Anyone Played With Earplugs ?

[V8RX7]

I have tinnitus and the wind noise really affects it but I didn't want that "shut off" feeling you get with effective earplugs.

I've seen the various plugs with "filters" in £15 upwards but I find many plugs uncomfortable and tried similar silicone type for shooting and couldn't wear them so I was loath to buy them

I've been trying a few different foam types (I bought a selection from ebay) and modified them

So far I've found the yellow 3M earsoft FX to be the most comfortable and effective, but I found cutting 3mm off the narrow end (for comfort) and melting a hole through them with a warm (not red hot) paperclip has given me enough sound back and doesn't seem to affect my hearing.

Anyone else tested loads / experimented ?

[Triaguar]

Forget the foam ones or any buy off the shelf ones. Get some silicon made to measure ones. I have Ultimate brand. They are very good. Best accessory for my bike I ever bought. £60 at bike show. Think they are £70 for basic there are all sorts of add ons.

[black-k1]

Tested loads 20+years ago and now stick with the ones I found were the most comfortable and offered good noise reduction (as judged unscientifically by me wearing them!) I've not found a need to modify them and don;t feel that I can't hear anything that is actually important rather than just more noise.

[Prof Prolapse]

I know we're all adults, but do remember if you "modify" it, all bets are off in terms of it being PPE.

I think a few chaps on here with tinnitis use fitted silicon earplugs that also play music. I've heard that said a number of times that it's much more comfortable for them.

E.g.

https://www.ultimateear.com/product/soundear-motor...

[Triaguar]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I am the same idiot, but it us surprising how £70 a pair tends to focus the concentrationq

[V8RX7]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

They loose that "dead" feeling which makes me feel unconnected to the world around me

It allows me to hear the exhaust noise - single with an end can so very deep and completely inaudible with unmodified ones also allows speech to be clearer yet wind noise isn't significantly louder

[V8RX7]

Prof Prolapse said:

I know we're all adults, but do remember if you "modify" it, all bets are off in terms of it being PPE.

Agreed but my tinnitus gives me instant feedback - there either is, or isn't a loud BERR noise after a ride.

IIRC the 3M has 32db rating some others are as low as 17 so there is room to manoeuvre.

I have looked at the various expensive types but they all have some negative reviews and none offer trials so as I didn't get on with my shooting set I'd rather try the cheaper options first

[xjay1337]

V8RX7 said:

I have tinnitus and the wind noise really affects it but I didn't want that "shut off" feeling you get with effective earplugs.

I've seen the various plugs with "filters" in £15 upwards but I find many plugs uncomfortable and tried similar silicone type for shooting and couldn't wear them so I was loath to buy them

I've been trying a few different foam types (I bought a selection from ebay) and modified them

So far I've found the yellow 3M earsoft FX to be the most comfortable and effective, but I found cutting 3mm off the narrow end (for comfort) and melting a hole through them with a warm (not red hot) paperclip has given me enough sound back and doesn't seem to affect my hearing.

Anyone else tested loads / experimented ?

I've always used either earphones with noise cancelling or earplugs.
It's vital for your hearing to always wear some sort of ear protection when you're on your bike.

I always used to use generic push in types or as I said my earphones.
My Dad used custom ones. I never really tried the custom made ones.

[Prof Prolapse]

It's up you mate.

From what you said it's like your hearing is sufficiently poor to start with the standard plugs are blocking out a lot of noise (most of us still have a good aural awareness and hearing with them in). Unfortunately that blocking effect making you feel detached is probably also protecting what is left of your inner ears.

It doesn't look reconcilable to me, and I wouldn't start cutting up PPE. I'd just try and get used to it for the sake of protecting my hearing. As I have said some blokes with tinnitis (who still want to maximise protection) go with quiet music playing or similar.

But as I say, entirely your choice, it must be frustrating.

[rigga]

Had some custom fit ones. Made at the NEC bike show last year, £40 bloody marvelous things.

