Earplugs

bigredduke · 15-05-2021, 03:17 PM

I have never been able to find any comfortable earplugs despite trying several makes and designs. I even had some custom-made silicone earplugs made but they are frankly no better. After about one hour, they are too painful & I have to remove them. Even after a short break, things don't really improve much. The discomfort is distracting, obviously not good for safe riding. The only thing I can use for extended periods is cotton wool which reduces some wind noise but not much. According to the custom-made earplug people I have very small ear canals.

Some time ago I bought some differently designed earplugs but due to lockdown & Winter, I just put them in a drawer & forgot about them. I rode the bike on Thursday for a couple of hours & thought I would try them out.

So far so good! The noise blocking was effective and more importantly they were very comfortable to wear. They sit flat in the ear rather than inserted in the ear canal which is why they are probably more comfortable.

https://www.happyears.co/uk/

In the photograph, the model has the stem of the plug horizontally but I found having it vertical pointing down to the bottom of the ear was more effective at reducing noise but still comfortable.
Their customer service is excellent, they have answered my emails over the weekend promptly.
So if you have had a problem finding comfortable earplugs, these could be the answer!

Kato · 16-05-2021, 10:05 AM

Like you I'd always have to take earplugs & even in ear headphones out after a short while as find them painfully uncomfortable

Before lockdown I'd got quite into clay shooting, and didn't like the big ear defenders started to use these foam ones

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cancelling-...%2C157&sr=8-12

Can wear them all day without a problem, don't always use when riding but they work just as well, and really easy to use under Helmet can easily forget you even have them in

Flip · 16-05-2021, 10:27 AM

I’ve tried quite a few types over the years either through PPE at work, motorcycling or other loud sports and have found Moldex ‘Sparks’ to work best for me.

They have the added bonus they can be bought in little storage cases to keep them clean.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172408566963

I think for most people it will be a case of trial and error to see what’s comfortable unless you go for a custom moulded pair.

Kato · 16-05-2021, 10:47 AM

Those look the same type as I use Flip, just a different brand.. good stuff

bigredduke · 16-05-2021, 07:59 PM

I guess I'm just a sensitive kinda guy

madmac · 16-05-2021, 08:40 PM

I got a set of custom ones moulded at the NEC bike show a few years ago. I wear them every time I ride and don't find them too uncomfortable, although it is nice to take them out after a long ride. Can't be certain of the company that did them, but these guys ring a bell:

https://customfitguards.com/

I wouldn't dare ride without them now I have the Monster and Termis!

bigredduke · 17-05-2021, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by madmac

I got a set of custom ones moulded at the NEC bike show a few years ago. I wear them every time I ride and don't find them too uncomfortable, although it is nice to take them out after a long ride. Can't be certain of the company that did them, but these guys ring a bell:

https://customfitguards.com/

I wouldn't dare ride without them now I have the Monster and Termis!

I too had some custom-made ones at the NEC thinking they must be more comfortable but unfortunately, after about one hour they are unbearable.

Jez900ie · 17-05-2021, 05:58 PM

Aren't some brands of helmet more insulated than others which would help?

bigredduke · 17-05-2021, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jez900ie

Aren't some brands of helmet more insulated than others which would help?

I'm sure that's true. I believe from anecdotal evidence, that Schuberth helmets are supposed to be very quiet. However, short of trying a myriad of helmets actually on the bike they would be difficult to test unless you had access to a wind tunnel.

Furthermore, I have found the same helmet can be noisier on one bike than another, due perhaps to the aerodynamics of a screen or absence thereof.

I am tempted to insert a line about experiencing the rush of air over one's helmet but I will resist.

I recently bought a Bell Predator helmet which was on offer from Sportsbike shop. I have only tried it once on the Monster but it's significantly quieter than my AGV is/was and more comfortable. It has channels in the side padding for glasses arms which makes wearing them much easier as well.

Until head-shape scanning is more widely available, helmet selection will continue to be trial and error and just trying one for a few minutes in a shop is no substitute for trying it out for real but of course no retailer will allow that, obviously.

Jez900ie · 18-05-2021, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigredduke

I'm sure that's true. I believe from anecdotal evidence, that Schuberth helmets are supposed to be very quiet. However, short of trying a myriad of helmets actually on the bike they would be difficult to test unless you had access to a wind tunnel.

Furthermore, I have found the same helmet can be noisier on one bike than another, due perhaps to the aerodynamics of a screen or absence thereof.

