Custom ear plugs

[SVboy]

When Plugs4Lugs came to chch for the Bike racing, I promised I would do the sensible thing, and get plugs, but due to a ride out on the planned day and severe procrastination the next day, it didnt happen. I thought the appropriate punishment would just be to get deaf[er] or cut my ears off, and send them to Plugs4lugs, but both would have been self defeating.
At the Woodstock rally,the wonderful Schrek produced some lime green custom plugs and brochures for a ChCh agent. I was so in!
The Company is Auricle/Joy Hammond- joybar@paradise.net.nz. Joy comes to you, does her fitting, goes away to fit and seal these things and comes back to you for final checking and instructions. I was and am most impressed with the service and product. Mine cost $70 with a cord, and come with a handy wee pouch. Apparently the silicon is dipped in a sealer to prevent discoloration etc.
I am still getting used to them, but they do make a big difference. They are easy to fit once you practice the technique. Highly recommended.

[onearmedbandit]

How do they compare to normal earplugs? I use the foam ones you buy for 99c at Placemakers, and they make a world of difference. So much so that I simply will not ride without them now (ok, yes I would if I had to, but I've always got a pair on me). So, how much better are they for 70 times the price?

[Nasty]

I have some from Plugz for Lugz and they are great .. .they fit my ears .. and don't stick out ... normal ones you buy over the counter I found didn't stop a lot of the noise ... so I am happy with my set.

[NZsarge]

I have some from Plugz for Lugz and they are great .. .they fit my ears .. and don't stick out ... normal ones you buy over the counter I found didn't stop a lot of the noise ... so I am happy with my set.

Ditto for the above, the only thing I find mildly annoying is the way they insist on coming out when I take my helmet off (most often falling to the ground and bouncing all over the place) but other than that they're sweet as, might even plump up for some wired ones at some stage.

[onearmedbandit]

Should add before someone points it out that I realise the p4l ones are reuseable. I get probably about 3 weeks out of a set of foam ones, so that would get me roughly 4yrs of use for my $70. In which time I'd probably lose the $70 ones. I've found the foam ones, rolled up tightly and twisted into your ear block out a tremendous amount of noise. So considering I value my hearing, are the p4l ones that much better. (I know, I know, I should try them myself, but that doesn't look like an option so am asking others opinions.)

[Nasty]

Should add before someone points it out that I realise the p4l ones are reuseable. I get probably about 3 weeks out of a set of foam ones, so that would get me roughly 4yrs of use for my $70. In which time I'd probably lose the $70 ones. I've found the foam ones, rolled up tightly and twisted into your ear block out a tremendous amount of noise. So considering I value my hearing, are the p4l ones that much better. (I know, I know, I should try them myself, but that doesn't look like an option so am asking others opinions.)

I value what I have lost a lot of ... so the rest I want to keep ... i.e. my hearing ... the p4l ones I have found have that fit about them .. I can still hear the Grub over the intercom system we have .. and it seems to block out a huge amount of the wind and road noise .. I can still get the drift of what my engine is up to in the background - is that what you are after?

[onearmedbandit]

Yeah it is Nasty, thanks for that. It seems to be pretty much the same as what I get with carefully applied foam ear plugs, and knowing my history of putting things somewhere and forgetting about them, I'll stick with the cheap and readily available foam ones.

[Pwalo]

From memory the foam ear plugs that you buy from the bike shops/Placemakers did very well in the test that Ride magazine did some time back.

The only disadvantage is that they're not really washable.

[onearmedbandit]

Good to know, thanks. Clean fingers are important when rolling them up, and keeping your ears clean as well.

[NZsarge]

Should add before someone points it out that I realise the p4l ones are reuseable. I get probably about 3 weeks out of a set of foam ones, so that would get me roughly 4yrs of use for my $70. In which time I'd probably lose the $70 ones. I've found the foam ones, rolled up tightly and twisted into your ear block out a tremendous amount of noise. So considering I value my hearing, are the p4l ones that much better. (I know, I know, I should try them myself, but that doesn't look like an option so am asking others opinions.)

I think they are more effective at reducing noise that roll up earplugs. Rollies are generally rated at grade 2 where as properly made customs are grade 4 or 5 I think so there's the story (don't quote me/check with P4L).
Personally I find that the rollies irritate my ears where as my P4L's don't really, I certainly dont regret buying P4L earplugs.

[Grub]

How do they compare to normal earplugs? I use the foam ones you buy for 99c at Placemakers,?

