Earplug Recommendations?

[tuhughes]

I've started to look at wearing earplugs under my helmet for longer rides, but the cheap foam ones seem to pop right out when my helmet goes on. Does anyone have any recommendations for good (even custom) plugs that fit comfortably under a full-face helmet and don't muffle the important sounds?

[T.Wesley]

Highly personal choice. I use (and swear by) high-end, custom-made silicon plugs. Others rely on the foam kind you twist & insert, then throw away after a couple of uses.

Try reading the reviews here http://www.webbikeworld.com/Earplugs/earplugs.htm for some info. Best of luck!

[shelion]

I have a custom made pair but lately I've been using the foam ones. I use the tapered foam ones and I don't have any problems with them coming out when I helmet up. Of course, I roll them to compress and jam them down into my ear canals so they don't really stick out too much. If you've been using the yellow cylindrical foamies, (E-A-R brand I believe), try some tapered foam ones instead. I got mine at Target, in the health/personal care section.

['05Train]

I use custom-fitted plugs. I can't remember the guy's name, but he's always at the DC and Timonium bike shows. I think you can find him though the Ear Inc. website.

[ChaseH]

Tucker, I have no doubt that the custom ones are superior, but for a cheap fix I have a gross of good quality disposables that work well if inserted properly (that's what she said). I'll try and bring an extra set to breakfast on Sunday so you can try them out.

[ERC Scott]

For much of the last 30 years, part of my job was advising people on hearing protection ....
As you might already know, there is a fair amount of variability in the size and "linearity" of human ear canals. That's one of the reasons you find so many varieties of insert-able plugs -- returning from a national IH or safety convention I collected maybe 50 examples of plugs from the vendors. Of those, maybe 5 were comfortable in my ears, and others became intolerable after only 30 minutes. So, IMO he easiest (but not cheapest) way to be assured of a comfortable fit (unless you want to try a batch of disposable plugs) is to buy a custom mold plug. Call a couple otology clinics to see if their audiologist is willing to get you fitted with canal impressions for hearing protection. I think the cost is some where $50 - $100 and your health insurance might cover part of it. Full disclosure -- I do have a set of high quality custom plugs, but in my daily riding I use disposable plugs (Howard Leight Laser Lites). On long trips where I use hearing protection 8 hours for several days, I get ear fatigue from the pressure of the plug on my left ear canal (smaller) so I use the more comfortable custom plug. Good luck, and GREAT idea to start using hearing protection. Tinnitus is NOT fun. Scott

[T.Wesley]

I get mine through my audiologist's office. My plugs cost $90 & are not covered by my health insurance (Carefirst BCBS). YMMV.

[Unity]

Even custom-molded earplugs can be uncomfortable. If you get a pair, I suggest you build up wearing time, say a couple hours one day, a couple more the next, etc. Also, I use neosporin or polysporin to lubricate the appropriate part of the plugs. Like Scott, I have a difficult left ear canal; it makes it just about impossible to get an over-the-counter plug to seal, so custom-molded ones are pretty much mandatory for me. Stereo-wired custom plugs are great for Sirius-XM.

--John
(One other thing: I wear an LDComfort helmet liner that keeps the earplugs from being displaced when I put on my helmet. And keeps my head cool. And keeps my neck from getting sunburned. http://ldcomfort.com/store/store/produc ... tured.html )

[ChaseH]

When will helmet technology take the leap to dampen wind noise enough to make plugs unnecessary?

['05Train]

When will helmet technology take the leap to dampen wind noise enough to make plugs unnecessary?

I don't know that it can. In order for a helmet do totally quell noise, it'd have to block all the airflow. That'd make for a very constrictive neck, not to mention make it hotter than hell in the summer.

[henwin]

I've started to look at wearing earplugs under my helmet for longer rides, but the cheap foam ones seem to pop right out when my helmet goes on. Does anyone have any recommendations for good (even custom) plugs that fit comfortably under a full-face helmet and don't muffle the important sounds?

I see that no one has suggested this, so allow me. Aerostich has a "sampler" set of disposable ear plugs available here: http://www.aerostich.com/off-and-riding/visibility-protection/earplugs/aerostich-disposable-earplug-sample-kit.html. They also have a sampler set of reusables, here: http://www.aerostich.com/off-and-riding/visibility-protection/earplugs/aerostich-reusable-earplug-sample-kit.html.

