Ear plugs

teabow1 · Post by **teabow1** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:26 pm

In the MSF basic rider course, they talked about hearing protection and that some ear plugs are approved for use. Or perhaps all ear plugs are approved? I don't know. I am someone who tries to take good care of my hearing so I carry ear plugs with me everywhere and use it on planes etc. I asked our instructors about ear plugs and since they didn't use it they didn't know.

Anyone know what kinds of ear plugs are approved for motorcycle/scooter use or are all of them approved?

We rode on Suzuki GZ250 cruiser motorcycles for the course and I was surprised at how noisy they were.

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:31 pm

I wear earplugs on long distance rides where I'll be travelling over 30 mph. Any kind will do. You'll have to do some experimenting with what works with your helmet and what lets enough ambient noise through so you can hear sirens, horns, etc.

I use Mack's silicone. You can get the Mack's at any drug store. I've started using some blue foamy kind that I can squish really small, get my helmet on, and then they expand against the helmet foam. I don't remember the name but I really like them as they cut wind noise but let in the atmosphere.

My commute is so short and slow that the wind noise doesn't bother me. I also don't use them on the trails because I really need to hear my engine.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:46 pm

It's not just engine noise that you want to protect your ears from. It is wind rush also. Wind rush will be louder than your scooter. Protection from this is one of the big pluses to full face/over-ear helmets.

If you are going to spend bigger money on ear plugs, get washable, reusable ones. If not, get the cheap disposable ones from your local CVS or some such place.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:04 pm

to the Mack's. The only earplugs that fit, no matter who you are. The packaging says that the individual plugs (they are 'pillows' of silicone that you shape to your ear each time you wear them) should not be cut in half, so I don't - I cut them in quarters.

bluebuddygirl · Post by **bluebuddygirl** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:21 pm

I have a giant box of the foam disposable ones. I use them for riding, and for the use of my many power tools : ). They have some of the best decibel ratings, which is what I go by, and they seal out air, so they are all purpose, including riding.

teabow1 · Post by **teabow1** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 4:26 pm

Great! Thanks for the advice! Seems like almost all kinds of earplugs work. I have one pair in each bag, some in the bedroom and bathroom and others scattered all around the house. I use them a lot!

Have never bought washable kinds thought as I don't seem them at the local pharmacy. Might be worth investing in one day.

Dooglas · Post by **Dooglas** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:17 pm

teabow1 wrote:Seems like almost all kinds of earplugs work. I have one pair in each bag, some in the bedroom and bathroom

Ah, how much noise do you make in the bedroom and the bathroom???

teabow1 · Post by **teabow1** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:21 pm

Dooglas wrote:
teabow1 wrote:Seems like almost all kinds of earplugs work. I have one pair in each bag, some in the bedroom and bathroom
Ah, how much noise do you make in the bedroom and the bathroom???

LOL. Bathroom is where I keep the extra unused earplugs. My bedroom has a pair because our neighbours upstairs are sometimes noisy. Creaky floorboards, you know.

squash · Post by **squash** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 6:43 pm

I don't use them on my scoot (RH50, wind noise isn't an issue through my helmet) but on my big bikes I won't ride without them. Someone suggested the sampler pack from the ear plug superstore to find the kind that worked best for me.. like $12 for 34 pairs of earplugs, I tried them all and decided that the EarSoft FX was the right one for me..
Here is the link to the sampler pack:

http://www.earplugstore.com/unfoamtrialp1.html

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:53 pm

Dooglas wrote:
teabow1 wrote:Seems like almost all kinds of earplugs work. I have one pair in each bag, some in the bedroom and bathroom
Ah, how much noise do you make in the bedroom and the bathroom???

I got a whole box of foam earplugs in the bathroom: I work in theater production

As for the bedroom, I have always kept spare plugs in each gun case, and my Sigma sits on my bedstand. They've actually come in handy when they were working on the water main in my building for a week straight

(the earplugs, not the Sigma 9)

viney266 · Post by **viney266** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:56 pm

I use the foam throw aways a few times till they don't spring back or they get dirty. I found some rated at 29DB which is good for foamies.

I have the washable molded type for shooting and they are really nice, but after a few hours they make my ears "sweat" if thats what you can call it.

I ALWAYS use them on long trips and when on the racetrack. I have many old racing buddies with hearing aids. All I need to see to keep me wearing ear plugs

Anything you like is legal BTW.

neotrotsky · Post by **neotrotsky** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:28 pm

viney266 wrote:I use the foam throw aways a few times till they don't spring back or they get dirty. I found some rated at 29DB which is good for foamies.

I have the washable molded type for shooting and they are really nice, but after a few hours they make my ears "sweat" if thats what you can call it.

I ALWAYS use them on long trips and when on the racetrack. I have many old racing buddies with hearing aids. All I need to see to keep me wearing ear plugs

Anything you like is legal BTW.

This is a good point: I have had heard of a few motorcycle cops getting on riders cases for wearing earplugs (?!), which is silly since foam plugs are designed to buffer the air pressure entering the ear canal, reducing the SPL going into the inner ear and don't block sound completely. They are completely legal when used proper.

Just make sure that you don't just shove them in the ear canal and put them in proper (rolling them into a narrow shape, insert them and let the foam naturally expand within the ear canal). If you just jam them in then you can completely block the sound and that's not safe at all.

