wemtd Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 While hearing protection was discussed in general last fall, i'm wondering if anyone has tried/reccomends a specific brand of ear plugs? I always wear disposable foam ear plugs when driving (except for one particularly cold blat in December wearing a balaclava UNDER my mad bomber hat). With the tail end of winter winding down, i'm unable to conduct any tests of earplug efficacy this week. While cheap and effective (NRR ~ 32), the disposable plugs leave somethign to be desired. I've found may gun/shooting people reccomend "sonic valve" ear plugs, and i find these are more comfortable than foam plugs. However, the valve plugs are advertised for gunfire and impact noises; leading me to believe they may not be well suited to the constant purring of car. Does anyone have experience with the "sonic valve" style shooter's ear plugs for se7en driving? Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinnyG Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 I only use solid form-fitted silicone ear plugs. Very quiet, but really not good on large altitude changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoPho Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 These are the highest rated reusable (NRR 32) and inexpensive earplugs I have found and they work great http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/silnatrubear.html http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/earplugstore_2147_99173437 . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slngsht Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 These are the highest rated reusable (NRR 32) and inexpensive earplugs I have found and they work great http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/silnatrubear.html http://ep.yimg.com/ca/I/earplugstore_2147_99173437 . I'll give those a try Morgan :thumbs: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastg Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 I can highly recommend these. http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.html You can get them form Amazon for $10 http://tinyurl.com/4h9h6al I used some last year, they just make everything quieter, there is no muffling, you can talk and hold a conversation with them in, listen to the radio, they just make everything quieter. The only issue I can see is that they do stick out of your ear a little bit, so they might not work under a crash helmet. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
powderbrake Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 The sonic type earplus that we shooters use have a flap valve inside to close upon a loud noise. They also have a small hole in them, which, when the wind blows, creates a noise that is a real pain in the rear. So, DON"T use them in a windy car, they will drive you nuts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskossie Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 This maybe general knowledge, but I have read that the most long-term damage to hearing comes not from the engine noise, but from the constant rushing of air past the ears. If that is true, then it is a wonder all of those thousands of helmet-less Harley riders are not stone-deaf by now (perhaps they are!). On my 6100-mile blat last August, i had Etymotic earphones hooked to my ipod, and over them a pair of folding contsruction-worker earmuffs. The combination worked very well (of course, I didn't have to try to carry on a conversation with any passenger). I could still hear the beeper for the turn-signal switch, for example. Anybody know the legality of wearing construction-worker earmuffs on the road? I didn't ask -- I just did it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted March 1, 2011 Share Posted March 1, 2011 It's not the rushing by that does the damage, it the really distubed air buffeting that gives you the high impact that does it. Even though it's not a sharp rise like a gun shot it does have a massive pressure level difference and it's near constant so the damage builds up over time. If we sat up high (like a motorcycle rider) we would be out of the disturbed air and get more 'wind' but less buffeting. There is a claim that the sub-sonic disturbance from really large wind generators blades turbulating the air they pass through can damage you hearing and you can't hear or feel it. Too late for me to worry about it, half deaf anyway, but really something to think about for the younger crowd while there is still time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenntwincam Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Ohio Revised Code 4511.84 -- earphones or earplugs on operator prohibited. I'm sure other states have a similar law. just another thing to aware of . only a fourth degree misdemeanor but I'm sure violation involves a fine & court costs . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BMW RACER Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 I use the basic foam ear plugs, but just in my left ear. That seems to be where most of the buffeting comes from. Unless your car is RHD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenntwincam Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 addition to my previous post , after carefully re-reading ORC 4511.84 , I believe you may not be in violation , if your earplugs are for hearing protection only. statute says - " if earphone/earplugs provide listener with radio programs , music or recorded information " it is considered a violation . felt need to clarify . there's already too much misinformation on the net , I don't need to add more ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fastg Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 Alaskossie, your guess is correct, A lot of older HD riders are having hearing problems. But don't forget a lot of HD's are just for status and do not get ridden a lot. But the ones that have clocked a lot of miles with the open pipes are suffering serious hearing loss. I have a Miata and I find a ringing in the ears after a top down drive. So I were ear plugs all the time. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinnyG Posted March 2, 2011 Share Posted March 2, 2011 (edited) I posted this in a different thread. My Locost is a measured 119dB of wind noise at 55mph. That's permanent hearing damage within seconds, not hours. Edited March 2, 2011 by SkinnyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimrankin Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 When measuring DB there are quite a few different weightings (scales) that are used so you can get different levels of the same noise producing object. 119db is up there but if the weighting measures peaks then buffeting reads higher than the sustained noise average. At 119DB "average" levels screaming at your passenger wouldn't even get heard. I think "threshold of pain" is somewhere around 125db. As for MC riders and hearing loss, well, riding beside one is louder than riding on one. I never got noise fatigue from riding (my HD was only semi-loud because the cops gave HD riders shit back then) but when riding with a pack your ears were ringing in before the first gas stop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinnyG Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 You're dang right it's up there, regardless of how it's rated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Off Road SHO Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 Eh? What's that you say? Speak up. Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rzempel Posted March 3, 2011 Share Posted March 3, 2011 In California the rule about earplugs is: CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE SECTION 27400 27400. A person operating a motor vehicle or bicycle may not wear a headset covering, or earplugs in, both ears. This prohibition does not apply to any of the following: (a) A person operating authorized emergency vehicles, as defined in Section 165. (b) A person engaged in the operation of either special construction equipment or equipment for use in the maintenance of any highway. © A person engaged in the operation of refuse collection equipment who is wearing a safety headset or safety earplugs. (d) A person wearing personal hearing protectors in the form of earplugs or molds that are specifically designed to attenuate injurious noise levels. The plugs or molds shall be designed in a manner so as to not inhibit the wearer's ability to hear a siren or horn from an emergency vehicle or a horn from another motor vehicle. (e) A person using a prosthetic device that aids the hard of hearing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wemtd Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 I tested a pair of sonic valve's on a quick gas run this week and found them to be inadequate for anything more than a slow drive around the block. Thanks for all the feedback. The SilentEars look intriguing. paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim F. Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 After reading the comments on Tues. the 1st, I ordered the Silent Ears. $13.67 delivered for the two sizes ("average" and "small"). I've also been using the orange tapered foam plugs for quite a while, but since I also ride a Yamaha Virago I thought I'd try a plug that suits both needs. One thing I might do is to drill a small hole in one of the "petals" on each one and connect them together w/a piece of clear 5# fishing line to avoid losing one (them). They look very promising and are certainly worth a try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7evin Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 We have looked at and tried several different types of hearing protection. When doing the 1 lap you have to have some thing that will work on the track and on the street. We have used everything from the custom ear molds like they use in pro racing (very expensive) to the crush-able roll ups. When you have something stuck in your ear for 12 to 14 hours it had better be comfortable.... I assure you the silicone units I paid nearly $300 for ARE NOT ! I recently came across these and I have to say they are the best so far. Fuse custom earphones. http://www.earfuse.com You can use them with or without a helmet. Plug them into you cell phone then they are a hands free device allowing you to get past certain state laws. They are a combination of the crush-able memory foam and a custom molded ear piece. It takes about 15 minutes to make them and they fit like a glove. The ear phones themselves have a little more bass than I like but other than that they are great. Best part.... $45 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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