What type of earplugs do you use?

[jaykup]

Just wondering what everyone uses.  I run a set of foam ear plugs for about a day and toss them.  It took a while to find ones that sealed perfectly.  I have speakers in my helmet for music, which sound pretty good even with ear plugs in.

[mugwump58]

EAR Classics. One set a day for commuting, put them in in the morning, turn them around on the way home. On trips they go in in the morning and stay in all day. I've been wearing them for work for 30 years so it's normal for me... Have a box of 200 up on the fridge go through a box a year, have an account with EAR I'm wearing them now, j/k

[et]

Over these I've tried several times to wear ear plugs. But always gave up because I could never get them to stay in my ear while putting the helmet on.
UNTIL about 2 months ago. This time around I've managed to get the plugs to stay in place while I put on my helmet.
Although it could be because my helmet is loser fitting now due to it being several years old and I've lost weight.

So I've been using the typical foam ear plugs; Hearos to be exact; for the past two months.
And I reuse a pair for about 1-1/2 weeks.
I'll have to see if I can get them to stay in when I get a new helmet in a couple of weeks.

--ET

[Prozac]

I have a friend that has me help him do a lot of construction that gives me boxes of the foam ones.  I think I have enough to last 5 years at this point.  The foam ones are the only ones that I find that will stay sealed even when I start sweating.

Prozac

[Slartibartfast]

Although it could be because my helmet is loser fitting now due to it being several years old and I've lost weight.

On your head?  

I wear these when I don't feel like listening to my pod. http://www.aosafety.com/diy/hear_detail.cfm?con_prod_num=90586,%2090716&con_family_id=60&con_platform_id=14

[STeve3b3]

I've been using foam earplugs that I buy at Home Depot in a box of 100 or so.  The package that they come in looks like a big earplug!
They work fine for me, commuting or weekend riding.
I usually change them out once a week.

Steve

[evilted]

These have an NRR of 30 decibels and seem to fit my ears pretty well, except in the wet when they absorb moisture from your fingers and refuse to compress easily.  And they're easily found most of the places I might ride.  (I just look for a Walgreens, and I know there will be a CVS across the street.   )   Generally, I can get 2-3 full riding days out of a pair as long as I store them someplace clean when not in use.  They're a little harder to compress and insert than other foam ones I've tried (these are foam too, but of a more obviously plasticky variety), but seem to seal noise out a bit better once they're in.

Custom fitted ones would be nice, but I'd just lose them.

[garry]

I use Hearo Extreme foam ear plugs. They get several days of riding in per pair, but probably more like 4- 6 days. When they start to look a bit discolored, I pitch them.

[STJoe]

We have ear plug dispensers at the plant, and are required to wear them in the manufacturing area.   Otherwise the answer would probably been in the use them for years category.  

[Guy]

I use Peltor No Touch earplugs. For some reason I could never get a seal in my right ear with all the various foam plugs. I got these and can not hear again! Yay!

[FiremanBob]

Macks Ear Seals silicone rubber plugs on a string. They don't get lost and last an entire season or more.  I do have to shorten them with scissors to avoid the helmet pressing on them, and glue in the string so the plugs don't get stuck in my ears (DAMHIKT).

[tomek]

 Western Safety ( Harbor Freight) 29 db,orange.

Probably the most comfortable plugs I`ve ever tried,super soft yet effective.

Cheap too,5 bucks for the box of 50 pairs.

[darkstarmoto]

Hearos Rock n Roll Series NRR22. Liking them alot  

[et]

On your head?  

Actually from my neck area; causing my helmet to fit more loosely near my ears and jaw.  

As to the topic of this thread:
The previous reply about CVS's ear plugs caused me to take a look for them when I was in a CVS yesterday.
The big bottle of plugs was only 30dB plugs.
But I did notice they had a 10-pair package of 33dB tapered foam ear plugs:


Since 33dB is one more than the 32dB ones I've been using. I thought I buy a package and give them a try.
I've only tried them last night sitting in the house.
They take much longer to expand and fill the ear canal than the other plugs I've been using.
BUT they appeared to get a more consistent fit than the others I have been using.
So I may stick with these 33dB ones.

--ET

[Squareman357]

These have an NRR of 30 decibels and seem to fit my ears pretty well, except in the wet when they absorb moisture from your fingers and refuse to compress easily.  And they're easily found most of the places I might ride.  (I just look for a Walgreens, and I know there will be a CVS across the street.   )   Generally, I can get 2-3 full riding days out of a pair as long as I store them someplace clean when not in use.  They're a little harder to compress and insert than other foam ones I've tried (these are foam too, but of a more obviously plasticky variety), but seem to seal noise out a bit better once they're in.