I am tempted to insert a line about experiencing the rush of air over one's helmet but I will resist.

I recently bought a Bell Predator helmet which was on offer from Sportsbike shop. I have only tried it once on the Monster but it's significantly quieter than my AGV is/was and more comfortable. It has channels in the side padding for glasses arms which makes wearing them much easier as well.

Until head-shape scanning is more widely available, helmet selection will continue to be trial and error and just trying one for a few minutes in a shop is no substitute for trying it out for real but of course no retailer will allow that, obviously.

Would buying online would give you more opportunity to try a prospective helmet?

mickj · 18-05-2021, 09:22 AM

Sportsbikeshop will accept helmets back for a full refund after several months as long as it's not been used on the road. So you buy the helmet and wear it around the house for a few days to see if it's the correct fit. I did this with an Arai a coupe of years ago, after watching a long film in it I found it was starting to get uncomfortable with a couple of pressure points above my forehead, I sent it back and replaced it with another model which didn't hurt after wearing it most of the day. I couldn't test it for noise out on my bike but I know that Arai's are not exactly quiet anyway.

Pedro · 18-05-2021, 08:07 PM

3M foam disposable ear plugs for me, good noise reduction and comfortable

I’ve got custom moulded for shooting and despite being told they will work under a crash hat they’re hideously uncomfortable

hh93 · 19-05-2021, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jez900ie

Aren't some brands of helmet more insulated than others which would help?

I had an Arai that the foam pushed the Targus into my ear canal closing it off. I dunno if it was designed like that but I found I didn't need ear plugs when wearing that one.

I have an opening face type now but use "ISOLATE Pro – revolutionary solid titanium ear-ear plugs" as there were recommended to me and work very well.

Mr Gazza · 19-05-2021, 12:37 PM

Well you got me there, I'd never heard of a targus, so I googled it and found it is a make of laptop. I thought it would be rather unusual to shove a laptop in each lughole, so I kept going and found a lughole skin flapper called a tragus. That makes more sense.
I never even knew I had a tragus and when I looked I actually have two!!

I'm inspired to launch a range of scented candles called " My Tragus smells like this". I'd shove a banger in each one just for laughs..

If you guys think earplugs are uncomfortable, try getting used to wearing hearing aids! The first year is the hardest.

I've never worn earplugs as I want to be sure I will hear any blues and twos. One advantage of hearing aids is that they have a threshold of volume that they deliver to the ear. I definitely find noisy things much noisier without them.
So wind noise is tolerable and in theory won't damage my hearing further, and I can hear all I need to.
The big plus about wearing a hearing aid in a helmet is that some helmets squash my large upper cartilaginous lug flapper (scientific name unknown!) against my skull and add to the pleasure of a painful lughole full of plastic... What joy! Pardon?

bigredduke · 19-05-2021, 02:30 PM

I thought 'Targus' was an album by Wishbone Ash on sale in Yorkshire

15-05-2021, 03:17 PM	#1
bigredduke Nothing to see here Join Date: May 2005 Location: brough Bike: M1100evo Posts: 1,546	Earplugs I have never been able to find any comfortable earplugs despite trying several makes and designs. I even had some custom-made silicone earplugs made but they are frankly no better. After about one hour, they are too painful & I have to remove them. Even after a short break, things don't really improve much. The discomfort is distracting, obviously not good for safe riding. The only thing I can use for extended periods is cotton wool which reduces some wind noise but not much. According to the custom-made earplug people I have very small ear canals. Some time ago I bought some differently designed earplugs but due to lockdown & Winter, I just put them in a drawer & forgot about them. I rode the bike on Thursday for a couple of hours & thought I would try them out. So far so good! The noise blocking was effective and more importantly they were very comfortable to wear. They sit flat in the ear rather than inserted in the ear canal which is why they are probably more comfortable. https://www.happyears.co/uk/ In the photograph, the model has the stem of the plug horizontally but I found having it vertical pointing down to the bottom of the ear was more effective at reducing noise but still comfortable. Their customer service is excellent, they have answered my emails over the weekend promptly. So if you have had a problem finding comfortable earplugs, these could be the answer!

