Custom ear plugs

**SVboy** · 21st February 2008, 09:56

When Plugs4Lugs came to chch for the Bike racing, I promised I would do the sensible thing, and get plugs, but due to a ride out on the planned day and severe procrastination the next day, it didnt happen. I thought the appropriate punishment would just be to get deaf[er] or cut my ears off, and send them to Plugs4lugs, but both would have been self defeating.
At the Woodstock rally,the wonderful Schrek produced some lime green custom plugs and brochures for a ChCh agent. I was so in!
The Company is Auricle/Joy Hammond- joybar@paradise.net.nz. Joy comes to you, does her fitting, goes away to fit and seal these things and comes back to you for final checking and instructions. I was and am most impressed with the service and product. Mine cost $70 with a cord, and come with a handy wee pouch. Apparently the silicon is dipped in a sealer to prevent discoloration etc.
I am still getting used to them, but they do make a big difference. They are easy to fit once you practice the technique. Highly recommended.

**onearmedbandit** · 21st February 2008, 10:00

How do they compare to normal earplugs? I use the foam ones you buy for 99c at Placemakers, and they make a world of difference. So much so that I simply will not ride without them now (ok, yes I would if I had to, but I've always got a pair on me). So, how much better are they for 70 times the price?

**Nasty** · 21st February 2008, 10:22

I have some from Plugz for Lugz and they are great .. .they fit my ears .. and don't stick out ... normal ones you buy over the counter I found didn't stop a lot of the noise ... so I am happy with my set.

**NZsarge** · 21st February 2008, 10:29

Originally Posted by Nasty

I have some from Plugz for Lugz and they are great .. .they fit my ears .. and don't stick out ... normal ones you buy over the counter I found didn't stop a lot of the noise ... so I am happy with my set.

Ditto for the above, the only thing I find mildly annoying is the way they insist on coming out when I take my helmet off (most often falling to the ground and bouncing all over the place) but other than that they're sweet as, might even plump up for some wired ones at some stage.

**onearmedbandit** · 21st February 2008, 10:38

Should add before someone points it out that I realise the p4l ones are reuseable. I get probably about 3 weeks out of a set of foam ones, so that would get me roughly 4yrs of use for my $70. In which time I'd probably lose the $70 ones. I've found the foam ones, rolled up tightly and twisted into your ear block out a tremendous amount of noise. So considering I value my hearing, are the p4l ones that much better. (I know, I know, I should try them myself, but that doesn't look like an option so am asking others opinions.)

**Nasty** · 21st February 2008, 10:48

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Should add before someone points it out that I realise the p4l ones are reuseable. I get probably about 3 weeks out of a set of foam ones, so that would get me roughly 4yrs of use for my $70. In which time I'd probably lose the $70 ones. I've found the foam ones, rolled up tightly and twisted into your ear block out a tremendous amount of noise. So considering I value my hearing, are the p4l ones that much better. (I know, I know, I should try them myself, but that doesn't look like an option so am asking others opinions.)

I value what I have lost a lot of ... so the rest I want to keep ... i.e. my hearing ... the p4l ones I have found have that fit about them .. I can still hear the Grub over the intercom system we have .. and it seems to block out a huge amount of the wind and road noise .. I can still get the drift of what my engine is up to in the background - is that what you are after?

**onearmedbandit** · 21st February 2008, 10:51

Yeah it is Nasty, thanks for that. It seems to be pretty much the same as what I get with carefully applied foam ear plugs, and knowing my history of putting things somewhere and forgetting about them, I'll stick with the cheap and readily available foam ones.

**Pwalo** · 21st February 2008, 10:53

From memory the foam ear plugs that you buy from the bike shops/Placemakers did very well in the test that Ride magazine did some time back.

The only disadvantage is that they're not really washable.

**onearmedbandit** · 21st February 2008, 10:54

Good to know, thanks. Clean fingers are important when rolling them up, and keeping your ears clean as well.

**NZsarge** · 21st February 2008, 10:56

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Should add before someone points it out that I realise the p4l ones are reuseable. I get probably about 3 weeks out of a set of foam ones, so that would get me roughly 4yrs of use for my $70. In which time I'd probably lose the $70 ones. I've found the foam ones, rolled up tightly and twisted into your ear block out a tremendous amount of noise. So considering I value my hearing, are the p4l ones that much better. (I know, I know, I should try them myself, but that doesn't look like an option so am asking others opinions.)

I think they are more effective at reducing noise that roll up earplugs. Rollies are generally rated at grade 2 where as properly made customs are grade 4 or 5 I think so there's the story (don't quote me/check with P4L).
Personally I find that the rollies irritate my ears where as my P4L's don't really, I certainly dont regret buying P4L earplugs.

**Grub** · 21st February 2008, 11:00

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

How do they compare to normal earplugs? I use the foam ones you buy for 99c at Placemakers,?

I couldn't find my Plugz Lugz last night for the Wednesday Night ride and so used my foam ones. The foam ones are twice as noisy as the Plugz! I hadn't realised just how much better the fitted ones are.

From memory the foam ones are rated at 24db and the Plugz at 45db so that's a huge difference - and quantifiable. As nasty says, the intercom still works fine but the wind noise has gone totally, it just doesn't exist.

No fatigue on long trips from noise and no ringing in the ears after a ride. Once lost, hearing can not be "repaired". Best money on gear I ever spent.

**skelstar** · 21st February 2008, 11:31

I wear some grade 4 plugs (from work) which are great, but in about 3-4 days of use the get a bit tricky to insert properly. I would get the P4L ones if I knew they were at least as good. I sleep with ear-plugs in too.

**Number One** · 21st February 2008, 13:02

Originally Posted by skelstar

I sleep with ear-plugs in too.

Is someone a snorer...

**skelstar** · 21st February 2008, 13:15

The flat mate's dog in the next room for a start.

Used to live on the road going out of Stokes Vegas (three houses from the exit). EVER boy racer and petrol used to drive my house every morning. It was very noisy.

**YLWDUC** · 21st February 2008, 13:24

Originally Posted by NZsarge

I think they are more effective at reducing noise that roll up earplugs. Rollies are generally rated at grade 2 where as properly made customs are grade 4 or 5 I think so there's the story (don't quote me/check with P4L).
Personally I find that the rollies irritate my ears where as my P4L's don't really, I certainly dont regret buying P4L earplugs.

Is there any point buying grade 2 earplugs? The roll up ones we use at work are a class 5 (grade/class?) and give around 30dB reduction