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Huh? Eh? What? Finding The Perfect Motorcycle Earplugs
We long-distance, long-term, rabid, red-eyed, tire-shredding sport-touring riders all know we need to wear motorcycle earplugs, right? Or at least, I hope we do.
According to most authorities, repeated exposure to noise levels above 85 decibels (about 30-35 mph in clear air) causes hearing damage and requires protection. Even behind the best windscreens and the cushiest helmets, the simple flow of air as we move through the world at our preferred pace pounds our eardrums with constant and damaging levels of noise well above that level.
Plus, reducing noise drastically reduces mental and physical fatigue, meaning we can ride farther and faster during each precious riding day.
If you're having trouble finding the right motorcycle earplugs or you'd just like to raise your ear protection game, read on for the secrets of hearing harmony and aural bliss.
No Two Ears Are The Same
The main thing to remember when thinking about motorcycle earplugs is that every ear is different and just like the rest of your body, your ears and your earplug needs can change due to things like aging or weight changes.
What works for someone else may not work for you. It's even possible for your left and right ear canals to be entirely different and require different earplug solutions.
Wearing Motorcycle Earplugs Is A Skill
Just jam 'em in and go ride, right? Well, no. It actually takes a bit of time and practice to get good at inserting and wearing a pair and for your ears and brain to get accustomed to them.
Reading the instructions is a good start. If that's too boring, there are also good online videos from the manufacturers. Most disposable foam plugs require rolling them carefully without folding to reduce the diameter, inserting them at a specific angle, then holding them in place while they expand. Skip or hurry these steps and you won't end up with a good comfortable seal that blocks the most noise.
It also takes time to get used to wearing motorcycle earplugs. Even if you're used to them, changing brands or types might feel weird for a little while so start with small doses on short rides.
Of course, if you're feeling any pain or distracting discomfort or they're just not sealing, pull over and reset, change the position slightly or try a different pair. Sometimes you just need to start over with a fresh pair.
Ear canals are very sensitive and they don't like new things. If you're sure the plug is in correctly and it's blocking noise, try sticking with it a bit and see if your ears get over it.
Disposable Foam Motorcycle Earplugs Work Great For Most People
All the above said ... most ears are somewhere in the middle of the bell curve and middle-of-the road disposable expanding foam earplugs work best for a lot of riders. Plus, they offer the best NRR (Noise Reduction Ratings) of any earplug type (usually 30-33 NRR) and they're inexpensive and convenient.
For example, The Howard Leight Laser Lite is one of the most popular on the planet and has an NRR of 32. There are also many basic cone and tapered shapes to try in the middle of the road, like the Moldex Spark Plugs.
Try A Lot Of Motorcycle Earplugs
If middle-of-the-road doesn't do the trick for you, there are many different products out there and sooner or later you can find solutions for any problem.
Earplugs come in a variety of sizes, some are softer or harder and of course there are even all kinds of colors and designs from mild to wild if you like to accessorize and coordinate.
You may have to try several brands and styles to find the right fit and feel. Earplug Superstore for example (yes ... there's an earplug "Superstore"), has several variety packs that may be helpful and you can find variety and sample packs on Amazon as well.
There are three main "families" of disposable ear protection with noise reduction ratings: foam, no-roll foam and re-usable silicone plugs.
The Custom Question
One good solution for many riders is a set of custom-molded motorcycle earplugs. You sit down, goo goes in your ears, you wait for the goo to harden and you're all set.
You can visit an audiologist to get molds of your ears and have a custom design made for you or buy kits to make your own. And every motorcycle show seems to have a booth with people making a custom set.
They're comfy, they're custom and even if they're expensive up-front, you could end up saving money in the long run.
Although custom molded products work well for many, they don't work for everyone. Many find that donning a helmet moves your ears and squashes your head enough to break the seal on molded plugs.
In addition, custom molded plugs may not have the NRR you need. For example, these DIY motorcycle earplugs have an NRR of only 26. A lot depends on the skill of the maker and the anatomy of your head and sometimes you just don't know if they'll work for you until you spend the cash. Plus, they require daily cleaning.
