Tinnitus?

+1

having tried moulded and foam it is foam every time for me. They are more comfortable, more effective and cheap as chips. I reuse several times then throw away.

 

I really wouldn't mind some music though...

 

Only from personal experience of course but have found the 'DIY' moulded type work very well and are (possibly were) excellent value for money as you could make 2 pairs with the amount supplied. I have learnt that the bulkier 2nd pair that I made are not as comfortable despite fitting well and i think this does tie in with your 'helmet on' experiences. The curing time would allow you to carefully put your favourite helmet on while allowing them to fully set so this may be an option for you. Also take the point raised about ear hygiene as occasional close inspection often reveals I have neglected cleaning..

 

I am 55 years old and still have the ability to hear very high frequencies. It has been a bloody nuisance all my life because when everybody is sitting around oblivious to it, I can hear dimmer switches, tv emissions and even bats. I can still hear those HF signal generators that councils install to deter 'yoof' from hanging around places. A couple of years back I was getting driven mad by a high frequency sound in my mothers house and was able to track it down to a case in the loft. It was an old calculator with a dying battery. Also I had a car with a dodgy wheel bearing that drove me mad. I had to take it back to Honda three times before they eventually checked it with a stethoscope only to find the bearing faulty. You are the first person I have come across who has had this problem.
I often wonder what modern life sounds like to a newborn child with their tiny ears.

I still wear foam plugs on the bike though.

 

My dad flatly refused to believe I could hear the tv and dimmer switch until I got him to turn them on and off out of earshot. I proved it by walking into the living room and being able to tell him if the tv or dimmer (or both) were on or off before even entering the room.

The other one I struggle with is a telephone when I use it on my left ear. The sound coming out of it feels like being punched repeatedly in the ear - it's exceptionally uncomfortable.

 

I had some custom earplugs made but they caught on the liner of my helmet every time and got dislodged. I use these on the bike:

Howard Leight | Quiet Earplugs

They are usually easy to insert and work well once in correctly. I say "usually", as sometimes the little post you use to push them in is cut a bit short and this can make them hard to insert properly (occasional manufacturing fault).

I have very sensitive ears - had to fill ears with cotton wool or tissues at gigs when younger, have to use earplugs when going to the bottle bank (mined ewe, I am there an awful long time); those Dyson handdriers are a trial - have to brace meself for those... freaked out when forgot to put in earplugs when on previous bike with dry clutch & Leo Vinces - just couldn't concentrate

Used to use the Howard Leight earplugs to counteract Mr SC's snoring but they dry out your ears, so I use the wax ones for sleeps.

hth

 

I've used standard ear plugs with very good results. I can't remember who made them but my mate got some made at the nec a couple of years ago and he raves about them, apparently they took a bit of getting used to though

 

Thanks for that Chris and I think I will give these DIY moulded plugs a go. I particularly like the suggestion of wearing a helmet while they cure.

Do you have a name or link to the supplier you used?

 

Thanks stray cat. I will give them a try as I find the normal foam ones difficult to insert properly in my 'awkward' ear canal shape which means they are often not in right and therefore the noise gets through. Having a post to push them in may make all the difference.

 

No, I never got on with the foam ones either, same problem as you. Good luck

 

+1 Howard Leight are excellent. I use the Pilot and with the insert they are very reliable to fit properly. The video is worth a watch as pulling the ear up does make it much easier.

For me with a loud pipe, high performance ear plugs are essential to lessen the impact of that lovely exhaust sound!

 

One tip with foam plugs which I found essential was to twist them while inserting - if I just pushed them in they tended to collapse and bunch up.

 

These Moldex Spark Plugs arrived with me today and they are by far the best of the many throw away ones that I've tried. I like many seem to have stupidly shaped ear canals and when you squeeze these beauties they stay totally compressed for a few seconds and then expand to every little contour. Really soft and comfy too. Sorry for getting giddy over spending a fiver but there terrific!!!

 

I can't be sure that this is the very supplier* I have used (bought 2 lots now) because E-Bay in their wisdom decide not to archive all purchase history but I believe it probably is* :- DIY Custom Molded Silicone Ear Plugs - Custom Fit - 2 PAIRS - Quick Dispatch | eBay

 

i've had a couple of these now, and wear them at work offshore and on the bike. just wash to clean. foam ear plugs hurt my ears after being in for over an hour, never had a problem though with these custom moulded ones and sleep with them in.