Use ear plugs and ride safer.

[DougB]

The writing below on earplugs was posted in the trader part of this forum in October and has been looked at by only about 500 members. I found it very interesting and informative so I have copied part of the post and reproduced it here. My wife is now happier about me using ear plugs after reading this.
PM'd the writer on another ear related matter an got a very informative reply.
I gather that the writer practiced in England and saw the light and came to NZ.

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Firstly, some facts about me:

• I have been a qualified Audiologist for over 20 years
• I have been making custom made earplugs for over 22 years
• I have taken over 50,000 impressions in my career
• I have made the smallest set of plugs ever (about the size of your finger nail)
• I have made earplugs for senior members of the royal family
• I have made earplugs for F1 drivers and Super Bike riders
• I have been using custom made earplugs while bike riding for 21 years

Some general facts about earplugs (all types):

• They reduce sound by blocking the ‘air conduction’ through the ear canal
• They do not reduce sound that travels through the body (‘bone conduction’)
• There is a physical maximum reduction by bocking the ear – and it varies according to what measurement scale used (i.e. NRR 33dB, PFreq 46dB, NB mean 30dB, SB mean 35dB etc etc – it goes on and on…)
• Most sound is heard through ‘conduction’ of sound through the body
• High tones lose their ‘power’ more easily when they meet an object, so earplugs reduce high tones more than low tones
• Special filters can redress this balance by allowing more high tones in
• Speech can still be understood fairly well with earplugs as low tones are not reduced so much, and low tones carry the ‘meaning’ in speech whereas high tones carry the ‘quality’ of speech
• The annoying noise when riding is caused by the compressed air passing around the ‘corners’ of a helmet i.e. the base pads.
• The peak frequency of the annoying noise is 6kHz
• Coincidently blocking the ears reduces 6kHz more than other frequencies
• This means a better signal-to-noise ratio, hence it is EASIER to hear horns, sirens etc with earplugs IN (above 60kph that is, else you get the opposite effect)• By reducing ambient noise the brain is able to ‘concentrate’ more on other tasks. Significant empirical evidence exists to show that riding skills are greater when earplugs are worn (One of my Super Bike customers said he would refuse to race if he didn’t have his earplugs in as his performance would be compromised)
• IMHO bike engines sound better with earplugs in – more meaty low tones.

[davebullet]

This month's Bike rider magazine recommends the following:
http://www.earbuddies.co.nz/
(contributors to the mag claim they've been using them for years... I presume they can all still hear)

I plan on trying some as well as visiting a safety specialist to see what they have on offer (ie. NZ Safety).

Cheers,
Dave.

[zeocen]

I have had EarBuddies for nearly half a year now I think. They are my ticket to the world. I can hear my beautiful engine note and even walk into the service stations that let me wear my helmet, with earplugs in, and still be able to hear them. I can usually make out what other bikers say to me at the lights with the earplugs in also.

I suspect custom ear plugs would be far greater comfort but for bang for buck I can't recommend the 'Alpine' range enough. It has variable DB killer inserts but I've only ever used the 'loudest' as that is quiet enough for me.

If you don't want to fork out for custom molds then EarBuddies is definitely the way to go, would recommend them without hesitation.

[Blackshear]

I just nab a couple packets of foam plugs from work every so often for my jacket pockets.
The difference is amazing the first time you use them.

[Owl]

Aye?

[hang0ver]

I totally agree...

I wasn't using them for shorter trips, but now I am. Greatly reduces ear fatigue, and as I work in a sound-related industry that is really important.

I also find that I ride harder with them in, I'm more inclined to cruise with higher revs & don't get put off by the IL4 scream...

H

[AlBundy]

Yip, usually use SparkPlugs.

Agreed about riding practices. I seem a bit more conservative without the plugs in.

[erik]

I'd recommend the Moldex Spark Plugs from NZ Safety as well. They're the quietest and most comfortable of all the foam earplugs I've found.

Here's what I've tried:

3M 1100 plugs from NZ Safety or Placemakers (NRR 29dB, Class 3):
Comfortable enough and reasonably quiet.

3M H1120 or H8750 (?) kind of ribbed foam ear plugs from Mitre10 (NRR 28dB):
Didn't fit well and hence didn't block the sound well.

3M corded reusable earplugs R1270ES from Mitre10 (NRR 24dB):
uncomfortable. No good with a helmet because the ends stick out your ears. Makes a horrible noise when you touch the cord.