16-05-2021, 10:05 AM	#2
Kato Dismantled Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: East Molesey Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 2,222	Like you I'd always have to take earplugs & even in ear headphones out after a short while as find them painfully uncomfortable Before lockdown I'd got quite into clay shooting, and didn't like the big ear defenders started to use these foam ones https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cancelling-...%2C157&sr=8-12 Can wear them all day without a problem, don't always use when riding but they work just as well, and really easy to use under Helmet can easily forget you even have them in __________________ "Political correctness is just intellectual colonialism and psychological fascism for the creation of thought crime"

16-05-2021, 10:27 AM	#3
Flip Registered User Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Beachtown Bike: M900 Posts: 2,188	I’ve tried quite a few types over the years either through PPE at work, motorcycling or other loud sports and have found Moldex ‘Sparks’ to work best for me. They have the added bonus they can be bought in little storage cases to keep them clean. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/172408566963 I think for most people it will be a case of trial and error to see what’s comfortable unless you go for a custom moulded pair. __________________ You're perfect, yes, it's true- But without me you're only you!

16-05-2021, 10:47 AM	#4
Kato Dismantled Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: East Molesey Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 2,222	Those look the same type as I use Flip, just a different brand.. good stuff __________________ "Political correctness is just intellectual colonialism and psychological fascism for the creation of thought crime"

17-05-2021, 05:58 PM	#8
Jez900ie Pleasantly surprised! Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: Stoke on Trent Bike: M900ie Posts: 780	Aren't some brands of helmet more insulated than others which would help? __________________ Monsters don't hide under the bed, they sleep inside the shed

16-05-2021, 07:59 PM	#5
bigredduke Nothing to see here Join Date: May 2005 Location: brough Bike: M1100evo Posts: 1,546	I guess I'm just a sensitive kinda guy

16-05-2021, 08:40 PM	#6
madmac Registered User Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Stoke-on-Trent Bike: M821 Posts: 17	I got a set of custom ones moulded at the NEC bike show a few years ago. I wear them every time I ride and don't find them too uncomfortable, although it is nice to take them out after a long ride. Can't be certain of the company that did them, but these guys ring a bell: https://customfitguards.com/ I wouldn't dare ride without them now I have the Monster and Termis!

18-05-2021, 09:22 AM	#11
mickj Registered User Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Clevedon Bike: M1200s Posts: 554	Sportsbikeshop will accept helmets back for a full refund after several months as long as it's not been used on the road. So you buy the helmet and wear it around the house for a few days to see if it's the correct fit. I did this with an Arai a coupe of years ago, after watching a long film in it I found it was starting to get uncomfortable with a couple of pressure points above my forehead, I sent it back and replaced it with another model which didn't hurt after wearing it most of the day. I couldn't test it for noise out on my bike but I know that Arai's are not exactly quiet anyway. __________________ Keep the rubber side down. Mick

18-05-2021, 08:07 PM	#12
Pedro Ciao, come stai? Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Somewhere Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 4,157	3M foam disposable ear plugs for me, good noise reduction and comfortable I’ve got custom moulded for shooting and despite being told they will work under a crash hat they’re hideously uncomfortable __________________ M900 - 1993! Monster 1200R!

19-05-2021, 12:37 PM	#14
Mr Gazza Lord of the Rings Join Date: May 2013 Location: Norwich Bike: M900sie Posts: 5,806	Well you got me there, I'd never heard of a targus, so I googled it and found it is a make of laptop. I thought it would be rather unusual to shove a laptop in each lughole, so I kept going and found a lughole skin flapper called a tragus. That makes more sense. I never even knew I had a tragus and when I looked I actually have two!! I'm inspired to launch a range of scented candles called " My Tragus smells like this". I'd shove a banger in each one just for laughs.. If you guys think earplugs are uncomfortable, try getting used to wearing hearing aids! The first year is the hardest. I've never worn earplugs as I want to be sure I will hear any blues and twos. One advantage of hearing aids is that they have a threshold of volume that they deliver to the ear. I definitely find noisy things much noisier without them. So wind noise is tolerable and in theory won't damage my hearing further, and I can hear all I need to. The big plus about wearing a hearing aid in a helmet is that some helmets squash my large upper cartilaginous lug flapper (scientific name unknown!) against my skull and add to the pleasure of a painful lughole full of plastic... What joy! Pardon? __________________

19-05-2021, 02:30 PM	#15
bigredduke Nothing to see here Join Date: May 2005 Location: brough Bike: M1100evo Posts: 1,546	I thought 'Targus' was an album by Wishbone Ash on sale in Yorkshire