I couldn't find my Plugz Lugz last night for the Wednesday Night ride and so used my foam ones. The foam ones are twice as noisy as the Plugz! I hadn't realised just how much better the fitted ones are.

From memory the foam ones are rated at 24db and the Plugz at 45db so that's a huge difference - and quantifiable. As nasty says, the intercom still works fine but the wind noise has gone totally, it just doesn't exist.

No fatigue on long trips from noise and no ringing in the ears after a ride. Once lost, hearing can not be "repaired". Best money on gear I ever spent.

[skelstar]

I wear some grade 4 plugs (from work) which are great, but in about 3-4 days of use the get a bit tricky to insert properly. I would get the P4L ones if I knew they were at least as good. I sleep with ear-plugs in too.

[Number One]

I sleep with ear-plugs in too.

Is someone a snorer...:chase:

[skelstar]

The flat mate's dog in the next room for a start.

Used to live on the road going out of Stokes Vegas (three houses from the exit). EVER boy racer and petrol used to drive my house every morning. It was very noisy.

[YLWDUC]

I think they are more effective at reducing noise that roll up earplugs. Rollies are generally rated at grade 2 where as properly made customs are grade 4 or 5 I think so there's the story (don't quote me/check with P4L).
Personally I find that the rollies irritate my ears where as my P4L's don't really, I certainly dont regret buying P4L earplugs.

Is there any point buying grade 2 earplugs? The roll up ones we use at work are a class 5 (grade/class?) and give around 30dB reduction

[CookMySock]

with roll-up earplugs, roll them tightly them quickly put some spit on them and the damn things slide way way way in with just a little push. Takes a couple of pinches with fingernails to get them out, and they work better and dont fall out. Taste yuck tho, ew..
:doh:

DB

[skelstar]

Kinda gross but eap plugs keep your ears clean, and after the initial period theres no 'wax taste' to the plugs. People get grossed out but its fine.

[SVboy]

How do they compare to normal earplugs? I use the foam ones you buy for 99c at Placemakers, and they make a world of difference. So much so that I simply will not ride without them now (ok, yes I would if I had to, but I've always got a pair on me). So, how much better are they for 70 times the price?

Yes--I went from no protection[and my hearing started dripping out the bottom of the helmet!]-followed by Bunnings rollups[very average, but better than nothing]to these plugs. Huge difference! Last night I went on the Akaroa GP and took my plugs out over the hill[just to compare]. It was like WW2 and left me in no doubt as to the damage I have already done!! I had a cord put in my plugs so when I stop, they just loop over my neck-harder to misplace.

[Mr Triple]

When Plugs4Lugs came to chch for the Bike racing, I promised I would do the sensible thing, and get plugs, but due to a ride out on the planned day and severe procrastination the next day, it didnt happen. I thought the appropriate punishment would just be to get deaf[er] or cut my ears off, and send them to Plugs4lugs, but both would have been self defeating.
At the Woodstock rally,the wonderful Schrek produced some lime green custom plugs and brochures for a ChCh agent. I was so in!
The Company is Auricle/Joy Hammond- joybar@paradise.net.nz. Joy comes to you, does her fitting, goes away to fit and seal these things and comes back to you for final checking and instructions. I was and am most impressed with the service and product. Mine cost $70 with a cord, and come with a handy wee pouch. Apparently the silicon is dipped in a sealer to prevent discoloration etc.
I am still getting used to them, but they do make a big difference. They are easy to fit once you practice the technique. Highly recommended.


She's coming over tomorrow avo to take a mould of my ears.
So it be all good once done I hope. Shrek thought they were the bees nees and now you svboy so that will do me:done:

[onearmedbandit]

Thanks to those who gave their opinion on them. They sound like no matter what everyone is happy with them, maybe something I will look into. Cheers.

[Ghost_Bullet]

Gunna just say that they are awesome, as others have said. I used foam type ones to date with a string on. Problem was the string would catch wind noise, and the plugs felt like they were drilling inwards trying to get to each other by the end of a ride, or when putting helmet on, one would fall part or all the way out.
Got the Plugz ones a few weeks back. Went for a 2000km(over 4days) ride not to long ago, and wore all the time, super comfort for the whole distance.

Money well spent...;)

[CookMySock]

umm, are people wearing hearing protection from the wind noise or the noisy exhaust ?

DB

[Nasty]

umm, are people wearing hearing protection from the wind noise or the noisy exhaust ?

DB

Personally .. I don't have a noisey exhaust ... so for the wind and such ... but if I had a noisey exhaust I would wear them!!

