Ear Plugs

[Keystone19]

I have a minor problem that is nagging me. I have been unable to find a set of ear plugs that are comfortable. The main problem seems to be that I have a small head (I know, I know, many would argue that the opposite is true) but the result is that I therefore have relatively small ears. Anyway, I find that after about 10 minutes of wearing plugs I develop an irritating ear ache that after about an hour is unbearably painful and I have to remove the plugs. It takes about 2 days for the pain to settle down and allow me to wear the plugs again.

I have tried as many brands as I have been able to find and the best so far have been the soft plugs they had for sale at the Paeroa street race but I haven't been able to find them again.

Does anyone have any other suggestions for small ears?

[crashe]

Buy Kids earplugs...

or get them made to fit... could be a tad costly but worth it since you are gonna be racing heaps now.

Yungatart had some made for Hxc

[Karma]

General concensus seems to be to get some custom made ones that are molded to your ear or something...

I used to have to wear plugs for my job for a year a while back, just takes a knack to get them in there, and after a while they get quite natural, and I'd end up getting in the car and driving halfway home wondering why the sterio wasn't as loud as before...

[vifferman]

Many chemist shops have quite a range of earplug types and sizes available. They are dearer than the safety places though.
Also, I think you can buy trial packs (at least you can overseas) that have a variety of shapes, types and sizes so you can find out what suits.
The other alternative is to get custom ear moulds made. I think the hearing clinics at hospitals do these.

[SwanTiger]

I brought some from Mt. Eden Motorcycles the other day, there werre four in a small oval like container. They are brilliant. Shorter and much more fitting and would probably suite your "small ears".

Failing that, as Crashe suggested get kids ones. Or there is a method you can use by tucking them in which I have to do with my little girl when we take her to races.

[Kendog]

Hey Keystone, have you tried the ones that are mouldable, they feel like ear wax, but are pinky-white and kinda moist, but they seal the ear without actually having to shove much of it into your ear canal. They come in two pairs with a little white carry container and look like tiny tampons (without tow rope) until you squish them and mould them. Sorry I can't be more helpful enough to give you the name, as it was a while ago I bought them, but I got them from the chemist and I think they may be swimming ear plugs. Good luck, I know the pains of having a small head, having to wear a childs XS helmet.
Mrs KD

[sAsLEX]

Kiwi off the site http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/member.php?u=36

make customs ones, look at the website in his profile

[DemonWolf]

Keystone19 I would recommend going to a ear specialist and have your ear's checked out. Perhaps you shouldn't be wearing ear-plugs at all.. getting your ear's checked out would be the way to go.. because if your earing is damaged there's little that doctors can do to repair it.

oh.. and they should be able to recommend what if any ear-plugs for you to use... good luck in sorting your problem out.

[Keystone19]

Good luck, I know the pains of having a small head, having to wear a childs XS helmet.
Mrs KD

Hehe, yep, I even tried the HJC junior helmets and they were too small...the only one in the country that fits is a SHOEI XXS and that only comes in black in the Raid II!

I like the idea of the ones that sit in the exterior of the ear like you suggest Kendog but the last ones I tried just kept falling out and I ended up having to mould them in and ended up with the same problem. Maybe I should have tried some sellotape to make them stick.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Anyone know anywhere in Auckland I can enquire about getting some made.

[Keystone19]

Thanks Saslex and Demonwolf, you just answered my last question.

Yeah, I already have some hearing loss from explosive use in my younger days so do need to be careful.

[T.W.R]

Hoppe's make shooters earplugs in junior sizes. A good firearms store should have them or be able to get them for you

[NinjaBoy]

for sale at the Paeroa street race but I haven't been able to find them again.



The multi-coloured ones at Paeroa I use and got them from the NZ Safety shop. Far cheaper there than a Chemist (approx 50c a pair).

Maybe you can shave the soft moulded ones to size

[Reno]

Check out this website. www.elacin.co.nz

They create a mould from your ear e canal and fabricate them from that. I'm looking at getting a pair soon. They are $270+gst a pair so a bit pricey but the noise I'm subject to at work they're worth it.

[Fatjim]

There are many differnt sizes and ratings. I've gone to a very soft type that are very comfortable.
Are you coming the the trackday this weekend Keystone?
I'll bring a spare pair up for you to try.


Tips for earplugs.

