Quieter helmet?

[Lil_Red_GTO]

In my late 40s I have started getting what I assume is tinnitus - a constant high pitched wine in my ears. Being a bloke I haven't actually had this medically diagnosed, of course, but I attribute it anyway to exposure to wind noise on motorcycles. (No wife jokes, please.)

I wear Auritech earplugs which avoid the isolating feeling of foam plugs by allowing some sounds though (trusting the manufacturer's claims that they keep out the harmful frequencies). I currently wear either a Shoei Glamster, which quite a few people seem to consider a "loud" helmet or a Shark Evo GT modular (which seems to be considered quite quiet for a modular helmet). I find any sustained riding at 70mph or greater unpleasantly loud and my ears will ring more after that type of riding. I ride a bike with a low fairing which does create noise when tucked down but not if I sit upright out of the turbulence, so I don't think the bike is the issue.

My question is, given my increased concern about my hearing, is there any point buying a quieter helmet (subjective, but Champion Helmets measure decibel levels and publish a top ten each year) to supplement my earplugs, or is that unlikely to make much difference as its all about the earplugs anyway? I obviously don't want to drop several hundred pounds on a new helmet only to find that it makes little or no difference.

[TheInternet]

Before the outlay of a helmet I'd start with ear plugs that reduce sound levels more than you're currently using, at least for 'sustained high speed riding'. Assuming I'm looking at the right ones, the SNR of yours is only 21dB. They're much better than nothing but you could do a lot better still.

[RazerSauber]

Helmets tend to be designed for head protection instead of noise isolation. Have a look at something like Customfit Guards (discount code KATE10 should get you some money off). They're not cheap but your hearing is never coming back.

[Cylon2007]

TheInternet said:

Before the outlay of a helmet I'd start with ear plugs that reduce sound levels more than you're currently using, at least for 'sustained high speed riding'. Assuming I'm looking at the right ones, the SNR of yours is only 21dB. They're much better than nothing but you could do a lot better still.

This, I use moulded ear plugs which are filtered to allow neccessary sound through but block the damaging wind noise etc. The correct ear plugs will be a much better first step than swapping helmets. And yes I do have tinnitus (fortunately not really bad) due to load music and riding bikes in my youth without ear plugs, well no one diod back then just like we wore jeans and whatever jacket would keep some rain and cold out but we live and learn.

[Bob_Defly]

TheInternet said:

Before the outlay of a helmet I'd start with ear plugs that reduce sound levels more than you're currently using, at least for 'sustained high speed riding'. Assuming I'm looking at the right ones, the SNR of yours is only 21dB. They're much better than nothing but you could do a lot better still.

This. I wear howard leight greens, rated at about 30, and I have never had any issues hearing anything important at all. Get better earplugs.

[trickywoo]

I agree with everyone else. There are helmets which are quieter than others but the difference they make vs earplugs is marginal.

[Marquezs Stabilisers]

Vents and spoilers increase wind noise. A Glamster type helmet is designed primarily to look cool.

[carinaman]

Not recommending them but they're 36dB from Screwfix or Toolstation. I've only done 2K in the last year so not sure it's worth getting custom fit. They could well be rubbish but 36dB sounds better than 30dB.



My concerns about helmet colour to partially justifying myself buying another with a colourway I liked means I've two new ones and an old one I should ditch but I think they all have several vents.

[hiccy18]

3M Earsoft FX, 39dB cut, best I've found. I use the Auritech's but on a sustained high speed ride they cause whistling ears; the 3M's, correctly fitted, prevent that.

[black-k1]

I'm now in my 60's and have "enjoyed" the whistles and whines of Tinnitus for half of my life, and this is due to the wind noise associated with riding motorcycles.

I can only suggest you get the quietest helmet you can (fit being more important than noise reduction) and wear the earplugs that give the greatest noise reduction that you can.

[SteveKTMer]

hiccy18 said:

3M Earsoft FX, 39dB cut, best I've found. I use the Auritech's but on a sustained high speed ride they cause whistling ears; the 3M's, correctly fitted, prevent that.

I use those too, very effective and dirt cheap.

Also OP, use a next tube of some description that can cover or partly block the open part of the helmet, useful to keep the sun off your neck but also stops some dust and rubbish coming up and if you pull it up, does reduce the noise.

[dibblecorse]

For the sake of £100 get some proper ones made, once you screw your hearing it ain't recovering.

https://mercurycustomplugs.com/shop

[Merch131]

The quietist helmet I've used is the Shoei Neotec.. the flip up one. While I prefer 3M 1100 earplugs.

[KobayashiMaru86]

I use the Alpine plugs. They don't cut out as much as 3M plugs but they actually fit me well and don't fall out.

[TheInternet]

dibblecorse said:

For the sake of £100 get some proper ones made, once you screw your hearing it ain't recovering.

https://mercurycustomplugs.com/shop

From what I've seen the foam ones offer significantly greater sound level reductions. But then it's down to whether you can fit them effectively, and I'd expect the custom made ones to be much better in that regard.

[Far Cough]

Have a look here...... some of the easiest methods are the neck area with a scarf or some such thing. The air coming up and under the helmet has a huge impact in noise.

I use the 39db 3m earplugs mentioned above which are have the best sound deadening properties on the market.

https://agvsport.com/blog/most-popular/how-can-i-m...

[carinaman]

Far Cough said:

Have a look here...... some of the easiest methods are the neck area with a scarf or some such thing. The air coming up and under the helmet has a huge impact in noise.

I use the 39db 3m earplugs mentioned above which are have the best sound deadening properties on the market.

https://agvsport.com/blog/most-popular/how-can-i-m...

Thanks for the link.

It's a useful thread.

I get a weird washing machine, pebble being rolled around in the bottom of a plastic bucket noise. I thought it may've been the bike, but second bike makes the same noise despite completely different engine configuation. Perhaps a scarf would help.


The insistence to properly protect the hearing and the potential loss of use of a garage, has me considering getting rid. 7K in almost 7 years makes me more of a motorcycle owner than a motorcyclist.

[Bob_Defly]

I went to a pretty noisy stadium sports event recently, and remembering how loud it was last time, took earplugs this time.

SOOOOO happy with that decision. I could hear everything like it was a normal conversation, and my ears weren't buzzing like last time. I highly recommend then for anything loud, especially if you have already damaged your hearing a bit.

Funny thing is, I could hear my wife perfectly, and then when I spoke back to her, she was like, "WHAAAT???"

[s1dew1nd3r]

One of my friends who works at a hospital was telling me if you go into the hearing department of a hospital they will custom make you some earplugs with filters for a fraction of the price these private companys are charging.

[W12JFD]

I've started using Airpods pro 2s and they are a significant improvement on the Auritechs I've been using for some years.

and I can listen to music!