Ear Plugs? Opinions please...

[pritch]

I use the Alpine ear plugs,

I use Alpine too but also have some Leight brand foam plugs that I got from NZ Industrial Gases I think. They come with a little plastic tube container.

The Alpine take just a little getting used to, if you don't push them too far in they are comfortable and you can get them out again :-)

[Groins_NZ]

I use the Alpine ear plugs,I hate the foam jobs.With the Alpine plugs I can hear my exhaust,cars passing,sirens,people talking to me....and even my phone in my jacket - but they kill the wind noise.

Hey Motu - where do you get these 'Alpine' plugs from and what do they look like? Cheers.

I wear the expandable foam plugs, nearly all the time, unless I'm just going for a ride on some twisties and I really feel like listening to the engine :-). I'll use them for a few weeks and then bin them. I get a dozen packets or so from Mitre 10 when I need to as they only cost 40-50 cents here instead of $2+ at the Chemist.

I think they definitly help reduce the noise overall but I could do without the low frequency hum in my head created by wearing them.

Here is a good site explaining why it's a good idea to wear em while riding...
http://www.hondahornet.co.uk/earplug.html
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[boomer]

i've got the alpine ones as the arai helmet is noisey as buggery;
Very uncomfy to start with but i dont know i've got them in now. You can cut them down to size depending on your 'shape' and theyre supposed to cut the wind noise out; As said before you can still hear everything;

I noticed the rozza ping me tonight, it took him 2 blasts to get my attention but he managed to ping me for 77 in a 50 Now i just gotta await the ticket in the post

[TLDV8]

I'm thinking about getting ear plugs.
So if you wouldn't mind sharing your opinions on ear plugs thanks.

Sure ..i always have an opinion,here's my first one..anyone who doesn't wear ear plugs is crazy........ my job means i have had to wear hearing protection for 30 years..bikes are no different,you will go deaf over time without them if you are doing any mileage,the plugs (i only use 3M) will remove any harshness and you can still hear fine.The main thing is to put them in properly as per the instructions and let them settle/expand before putting your helmet on.Once you are used to them you are sweet. (imhofwiw)

[erik]

I use the cheap foam plugs. i've had problems in the past with my ears getting blocked with wax, i think due to the plugs pushing it further in. Lately I've taken to trimming the plugs so they don't go so far in, with a bit of luck it'll stop the wax building up in my ears.

[XP@]

Use them about 50% of the time Usually on longer rides or when I am heading in to the wind on the daily commute.

I'm forever accidentaly disposing of the good ones so I bought a box of about 200 pairs for the same price as a couple of good pairs from the local safety shop
Now i always have some, can give them away and dont mind getting rid of them accidentally.

[FEINT]

I have the soft foam ones. I also have a set of Sony MDR - EX71 ear buds that play MP3's. they do well cancelling road noise.

http://www.sonystyle.com/is-bin/INTE...FontopiaEarbud

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

Helps being deaf - I don't ride with hearing aids in!! lol

[What?]

I don't wear them, coz I can't. Any off the shelf earplugs give me big pain within a few minutes.
S'pose I could get some custom made...

[Highlander]

I have never tried ear plugs for riding, I use ear buds for the MP3 player it cancells out the windage to a fair degree.

I have ear plugs I use for sleeping during the day (being a shift worker) cost about $40 picked them up from a travel type shop. Supposed to be the business for international travel etc. Certainly helps when the neighbours are mowing lawns and the likes while I sleep.

BTW, opinions are like arm pits - everyone has them and most of them stink!!!

[Eurodave]

Yeah, I wear em on long trips,I arrive feeling A LOT less stressed. When you take them out after wearing them for a while its funny how loud & thrashy the bikes motor sounds & just how loud the wind noise was

[pritch]

Selective quote:

where do you get these 'Alpine' plugs from and what do they look like?

http://www.challengermotors.co.nz/

There is a (small) picture on the home page, the business is in Henderson.

[miSTa]

Apart from the commute to work I wear 3M 1100 foam earplugs all the time. I can wear these all day without any problem.

I've been meaning to get the Alpine plugs, there's even a place here in Chch that sells them.

[scumdog]

ALWAYS wear 'em on trips (except around town) and what a blessing they are, no loud hissing noise, no wind-roar and less stress and better hearing at the end of the trip.
Bike seems smoother too without the same amount of exhaust noise.

No problems with the cops. (Well I wouldn't, would I?)

[Highlander]

I read an article on the interweb that said it was ilegal in some of the US states on the basis that it would prevent you hearing sirens of emergency services.
Guess Kiwis are either more observant or have louder sirens.