Ear Defenders.

[Bailey93]

At what speed generally speaking do ear defenders become a must, motorway speeds, 70mph or higher?

I always wear them for long trips, ear defender in one ear and in ear head phone in the other for sat nav directions and swap each time I stop.. But I decided to wear them into work this morning only driving through town no more than 40mph and it felt incredibly disorientating I couldn't hear the usual cars in my blind spot etc.

Are they over kill at 40 and below

[Bailey93]

I'm all for making progress don't get me wrong, if I fit I go through. But having say 20% of usual 100% hearing it was very disorientating to myself anyway. I've never worn them around town before, just from home to motorway on long trips.

I just need to get used to it

[Bailey93]

Regarding my sat nav solution, one in ear head phone and one ear defender swapped after every 150 miles or so, is this bad obviously the earphone isn't protecting as much as the defender

I assume a handle bar mounted sat nav would be the best investment for my hearing if that makes sense

[Bailey93]

julian64 said:

I never wear them.

I'm completely happy that its affect on my hearing isn't significant, but its affect on my area perception is.

Long story short I need all the advantage I can get while motorcycling, and when the inevitable day comes when I'm lying in a hospital bed I don't want to have to think its because I intentionally dulled one of my senses

This Is what I was getting at in the OP, I felt like I was riding in a bubble

[Bailey93]

bogie said:

I still wear plugs when Ive got my helmet comms on for sat nav directions etc. It all comes through fine. Im always amazed when the caller cant tell im on the bike doing 70mph as the noise cancelling in the bluetooth thing is that good. I am looking forward to the same tech built in by default when they finally get here, the whole "noisy helmet" problem should be solved.

Skully have gone bust itll be a while yet