| Author | Message | ||
     Rpm4x4 |
What kind of earplugs are you guys using? I've tried several different types and they either don't show hardly any benefit, fall out after my helmet on, or just don't seal. I have been so tired of fiddling around with them I just don't use them. I have Latus exhaust which I love but after a long day of riding I feel I have concert ears. Is there a brand that is better than the crap I've tried or are my ears just a funny shape that earplugs don't work very well. I sometimes ride locally without my helmet and I don't find my exhaust loud at all. It seems the resonance inside my helmet is the problem. I have a Z1R duke and I love it. It is comfortable and fits my head perfectly but I'm open to a changing my helmet if it might cure this problem. | ||
| Darthane |
I just use the cheap, foam, CVS brand. I got like 200 for $5. They work great and are cheap and disposable. Never leave home without 'em, and I keep more under the seat. | ||
| Spiderman |
WHAT!? | ||
| Djkaplan |
You got to push them in until they touch... each other. | ||
| Edgydrifter |
I prefer the disposable foam plugs for comfort and dB reduction. The generic ones you get in bulk work just fine, or you can get yourself a variety pack from someplace like Howard Leight and see what style fits you best. I also keep a pair of reusable plugs in each of my jackets so that I'm never caught without something. Hearos, available at a lot of bike shops, work best for me in terms of noise reduction. They're comfortable, but you know they're there. If you think that might distract you, try some of the foam plugs from Howard Leight or Moldex. They're so soft you won't even know you're wearing them after a couple of minutes. | ||
| Midknyte |
re-usable swimming plugs work well for me. stay in well. block sound well.  | ||
| Koz5150 |
I use Skull Candy headphones and hook them up to my mp3 player (at a low volume). It makes the highway more tolorable. If I am going to stay under 55, I don't use any. | ||
| Hdbobwithabuell |
I like the cheap foam ones that you have to squash. | ||
| Sub65chris |
 work really well to cancel out highway noise | ||
| Greenlantern |
The disposables work fine for me, but the trick is you have to actually hold in place until they conform to the ear canal which usually takes a full minute in my case despite the instructions. | ||
| Deltablue |
Check out www.earplugstore.com I just picked up a set of Skull Screws that I am very happy with. I think it is the perfect level of noise reduction. I'm thinking of going with custom made earphone pieces at some point, but these were very "economical" | ||
| Jramsey |
Cigarette butts with the paper removed will work in a pinch. | ||
| Edgydrifter |
I bought a set of custom molded plugs with built-in transducers several years ago at one of the big moto shows. They were unbelievable--total noise isolation and fantastic clarity. I could cruise on the interstate next to semis with the volume at the same setting I'd use in a library. Unfortunately, one of the transducers shorted out after a couple years, so now they're just reeeeealy expensive earplugs that I don't use anymore. For road tunes, I now use Shure e2c earbuds. The dB reduction with them isn't as good as either my custom plugs or disposable foam plugs, but I'd say it's about as good as any of my reusable plugs (like the little rubber christmas trees pictured above). Sound quality is excellent and they're very comfortable (they come with a selection of differntly-sized and shaped tips so you can find an optimum fit). An added bonus for anyone looking into these is that you can pick them up from many online retailers for about half the price I paid for mine two years ago. | ||
| Cowboy |
When I was young and doing oil well blow outs I tried all kinds non worked well as the noise level was of the worst you think of we found that nothing could beat Childrens silly puddy. | ||
| Bill0351 |
My seemingly never-ending supply of cheap military ones has just about completely run out. The Navy corpsmen used to hand them out by the box. They are just the cheap yellow squish-em-down and stuff-em-in kind, but they work really well for me. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"Cigarette butts with the paper removed will work in a pinch." At the shooting range, I've used FMJ .45ACP cartridges as ear plugs in a pinch. They don't work as good as the foam, but it's better than nothing. Don't do it if anyone is looking. | ||
| Seanp |
I use cheap ones that I get in the hunting section of Walmart. They work well, and I can still hear both my music and passenger intercom (through helmet speakers) as well as outside noises. In fact, it seems like I'm always one of the first to pull off the side of the road when I hear sirens coming... Maybe because all the cagers are busy on the cell phones. | ||
| Dynasport |
