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Foam Earplugs Now Different?

dbrick

rabid reader
I've worn Howard Leight "Max" foam earplugs forever. In the past, they've done a good job for me, comfy and effective.

I recently bought a new box of 200 pairs, and these plugs seem different. They look the same as before, but they feel less substantial, as though the foam is now less dense. It's harder to get a good seal in my ear than it used to be. No harder to insert, but the poor seal -> noisier.

Anyone else notice this? The reason I'm not sure is I had tonsil cancer in 2007, and my head and neck (and, perhaps, my ear canals) are different than they were before. I suppose that might affect how well the plugs work.
 
Hi

Dave

First congrats on fighting the big C. Way to go.

Leight makes many different kinds of foam earplugs, some very similar to each other. The 'light' ones are usually a little softer and can be different to wear.
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One issue we see in industry a lot is people don't insert the plugs properly. This site shows how it is done.

http://lifehacker.com/5275516/properly-insert-earplugs-for-better-protection
 
glenn, that's a great video, it should be elevated to "sticky" status. In fact, a "Safety Sticky" on this site would be a good thing.

I'm an equipment operating engineer at Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant and we've been drilled on this exact procedure for years.

I still get the strangest looks when people (outside the immediate plant safety culture) see me put my hearing PPE in. I usually take the opportunity to train them as well.
 
Over twenty years ago I was trained at work the proper way to use them, I absolutely hated them. It didn't take long for me to understand and appreciate their benefits and now I find I can't live without them.
 
Hi Glenn,

Thanks for the good wishes.

And thanks for the video. I've been using these things since 1980 or so, and doing pretty well...but I never did the ear pull part. I just went out to the garage, and inserted them as CU recommends. They're in just a bit farther than usual, and I think the seal is significantly better. I look forward to tomorrow's ride to work.
 
Great

Enjoy the ride and let us know if that helped.
 
Just the way the Army taught me many years ago to put in their lovely orange plastic ones. I use foam ones now when I ride and when I roll them up I like to also stretch them just a bit length wise, then pull the ear, and put them in. With the bit of a stretch it seems like as they expand they suck down into the ear just a bit further for an even better seal.
 
Fitting plugs and a bit off topic

Dave -

Interesting thought regarding the post treatment affects. Likewise I was diag'ed and treated (no surgery, just rad and chemo) early last year. And it seems like my right ear (ca found underneath scar tissue on left side tonsil) is....odd, which is the best way to describe it. The right ear is now more susceptible to minor ear infections, ear aches, etc.

I don't normally use plugs when riding the RT, minimal wind noise with the way I adjust the windscreen.

As an aside, when I've taught basic firearms classes for my department, we've run the following experiment:

Shoot with either earmuffs or plugs for a while, then "double muff", i.e. use plugs and the muffs. Most fresh recruits will experience a tightening of their shot grouping.

Regards - Don
 
Hey Dave - I still have a few pairs (unopened ;)) of Laser-Lites from my original 200-count box circa 1997, if you'd like a pair to compare shoot me an address.

Ted
 
I've tried several brands of foam earplugs and in my view the dB rating is barely a rough indicator of sound protection. I have used 32dB plugs and they did nothing. In fact, I stopped my bike to check if they were still in my ears.

I'm currently using 3M 1100 ear plugs and they are the best I've used to date. The dB reduction is rated at 29dB but they give better sound reduction than the 32dB ones I had. I like the 3M 1100 foam ear plugs so much I bought a box of 200 pair.
 
Glenn,

Much better this morning. Inserting on the left side was problematic, but it may just be that I'm not used to doing it.

Ted,

Thanks for the offer. I would like to compare. I'll send a pm.
 
Interesting thought regarding the post treatment affects. Likewise I was diag'ed and treated (no surgery, just rad and chemo) early last year. And it seems like my right ear (ca found underneath scar tissue on left side tonsil) is....odd, which is the best way to describe it. The right ear is now more susceptible to minor ear infections, ear aches, etc.

Thanks Don. Interesting that it's the opposite side for you. For me, the cancer was on the right side of my neck, and surgery resulted in some tissue loss and scarring. The earplug troubles are also on the right. I wonder if that ear canal is now larger or different.

Inserting with the ear pull definitely improves the seal.
 
after using foam plugs for years I broke down last year and went to the local Ear Nose Throat specialist and had custom plugs made.

They are small, not big like the one made at rallies; and fit perfectly. They are ten times more comfortable that foam plugs.

I paid less than a $100 for them. Money well spent.

jason
 
I had custom earplugs made at a rally maybe three years ago after years of using the disposable kind. They are at least as comfortable as the disposables, every bit as good at reducing noise levels (riding, chainsaws, shooting a shotgun, lawn mowing) and, most important, they ALWAYS stay in place.

All the advice about rolling the disposables into the tightest possible cylinder, lifting the earlobe with the opposite hand, is spot on and I did that. What they forgot to mention is that in cold weather you have to keep your finger pressed on the end of the earplug for quite some time, maybe over 30 seconds, until it has fully expanded.

Hot conditions are even worse with the disposables; they start expanding before you can get them fully inserted, but you think they are inserted. You pull on your helmet (which may sometimes be enough in its contact with your ear to dislodge the earplug) then you put on your glasses, pull on your gloves, get on the highway, and discover your earplugs are not working. Pissoff, for sure.

Whether you go for custom plugs or disposables, I recommend you spend a few seconds tromping around before you don your helmet. If something in your head sounds like a low drum beat, the earplugs are doing their job. If not, they aren't.