Custom fitted ones would be nice, but I'd just lose them.

These.  Run them a few times and toss.  I usually carry a ziplock baggie with a few extra pairs just in case, more on trips than for local stuff.

[bluepoof]

Etymotic er6i

BMW-K told me about these a few years ago and now I never leave home without them.  In fact, I recently bought a second pair for my gym bag since they work so well with my iPod on the elliptical, too.  

[falcofred]

Free Orange ones from work

[D-Mac]

I wear the "Marshmellow" earphones from Best Buy. $20 a pair and I get a full year out of them. They block out the noise well too.

The only problem I've had is in the heat. After about 800 miles or so they start slipping out (ear sweat  ).

[adlowe]

Alpine Motosafe

[stevent]

What ever they have at work, usually the EAR yellow ones or the Pura-fit green ones. I can wear them all day at work then just hop on the bike for the ride home.

[Tyrroneous]

Moldex Sparkplugs.  33dB.  Use for about a week of commuting and then toss.  

[SuperHans]

EAR Classics also. I've been wearing this type since 1989 when I was in the service and have yet to find a brand that fits me better.   I wear the same type everyday at work. One time use and toss them.

If I'm not wearing plugs I have in my Etymotic ER6i's and am listening to music.

[JonS]

I use Peltor No Touch earplugs. For some reason I could never get a seal in my right ear with all the various foam plugs. I got these and can not hear again! Yay!

I have some that are similar and use them in my left ear. That side has a smaller ear canal and have a tough time getting foam ones in. Foam is more comfortable to me, so I use that on the other side.

[dm_gsxr]

The white foam barrel shaped ones from Wal*Mart. I'll wear them for a few weeks then pitch them or lose them (like yesterday) in the puddle under the bike or somewhere in the bowels of the bike itself.

On a trip I'll use one pair every day or two and carry a baggie with a bunch of extras.

I tried the entimotic but even at its smallest, it's too large to be comfortable for more than about 10 minutes.

Carl

[MadOzodi]

I decided to see an audiologist last week and she took molds of my ears.  One look at the molds explained why none of the disposable foam earplugs ever worked for me and caused a bit of pain after an hour or so.  My ear canal openings are thin; like () instead of O.

So, I decided to have a pair of custom Westone 4RTs made, which I'll be picking up within the next few days.

[bluepoof]

I tried the entimotic but even at its smallest, it's too large to be comfortable for more than about 10 minutes.

Dang, really?  There's no way on earth you have smaller ears than I do!     (must be ear canal shape)

[dm_gsxr]

Dang, really?  There's no way on earth you have smaller ears than I do!     (must be ear canal shape)

Or just sensitive ears maybe. I can't wear the orange rubber earplugs either. But yea, after 10 or 15 minutes it feels pretty irritated and if I last 30 minutes it's painful and I have to slowly extract the plugs.

Carl

[Kneescrubber]

EAR Classics. Really cheap at Harbor Freight when on sale. I've listened to too much loud rock'n roll and jet engines to make much of a difference now.  

[Punchdude]

I use "Winchester" brand. Available at Walmart. Fairly priced. They work very well and when used correctly, are the best I have found so far and readily available. I figure if they are good enough for shooting, more than adequate for riding.

[scott19]

I use "Winchester" brand. Available at Walmart. Fairly priced. They work very well and when used correctly, are the best I have found so far and readily available. I figure if they are good enough for shooting, more than adequate for riding.

+1. Same here. I carry mine in a pill capsule on my key chain.

[Chuck 500]

EAR Express Pod Plugs.  They are shaped like an ear bud.  For me they are easier to get in consistently and work almost as well as foam plugs.

Chuck

[falconati]

+1. Same here. I carry mine in a pill capsule on my key chain.

That's a great idea  

[mugwump58]

From me to you, because I care

[Coro Kid]

Moulded my own from a silicone kit made in Scotland - they work superbly.  It wasn't until I moulded them that I realised why a foam plug never stays in one ear properly - the canal is comparatively small.  Link to the manufacturers website and my trials and tribulations here: http://geoffjames.blogspot.com/2010/07/ear-ye-ear-ye.html

[SWriverstone]

You forgot the poll option that says "Foam - Reuse 10+ time—EWWWWWW!!!"  