I had some custom made ones done at a bike night a year or two ago. The company is called Big Ear http://www.bigearinc.com/home/Default.aspx I like them pretty well. My ears get sore using the foam disposable kinds. I seem to tolerate these better. They also make custom ear phones. They are a bit pricey, but if I listened to music much on my bike I'd spring for them. I'd just use the disposable ones if they didn't make my ears so sore. That and it seemed like half the time they weren't seated properly. I hate wearing ear plugs at all, but my hearing is not what it used to be and I am trying to conserve what I have left. | ||
| Djkaplan |
"I use cheap ones that I get in the hunting section of Walmart." Exactly where I get mine. I'd like to get some nice custom fitted ear plugs, but I know I'd lose them pretty quickly. I don't notice very many riders that wear ear protection. Seems like I'm always the one everyone is waiting on because it takes me awhile to get them seated just right. | ||
| Buellerthanyou |
With the squishy disposable kind, I've had the best luck rolling them until they're long and thin, then sticking them in as far as possible (sometimes they DO touch, Dan  ), then hold them in until they expand. One of my buddies recently told me that he discovered that if he reached over the top of his head and pulled up on the top of his opposite ear, he got a better "seat" of the plug. Plus it looks funny to the girls at Hooters!  HellBuelly J | ||
| Nukeblue |
www.e-a-r.com earsoft taper fit 2 "regular size" p/n 312-1219 these are by far the best foam type i have used. they are super soft & smush easily. i use these at work, riding, racing. we get these at work from the granger catalog (Message edited by nukeblue on September 10, 2008) | ||
| Alchemy |
Had a custom molded pair made at Americade this year. I just did 2 12 hour rides 2 weeks ago and used them. comfort was good for such a long ride. So quiet that it can get a little hypnotic after several hours however. Music would probably help. But the comfort is pretty good and I can't even hear the fan for once. I got them in different colors to avoid mixing up which side is which. | ||
| Torqd |
My kid just got some that look like putty when he got his tubes in the other day.. they are silicone of some sort.. they look like they would be good. Something like this... they carry them at sport stores as well... http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/macsilearplu.html  | ||
| Jumpinjewels |
My problem with the earplugs is that going up and down in elevation here in the Rocky Mountains I started to get some major pain in my ear. Need something that allows pressure changes. | ||
| Court |
I just got fitted for customs but ANYTHING is better than nothing . . . . hearing degradation is cumulative and irreversible. | ||
| Bandm |
 | ||
| Retrittion |
Custom molded firing range ones (molded by myself), bought at Cabela's for $15, comes with enough to almost make two sets depending on your ear canal size. Works great, relatively cheap and works great for both shooting and riding (I have a SpecialO.P.S.) | ||
| Corporatemonkey |
Here is what I posted in this earplug thread Earplugs are a very personalized item. I have tried over 78 different pairs (bet you didn't know that many existed). There all different. I have even have 2 sets of custom ear pieces. I took detailed notes after each pair so I knew what to buy again. For me the Howard Leight MAX series was the winner hands down. They have a 33 decibel reduction. The key to these earplugs is how you put them in. If you just roll them and shove them in, they will not properly seal. You have to roll the plug, then grab the top meaty part of your ear, gently pull up and out. Then gently slide the ear piece in. Finally place your thump over the ear plug as it expands. You will hear a "rice crispy" sound as it expands. Things will be VERY quiet after that. I use my custom ear pieces only for air travel. I found they work well (not as quiet as the HL Max), but are are hard to get sealed when wearing my helmet. If you want to try some different plugs order a sample pack from www.earplugstore.com or any other online vendor. I've tried every set they sell. It didn't cost that much in comparison to losing my hearing. When you find the pair you like, just order as big a case as you can afford. Remember a disposable pair should be worn only once. They loose there effectiveness when reused, not to mention the bacteria issue. If you have any further questions post up. | ||
| Darthane |
One of my buddies recently told me that he discovered that if he reached over the top of his head and pulled up on the top of his opposite ear, he got a better "seat" of the plug. Exactly right - it does look a tad ridiculous, but it's the best way I've found to get them in right the first time every time. The newer they are, and the cooler they are, the quicker they expand and block off outside noise. I tend to replace mine every week or so. | ||
| Djkaplan |
I'm trying it! I also twist them a little when I scrunch them down, but I reverse the twist for the other ear. They seem to worm their way into the 'quiet zone' easier that way. |
