Earplugs
- Thread starter Ish
- Start date
Been riding for around 25yrs. Worn ear plugs for the last 10 or so yrs. Can't ride without them. I use a brand called Hearos, that i buy in bulk, all of which roll really tight and fit easily in my ears.
I use them for about 4 rides before pitching them.
Living in the USA, most people here ride without helmets, plus the most popular bikes ridden are noisy Harley's. So i often check out who's wearing and who's not. I'm very surprised that its very rare to see fellow riders wearing earplugs. Myself, i know better ! No way i want tinnitus.
I use them for about 4 rides before pitching them.
Living in the USA, most people here ride without helmets, plus the most popular bikes ridden are noisy Harley's. So i often check out who's wearing and who's not. I'm very surprised that its very rare to see fellow riders wearing earplugs. Myself, i know better ! No way i want tinnitus.
I had a similar problem, and it was because I couldn't always push them all the way into my ear, and as they expanded they worked themselves out. You need to really roll them up as small as you can get them, and the handy hint from this thread is to apply some lubrication (spit) to your ear.
Alternatively try the Howard Leight ones I listed above, fixed the problem for me.
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Since my Alpines (linked in the 2nd post) are a couple of years old now, I thought I'd have a look around at what else is available at the moment.
Ordered a few different types to try out:
Howard Leight Quiet Uncorded Earplugs (3 pairs, £2.50 delivered)
HearDefender-DF Earplugs (£13.49 delivered)
Z Zone by DesignGo (£6.80 delivered)
I tried out the Howard Leight Quiet Uncorded Earplugs over the weekend. Although they do block a touch more sound than the Alpines, I didn't find them as comfortable. And at one point one of them dislodged a bit, which caused a rather annoying noise right down my ear hole. So I had to pull over to re-insert it.
I tried the Z Zone by DesignGo on the way to work this morning. I inserted the medium adapter, thinking that would be the right size for me, but I was in discomfort for most of the journey. As with the Alpines, they block a good bit of sound (and possibly a touch more), but still allow for basic conversation. I will try them on my return journey later with the small adapters inserted. What I like about these and the Alpines is that you can still hear enough to carry out a conversation, but it takes the top end roar out of the wind/engine. Whereas plugs like the Howard Leight Quiet Uncorded Earplugs attempt to block all sound.
If it stays dry, I'll try the HearDefender-DF Earplugs tomorrow
Ordered a few different types to try out:
Howard Leight Quiet Uncorded Earplugs (3 pairs, £2.50 delivered)
HearDefender-DF Earplugs (£13.49 delivered)
Z Zone by DesignGo (£6.80 delivered)
I tried out the Howard Leight Quiet Uncorded Earplugs over the weekend. Although they do block a touch more sound than the Alpines, I didn't find them as comfortable. And at one point one of them dislodged a bit, which caused a rather annoying noise right down my ear hole. So I had to pull over to re-insert it.
I tried the Z Zone by DesignGo on the way to work this morning. I inserted the medium adapter, thinking that would be the right size for me, but I was in discomfort for most of the journey. As with the Alpines, they block a good bit of sound (and possibly a touch more), but still allow for basic conversation. I will try them on my return journey later with the small adapters inserted. What I like about these and the Alpines is that you can still hear enough to carry out a conversation, but it takes the top end roar out of the wind/engine. Whereas plugs like the Howard Leight Quiet Uncorded Earplugs attempt to block all sound.
If it stays dry, I'll try the HearDefender-DF Earplugs tomorrow
One thing I would say about earplugs, they need to be able to fit as far into your ear as possible without protruding enough that the helmet liner can touch it. If this happens it makes a horrible noise in your ear as the liner brushes against the end IME.
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Tried the Z Zone plugs on the return from work yesterday with the small adapters in. They were more comfortable than the morning journey when I had the medium adapters in, and still provided a good deal of hearing protection. Little bit fiddly to get in though. You have an applicator which you stick over the adapter, which has to be oriented the right way around. When inserting one of them I inadvertently pulled the adapter out of the plug when I withdrew the applicator. I imagine this would be a bit of a pain if the weather wasn't particularly good or windy.
These arrived last night too:
Moldex Comet Ear Plugs (£1.56 delivered)
I tried the HearDefender-DF Earplugs on my journey to work this morning. Fairly simple to insert. Getting them in deep enough requires a bit of ear pulling, but nothing major
They blocked a good bit of sound, but no more than the Alpine/Z Zone plugs. They weren't quite as comfortable as I find the Alpines, but they weren't uncomfortable enough as to cause a distraction.
I'll be trying the Moldex Comets on my way home this evening
These arrived last night too:
Moldex Comet Ear Plugs (£1.56 delivered)
I tried the HearDefender-DF Earplugs on my journey to work this morning. Fairly simple to insert. Getting them in deep enough requires a bit of ear pulling, but nothing major
They blocked a good bit of sound, but no more than the Alpine/Z Zone plugs. They weren't quite as comfortable as I find the Alpines, but they weren't uncomfortable enough as to cause a distraction.I'll be trying the Moldex Comets on my way home this evening
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Ok, so I tried the Moldex Comet plugs on my way back from work today. They block the most amount of sound of all of them by far, but that also includes ambient noise; where the others allow a small amount through to make conversation easier etc.
I also found it a bit weird not being able to hear much of the engine at all. I like a little bit of engine noise on my journey, just not so much of the screaming wind
So I think I'll continue using the Alpine MotoSafe plugs with the yellow adapters in for now. I find them the most comfortable. Good protection but still enough ambient noise to talk and hear some engine noise. A little bit of fiddling to get them in, but nothing too bad.
I think I will keep the Moldex Comet plugs on me too though, for when I do longer motorway journeys, or particularly... spirited ride outs
Just my 2 cents anyway
I also found it a bit weird not being able to hear much of the engine at all. I like a little bit of engine noise on my journey, just not so much of the screaming wind
So I think I'll continue using the Alpine MotoSafe plugs with the yellow adapters in for now. I find them the most comfortable. Good protection but still enough ambient noise to talk and hear some engine noise. A little bit of fiddling to get them in, but nothing too bad.
I think I will keep the Moldex Comet plugs on me too though, for when I do longer motorway journeys, or particularly... spirited ride outs
Just my 2 cents anyway