tinnitus from prior plug-less moto riding is more audible without loud noise to mask it. But it will prevent further tinnitus and hearing loss.

Foam plugs are cheap and work great. For those that say they can't wear plugs because they need to hear things- get different plugs. Custom fit plugs with changeable filters are easily gotten. You can use a filter that will help reduce the trauma to your ears, but still easily let you hear radios/etc. In fact, you might find that you can hear it more easily.

 

[Razel]

NRR 33dB
Good price
Howard Leight MAX1 200 count, $18.00 + shipping

 

[Thateguhate]

$25 Gets you this..

I'm thinking about it... It would probably help keep yourself warmer in the winter too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhGNmDMcoB8

 

[Charles R]

To give an answer about quieter helmets... The last two helmets I've ridden with, the Arai Profile and the Shoei RF-1100, are reputed to be about the quietest on market, and i still find them to be too loud for my taste.

Interestingly, my open face helmet, an HJC, was virtually silent on the same bike. So that may offer an answer for the leo situation.

But since I prefer a closed face helmet, I just always do the foam earplug thing. In fact, I don't really even buy them myself anymore, as my family gives them to me as birthday and christmas gifts.

 

[Kornholio]

Supposedly the Shoei Quest is the quietest on the market right now.

 

[f4ibri]

Thanks for all the replies. You all have convinced to keep using them. I'll give the foam ones that I use at work a couple weeks. If I'm unable to adjust to them I'll look for some with a little less sound reduction. Maybe I'll do a little plug shopping next time I go to Target Master. Thanks.

 

[dkcwenge]

i would go onto the website, buy a bunch of different kinds - and pick which size works best for you! some sizes may fit but get tiresome in your ear after even 30 mins of riding ... some may be easier to put in than others.

cheapest ones are the foam ear plugs. they seem to block the most noise, but sometimes i kinda want to hear stuff too. plus, i like ones that are not disposable and are corded.

 

[Lovedoc]

Thanks for all the replies. You all have convinced to keep using them. I'll give the foam ones that I use at work a couple weeks. If I'm unable to adjust to them I'll look for some with a little less sound reduction. Maybe I'll do a little plug shopping next time I go to Target Master. Thanks.

Everybody knows how they work right? You twist them into a little spear and slide them into the canal where they expand. If you have to, a little spit is an ok lube. You can push them in too deep and irritate your eardrum tho.

 

[CoolBDPhenom03]

Here's an interesting question...what dB rating would be considered the minimum for riding motorcycles? I mean, my full on ear muffs for the gun range are NRR27 I believe and I think my Etymotic plugs are ~NRR20.

 

[SummerLove]

Here's an interesting question...what dB rating would be considered the minimum for riding motorcycles? I mean, my full on ear muffs for the gun range are NRR27 I believe and I think my Etymotic plugs are ~NRR20.

This is something I've been considering. I started using a set of hearo's High Fidelity about 2 weeks after I started to ride. Been wondering if I should get something higher than NRR 12 for riding the bike. I just use the HFs because that's what I had.

 

[Lovedoc]

This is something I've been considering. I started using a set of hearo's High Fidelity about 2 weeks after I started to ride. Been wondering if I should get something higher than NRR 12 for riding the bike. I just use the HFs because that's what I had.

I think the Howard Leights foam are 28db, maybe more.

 

[navy8ret]

Tinnitus sucks.

Oh it most certainly does - Mine is because of 26 years of USN aviation - oh those wonderful jet engines (and on a carrier flight deck the noise is even worse) The constant ringing can be very-very annoying at times
Anyway this is what I've been using for years - Outstanding soft comfortable plugs -- Hearos

 

[Enchanter]

Here's an interesting question...what dB rating would be considered the minimum for riding motorcycles? I mean, my full on ear muffs for the gun range are NRR27 I believe and I think my Etymotic plugs are ~NRR20.

This is something I've been considering. I started using a set of hearo's High Fidelity about 2 weeks after I started to ride. Been wondering if I should get something higher than NRR 12 for riding the bike. I just use the HFs because that's what I had.

This sounds like a silly question: How much of your hearing do you want to save/protect?

I want all of mine, so I look for the plugs with the highest noise reduction rating. I refuse to use anything less than 33.

 

[Darwin]

Everybody knows how they work right? You twist them into a little spear and slide them into the canal where they expand. If you have to, a little spit is an ok lube. You can push them in too deep and irritate your eardrum tho.

Don't TWIST. Roll... you want a smooth "torpedo" going in.

As for spit - EWW! If you have trouble getting them in, try a different brand until you find something that works for you.

 

[Sane_Man]

Don't TWIST. Roll... you want a smooth "torpedo" going in.

As for spit - EWW! If you have trouble getting them in, try a different brand until you find something that works for you.

I give myself a wet willy, before inserting them. Just the right amount of friction coefficient to ensure proper penetration and maximum sound deadening.