Biker with Ear Problem

[NoobBiker101]

Hi!

I really love to ride bikes but the problem is I have sensitive ears that are prone to tinnitus. Just bought a pair of noise reduction ear plugs/ear piece and they do not fit well in my ears. I'm planning to get new ones but I'm torn between these two brands: https://www.bigearinc.com/products/motorcycle-ear-plugs/ and https://pinlock.com/products/earplugs/.

First one is a company that offers customized ear protection and the second one had good reviews online. The thing is...I think I have an uneven ear canal and I'm not sure if a pair of generic plugs would be very useful. I just hope you can help me decide what to buy.

P.S. I'm open to all your suggestions.

Thanks!

[Watcher]

Have you considered getting a helmet that is engineered to be quieter?

It may be the more expensive option, but a Shoei or Arai, or even some Schuberths, that are wind tunnel designed to generate less wind noise and are made of denser, vibration dampening materials will be more comfortable and less cumbersome than an in ear solution.

Or, if used in combination with earplugs, can make your ride virtually silent.


The Shoei RFSR won't break the bank and is the quietest helmet I've ever used.  10/10, would recommend.

[max]

I wear ear plugs on any longer rides, originally using foam single-use plugs but now have the Pinlock ones you posted.

I don't like to use typical in-ear headphones for the same reason that the sizes always seem to fit unevenly for me, but I've found that the (right size) Pinlocks stay in well and do the job.

Of course, I would assume custom moulded ones would be best, but I don't have any personal experience with those.

[Kookas]

I wear ear plugs on any longer rides, originally using foam single-use plugs but now have the Pinlock ones you posted.

I don't like to use typical in-ear headphones for the same reason that the sizes always seem to fit unevenly for me, but I've found that the (right size) Pinlocks stay in well and do the job.

Of course, I would assume custom moulded ones would be best, but I don't have any personal experience with those.

I find the newer "ear tampon" style earphones to be very finicky for me also. I'm using the smallest fitments they came with and they still don't like to stay put - especially when the helmet comes on and drags them out of place.

They do block out noise though, whilst letting me listen to music at the same time.

That said, I've never found in-helmet noise to be that bad, even with my current flip-face, a HJC IS-MAX II. But of course, if your ears are more sensitive then I can imagine the threshold for "that bad" drops considerably lower.

[Bluesmudge]

No helmet, even the Scheuberth, Arai, and Shoei helmets, can bring the noise down to a safe level when are riding on the freeway/highway. If you put significant miles on your bike without hearing protection, you 100% will damage your hearing. On a motorcycle you are exposed to a lot of loud sounds, from 95 to 105 decibels. Any sound above 85 decibels will cause hearing loss over a prolonged period of time.

Everyone who rides needs to find the hearing protection that works best for them. If you don't want to spend the time, money, and effort to get a pair of custom molded ear plugs from an audiologist (and then risk losing your expensive pair of ear plugs) I recommend getting a disposable ear plug sampler pack to see what works best for you:
https://www.earplugstore.com/unfoamtrialp1.html

Everyone likes different ear plugs, that's why they make so many. My personal criteria are:
1. Super Soft (So they are comfortable)
2. Pre-shaped (So they take less time to put in)
3. Short (So they don't get pulled out by the helmet)
My favorites so far are these:
E-A-R E-Z-Fit UF Foam Ear Plugs (NRR 28)


Basically, you are going to have to try a few ear plug versions to see what works best for you. Foam, reusable, moldable, or custom fit. I find the reusable ear plugs, like those from Pinlock, to be torture devices for motorcycle use. But that's just me, give them a try to see if they work best for you!

[Watcher]

No helmet, even the Scheuberth, Arai, and Shoei helmets, can bring the noise down to a safe level when are riding on the freeway/highway. If you put significant miles on your bike without hearing protection, you 100% will damage your hearing. On a motorcycle you are exposed to a lot of loud sounds, from 95 to 105 decibels. Any sound above 85 decibels will cause hearing loss over a prolonged period of time.

Schuberth, as far as I know, is the only company that puts a decibel claim to their helmets and they say it's 82dB at 100kmh.
My experience with the brand leads me to conclude that Shoei and Arai are just as quiet if not quieter than Schuberth is.

I've taken several hour rides at freeway speeds in my Shoeis and been comfortable, while the same rides in my previous Icon helmet were fatiguing both in noise level and in stability.


I will say that earplugs are going to be more effective than a helmet at raw noise reduction, and I also likely already have hearing damage from years as a musician so perhaps my perception of a given noise level is less than others', but helmet noise is something that is overlooked very easily by the average rider and a helmet alone is easier to manage than a helmet + earplugs.

If someone is planning a trip or track day perhaps both is the best option for maximum auditory comfort.  For the average rider/commuter a better helmet may be a more practical solution.

[Kilted1]

I have some significant tinnitus.  Unless I'm around guns, jets, or maybe a particularly loud chainsaw, I find the typical rubber cup ear phones to be sufficient for my needs.  But I guess I'm lucky in that they fit well.  I've tried the Pinlock ones and the triple cup didn't seem to seal as well as a single cup.  The Big Ears are just out of my price range but there are some more affordable custom molded ones I've considered.

[Joolstacho]

Just a question here...
I was under the impression that Tinnitus is not a condition that can be improved by any hearing or ear alterations/protection such as helmets or earplugs.
(Is there a medico who can advise?)

Most people - especially older coots, who have a history of loud music and / or loud wind noise have hearing that is less than optimal, but this is a completely different condition to Tinnitus.

Typically Tinnitus sufferers hear the ringing / screeching noise even though they're in absolutely quiet conditions. It's actually nothing to do with ACTUAL noise.

[Kilted1]

Just a question here...
I was under the impression that Tinnitus is not a condition that can be improved by any hearing or ear alterations/protection such as helmets or earplugs.
(Is there a medico who can advise?)

Most people - especially older coots, who have a history of loud music and / or loud wind noise have hearing that is less than optimal, but this is a completely different condition to Tinnitus.

Typically Tinnitus sufferers hear the ringing / screeching noise even though they're in absolutely quiet conditions. It's actually nothing to do with ACTUAL noise.

You're correct.  Tinnitus and hearing loss are different conditions and can have different causes, though they often do come together.  Ear plugs are important to at least some tinnitus sufferers because noise sensitivity may be increased and noise exposure can aggravate the tinnitus symptoms for a period.

Personally, I don't ever remember hearing "the sound of silence" and I think I was about 12 when I realized the tones in my head weren't shared by everyone.  Many decades, and a whole lot of noisy environments later, it's louder but not debilitating.  At least it's just tones and not voices. 

[Joolstacho]

Yes, I used to know a bloke who welcomed (real) loud high-pitched noise because it tended to neutralise his permanent Tinnitus.