Earplugs, properly inserted, do a lot more than preserve your hearing. They remove all the low level noises your bike makes to a level that you are not aware of them, while still letting you hear screaching tires, sirens, etc. In short, they let you focus on what is important (which mostly comes through your eyes) without the fatigue of noise.

If there were not good earplugs, I woudn't ride a motorcycle.
 
I had the opposite experience with the custom made ones. I spent a fair amount on them and find them much less effective and comfortable than Moldex Pura Fit foam ones. I tried 15-20 different things, from all brands of foam, slicone, plastic baffled to the customs. The Pura Fits are by far the best. And since I buy them by the case, they're cheap enough to use once and throw away.
 
{snip}...I tried 15-20 different things, from all brands of foam, slicone, plastic baffled to the customs. The Pura Fits are by far the best...{snip}

+1

About two years ago, I bought an "assortment pack" of about 20-25 different ear plug brands/models. I diligently tried each pair and made a few notes on the fit, effectiveness (subjective measurement on a cruiser), and durability. After about 6 months, the Pura Fits stood out by far. I then bought a whole carton of them and have been very happy.

One note, however. Last fall I had a slight ear infection and my ear canal was a bit swollen. Didn't hurt, mind you, but the earplug's expansion created a bit of pressure that could have been bothersome to some folks. So, if you tend to have small ear canals, the Pura Fits may create a bit of pressure.

Buy an assortment pack and see which ones now fit you the best. THIS is one of several places that sell them.
 
The September 2010 issue of Motorcycle Consumer News summarized a review of 13 earplugs varying from $200/pair custom fitted musicians' earplugs to
$.09/pair of foam plugs.

Highlights of results
Best Buy: Leight Laser Lite ($.09/pr)
Recommended: Leight Max Foam ($0.12/pr)
Recommended: Hearos ($0.50/pr)
Recommended: Alpine MotoSafe ($25/pr).
 
I had the opposite experience with the custom made ones. I spent a fair amount on them and find them much less effective and comfortable than Moldex Pura Fit foam ones. I tried 15-20 different things, from all brands of foam, slicone, plastic baffled to the customs. The Pura Fits are by far the best. And since I buy them by the case, they're cheap enough to use once and throw away.
I have had the same experience. I think it is the nature of the helmet vibration that it also is shaking the skull, and the heavier custom molded ones then act like a piston creating a pressure wave into the ear canal.

Ear plug evaluations require a range of rider experiences. What works for someone may not work for another.
 
I had custom earplugs made at a rally maybe three years ago after years of using the disposable kind. They are at least as comfortable as the disposables, every bit as good at reducing noise levels (riding, chainsaws, shooting a shotgun, lawn mowing) and, most important, they ALWAYS stay in place.

All the advice about rolling the disposables into the tightest possible cylinder, lifting the earlobe with the opposite hand, is spot on and I did that. What they forgot to mention is that in cold weather you have to keep your finger pressed on the end of the earplug for quite some time, maybe over 30 seconds, until it has fully expanded.

Hot conditions are even worse with the disposables; they start expanding before you can get them fully inserted, but you think they are inserted. You pull on your helmet (which may sometimes be enough in its contact with your ear to dislodge the earplug) then you put on your glasses, pull on your gloves, get on the highway, and discover your earplugs are not working. Pissoff, for sure.

Whether you go for custom plugs or disposables, I recommend you spend a few seconds tromping around before you don your helmet. If something in your head sounds like a low drum beat, the earplugs are doing their job. If not, they aren't.

Earplugs, properly inserted, do a lot more than preserve your hearing. They remove all the low level noises your bike makes to a level that you are not aware of them, while still letting you hear screaching tires, sirens, etc. In short, they let you focus on what is important (which mostly comes through your eyes) without the fatigue of noise.

If there were not good earplugs, I woudn't ride a motorcycle.

100% on the same page with BCKRIDER. Tried many type of foam plugs and went to an audiologist who sold me the layered cone shaped Etymotics, which I thought did a very good job until................I had a custom set made at the recent Redmond rally. Unbelievable the difference and the fit is unreal! The $65 investment was worth every penny to me. I hope everyone will realize how important it is to protect your hearing, not only while riding, but doing other nosiy tasks as well. You can still hear everything around you while riding and that I think is the fear of most people might have and an excuse for not wearing them. I try to pass this on to people I meet who do not wear ear protection.
 
I've worn Howard Leight "Max" foam earplugs forever. In the past, they've done a good job for me, comfy and effective.

I recently bought a new box of 200 pairs, and these plugs seem different. They look the same as before, but they feel less substantial, as though the foam is now less dense. It's harder to get a good seal in my ear than it used to be. No harder to insert, but the poor seal -> noisier.

Anyone else notice this? The reason I'm not sure is I had tonsil cancer in 2007, and my head and neck (and, perhaps, my ear canals) are different than they were before. I suppose that might affect how well the plugs work.

I might be wrong on this, but I think the Howard Leight Maxx and Lite plugs have changed their packaging. The labels on the safety dispensers at work have changed (max version) and the plugs seem to be a different color and shape (orange and round, vs green and winged). In the past, the Lite units (orange and yellow) were softer and better suited to people with smaller frames (i.e., smaller ear channels). The Maxx units were stiffer and could be uncomfortable for smaller frame people. Perhaps, Howard Leight is trying to find a middle ground and reduce their model line-up from 2 to 1.

In any event, I've used these disposables for years (the Lite version) and can't stand the wind noise, otherwise.

Good luck
 
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