Firstly roll it between your fingers to squash it before insertion.
Pulling down on earlobe can make insertion a whole lot easier.
Try to relieve suction before slowly removing.
Don;t let them get wet or too dirty to avoid infections.

[Keystone19]

Yep, I'll be at the Track day Fatjim - thanks.

Reno, they sound really good, I had a flick through the website. But as you say very expensive! Definitely worth thinking about though.

[Lou Girardin]

Hehe, yep, I even tried the HJC junior helmets and they were too small...the only one in the country that fits is a SHOEI XXS and that only comes in black in the Raid II!


There's an XXS XR1000 too.
Have you tried Alpine Ear plugs?

[Keystone19]

There's an XXS XR1000 too.
Have you tried Alpine Ear plugs?

I haven't tried Alpine that I'm aware of, are they particularly good?

When I tried to get an XXS XR1000 I was told there were none available from the distributor? Perhaps it was just at the time I made the enquiry and they do bring them in occasionally.

[Toast]

Check out this website. www.elacin.co.nz

They create a mould from your ear e canal and fabricate them from that. I'm looking at getting a pair soon. They are $270+gst a pair so a bit pricey but the noise I'm subject to at work they're worth it.

Just called the guy now. He quoted me $210+GST for some of their BioFit plugs. That includes fitting and later testing to see if they're working properly for you.

[ManDownUnder]

Ring Audiology Associates (627 2105).

I don't 100% know if they can help, but I got my hearing tested there a while back and the audiologist really impressed me.

[Gremlin]

I haven't tried Alpine that I'm aware of, are they particularly good?
I have some apline ones from Lou. They are designed for wind noise and block the associated frequencies, and aim to allow you to continue hearing voices etc. They look like a mushroom, with two flaps as such, that aim to seal the ear, the advantage of them being much softer, and not prone to expanding.

On the odd occasion, one might slip out, but it makes a huuuuge difference in wind noise when they work. You get green and yellow filters, with yellow filtering out more noise. I went straight to that, so have no idea how much difference between the two grades there is.

I tried the foam ones from Mt Eden, but found them totally useless, with either one or both slowly expanding, and pushing themselves out of my ears.

[madmal64]

Ive been using the Alpine ones for about 2 weeks now & I have found them far better than the foam mouldable ones.
At $50 a pair they are not cheap but its probably one of the best $50 I have spent as far as riding is concerned.
I was looking around to find someone in Welly to custom make me a pair but thought I would try these 1st. Dont think I will be going on with the custom made ones.

[The Pastor]

Keystone,


Get some soft foam ear plugs from the safty shop, I have orange ones and they are narrower at one end, then roll them like a ciggy (but with more pressure to squish it reall small - at the narrow end) and quickly place in your ear - put them in as far as they can go, then hold the plug into your ear for 10/20 seconds so it will expand and stay in your ear, you can buy 200 of them for 90 bucks, best ear plugs ever. (there disposable)

[Pixie]

Don't stuff around with the chemist or bike shops they have limited choice and 1000% mark up
Go to Protector Safety or NZ Safety stores.

And when your cat eats them,you won't have to worry about $ 50 turning into cat shit

[Motu]

I wear my Alpine's mowing the lawn and driving my van.The van is hell of a noisy,and if I'm in it for any length of time (like driving home) it effects my hearing.With the Alpine earplugs I can drive in peace and quiet and even hear the radio!

[Pixie]

Keystone,


Get some soft foam ear plugs from the safty shop, I have orange ones and they are narrower at one end, then roll them like a ciggy (but with more pressure to squish it reall small - at the narrow end) and quickly place in your ear - put them in as far as they can go, then hold the plug into your ear for 10/20 seconds so it will expand and stay in your ear, you can buy 200 of them for 90 bucks, best ear plugs ever. (there disposable)
The main trick is to pull your ear up and back to open the ear canal

[Pixie]

Ive been using the Alpine ones for about 2 weeks now & I have found them far better than the foam mouldable ones.
At $50 a pair they are not cheap but its probably one of the best $50 I have spent as far as riding is concerned.
I was looking around to find someone in Welly to custom make me a pair but thought I would try these 1st. Dont think I will be going on with the custom made ones.
Moldex reusable silicone plugs are as good as Alpines, for $5.00

[Pixie]

These ones: Rockets code 6405
http://www.nzsafety.co.nz/servlet/Srv.Ecos_Main_Frame?AI=jn5wClQucYJMPnJC&CMD=PRD&P1=6405&P2=LIST

[sAsLEX]

Yep, I'll be at the Track day Fatjim - thanks.

