Hearing Protection

[Working Class Hero]

What do you use for hearing protection? I'm looking at options, but I can't really make my mind up. I forked out for a set of Custom Fit Guards, but the one for my right ear just won't stay in. Their customer service just ignore me...

So I then got a pair of Pinlock ear plugs. they work well and do the job, but I find that, again in my right ear, it starts to hurt after a while and even for a couple of hours after I take it out.

Does anyone have any other recommendations?

 

 

 

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I have experimented with a wide variety of hearing protection. I have tinnitus so road and wind noise can cause havoc if I'm not careful with hearing protection.

 

There are several aspects to consider. The first is usually the thing people think about last - your bike. Is your bike creating wind buffeting at helmet height. Look at screens and mirrors to check for airflow and turbulence. You can do all sorts by way of earplugs but if your bike is inherently noisy you're just tackling the symptoms rather than the cause.

 

Helmets. I have a Caberg Duke II and a Schuberth C3 Pro. The Schuberth is quieter but much more expensive. But the Caberg can be made just as quiet. Flip fronts are often quieter than full face because they can have closer fitting neck padding. That's the area where wind turbulence creates the most noise. In the winter, when I wear a keffiyeh (a Palestinian style scarf) the Caberg is as quiet as the Schuberth. But it's too hot in the summer so I use the Schuberth more then. Even just a buff fitted well around the neck area makes a difference.

 

The thing with helmets is finding one that fits the shape of your head. Friends who have different shaped heads find the Schuberth doesn't feel comfortable. But you can find quieter helmets from different manufacturers.

 

Ear plugs. I have tried many different kinds. The moulded type don't work for me, but a mate swears by them. So you need to find what works for you. The best I have found so far as Eggz - they come in various sizes, have an insert, and are made of a stickier silicon so they tend to stay in better. They are easy to use and are the only ones I've ever bought repeatedly. They do kill the noise effectively. I've worn them all day and find them comfortable.

 

Alpine race come a close second, they are a very smooth silicon so I find they don't stay in as well and are fiddly to use. They are ok when in, but have a tendency to slip part way through a ride and then the noise leaks in.

 

Earplugs are a very personal thing. You need to try several types to find what works best for you.

 

 

[daveinlim]

I've been using eggz almost daily for about a year. Can't fault them keeps the wind noise out but can still hear traffic and exhaust. 

 

[Bender]

I was going to try my noise cancelling earbuds that came with my phone but they are small and easily misplaced which was my main concern taking them out when on the bike, I shouldn't have worried though as I've lost them before I got to try them

[Fiddlesticks]

Earpeace plugs plus a thin scull cap pulled over the ears.

[manxie49]

+1 for earpeace .... Just be careful with them, I find them easy to lose.  Buff pulled up over my ears tends to help stop me losing them when taking my lid off.

Edited June 22, 2023 by manxie49

[geofferz]

Cheapest silicone plugs you can find, and lots of pairs for when you lose them. £3 every 6 months or so for me. 

[Guest]

1 hour ago, manxie49 said:

+1 for earpeace .... Just be careful with them, I find them easy to lose.  Buff pulled up over my ears tends to help stop me losing them when taking my lid off.

Yep, lost one the other week. Disappeared onto some gravel when I stopped to buy cake. 

[Fiddlesticks]

At least you get a spare with Earpeace.

[Guest]

Just now, Fiddlesticks said:

At least you get a spare with Earpeace.

I've already lost that

[Mississippi Bullfrog]

I tried Earpeace - very comfortable, quiet, but they are very soft silicone which is why they fall out of my ears. I guess I've got big lugholes. I suspect if you have normal sized ears you'd be good with them.

 

The tube they provide is very nice though.

 

One criticism of my favourites - Eggz - is that they are black. So if you drop one in the dark it's gone.

[bonio]

Also got tinnitus. Agree with @Mississippi Bullfrog - it's worth looking at the whole set up - helmet and screen as well as ear plugs. I wear a keffiyeh for the same reason.

