EAR PLUGS........what's the best / easiest to use ..??

[dannyleo]

Lee Parks has some great plugs that block out the noise, but allow normal conversation to take place. On his website. I was so impressed I went back and ordered an extra pair. Not cheap, but they work.

[jeepinbanditrider]

I've had the best luck with the plain ol roll up and expand disposable foamies. I have a set of custom molded high end earplugs here at my house.........I never use them anymore

[jbernel]

I have use Etymotic products for years and find them comfortable and very effective in reducing wind noise and still be able to hear what's going on around me. A bit pricey, but well worth the investment.

[montauk]

I purchased a box of 200 pairs of 3M yellow/orange ear plugs for some like $25 (not sure of exact price). For best use I try to keep it as single use, once out a reinsertion reduces the effectiveness. I put them on in the morning and and them out at lunch, throw them, after lunch put a new set. 200 will last me a long time. I bought the box from Amazon.

[henzilla]

I have use Etymotic products for years and find them comfortable and very effective in reducing wind noise and still be able to hear what's going on around me. A bit pricey, but well worth the investment.

We use the wired as well as the earplug only Etymotics...good set with stems and tri-tip flanges. For smaller ear canals, the Baby Blues are available as well. Not an issue with helmet fit for either of us.. YRMV

[Brian-NC]

I've been riding since 1962 (!) and just now am thinking of joining the "never ride W/O earplug" crowd........I just bought a beautiful 1999 R1100R with the BMW "factory" windscreen .. the wind noise inside my Shoei Multitec is unbelieveable / so I guess earplugs are the best solution ??
what's the general opinion / what really works...please....thanks !!

from the swamp..
JPFITZ

I've tried a lot of earplugs thoughout my 40+ years of riding. My current favorites are the Moldex Comets. They're cheap, reuseable, easy to insert and remove. No rolling because they're not foam. NRR of approximately 25db. That's not the max by any means but they work well for me as I listen to my bluetoothed music via my Sena SMH10. If listening to music is not in your riding, you might like to use a higher rated plug like those made by Howard Leight the orange bell shaped ones. They and others like them (foam) will typically rate 32db. Moldex makes a lot of different earplugs.

I've bought a lot of plugs from www.earplugstore.com You can pick and choose several differnt kinds, shapes and try all of them till you find something that works for you. I bought a set of custom (earmold) plugs last year at the motorcycle show. The left one seals pretty well, the right one not so well. These might work for you but they just didn't for me. Might have been the maker, there's lots of folks making ear molded plugs these days. Or you can drop by CVS and buy a whole bunch of generic plugs (made by Moldex) for very little money.

[kantuckid]

Great post, & goes to show that this is not a worn out subject as I intend to try the Moldex brand.

[scalese01@verizon.net]

We use the wired as well as the earplug only Etymotics...good set with stems and tri-tip flanges. For smaller ear canals, the Baby Blues are available as well. Not an issue with helmet fit for either of us.. YRMV

Great subject, especially for the older BMW crowd. We have the foam type plugs here at work and the flange type. As a CNC programer/setup/operator and a previous screw machine operator, I have been around high noise levels for decades. Also, after 35 years as a volunteer fireman and 2.5 years on an aircraft carrier (CVA-42), my hearing is shot. My last several years as a fireman I was an engineer/driver of our pumpers and ladder. The sirens bouncing off buildings made my eyes water.

Anyway, I keep the flange type plugs at home for mowing the grass and using my chain saw. I also keep the foam plugs in my kit when I go shooting. At work I use the flange plugs but cut the cord because of the machinery.

BTW - do not reuse the foam plugs. One of our operators at work kept using the same plugs for days and ended up with a vicious ear infection. He was not that bright and did not last long.

[36654]

Great subject, especially for the older BMW crowd.

Couldn't disagree more, ear plugs should be worn by everyone to avoid the cumulative damage from excessive noise. The older BMW crowd will be lucky if they have any hearing to loose.............

[Visian]

Couldn't disagree more, ear plugs should be worn by everyone to avoid the cumulative damage from excessive noise. The older BMW crowd will be lucky if they have any hearing to loose.............

Totally agree....

I have damaged my hearing from years of riding un-silenced two-stroke MX bikes and diesel tractors, going rock concerts, etc... all in my youth.

[dposey]

I you like music look at etymotic plugs - good hearing protection and can use to listen as well .

[dannyleo]

I you like music look at etymotic plugs - good hearing protection and can use to listen as well .

2d on the Etymotics! I used to use the ER6i's all the time until I discovered the Lee Park's ear plug speakers. Lee told me he thought his plugs have better sound quality, but I've lost so much hearing I don't know if I could tell the difference or not. They both retail about the same, but you can find the ER6i's on sale for around half price sometimes on line. The Lee Park's wires don't pull out like the Etymotic's, which can quickly ruin/trash your Etymotics if you catch the wire. I run the Lee Park's sometimes without any music, just using them as simple ear plugs. They work great. I use them more than I use his ear plugs as I've recently learned what a thrill it is to ride and listen to my IPhone using it as a very expensive pocket am radio using IHeart radio and other apps.

[sloride]

ear080529905376lg_zps7af570b3.jpg
These feel better to me than the compression type . I cut off the connecting piece

I always seem to get the compression type dirty rolling them in my fingers

[sdpc2]

I was lucky enough to be introduced to ear plugs during my second year of riding. I don't leave the driveway now without them in my ears