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:20 pm

Dooglas wrote:
teabow1 wrote:Seems like almost all kinds of earplugs work. I have one pair in each bag, some in the bedroom and bathroom
Ah, how much noise do you make in the bedroom and the bathroom???

Some people are just so literal.

Skootz Kabootz · Post by **Skootz Kabootz** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 1:26 am

viney266 wrote:...I have many old racing buddies with hearing aids. All I need to see to keep me wearing ear plugs

When I first started riding and wore a 3/4, open-ear helmet, I developed some bleeding in my ears from the noise/wind. That one trip to the doctor was enough to make me a full-face helmet, ear-plug wearing rider for life.

rsrider · Post by **rsrider** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 3:08 am

I use Howard Leight by Sperian, Super Leights (soft foam). 33 db noise reduction. I also use them when I sleep, so I have them in my ears all night. No problems. I don't use earplugs when I'm on the scooter. I rarely leave town when I'm riding it. I do use them every time I'm on my motorcycle.

teabow1 · Post by **teabow1** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:44 pm

Syd wrote:
Dooglas wrote:
teabow1 wrote:Seems like almost all kinds of earplugs work. I have one pair in each bag, some in the bedroom and bathroom
Ah, how much noise do you make in the bedroom and the bathroom???
Some people are just so literal.

LOL. Well, some farts do sound like gunshots. But not mine . . . . ; - )

teabow1 · Post by **teabow1** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:48 pm

squash wrote:I don't use them on my scoot (RH50, wind noise isn't an issue through my helmet) but on my big bikes I won't ride without them. Someone suggested the sampler pack from the ear plug superstore to find the kind that worked best for me.. like $12 for 34 pairs of earplugs, I tried them all and decided that the EarSoft FX was the right one for me..
Here is the link to the sampler pack:

http://www.earplugstore.com/unfoamtrialp1.html

Hey thanks for that website! I'm going to order some for my husband. He has these really strange ear canals. Not only are they small, but they bend upwards in almost a 90 degree angle so every earplug he has tried from brick-and-mortar stores do not work for him.

I hope he finds something that fits from this sampler!

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:53 pm

teabow1 wrote:
squash wrote:I don't use them on my scoot (RH50, wind noise isn't an issue through my helmet) but on my big bikes I won't ride without them. Someone suggested the sampler pack from the ear plug superstore to find the kind that worked best for me.. like $12 for 34 pairs of earplugs, I tried them all and decided that the EarSoft FX was the right one for me..
Here is the link to the sampler pack:

http://www.earplugstore.com/unfoamtrialp1.html
Hey thanks for that website! I'm going to order some for my husband. He has these really strange ear canals. Not only are they small, but they bend upwards in almost a 90 degree angle so every earplug he has tried from brick-and-mortar stores do not work for him.

I hope he finds something that fits from this sampler!

He sounds like the perfect candidate for Mack's Pillowsoft Earplugs. They cover the ear canal more than they plug it, so the size of the ear canal is less of an issue.

teabow1 · Post by **teabow1** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:13 am

Syd wrote: He sounds like the perfect candidate for Mack's Pillowsoft Earplugs. They cover the ear canal more than they plug it, so the size of the ear canal is less of an issue.

I would have thought so too, but they don't seal well in his ear and they fall out. Furthermore, they don't offer much sound protection. I've used them in the past and while they work okay for me, they don't offer as much sound protection as the foam ones.

I just ordered the sampler for him. Hopefully of the 34 kinds he'll find something worthwhile!

Syd · Post by **Syd** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:19 am

teabow1 wrote:
Syd wrote: He sounds like the perfect candidate for Mack's Pillowsoft Earplugs. They cover the ear canal more than they plug it, so the size of the ear canal is less of an issue.
I would have thought so too, but they don't seal well in his ear and they fall out. Furthermore, they don't offer much sound protection. I've used them in the past and while they work okay for me, they don't offer as much sound protection as the foam ones.

I just ordered the sampler for him. Hopefully of the 34 kinds he'll find something worthwhile!

Huh. People's ears are just different, I guess. Hope you find what you want.

superseagulls · Post by **superseagulls** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 2:30 pm

These are what I use, highly recommended!

http://www.fastenal.com/web/products/de ... 247&ucst=t

There is pretty much a Fastenal store wherever you are in the USA, give them a try, they may even give you a discount due to your place of work etc.

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 10:34 am

rsrider wrote:I use Howard Leight by Sperian, Super Leights (soft foam). 33 db noise reduction. I also use them when I sleep, so I have them in my ears all night. No problems. I don't use earplugs when I'm on the scooter. I rarely leave town when I'm riding it. I do use them every time I'm on my motorcycle.

These are the ones we use as well. I'm so cheap though, that I just collect all the dirty ones and every few months I take a little dish soap and hand wash them. It is a hassle as it takes FOREVER for the soap to squish out....

Then you see like 100 of them sitting on a dishtowel on the counter, like little monuments, while they dry for a couple of days.

I can usually wear them several times before they get where they need to be washed. I've saved probably 50 pairs that way for reuse.

I didn't realize how much of a difference it made (wearing ear plugs). I hate it when I forget to put mine in now. And (it MIGHT be my imagination, but maybe not....) I seem to notice some tinitus later the same evening if I DON'T wear them, so I really try to not forget to put them in. Once your hearing goes, it's pretty much gone. I don't want to even go there!