I've a set of custom silicone moulded ear plugs. They start to become uncomfortable after a few days on the bike, but they're good. Otherwise I use foamies, which are also good, but I think my ear canals must be narrow, because it's sometimes hard to get a foamy inserted properly.  

[Working Class Hero]

Thanks for the replies! It looks like the Eggz are exactly the same as the Pinlock plugs I use at the moment. I'll give the Earpeace ones a go.

[Pie man]

I have some Custom Fit Guards and found them to be poor, compared with Auritech Custom Fit. However, if all else fails, a bag of Howard Leight will do for me  

[Shepherd]

I'm also a tinnitus sufferer, and wear ear plugs on every journey.

Eggz are the best fit for me, but I struggle so much trying to remove them. The little tab is way too small for me to grab.

I switched to Loops, and find them just as good and a lot easier to remove.

 

Also, it's a case of getting a good 'seal' and not just ramming earplugs in as far as they'll go. My right ear takes the loop plug fine every time, but in my left ear I have to insert the loop and pull it out just a little. Oh-err missus!

 

I also adjusted my screen for the Summer to make it lower and having the air flow against my chest instead of failing to get it to go over top of my lid.

[daveinlim]

1 hour ago, Shepherd said:

I'm also a tinnitus sufferer, and wear ear plugs on every journey.

Eggz are the best fit for me, but I struggle so much trying to remove them. The little tab is way too small for me to grab.

I switched to Loops, and find them just as good and a lot easier to remove.

 

Also, it's a case of getting a good 'seal' and not just ramming earplugs in as far as they'll go. My right ear takes the loop plug fine every time, but in my left ear I have to insert the loop and pull it out just a little. Oh-err missus!

 

I also adjusted my screen for the Summer to make it lower and having the air flow against my chest instead of failing to get it to go over top of my lid.

I've been using eggz but did consider loop. How do you find they compare?

[Shepherd]

To be honest, the Eggz were barely noticeable every time I used them. Couldn't feel them at all. Nice and quiet, but I just couldn't deal with the removal of them. I have a 'thing' about objects / insects etc getting stuck in my ears and not being able to remove them straight away was a problem. That said, I still use them from time to time, it depends what jacket I put on as I keep them in the pocket. Nifty little storage tube for them,  but the loops one is quicker and clips to bike key ring without damaging the paint.

I can feel the loops sometimes, but it's not a problem. I find they just 'drop in' to position and form a good seal. I use Loop "quiet" , not the motorcycle ones. A few decibels more reduction in noise, but I can still hear what I need to. The different sizes is a nice touch too - especially as my daughter uses them and we exchange the unused sizes with each other. Easier to keep clean too, in my experience. 

Hope this helps.

[bonio]

23 hours ago, Shepherd said:

I also adjusted my screen for the Summer to make it lower and having the air flow against my chest instead of failing to get it to go over top of my lid.

I fitted a lower screen for the same reason. Made a big difference to the noise. 

Must look up Eggz and Loop. Not really happy with my custom ones as they're uncomfortable after a week's riding. It's hard to get foamies inserted well enough to give the same protection.

[Stu]

 

 

I use a set of mercury custom plugs and like them

 

Not tried Eggz but a lot of people rate them 

[fullscreenaging]

I discovered Loop ear plugs last year and find them the best plugs I’ve used. I’m sure like most of us on here that we have been through loads of different types and been disappointed. 
I can highly recommend the Loop Quiet with the little Loop Mute insert. 
They are not cheap, but I use them for the bike, for sleeping and when driving on the noisiest road in the country. The A180. I use it to get to and from work. It’s been recorded at 90 db sat in a car!!

 

The Loop’s let the right audio through and you don’t feel like you’re in a goldfish bowl like a lot of the disposable ones feel like. 

Edited June 26, 2023 by fullscreenaging

[Working Class Hero]

I got a pair of the Loop Quiet plugs over the weekend and they seem very good. I still need to try all the sizes in my right ear, as it doesn't fit quite as snug as the left, but I've only had one test ride so far. The most important is that it doesn't cause any discomfort.