[skelstar]

umm, are people wearing hearing protection from the wind noise or the noisy exhaust ?
Wind noise. Read a while ago that wearing ear plugs is one of the best ways to improve your riding.

[onearmedbandit]

umm, are people wearing hearing protection from the wind noise or the noisy exhaust ?

DB

Wind noise only. The noise from the pipe doesn't bother me, but wind noise is an (ear) killer.

[CookMySock]

thanks. hrm my wind noise isnt horrific at the speed limit or slightly above, and I have a cheapo FFM helmet.. odd. My ears are a bit rewted tho. shrug.

But I like the bit about improving my riding... what is the theory behind this ?

DB

[skelstar]

From memory its about your senses not being assaulted by noise and you can concentrate better.

I know that if I don't have my plugs in just right my bike sounds like its running rough/badly, and it affects my riding.

[Warr]

I have had a set for a while and still use the "spark-plugs" from NZ Safety.
Why? you ask .. well
My Plugs4Lugs sit by my bed and are real good if the neighbours dog is barking, or the rain is falling real hard and making alot of noise
BUT under a helmet - forget it. Perhaps my head is so swollen my ears distort too much ? Or perhaps not, but they will not seal and hence they miss out on my enjoyable noise reduced riding pleasure.

The Rowlsy's modified my original set a couple of times and went to the extent of supplying a new set but the problem remains.
So After Sales response = good. Product = ???

[TerminalAddict]

rhombic dodecahedron for a head :D

[Mr Triple]

Should get mine on monday, so I'll have to go for a ride to find out how they go.:yes: I'll let you all know the out come:soon:

[NinjaNanna]

Yeah it is Nasty, thanks for that. It seems to be pretty much the same as what I get with carefully applied foam ear plugs, and knowing my history of putting things somewhere and forgetting about them, I'll stick with the cheap and readily available foam ones.


My experience with the custom fit ear plugs has been good. For me they are worth every cent mostly because I could never get the reusable ones to stay in my right ear (left was always fine)

In my experience the disposable one's are just as good for noise isolation but the custom ones are so much faster to put in. It takes me less than 10secs to insert the custom ones where as the disposable ones I could dick around with for 2mins and still not get the one in my right ear seated properly.

[Sanx]

I have had a set for a while and still use the "spark-plugs" from NZ Safety.
Why? you ask .. well
My Plugs4Lugs sit by my bed and are real good if the neighbours dog is barking, or the rain is falling real hard and making alot of noise
BUT under a helmet - forget it. Perhaps my head is so swollen my ears distort too much ? Or perhaps not, but they will not seal and hence they miss out on my enjoyable noise reduced riding pleasure.

The Rowlsy's modified my original set a couple of times and went to the extent of supplying a new set but the problem remains.
So After Sales response = good. Product = ???

Same problem I had with the P4L units. Great on their own, but under a helmet, the sound attenuation dropped markedly. The foam ones don't require your ear to be in the same position all the time; the P4L ones do. I was going to get them modified next time I saw the guys, but I think I lost them last time I was at Puke, whilst rushing off to see my father in hospital after he'd just thrown my Blade down the track. :doh:

[TerminalAddict]

seems like a common issue .. under a helmet is no so good

[ipod1098]

seems like a common issue .. under a helmet is no so good

+1
That,s $220! for no good... f**k that!!!
How about refund

[Horse]

I bought a pair of (bright orange) Plugs 4 Lugz from Sue at Manfeild yesterday. Great service from them (I was working and only had a very short time window to get the moulding done) and the plugs certainly worked well while I was at Manfeild. But I haven't had a chance to test them under a helmet on the bike yet - will report back when I've given them a decent trial.

[NinjaNanna]

A Couple of people have reported that they have had problems with the earplug's seal breaking while under their helmet.

I initially had this problem as well - BUT P4L were sensational at getting it sorted for me. When I say sensational I mean they gave me a free pass to Big Boys Toys in Auckland just so I could visit them to have the problem rectified.

The one piece of advice that I have is, insist that they trim the earplug right back as far as they dare, so that it is not protruding past your ear in the slightest. This is exactly what the bossman from Australia did with mine and they are now fantastic.

Actually I have 2 pieces of advice, if circumstances allow I advise that you ride your bike to the fitting, that way you can road test them immediately and if you have any problems Grant and Sue can sort it straight away.

Oh yeah on another note I have found that these plugs are really good when flying (unfortunately I can't afford proper noise cancelling headphones)