Earplugs: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

[Gremlin]

So my bike is kinda loud... and wind noise means it mandatory unless you don't like your hearing. Except I often had the problem that the ear plug popped out, or at least lost its total block (using the alpine ones). So I made damn sure to block them in this arvo, on a ride.

The Good:
I got them in real good, and they never budged. Blocked out a lot of noise (ummm... including people ), but I don't think I lost any of my permanent hearing at all.

The Bad:
They were bloody impossible to get a grip on, to get back out again. Managed to get them out at a stop, and at home I had to resort to pliers to get one out.

The Ugly:
At home, straight away, my right ear was totally blocked with presumably wax, that had been shoved there. I had partial hearing in the left. After a shower, and sticking my ears under them, I lost all hearing in the left, but opened the right...

So now I have to book an appointment to have my ears syringed. This 5th of November was eerily quiet for me I might also attach a cord to the plugs, so I can pulll them out

Let this be a lesson... earplugs have pros and cons...

[stanko]

Getting your ears syringed is not much fun, try ringing a hearing place and make an appt to have the shit vaccumed out, costs about the same but less chance of infection ot damage.

[sAsLEX]

From left to right at the back
Rockets Earplug - reusable cord 4.27
Bilsom reuseable cord large 5.10
E.A.R push ins with grip rings 0.84

and in the front is the old 3M foam ones I used to use but found these gave me a headache after not long.

Initial fitting showed the Rockets most comfortable, with the bilsoms being a bit big(could try the small size) and the EAR ones being rather to large.

Advantages of the first two is they come with the little storage box for off the bike storage and are billed as reusable and can be cleaned between uses.

EDIT: Wrote that a while ago on another site and have been using the purple ones since on each ride even commuting, and of note is the lack of noise which lead to me constantly being quicker every where without that reference any longer, in far too hot in a few corners but gotten used to it now and find them very comfortable.

[ZeroIndex]

Getting your ears syringed is not much fun, try ringing a hearing place and make an appt to have the shit vaccumed out, costs about the same but less chance of infection ot damage.

totally agreed.. the wax woulda built up over the years and earplugs would've agrevated the condition.. the syringing hurts bad, and half the time doesn't even work half the time.. my right ear was blocked for over a week and it hurt like hell, and I went into one of those specialist places, and within 5 minutes, i had my hearing back

[skelstar]

I started having blocked ears and used some ear drops...this effectively sealed my ears completely and I was partial deaf in both ears for three days. I went to a BBQ during this period and essentially became a recluse. I feel socially withdrawn, it was awefull. It real does affect your mood/disposition. One visit to the nurse and everything was back to normal.

If anything I have found using earplugs everyday keeps your ears from blocking up. I use them maybe two days a week now and the ears are starting to bung up again.

[trumpy]

.. the syringing hurts bad, and half the time doesn't even work half the time..

Only if the person doing it lacks competence. Syringing should NOT hurt if done correctly and if the water is at the correct temperature it is normally very effective.

[Kflasher]

Hi, I've been using earplugs since my 2-stroke days almost 15yrs ago and have not looked back. Important to keep clean as an infection can occur. I also find I can 'feel' the engine (if that makes sense to you). There are plenty of brands out there, I have found a jell type plug to be the softest and easier to use.

[slimjim]

and a very well old used idea is "Blue Tac" yup straight up, and you also don't need to push the blue tac as deep as the standard ear plugs that are shown above, as you can mould the blue tac , and no it will not stick like paper or such, and yup its easly removed, "Pliers" far out dude,!

[Pixie]

From left to right at the back
Rockets Earplug - reusable cord 4.27
Bilsom reuseable cord large 5.10
E.A.R push ins with grip rings 0.84

.

I have found the rockets to be best for me.They do swell over time,but at < $5 who cares.
The most common problem with earplug performance is that many people don't know the correct technique to insert them.Get someone in a NZ Safety store to show you.
Rockets are made by Moldex,and they do foam plugs in packs of three,in a plastic container,for $ 1.50 At NZ Safety.
I've seen these for $13 in bike shops-beware of rip-offs

[bobsmith]

What would I look for to find these specialist places for ear? (don't know what they're called). I have an earwax problem and I have to get my ears syringed every year or sometimes more often... in Korea I used to always get it vacummed (never heard of this premitive syringing before I came to NZ) but I've just gotten it syriged here but with the history of ear infection it's not very ideal (It's already led to 2 seperate occations of outer ear infection)... any ideas?

[TLDV8]

As Pixie says,the biggest problem seems to be fitment.
Bikes or engineering,i have seen folk take the foam items out of the packet and simply sit them in the outer part of the ear like two antenna's which will do little.
Roll and fit them to the ear canal,flush not pushed in.They should be easy to remove....I find giving them a minute or so to expand and seat before putting your helmet on is best...Never had any discomfort which can come back to fitment perhaps.
Personal pick.... Orange 3M's or blue ELVEX,both cone shaped,cheap and easy to keep a few spare pair's in the jacket pocket.

[roogazza]

I have found the rockets to be best for me.They do swell over time,but at < $5 who cares.
The most common problem with earplug performance is that many people don't know the correct technique to insert them.Get someone in a NZ Safety store to show you.
Rockets are made by Moldex,and they do foam plugs in packs of three,in a plastic container,for $ 1.50 At NZ Safety.
I've seen these for $13 in bike shops-beware of rip-offs

Yeah pixie , second that , Rockets ! although they hurt my lugs if I ride for and hour or more. Might just be me or my ear/helmet combo ?

[ceebie13]

I use the beige cylindrical foam jobbies from most pharmacies. Never really had a problem with them other than the odd fall out if I havent waited long enough for them to expand in my earole. They are lovely and soft/maliable when warm but not too pleasant if stiff ... this is earplugs we are talking about here OK? ...furthermore Mrs CB and I use a rider-to-pillion intercom (Oxford Bikemate3) and we can hear each other beautifully even with ear plugs in. Since I started using plugs umpteen years ago, I find I cant bear to ride without them now. The CB with standard can will never attract the noise police so imagine what it's like with ear plugs in? Heaven!

[stanko]

Here is a contact in Wanganui that does this stuff 06-348-7980 Cheryl.
Give them a ring and find out if they do Palmy

[Swoop]

As Trumpy said, syringing should NOT be painful. The skill of the "health professional" is what is hurting.
Had mine done years ago and I had to put drops of Cerumoil in for several days beforehand to loosen my brain (or the wax).