I prefer disposables. Currently I'm using the EAR Taperfit 2 (and have been for many years). You can buy them by the box from Grainger for about $45 for 200 pairs. I keep several pairs in a pocket. After no more than 7 days of wear--sometimes less--the current pair gets tossed in favor of a new pair. And as Scott noted, sometimes your ears to get pressed from the foam in the ear canal. When that happens, I take a break and take the plugs out. After 10 minutes, I'm able to put them back in for another stretch. If you get them custom made, be they at a show or from an audiologist, make sure they fit under your helmet (take your helmet for the fitment process). I got a set and with the speakers in my helmet and the custom made ones, I couldn't tolerate the pressure, so I wear them when I fly (in airplanes ).

And yes, getting the plugs into your ear does take a little doing. The way to do it is, roll the plug between your thumb and index finger--you want to compress the plug longways as much as possible. When you're ready to insert one into your ear--pull up on the top of that ear. That will straighten the ear canal allowing the plug to slide right in. I have seen some folks wet their plugs w/ spit, but I'm just not convinced that's a good idea... The plug's outer end should not be sticking out of your ear--but it should be butted up against the ridge of skin that forms the ridge above the ear lobe. You should be able to feel the plug expanding and hearing the "outside" noise disappear--or at least the volume go down. Every now and then I do a bad job of inserting and it's pretty clear when that happens. It seems to happen a lot when the plug needs to be replaced.

Scott is also correct: Tinitus ain't no fun!

[Ted]

Quite some time ago I bought a huge sampler pack from Conney Safety and tried them all, I too found the Howard Leight Laser Lites to be not only the best fitting for me (narrow ear canals) but the best protection as well. I bought a big box of 200 pairs and used a new pair every time. I found them also to be great for sleeping in bunk rooms, flying on planes, etc., I can leave them in for 12 and more hours with absolutely no discomfort at all. I ran out of my last box recently and was disappointed to find Conney not only no longer sold the huge variety pack but had raised their prices. I looked around a bit and found Seton, and bought a new box for under $25 shipped with a googled free shipping coupon. At 12 cents a pair and plentiful supply on hand there is no temptation to reuse them (or fear of losing them), and I always have a new set ready to go.

[RJP3579]

The way to do it is, roll the plug between your thumb and index finger--you want to compress the plug longways as much as possible. When you're ready to insert one into your ear--pull up on the top of that ear. That will straighten the ear canal allowing the plug to slide right in. I have seen some folks wet their plugs w/ spit, but I'm just not convinced that's a good idea... The plug's outer end should not be sticking out of your ear--but it should be butted up against the ridge of skin that forms the ridge above the ear lobe. You should be able to feel the plug expanding and hearing the "outside" noise disappear--or at least the volume go down. Every now and then I do a bad job of inserting and it's pretty clear when that happens. It seems to happen a lot when the plug needs to be replaced.

This has been the way I have always inserted the foamies. Now I use iPlugz from Ear, Inc. A gentleman from Virginia met me and did a custom mold of my ears and sent them in to have speakers inserted so I can plug them into my GPS/XM radio. I listen to the music at a low level and I have been able to hear sirens coming up behind me on the beltway.

[T.Wesley]

Even custom-molded earplugs can be uncomfortable. If you get a pair, I suggest you build up wearing time, say a couple hours one day, a couple more the next, etc.

This is good advice. My newest set of plugs, the right one is a little uncomfortable still after several weeks, but it's getting better

When will helmet technology take the leap to dampen wind noise enough to make plugs unnecessary?

When I've ridden other people's bikes that have better windshields than my GS, I find I don't get as much wind noise. On my K12RS, with the windshield in the "down" position, the noise is very manageable if I'm wearing my RF1100. If I'm wearing my Multitec, however, there's much more wind noise & it's even at a different frequency.

I think the combination of helmet & windshield has a lot to do with the transmission of wind noise to the rider's ears - to which everybody is probably saying "DUH!!" - and we use ear plugs as a result. I pretty much use them all the time, even if I'm just commuting to work when I never get much above 40 mph.

I've heard people with the new Schuberth helmets report far diminished wind noise due to the advanced design of that helmet.

[Mark Estes]

I like the disposable ones. Best ones I've found for me were in the gun section of a sporting goods store. They were packaged as "Remington".