I've tried the flanged rubber ear plugs like these...



...and IMO they just don't work anywhere nearly as well as the foam plugs.

I've tried the cylindrical foam plugs like these...



...and find they are generally "stiffer" feeling than the tapered foam plugs (so don't like them as much).

So I've mostly been using basic tapered foam plugs from Walmart like these...



They're comfortable...but my only problem with these is that I think I have BIG ear canals, because more than once I've put these in so far I couldn't get them out with my fingers!  

So for me...the best solution is the BIG tapered foam plugs with a wide "flare" like these:



Now I just have to find a good supplier of these (or buy a bucket of them).

Scott

[mpl173]

I use the E-A-Rsoft FX plugs (33dB) and I can normally have them in for a few hours before they hurt.  I had an audiologist fab me up some custom silicon ones that I could plug my earbud speakers into and they lasted me about 2 years, but they were godawful painful.  The Dr. said that I did have fairly small ear canals and that heat and age makes them harder than should be, but I'm done with those as long as I have helmet speakers.

The foam ones are 1-time use for me as they are simply too cheap to risk an infection if I reinsert a dirty one.

[Mastros2]

I use the Howard Leight Laserlite (NR32).  I picked up a sample set and liked the laserlites.  Usually can get a good amount of riding with them as long as I keep them clean.

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/howard-leight-laserlite-corded.html

[peacemaker24]

