Which ear plugs?

[p.dath]

I see quite a few bikers using ear plugs, so I thought I might give some a try to see what difference they make.

So I went into the local chemist to pick some up, and then I ran into trouble. They had at least 6 different kinds, all with different levels of dB suppression, some seemed to be graded as well. And I was overwhelmed for choice.

What level of protection (as in grade of dB suppression) do you use on:

• The track
• The road

[Mom]

I use my fingers.

[Maki]

Cheap ones with a high db attenuation. No need to agonize over a db here or there or road vs track....

[Jonno.]

Go to mitre ten or bunnings.
I'd get either mouldex (yellow pack) or 3m (red and white pack), or you can get some on a string which are reuseable (for a while..).
The ones I use in construction are grade 4 (I think).

[erik]

I recommend either Mouldex Spark Plugs or Bilsom X-treme foam earplugs, both available from NZ Safety.
I think they're both class 5, quieter than the 3M 1100 ear plugs. They're slighty different material and sizes, so try them both to see which suits you better. I recommend them over the custom moulded $75 earplugs I got too, for me the moulded earplugs aren't as quiet particularly under a helmet, they seem to let a lot of wind noise/rumble through.

[Warr]

What above said NZ Safety. Great range and good price. I get their "Sparkplug" ones.

[Nutter34]

Sparkplugs...

[sunhuntin]

how do people find plugz for lugz? im looking at getting a pair of their stereo plugs for the ipod, but at $220, i want to see what other people think of them. my current earphones are $2 POS and i have to have them really loud to hear anything, even at 50k. which means ive got ringing when i hop off.

[Warr]

Sparkplugs...

Yup .. Not a very flash photo !

[James Deuce]

how do people find plugz for lugz? im looking at getting a pair of their stereo plugs for the ipod, but at $220, i want to see what other people think of them. my current earphones are $2 POS and i have to have them really loud to hear anything, even at 50k. which means ive got ringing when i hop off.

Stop doing that right now.

You have already irrevocably damaged your hearing. That ringing is the sound of your hearing being permanently damaged. It can't be fixed.

Most helmets used without earplugs at motorway speeds are well over maximum industrial noise limits.

[Maki]

Stop doing that right now.

You have already irrevocably damaged your hearing. That ringing is the sound of your hearing being permanently damaged. It can't be fixed.

Most helmets used without earplugs at motorway speeds are well over maximum industrial noise limits.

+1 If you use earphones to drown out a noise that is already too loud you are probably permanently damaging your ears.

[Jonno.]

You could try mounting headphones (not earbuds) in your helmet. Then you could put earplugs in aswell. At $220 you'd gotta be pretty careful

Anyway: at about 50 cents per pair of plugs you could buy all six and test them.

[sunhuntin]

Stop doing that right now.

You have already irrevocably damaged your hearing. That ringing is the sound of your hearing being permanently damaged. It can't be fixed.

Most helmets used without earplugs at motorway speeds are well over maximum industrial noise limits.

which is why i was looking at plugz for lugz. the $2 jobbies are only a temp fix. i did have dse in ear ones, which worked a treat but had very poor wiring construction. i went through 2 pairs due to wiring inside not working anymore. i hardly had to have them on to be able to hear at 100k. worked awesome. i figure the plugz ones would be better due to being designed to fit that particular ear, resulting in better noise reduction, resulting in lower volume requirements.

buzz, how would i go about mounting them? ive got an open face lid, so the wind noise is louder than it would be otherwise. plus the helmet itself isnt the flashest model out... its about 5 years old.

[Maki]

Earphones I can reccomend 100%, for use when you are not on the bike are Sony EX90, modded in the following way:

"Picture of mine, gutted and with the kidney shaped openings filled with silicone sink sealer. I left the centre hole open."

The pic is gone, sorry but you get the idea:
http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f103/s...64/index7.html

[davebullet]

Use ear plugs... otherwise you'll turn your "ear canal" into a "far canal"!

I use Ear buddies with the max attenuation insert for all riding and commuting. My hearing is already too fire trucked to risk losing any more. I can't recall the level of attenuation.