[LimSlip]

V8RX7 said:

They loose that "dead" feeling which makes me feel unconnected to the world around me

It allows me to hear the exhaust noise - single with an end can so very deep and completely inaudible with unmodified ones also allows speech to be clearer yet wind noise isn't significantly louder

I also had that dead feeling when I started using them, took a little while but I totally got used to it. In fact it's amazing how much more you can hear with ear plugs in, I was paranoid there was something wrong with my engine for quite a while as I could hear mechanical noise that I simply couldn't without plugs.

[Pothole]

LimSlip said:

V8RX7 said:

They loose that "dead" feeling which makes me feel unconnected to the world around me

It allows me to hear the exhaust noise - single with an end can so very deep and completely inaudible with unmodified ones also allows speech to be clearer yet wind noise isn't significantly louder

I also had that dead feeling when I started using them, took a little while but I totally got used to it. In fact it's amazing how much more you can hear with ear plugs in, I was paranoid there was something wrong with my engine for quite a while as I could hear mechanical noise that I simply couldn't without plugs.

I think I had the same experience, but it's such a long time ago I started wearing them regularly I can't be sure...wish I'd started about the age of 18, though. Tinnitus is really st.

[V8RX7]

rigga said:

Had some custom fit ones. Made at the NEC bike show last year, £40 bloody marvelous things.

I did a quick google on custom plugs - I found reports that because they don't expand / push against your ear unlike standard foam or silicone plugs that they give no where near the same protection.

[Triaguar]

V8RX7 said:

I did a quick google on custom plugs - I found reports that because they don't expand / push against your ear unlike standard foam or silicone plugs that they give no where near the same protection.

Sorry don't wish to be rude but that is absolute rubbish. (Google , not you ) Earplugs work by sealing the entrance to the ear canal thus restricting the amount of sound getting to the inner ear. They do not touch the ear. I would imagine that would be painful and do some damage. My argument therefore is that custom ones fit the canal opening more precisely than off the shelf ones resulting in less noise getting in and being more comfortable. However as been said before everyone is different and if you don't fancy them or prefer the others, you pays your money and takes your choice.

[Harry H]

Try Auritec biker ear plugs. They are very much like the shooting variety but much softer. I too find my shooting ones uncomfortable.

They have a sound filter insert in them just like shooting ones. Cut's out all the big noise but you can still have a conversation.

Been using them about 10 yrs now (3rd set) about £20.

[WinstonWolf]

Triaguar said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I am the same idiot, but it us surprising how £70 a pair tends to focus the concentration

Meh, £70 is a lot cheaper than hearing aids

I've got 90db loss in one ear, wear fking ear plugs now or a hearing aid when you get older...

That said, I got my custom fit mould free on the NHS

[Vickers_VC10]

In a previous life as an engineer we were all given a pair of custom molded ones with a low pass filter in it. They were rubbish on the bike. The normal uvex disposable ones were superior in everyway. I wanted as much noise gone.

I don't ever remember experiencing the dead feeling you describe though.

[V8RX7]

Triaguar said:

Sorry don't wish to be rude but that is absolute rubbish. (Google , not you ) Earplugs work by sealing the entrance to the ear canal thus restricting the amount of sound getting to the inner ear. They do not touch the ear. I would imagine that would be painful and do some damage. My argument therefore is that custom ones fit the canal opening more precisely than off the shelf ones resulting in less noise getting in and being more comfortable.

I was meaning ear including the ear canal.

Custom ones just sit there, off the shelf push against it generally meaning less comfort but less air leakage (apparently)

[pessimal]

easy way to test

https://sites.google.com/site/earplugsbypost/home/...

order a test pack and see which ones you like

[Don Roque]

I've always used Auritech plugs and don't like riding without them. If I've forgotten to put them in, I know as soon as I start going quickly as the wind noise is really noticeable. I found that they still let you hear a reasonable frequency range so you don't get that 'fishbowl' effect of absolute sound-killers but they do cut out loads of the lower frequencies and make riding a lot more pleasant.