Why can't earmuff's be built into helmets??

[Ruralman]

Whilst working with my chainsaw the other day wearing my chainsaw helmet which includes a set of good earmuffs I got to thinking - why doesn't some helmet manufacturer design a helmet where the part over your ears effectively functions like a good earmuff?

I get sick of mucking around with earplugs (but I always wear them except on very short trips) but if the helmet had a similar ear covering and sound protection as my chainsaw earmuffs I could do without plugs and could happily have MP3 speakers etc inside them.

I can't think of any logical reason it couldn't be done - can you?

[The Pastor]

i dont see why not actually, maybe some safety issue?

[Plugz 4 Lugz]

Hi there we make custom made earplugs for riders and they can also be wired for ipods etc. Check out our website www.earmold.com.au. The basic earplug has an Aust/NZ rating Grade 4, which is equivalent to earmuffs. We will be heading to Ruapuna for the superbikes in January, if you wish to catch up with us. The basic earplugs are $70, the wired/molded earplugs are $220 (we import a quality wired set, as shown on the website, and you wont be disappointed with the sound quality). Cheers Sue a/hrs 07 3480 908 / 027 659 1583

I get sick of mucking around with earplugs (but I always wear them except on very short trips) but if the helmet had a similar ear covering and sound protection as my chainsaw earmuffs I could do without plugs and could happily have MP3 speakers etc inside them.

I can't think of any logical reason it couldn't be done - can you?

[xwhatsit]

I think the amount of plastic and foam and shit to make an effective ear-muff (that sits on the outside of your ears, rather than pushing in like canalphones or ear-plugs) is too bulky to work well. Helmets are thick, of course, but perhaps you already need most of that thickness for safety, and if you look at a decent pair of ear-muffs they aren't particularly small.

I've seen quite a few helmets advertised on the weight of their noise insulation properties.

Me? If I'm going on a long open-road ride by myself (riding around town I need my ears as much as possible), I wear my EP-630 canalphones, which not only isolate one hell of a lot of noise, but produce some very reasonable sound considering the price.

[Bass]

I can't think of any logical reason it couldn't be done - can you?

I've never pretended to have all the answers, but I'm buggered if I can think of a way to build earmuffs into a helmet which wouldn't either: -
Reduce the crash protection offered or,
Make the helmet a complete bitch to put on.

[TerminalAddict]

schuberth helmets (rated the quietest helmet money can buy) have a funky design that squeezes into your ears once it on.

[EZAS]

The quieter the helmet, the less you have to turn your headphones up.

[peasea]

Whilst working with my chainsaw the other day wearing my chainsaw helmet which includes a set of good earmuffs I got to thinking - why doesn't some helmet manufacturer design a helmet where the part over your ears effectively functions like a good earmuff?

I get sick of mucking around with earplugs (but I always wear them except on very short trips) but if the helmet had a similar ear covering and sound protection as my chainsaw earmuffs I could do without plugs and could happily have MP3 speakers etc inside them.

I can't think of any logical reason it couldn't be done - can you?

I personally like to hear what's going on but did try some earplugs once when embarking on a South Island tour. They lasted about an hour and my other half took hers out as well, moaning that she couldn't hear her engine, a 1200 Sporty with a Harris. We did about 3,500k's that trip and didn't once feel that our ears were likely to be damaged; full-face helmet on and nack-scarf up over the ears does the trick for us. I would imagine a helmet with an ear-muff-level ear protection would make you look like Princess Leah from Star Wars. It probably wouldn't sell very well.

[scracha]

magine a helmet with an ear-muff-level ear protection would make you look like Princess Leah from Star Wars. It probably wouldn't sell very well.

Oh I dunno. Never mind a Simpson Bandit helmet, I want a stormtrooper style lid and I'd quite happily buy the missus a Princess Leah one.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

Whilst working with my chainsaw the other day wearing my chainsaw helmet which includes a set of good earmuffs I got to thinking - why doesn't some helmet manufacturer design a helmet where the part over your ears effectively functions like a good earmuff?

I get sick of mucking around with earplugs (but I always wear them except on very short trips) but if the helmet had a similar ear covering and sound protection as my chainsaw earmuffs I could do without plugs and could happily have MP3 speakers etc inside them.

I can't think of any logical reason it couldn't be done - can you?

Armed forces do have something similar... the pilot helemts do have a earmuff protection (which reduce the noise of the choppers, and uncompress jet fighter)....as well as comms etc... it wouldn't be to hard to adapt to a civilian use...

But... and there is always a but, these helmets are specially made to fit the pilot a custom fit...

[bmz2]

schuberth helmets (rated the quietest helmet money can buy) have a funky design that squeezes into your ears once it on.

it is the best helmet i have ever owned

[scumdog]

Whilst working with my chainsaw the other day wearing my chainsaw helmet which includes a set of good earmuffs I got to thinking - why doesn't some helmet manufacturer design a helmet where the part over your ears effectively functions like a good earmuff?

I get sick of mucking around with earplugs (but I always wear them except on very short trips) but if the helmet had a similar ear covering and sound protection as my chainsaw earmuffs I could do without plugs and could happily have MP3 speakers etc inside them.

I can't think of any logical reason it couldn't be done - can you?

Mehh, try getting a set of ear-muffs off over your ear-ring/studs.

Gimme ear-plugs.

Of course you traditional hay-seeds may not see it that way...

[laRIKin]

When we wear our intercom's the ear speakers.
Which can be put in and taken our easily have a good seal around the ears and all most work as earmuffs.
As they cut down the engine and wind noise quite a bit.

[NZsarge]

The quieter the helmet, the less you have to turn your headphones up.

Quiet is the key, at the moment my Arai is a smidge to noisey to put up with sounds for too long, thats why i'm keen to get my mits on some of these "Plugz for Lugz" sound equiped ear plugs so I don't have to play the music too loud and risk hearing damage.

[oldrider]

Whilst working with my chainsaw the other day wearing my chainsaw helmet which includes a set of good earmuffs I got to thinking - why doesn't some helmet manufacturer design a helmet where the part over your ears effectively functions like a good earmuff?

I get sick of mucking around with earplugs (but I always wear them except on very short trips) but if the helmet had a similar ear covering and sound protection as my chainsaw earmuffs I could do without plugs and could happily have MP3 speakers etc inside them.

I can't think of any logical reason it couldn't be done - can you?

You won't need ear protection when you get your Tiger, soooo quiet!

Why don't you just put your chainsaw muffs on over your helmet. Cheers John.