Reno, they sound really good, I had a flick through the website. But as you say very expensive! Definitely worth thinking about though.

umm kiwi , the guy off here is considerably cheaper

Custom made earplugs

Appointment necessary



Standard

Colour: rose-transparent
permanently elastic silicone, addition curing, final hardness 60 Shore A


Order No. : 06.02.01.01 Price : NZ$ 60.00

[sAsLEX]

I wear my Alpine's mowing the lawn and driving my van.The van is hell of a noisy,and if I'm in it for any length of time (like driving home) it effects my hearing.With the Alpine earplugs I can drive in peace and quiet and even hear the radio!

The air intake for my Suzuki truck is punched back through the fire wall into the cabin so "cruising" at 100 is rather loud as well, might go try these cheap ones pixie links to.

[Lou Girardin]

I haven't tried Alpine that I'm aware of, are they particularly good?

When I tried to get an XXS XR1000 I was told there were none available from the distributor? Perhaps it was just at the time I made the enquiry and they do bring them in occasionally.

I like them.

The XR1000 is a stock line.

[Lou Girardin]

And when your cat eats them,you won't have to worry about $ 50 turning into cat shit

Smart bastid. At least I don't have to drink possum shit.

[Pixie]

Smart bastid. At least I don't have to drink possum shit.
:killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme :killingme

[jim.cox]

What sort of plugs are you using? You should not be feeling sore.

I've got a BIG box of foam plugs fromn Protector Safety. Happy to send some for you to try, if you just tell us where to send them

There is a proper technique to putting them in

Cheers

Jim

=mjc=
.

[Mr Skid]

I already have some hearing loss from explosive use in my younger daysI think this would be a far more interesting topic than ear plugs..

[Ixion]

,, explosive use in my younger days so do need to be careful.

Cool. (Explosives, not hearing loss). Can you get hold of dynamite ? Or Semtex, even better? You could be in line to be a Heroine of the Peoples' Revolution.

[Keystone19]

Cool. (Explosives, not hearing loss). Can you get hold of dynamite ? Or Semtex, even better? You could be in line to be a Heroine of the Peoples' Revolution.

Well, I used to be able to, but I cut my hair and got a real job about 10 years ago so my access to the tools of the revolution is now somewhat limited.

The story is not very exciting really, just potentially dangerous at times - avalanche control is a real buzz!

[Pixie]

Cool. (Explosives, not hearing loss). Can you get hold of dynamite ? Or Semtex, even better? You could be in line to be a Heroine of the Peoples' Revolution.
make your own

[myvice]

Try Macks Earplugs, got them from a chemist some time ago for my son, like pliable silicone... I just use the standed foam ones but some are more comfortable than others. Am now using 3M 1100 ones, and have had to use them for industrial use (8-9 hours at a time) with no problems.
PM me your address and I'll send a couple of packs out.

[jrandom]

The main problem seems to be that I have a small head...

"Tha' girl's head's laahk Sputnik!"

[Edit: And she needs to eat more pies.]

[WINJA]

nz safety and protector safety sell those disposable one you want, i dont think your prob is size related but a reaction to the preasure , i dont wear them on a bike cause the fuck up my balance , if you really think there to big trim an arc off them length wise till they are the size you like

[Big Dave]

You can borrow my tongue.:bleh:

Try having some moulded ones made.
I prefer an iPod on 11.

[SlowHand]

Well, I used to be able to, but I cut my hair and got a real job

George Thorogood is the new Anthony Robbins!!

[Oakie]

At the risk of sounding dodgy, ... to ensure the best insertion you should also open your mouth while you insert. Opens up the ear canal and equalises pressure I believe. Yes it looks a bit strange but it does work.

I use tapered green plugs from the local hardware supplier at about 70c a pair.

[Big Dave]

At the risk of sounding dodgy, ...


Under that avatar! No risk.

[bell]

http://www.earmold.com.au/content/view/25/39/

Saw an ad for these in two wheels mag recently. Emailed the guy and they have an agent in Ashburton and might have been one in Welly (??? sorry, email has since vanished and my memory is not what it should be...positive about the one in Ashburton though.)
They come with 3.5mm plugs so will fit most ipod, mp3 type devices. I'm planning to get a pair made when I go back to Oz in July. Hazy on prices though....somewhere in the $200-250 range? I'll repost something once I've used them for a while.