I've been using the Winchester 32 dB foam ones from wal-mart, but they just switched to 31s, for no readily apparent reason.  Those seem to just about always leave one ear badly sealed, though.  So I'm gonna switch to howard leight MAX 33s, next.  

~~~Jesse

[jeepinbanditrider]

When I'm not using my SUREs for listening to music I'm wearing some standard foam plugs that I get from work.  We have boxes hanging all over the walls and I'll usually grab a few sets once a month or so and toss them into my tank bag.  I'll use them till they start looking dirty then toss them and break out a new set.

[vulcanbill]

I rotate between green foamies (Moldex Purefit 6800), custom molded and ER6i depending on the circumstances.  On long trips, my ears don't take kindly to any of them for extended periods.  I'll listen to music for a couple hundred miles then my ears will get a little sore so I switch to the foamies or customs for a couple tanks then back to the ER6i for tunes.  I don't wear the custom ones very much anymore but still have them with me just in case.

[R Doug]

I have NEVER found a pre-made ear plug that works for my ears that doesn't hurt by the end of a long day.  So, I purchased a set of customs a few years back and have never looked back.  A year after I purchased my first customs, I had a custom molded w/ built-in audio made for times I need to hear the GPS or want to listen to music.  

Despite having both types, I voted Custom - Molded for your ear because that's what I use the most.  Only on days that I need to hear my GPS or want to listen to music do I use the customs with audio.  That said, I use my customs with audio three days a week at the gym with my i-Pod.  

[MIDSKIER]

I buy these buy the 200 pack case

NASCAR® Moldex Spark Plugs UF Foam Ear Plugs (NRR 33)

E-A-R EarSoft Blast UF Foam Ear Plugs (NRR 33)

the moldex are firmer than the EARsofts I prefer the moldex when riding or working with power equipment

the kids prefer the softer earsofts, and if I need it really quiet @ night (hotel room etc,) I'll use the earsofts

[Magnarider]

Custom molded ones for me.  I had surgery on one of my ears when I was a kid, so my right ear canal is shaped really weird and I can't find any foam ones that fit.  Working on getting a set of headphones put into them kinda like BLS has here.

[Lawn Dart]

Howard Leight Max Greens.  Use them about 3 times and toss them.  They definitely lose their capacity to deaden sound after about the third use.

[wibornz]

Ok here is the tip of the day.  Go to

http://earfuze.com/store.html



for 34 dollars you can have custom molded audio ear plugs.  I have been using them for about two years.  They work great.  Cruise around the web site there is a video on how to do it.  It takes about 2 minutes.  

1. Put headphones in ear.... make sure they are where you want them and that they are comfortable.
2. mix the two compounds together
3. press the puddy into your ear covering up the headphone, and make sure you press the coumpound flat so that it does not stick out side of your ear.  (You do not want your helmet rubbing on the headphones.)
4. wait about 2 minutes while the compound firms up.
5. pull it out of your ear.
6 enjoy for years.

[2wTraveler]

I have tried various types of earplugs but cannot find anything comfortable for long periods of time. Looking into having a set of custom earplugs made. More often than not I ride without them.

[snopro67]

I use E-A-R Grande. They are essentially a E-A-R Classic but longer. they definately block more noise for me. Now I find out they are discontinued?!
http://www.first-aid-product.com/industrial/hearing-protection-aearo-ear-grande.htm

[DaisyCutter]

Just wondering what everyone uses.

MP3 ear buds.

[richak]

   
  I'm sorry, what did you say?

[jsanford]

I'm on my second set of custom silicone earplugs, made at the booth at the International Motorcycle show.

I used to use a bulk box from Home Depot, but my ears were always irritated, even with fresh ones daily.

[BamaBiker]

I don't use earplugs, but then I don't hear very good anymore eather.

[DangerMoney]

Howard Leight LL1 Laser Lite Earplugs

I buy 'em by the 200ct box. Use them about five times, throw them away and put in a fresh pair.

[Papa Lazarou]

I enjoy custom molded ear plugs with tiny Sony digital speakers...
they cut 30db of wind noise and allow every note of the music through
even at low volumes... perfect...

I added a light weight Xact Sirius satellite receiver... Moozic non stop...

Well, those RC45s are pretty horrendous noise wise.....

[RocketJohn]

Etymotic ER6i... gotta have my tunes!

[topsy_t]

Foam, 2-3 uses, then throw em out

[joelmikel]

Haven't found anything that fits my ears better than Howard Leight - Leight Sleepers.
Yes, the pretty yellow and pink/red ones. I bought a pack of 500 pairs on Ebay
a couple of years ago for $25 shipped. Still have nearly 200 pairs left.
They're good for about 6-10 rides depending on the weather and road types
I'm riding on... and of course how many times I pull them in and out of my ears
during any given trip.

[TonyKZ1]

I use skull screws (basically foam plugs with plastic handles or inserts), and buy them in industrial packaging rather than in single packs anymore.
Tony

[Poustman]

Just got some Etymotic hf5's and am very happy with both the sound of the music/voice I'm listening to and with the noise suppression.  I use them as earplugs (nothing playing) as well as for listening.

[msfdude]

I have been using custom made earbuds w/ music for years.  However, lately they have not sealed as well as they used to.  Sooooo, I tried a new route.  I am using foam earplugs (Howard Leight-Super Leights from CVS) with the Sena Bluetooth SMH-10 system that has helmet speakers and a boom mike for a full face helmet.  The earplugs have a much better db reduction AND the helmet speakers are more than loud enough to be heard clearly.  I also can ride in a group and connect by Intercom to other riders, use the phone, Pandora, MP3's, etc.

Foam earplugs and Sena, there is no substitute.....

Trevor
Allen, TX

[sfalexi]

Right now I'm using triple flange earplugs, but as I'm typing this I have the Radian "DIY Custom earplug" kit in my ears solidifying.  Gonna give them a shot.  We'll see...

Alexi

[X1Glider]

Foam plugs.  30 dbA noise reduction is hard to beat and they custom fit inside my canal every time.

Ear buds when I take the music along.  Not as good as foam for reducing noise but much better than without.

[WBill]

I suggest only re-using the foam type until they won't stay squeezed down long enough to form to your ear canals. For me, that means 3 or 4 times.  They're done at that point, and I can definitely tell the difference in noise reduction.  Using a new pair every time I pull the old ones out would be best, but I don't use a new pair when I stop for gas or snacks.  

For those who like to pipe music in through the ear plugs, consider that there is some evidence that high music sound pressure levels delivered through ear buds  can damage your hearing just as much as road noise can.  For example:  http://www.medic4health.com/2010/08/earbuds-can-cause-hearing-loss/

WBill

[MrMoto]

EAR E-A-Rsoft Grippers. Extra large and the only ones I've ever found that will seal in my right ear.

[black hills]

foam, on a trip I usually use them for 2 days or so, then toss them. normal riding they last maybe a week?

[ambientboy]

http://www.nixonnow.com/headphones/the-micro-blaster-H023.html



I love these puppies.  They have a volume control that sits just above where my collar falls.  The noise reduction is stellar...so good in fact, that inside my Shoei RF1100, I never turn up my iPod volume over half.  When I don't want to listen to music, I still use them as ear plugs because of their comfort.  Lastly, their slim design allows them to slip under a helmet without any tug or pull...they stay snugly in my ear.

[emerald94]

This:

[Royal Tiger]

I have custom fit triple flange earplugs I was issued in the USAF.