Technically advanced Hearing protection

ST-Traveler

ST-Traveler

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Joined
Feb 7, 2009
Messages
129
Location
Lost in the sticks
Bike
2007 ST1300
 
Interesting. I like the idea of adjustable noise filtration. Pricey though. Im watching to see feedback, if any
 
NRR level is everything for hearing protection and these give the users the opportunity to choose levels under 26 NRR which aren’t very protective and 26 isn’t that great. I choose Howard Leight foamies NRR 30-33. A 200 count box of disposables is roughly the same price as these that need cleaning after use.
 
dduelin said:
26 NRR which aren’t very protective and 26 isn’t that great.
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I concur. Based on personal experience in many noisy environments from many different sound sources including my motorcycle experience I personally am not interested in anything less than 30 NRR.
 
I've been using the Moto Pro earplugs with the 27 NRR for a couple of years. I prefer them to the foam plugs as I don't have to have my comms set to max to hear the music. The cut is fine for my riding, I really don't think anything higher is needed for me - YMMV.
 
I wouldn't touch them. 26db is not nearly enough protection. Sound decibels are on a logarithmic scale. Even a 3db change is noticeable. Like the others, I use foam earplugs rated at -33db.

Chris
 
Your link doesn’t work for me but I bought the ones pictured below and have been very happy with them. They come with their own little pouch that I attached to the bike keys so when I ride there they are. Easier to insert than the foam plugs and I have never had to ask Cherie to help remove one.IMG_0781.jpeg
 
DeanR said:
Boy, all these 'fancy' earplugs have pretty crappy NRR ratings.
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A big part of the NRR rating comes from a tight fit. Both of those pictured ear plugs have concentric silicone 'bells' that fit in your ear canal and seal it off from sound. Compare that to an expanding foam plug that completely fills the ear canal over the entire length of the foam earplug. The 33 NRR rating is about as high as you can go without completely encasing your noggin in a hard shell. Above a certain db level, the sound enters your head via bone conduction to the inner ear. That is the reason you won't see ear plugs or muffs with a NRR rating of 47.

Part of a complete hearing test includes placing a transducer against your skull roughly behind your ear. This bypasses your ear canal and is testing bone conduction to your inner ear.
 
Bought these some 4 years ago when they were priced much lower. Comfortable for all day wear although in the heat, the sweating sometimes made them slip out of position. You get that with all plugs. The different inserts did what they claimed by dampening the sound according to the different densities and construction of each colour insert.
Cleaned up easy and resistant. Pretty good bang for the buck back then.

Would not buy them at today’s pricing. YMMV.
 
I use Plugfones branded Bluetooth earpieces (in the ear), so I have music and the earpieces are rated for 29 NRR, so I agree 26 is pretty poor. 29 isn’t great, but I can still have my music.
 
Gerhard said:
Your link doesn’t work for me but I bought the ones pictured below and have been very happy with them.
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I too use those Alpine MotoSafe earplugs for longer m/way stretches and find them easy to insert & remove due that small plastic prong, very comfortable and they're doing a great job on filtering/lowering the high pitch wind noise while keeping tunes, satnav audio and bike2bike coms nicely understandable...
Made of silicone, easy to clean, the soft pouch tugs nicely into the pocket of my jacket...
Foam plugs are a PITA to "install", start to itch, protrude so they're frequently dragged out when putting the helmet on or taking it off, I always ended up with one side pretty much not dampened and having the other almost completely deaf...
 
Because I worked in a noisy environment we had training on protecting our hearing which included the proper use of various types of hearing protection. With regard to foam ear plugs I very often see people using them improperly despite the instructions on the box. If it is possible for them to fall out easily, and that includes being pulled out by putting on or taking off a helmet, they were not put in to the ear canal far enough or they are not the correct ear plugs for that person. If a person can not get them far enough in to the ear canal to prevent this and have them be comfortable they are using the wrong size ear plug. Even foam ear plugs come in different sizes and with more or less expansion force that exerts outward pressure on the ear canal to accommodate different size ear canals. Having the correct size ear plug for the size of one's ear canals and inserting them correctly has a profound influence on how well or how poorly they protect against loud noises.
 
@Andrew Shadow - my thoughts exactly. I too worked in a noisy environment...around jet engines. I value my hearing.

My right ear canal and left ear canal are not shaped the same. My earplugs go in relatively easy in the right ear. But sometimes I have to pull the left earlobe bit to get the left earplug in correctly. And if they are old...like a day or two old, they will expand too quickly and just sit in the opening of the ear doing nothing.

I test for good insertion or fit by snapping my fingers next to each ear. If I can hear the fingers snap...start all over again.

Chris
 
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