Earplugs anyone ??

[Rusty]

I am a huge believer in wearing ear plugs when riding ... for any journey, any time any speed etc, never without them.
It started many years ago at work when all this health and safety business kicked in and we were sent on a half day course to learn about earplugs, how to fit them etc ... clearly we all thought it was going to be a waste of time but it was one of the most interesting inputs so to speak that I have been given ! The morning covered noise levels, what is comfortable for you and what is not, how your hearing, once damaged does not repair itself, how you are exposed to dangerous levels of noise everyday .. riding bikes, cutting the grass, getting your Dyson out, DIY tools and drills etc .. get the idea ?
My world has been and still is one of training and yearly medical/fitness checks, part of which is an auditory test so this is all very important to me to look after my ears.
My earplugs are E A R plugs and another make that I forget the name of but they are all very much the same and I do get them supplied by work so there is no cost involved ( but pretty cheap in the bike shops I see ) .... As you can see I cut the ends off to make a more comfortable fit...pull the top of my ear back and insert ... after a short time you know they are working when you can't quite hear the wife properly ( NOW you are all rushing out to get some !! ).
Just a thread I thought may be of interest to you ... if you don't wear them now for whatever reason please spend a couple of quid and give it a go ... in years to come you may realise the benefits  ;D

[cpettifer]

The on.ly times I don't wear earplugs is if my journeys are going to be shortish and all low speed as the noise levels (I believe) are acceptable. In the past I've bought from Lucy Dell Earplugs (http://www.earplugsbypost.com/), where you can buy a box of your favourite plugs pretty cheaply. She also does a variety pack so you can try a whole load of different ones.

Recently I've been wondering whether custom moulded plugs are any good. RiDE recently mentioned some love em and some hate em, so I just wondered if anyone here has used / uses them and how they work out?

[Martin#30]

Totally agree with LR, I would *never* ride without earplugs. Your hearing will never come back once damaged.

@cpettifer, firstly excellent news on the new purchase, secondly I use some custom moulded earplugs from http://www.ultimateear.com. I find they block a little more noise than that foam ones, but not huge amounts more.

I bought two pairs, one with built in speakers for music, and one without. I use the speaker ones for two hours each working day, and mine have just failed (one of the speaker wires eventually frayed and broke) after 15 months. I will be ordering another set though, they are a godsend being able to have some music on the commute.

Martin.

[Lonewolf]

I have to admit that only in the last year or so have I started to use ear plugs and through my own negligence and ignorance I am now hard of hearing. I started my working life off in a machine shop where I didn't wear ear defenders. Even at work now the old radios we used too use have been held responsible for a deterioration in hearing in certain people as apparently they didn't conform to certain health and safety levels. I have a hearing test booked next month through work which I know now I am not going to pass. The Dr when I was having a consultation about another matter said to me, oh listen to that, that's the so and so train to wherever. And I just sat there and said to him, I can't hear anything!  To which he replied you definitely need a hearing test.

[Kwikasfuki]

I purchased the Biopact earplugs (moulded to the ear canal). These don't block noise completely, but significantly reduce noise. I'm a firm believer in having some noise come through just for awareness purposes. Totally blocking out external noise is not safe in my opinion.

I did notice my hearing was deteriorating and ever since I've used the plugs its actually improved, so I think if you catch it early enough it can be reversed. When I'm riding short distances and not on the motorway, I'll ride without just to enjoy the sounds.

[keith]

i understand the need to wear suitable ear protection in a noisy enviroment,i am now 56 and have never worn earplugs whilst riding a motorcycle,i have attended numerous health & safety courses and have had debates regarding plugs,i have always been of the understanding that the smallest thing you should push into you ear is your elbow!!!!!this came from an hse officer,i find pushing plugs into your ears causes infections and compresses any wax you have into your ear canal.must admit i haven't the best of hearing but after working in shipyards and heavy industry most of my working life it would not help it,nothing wrong with wearing the corrrect ppe for the job,but i think it would look daft wearing ear muffs ontop of your fullface helmet!!!!!

[Winston Smith]

Keith, I've worn both the sponge EAR ones, BioPact (from work) and ultimateear for leisure.

Only time you would get infection/wax compacting is if you 'have a poke' with ear buds or a bic pen top  ::)

Use new EAR ones every couple of day/rides, or if you use the moulded BioPact or ultimateear use an aloe vera cream which eases insertion and combats any infection.  Also swab them with wipes occasionally.

None of them completely cut sound out, even the solid ones, and most moulded ones have filters built in.

What they do is cut out the 'windrush' level of noise but allow ambient noise through (although toned down) such as speach or traffic/horns etc.  They are not like ear defenders (muffs!) which cut all sound out.

And Martin, one of my ultimateear speakers 'went' on me.  They will fix them rather than buy a brand new ones and their turn around is really quick - even on their normal service (they do a 48hr job for a price!)

Excellent issue to raise Rusty, same as you, we get tested, but we are supplied with custom moulded BioPacts.

[100milesaway]

Eh,       ya wot,      speak up a bit,    Oh yes ear plugs yes never ride without them, dont like the tapered ones  I use "ear" get them from work  for nowt, but would buy them as they suit my lug holes better than any others.     hello, ok ok ok  ya dont need ta shout. :o ;D

[Rusty]

Winston .... I am still laughing !! How many times did I sit in a Traffic Car shoving the lid of a biro into my ear trying to pick out the wax ??  Disgusting I know but what a hoot ! They say you should have a new pair every day to avoid infection but that simply would not be affordable ... I used to wait till the yellow EAR's wern't spongy any more !! ... OOOppppssss  ;D
I am off to  " Ultimatears "in Kent next set of rest days for a fitting ... £159 ( bit of discount in there I think ) then I can make full use of the Garmin ... I don't know who makes the ones at work but they come with a small mouthpiece on a stork and the job pay £180 a piece, and I have only replaced one set in all these years so pretty good considering they get almost daily use.

[Winston Smith]

Rusty, they're Sonic Genesis.  Intaride do a similar thing.  I'm sure ultimateear would as well.  They do motorsport kit, so will have loads of options I imagine (for a price!)

Aah, bic lids and a night shift in a T5!!

[Rusty]

LOL .... VERY LOUD .... cheers mate  ;D

[Cartman]

Late convert to ear plugs but a few years ago got a set of Ultimate ears custom moulds....brilliant! So much more pleasurable to ride and they are so comfy. Two years ago bought a set of ACS drivercomms so I can listen to music and protect my ears, even better. After developing tinitus 10 years ago after too much exposure to loud noise I think any protection is good, and even protecting what you have left is worth the cost.

[Winston Smith]

Cartman - The biopacts I have through work are the ACS ones.  Great kit.

[Cartman]

Cartman - The biopacts I have through work are the ACS ones.  Great kit.

Yup great quality, comfy and their customer service has been superb.

[Lonewolf]

I've just Googled the Biopact ones and looked at the list of dealers. It seems there is one less than a mile from me. Just telephoned them and looks like I'm going down on Friday to sort some out.