You'll have the best odds for success if you bring your helmet and wear it for your fitting while the goo is hardening.
There are also hybrid custom plugs like these "Decibullz", that combine a comfy molded outer ear part with a foam tip inside the ear canal to achieve a very respectable 32 NRR.
Keep 'Em Clean
This may be over-sharing but the most excruciating pain I've ever felt was an ear canal infection brought about by re-using disposable motorcycle earplugs too many times. Do NOT let this happen to you.
Fortunately, preventing that rail-spike-to-the-head feeling is pretty simple.
- Take a look before inserting them and clean off any ear wax or other debris (or just break out a new pair) beforehand.
- If you're using foam plugs, never use them for more than a day.
- For re-usable silicone plugs, clean them daily with mild soap and water (never alcohol or other solvents). Shampoo works nicely.
- Don't use (ewwww) saliva to lubricate them.
- Keep your ears clean. Don't let ear wax build up or inserting your motorcycle earplugs will just push it back in.
Regular checks and timely replacement are crucial for effectiveness and hygiene. Don't wait for visible wear and tear. Trust that a little attention to detail now ensures many more miles of safe, enjoyable riding.
Motorcycle Earplug Problems And Solutions
Of course, visiting an audiologist for custom motorcycle earplugs can help with any of these "hard to fit" issues. But most people can find happiness with commercial options.
"My motorcycle earplugs are too loose!"
After I lost a large amount of weight, I found myself with much larger ear canals than standard (yeah, I know this is oversharing again and it's very weird). I searched for and tried many of the biggest in all the land and settled on the Flents Protech Quiet Contour (AKA Moldex Meteors), a molded "rocket" shape in a medium firmness.
"My motorcycle earplugs hurt right away" or "it hurts to put them in"
There are two things that can happen here. You might need to try a smaller and/or softer earplug or you might need to revisit your installation technique.
If you have a smallish ear canal, look for items with the word "slim" and "soft" on the package. Sometimes these are also marketed for sleeping, since they're a little more comfortable for long-term wear. These are also often marketed to women, who tend to have smaller ears than men.
A common mistake is to insert motorcycle earplugs too deeply. The deeper you go into the ear canal, the more sensitive it gets. Try pulling your earplug out slightly and see if the pain goes away. Many of the smaller sets are also somewhat shorter so should help with this issue.
"My ear canals get irritated"
As above, you might need to try whatever's slimmer or softer. Foam that's a little too firm can irritate ear canals.
You might also need to try a different texture. Some motorcycle earplugs made from open-cell foam can cause more chafing when they're removed and inserted repeatedly. Some are made from finer or coarser foam and some are smoother, with a smooth "skin".
It might also be worth trying "no-roll" foam or re-usable silicone to see if these get along with your ears a little better. Although the NRRs aren't quite as good as foamies, they're a lot better than going without or being distracted by discomfort.
You can also try switching between a few different earplug brands and types.
Lastly, a wee dab of "Oto-Ease", a lubricant specifically designed to be used with hearing aids and similar, can work wonders to reduce irritation. Use just a teensy, tiny bit, especially on foam plugs. (And please, don't use spit. No one wants to see that.)
"I can't get anything to work"
The last resort for those hard-to-fit ears is either custom motorcycle earplugs from a local audiologist or moldable silicone. The moldables are basically globs of stiff goo you squeeze into shape and jam into outer ears to cover your ear canal.
The downside is that they're a little expensive and the NRR is only 22. Much better than nothing but that's not really considered enough noise reduction to prevent damage while riding. Some have reported success with more conventional earplugs, with a goo ball over the top.
Happy Hearing
What's working for you? What isn't working? Let us know in the comments if you have any questions about the art and science of ear protection or your own tips for achieving earplug nirvana. Your input is invited. Leave a comment and/or write an article!
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About Brian Wringer
Brian Wringer is a big idea guy, wordsmith, branding expert and vintage motorcycle enthusiast. He's led countless rides and is a GS Resources "Super Site Supporter".
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