Bilsom X-treme foam earplugs from NZ Safety (Class 5):
Equally as quiet as the Spark Plugs. Slighty smaller and different shape. The foam is a bit firmer which I found got uncomfortable after a while.

Plugz 4 Lugz moulded ear plugs:
Off the bike: Not as quiet as the Spark Plugs or X-treme foam plugs. About similar to the 3M 1100 ones. They're the most comfortable of the lot though since they don't expand and apply pressure to your ear canal.
On the bike: I get lots of wind noise from buffeting around the helmet. I suspect the earplugs must be pressing against the foam padding in the helmet too much and transferring the noise from the helmet shell to my ear. Also they were fitted/made with me sitting upright on a chair, but on the bike if I'm leaning forwards and bending my kneck up, they lose their seal a bit (particularly the left one) and let more noise through (also happens a bit when I turn my head). Other people have mentioned similar problems here: http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...r+plugs&page=3
and NinjaNanna's suggested getting them modified to make them work better under a helmet. But since I use them at work and they're not as quiet as the Spark Plugs foam ear plugs anyway, I haven't gone to the trouble of seeing if they can be modified. I work in a noisy environment, but frequently go from the office to the factory so it's really good being able to quickly remove or insert the Plugz 4 Lugz earplugs quickly (it's much quicker than foam ear plugs) and in hot weather they are far more comfortable than ear muffs (quieter too).

[Radar]

Plugz 4 Lugz moulded ear plugs: ...

... Also they were fitted/made with me sitting upright on a chair, but on the bike if I'm leaning forwards and bending my kneck up, they lose their seal a bit (particularly the left one) and let more noise through (also happens a bit when I turn my head).

Sometimes my right Plugs4Lugz earplug loses its seal but what I do now is apply some Lip Seal (in a small tube made by Vaseline) and there is no longer a problem. If you don't have any hand cream, Vaseline or KY, try a drop of water - it does not seem to evaporate but it will be gone once you remove your ear plug. You can get Lip Seal from a chemist or supermarket and the small tube easily fits in pocket.

I tried four different plugs from the chemist and tradesman shops but custom ear plugs are waaaay better.

[Highlander]

Sometimes my right Plugs4Lugz earplug loses its seal

Talk to the Plugz4Lugz guys, it may be just a matter of another application of the sealant they put on when they moulded your plugz.


Plugz4Lugz is my best bit of riding kit ever. Can't recommend them enough.

[DougB]

Just got back from the classic bike races a Pukekohe. While there I had Plugs for Lugs make me a set of ear plugs with speaker thingees in. Had a great ride home to Hamilton listening to my favorite music. No other ear pod types could be heard over 80k. These ones were still clear at 140. Love them.

[hang0ver]

Just got back from the classic bike races a Pukekohe. While there I had Plugs for Lugs make me a set of ear plugs with speaker thingees in. Had a great ride home to Hamilton listening to my favorite music. No other ear pod types could be heard over 80k. These ones were still clear at 140. Love them.

How much were they? Guess they'll be at Paeroa? Love to get a set.

[TimeOut]

I have had EarBuddies for nearly half a year now I think. They are my ticket to the world. I can hear my beautiful engine note and even walk into the service stations that let me wear my helmet, with earplugs in, and still be able to hear them. I can usually make out what other bikers say to me at the lights with the earplugs in also.

I suspect custom ear plugs would be far greater comfort but for bang for buck I can't recommend the 'Alpine' range enough. It has variable DB killer inserts but I've only ever used the 'loudest' as that is quiet enough for me.

If you don't want to fork out for custom molds then EarBuddies is definitely the way to go, would recommend them without hesitation.

Couldn't agree more, love mine and they're a lot easier to put in than most.

[sinned]

I have tried a number of different earplugs without a lot of success. Some just don't want to stay in. I found this site which sell just about every earplug made on the planet.

I bought a sample pack of 28 different foam plugs - 2 of each. Price delivered to NZ is less than a dollar each. If I find one that suits I will order more of them - that could take a few months.

[bezajel]

Sometimes my right Plugs4Lugz earplug loses its seal but what I do now is apply some Lip Seal (in a small tube made by Vaseline) and there is no longer a problem. If you don't have any hand cream, Vaseline or KY, try a drop of water - it does not seem to evaporate but it will be gone once you remove your ear plug. You can get Lip Seal from a chemist or supermarket and the small tube easily fits in pocket.

I tried four different plugs from the chemist and tradesman shops but custom ear plugs are waaaay better.

Yep, a bit of water on them really holds the seal... discovered that when using them after a swim!