Topic: Ear plugs?

[70CB750]

I plugged my ears for the first time for a ride last weekend.  I know it is quite common, but I am bit slow on things 

Anyway, what I used were just el cheapo wally world foam ear plugs, they work reasonably well, but I know from the range that people use custom molded plugs a lot. 

So, the question is: if you plug your ears, what do you use and how do you like it?  On ebay I found Radians custom molded ear plugs, anybody using those?

[WhyNot2]

                                        "Spark Plugs"

[boatsdickson]

E.A.R. brand is my choice. Think its a 32db drop.

[veloracermike]

I have custom made earplugs. I went to a place that makes hearing aides and had them made.  They work great and of course fit perfectly


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[super pasty white guy]

Custom for me as we'll.. Made while you wait at the DC motorcycle show.  I used foam for quite a while prior, but they'd get uncomfortable during long rides.  Customs stay comfy for a 12 hour day.  Plus, I'd get some sort of vibration or resonance action sometimes if I didn't get the foams inserted perfectly.  The customs were  Well worth it, in my experience.

Spwg

[kirkn]

I've used the same / similar to what budlite posted for the last 20 years or so.  I got started wearing them at work, in a utility powerplant, where hearing protection is mandatory.

Now, I wear 'em on every ride, no matter how short/slow.  Just like a helmet as far as I'm concerned...

My current batch came from Home Depot.  They sell 'em in packages of, like, a hundred.  I don't recall the Home Depot brand's db drop, but the ones I used at work were a -32db drop.  Fantastic.

I hate wind noise!

They've never given me any discomfort either.  Maybe I have an 'insensitive' ear.    I wear them for sleeping, too, when we go camping. 

[Cqyqte]

Professionally made earplugs, could have had them designed to take earbuds from my Ipod but figured it was counter productive as I would then go deaf from listening to tunes instead of loud pipes and wind noise!

[flybox1]

what are you guys paying for your custom earplugs?

i found some DIY kits for ~$20
http://www.earplugstore.com/ear-inc-custom-earplug-kit.html

[veloracermike]

what are you guys paying for your custom earplugs?

i found some DIY kits for ~$20
http://www.earplugstore.com/ear-inc-custom-earplug-kit.html

I paid 45 bucks for mine but that was 10 years ago.  I had them done for when I was racing karts, they did a pair for my radio's as well for my race car at the same time.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

I picked up a couple DIY kits from Cabelas a few years back and had my daughter help me mold them. Came out pretty good but the 2nd set will be inserted farther into my ear canal for better holding. Cost me less than $20 I think. Foams ear plugs are fine for short rides and are better than nothing. Plus they are cheap but you may need to change them out after several uses as the effectiveness diminishes. I've found that on multiple days riding that the foam plugs tend to irritate the skin and will actually wear off the outer skin leaving it raw.

[kirkn]

I picked up a couple DIY kits from Cabelas a few years back and had my daughter help me mold them. Came out pretty good but the 2nd set will be inserted farther into my ear canal for better holding. Cost me less than $20 I think. Foams ear plugs are fine for short rides and are better than nothing. Plus they are cheap but you may need to change them out after several uses as the effectiveness diminishes. I've found that on multiple days riding that the foam plugs tend to irritate the skin and will actually wear off the outer skin leaving it raw.

Interesting take on the foam plugs.  When I used to work at the plant, they were in for 8 hours a day, every day, pretty much all day long (except for breaks, lunch, etc) and I never had any kind of irritation issue like that.  Hmm.....

And as for Noise Reduction Ratio, I've never seen a rating on custom molded plugs, but the little foam jobbies had a better rating (and, indeed, performed better) than any number of the 'industrial' alternatives (muffs, plugs, etc).

But, as you say, any protection is better than nothing, because one will surely suffer hearing damage otherwise.

[veloracermike]

On a side note my 3/4 Hustler helmet is quieter than my full face HJC helmet in regards to engine/exhaust noise.  I think this comes from the fact that the sound from the bike is being trapped by the full helmet.  The full face is quieter in regards to wind noise though. 

For me and the shape of my ear holes the custom plugs were a necessity.  I have to use tape to hold the foam plugs in while the custom plugs stay in on their own. 

[cougar]

Yep, E.A.R. Soft Blasts brand is what I use. Been using them since I started in a Rock Quarry in 1991. It was manditory which was cool 'cause that job was nothin' but noise !!! I've never had any problems out of them as far as irritation and we wore themall shift (8>10 hrs a day). I wear a German open style and I got Big ears so any run over 5 to 10 miles I wear plugs.   ...cougar...