Earplugs: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

**Gremlin** · 6th November 2006, 09:10

mmm cheers for the tips... I think the big problem was pushing them in further than normal, and probably dragged the bit of wax together...

I woke up this morning to find my right ear had blocked again

I have had some oil in the left, to loosen up my brain for the syringe. Dad has just had it done, and reckoned the people were real good.

On the bright side, I have no need for plugs at the moment

However, I can hardly hear a thing, and it was eerily quiet this morning, as I couldn't hear any road noise or anything, from outside.

**Freakshow** · 6th November 2006, 10:16

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I have had some oil in the left, to loosen up my brain for the syringe. Dad has just had it done, and reckoned the people were real good.

There is a hippy alternative the the Syringe and its called ear candeling. I havent needed it but have heard great things and its not painfull.

I ll ask my partner for more details and let you know if interested.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 6th November 2006, 10:24

Originally Posted by Freakshow

There is a hippy alternative the the Syringe and its called ear candeling. I havent needed it but have heard great things and its not painfull.

I ll ask my partner for more details and let you know if interested.

please please don't do this: its new age quackery of the worst kind

there are other sites, but check the wiki link for starters.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ear_candling

**Gremlin** · 6th November 2006, 13:13

err.... quackery ain't my thing, but cheers for the tip anyway.

Booked to have my brain remnants sucked out tomorrow afternoon. I just hope they succeed... I have to put the office phone on speaker phone, and then to my best ear, in order to hear the other person.

**Black Bandit** · 6th November 2006, 15:36

I use the cheapo orange plugs from Mitre 10. They only cost ~ 90c a pair and tend to last 2 - 3 weeks depending on how much riding I do. I just buy 5 pairs or sumin and they last me for a few of months. A little container would be a good thing - I like that idea. The best thing about them is that they're really soft - make for comfortable plugs even on long rides. The only thing I find is that I need to snip the last 2mm off the ends otherwise they sick out and rub against the helmet.

**lukelin250** · 6th November 2006, 16:57

from personnal experiance i tend to go with the rockets. then again this is biased considering i get them free at work lol

**Hitcher** · 6th November 2006, 17:09

I am a "rocket" man. They're great.

As for "ear candelling", I want to know who lies awake at night dreaming up all of this stuff, like iridology, homoeopathy, aromatherapy. I mean, for fuck's sake.

Some little voice will no doubt pipe up "But they work!" Bullshit. "Alternative medicine" my arse. Just because something is unscientific (albeit harmless) doesn't mean it should have to be considered (by the politically correct amongst us) to have equivalence to procedures and remedies that have withstood credible scientific analysis and peer review.

(Dismounts hobbyhorse)

**Ixion** · 6th November 2006, 17:20

like thalidomide ?

**lukelin250** · 6th November 2006, 17:23

(i cant stand to see your thalidomide robot face) slipknot-slipping away

**limbimtimwim** · 6th November 2006, 17:50

I use the 3M ones. I got a box of 200 pairs for not a hell of a lot. I only use them for one day and never reuse them after that. They are very good. If I ride for whole day without them, I feel like shit afterwards. If I ride with them for a whole day with them in, no problem.

I have no problem with my ears gooping up. I suggest anyone with gooping up problems buy a big box of the disposable ones and try them for awhile. I figure the reusable ones get dirty every time you touch them, and ear wax is the ears' natural response to the small amounts of stuff (Food, dust, chain lube (In my case) and general crap) that you will be transporting into your ear everytime you put in an earplug.

So that is the easiest way of having a clean one, unless you clean your earplugs every day of course.

**Hitcher** · 6th November 2006, 17:51

Originally Posted by Ixion

like thalidomide ?

Thalidomide is making a comeback as a treatment for leprosy and some forms of cancer, but not as a cure for morning sickness (against which it was particularly effective, by the way).

**greenman** · 6th November 2006, 19:04

I've used nearly every type of earplug there is because my ear canal is tiny.
The Alpines are the best so far, but I had to cut them down to make them fit.
The foam type can take too long to expand, and on a hot day they expand too fast.
I've tried the natural wax/cotton type, but they fell out after about 10 minutes. These are really for shooters though.

The 3M type, too fiddly to fit correctly with a helmet. And too big for me.

I've had the most success with cutting down the soft rubber types that are available, but over time I notice that they go hard and get really painful.

**Kendog** · 6th November 2006, 19:17

I'm with you greenman, small ear canals, also have a baby helmet so have to trim the hell out of them, but am finding the Alpine ones great so far (should do for the price!)
Mrs KD.

**roogazza** · 6th November 2006, 19:24

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Thalidomide is making a comeback as a treatment for leprosy and some forms of cancer, but not as a cure for morning sickness (against which it was particularly effective, by the way).

I knew it , you're pregnant !!!!!! ?????