Ear plug recommendations
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 668
Likes: 246
From: San Diego, CA.
I think what you are looking for can be found in the shooting community, in custom molded earplugs, made for your ears, with earphones molded into them.
If if you are familiar at all with the trapshooting, skeet shooting, and sporting clays communities, you can find mobile vendors at larger shooting events. The cost for these options he $150 range I believe, but with the custom molded fit to your ears, with quality headphones built in they are a great product.
I notice you are in Southwest Colorado - you might look into the dates and location for the Colorado state Trapshooting event. If that doesn’t work for you, there is a larger shoot in Vernal Utah, and maybe that works for you.
There are do do it yourself molded earplug kits, which I really have no knowledge or feedback on, and so I can’t recommend those, but I can and do recommend the vendors who make earplugs.
If you would like more information, or contacts, I can provide that.
If if you are familiar at all with the trapshooting, skeet shooting, and sporting clays communities, you can find mobile vendors at larger shooting events. The cost for these options he $150 range I believe, but with the custom molded fit to your ears, with quality headphones built in they are a great product.
I notice you are in Southwest Colorado - you might look into the dates and location for the Colorado state Trapshooting event. If that doesn’t work for you, there is a larger shoot in Vernal Utah, and maybe that works for you.
There are do do it yourself molded earplug kits, which I really have no knowledge or feedback on, and so I can’t recommend those, but I can and do recommend the vendors who make earplugs.
If you would like more information, or contacts, I can provide that.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 797
Likes: 166
From: MA
This maybe not what you are seeking, but I recommend first going to an audiologist and have your hearing checked. Then he/she can recommend an appropriate set of custom molded ear plugs to fit your particular needs. I ended up with a pair that have removable filters (-15Db) that musicians typically wear. I tried -25Db and felt they were dangerous as I could not hear anything....GL.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 607
Likes: 107
From: Dark Side of the Moon
I use a couple of earbuds, the Etymotic ER4XR and a Shure SE535. They're a bit pricey, but both provide a nice noise isolation, when fitted properly, just by themselves. The claimed noise isolation for both are about the same at 35dB. Not sure if that's an NRR rating or actual dB. The NRR is usually lower actual dB, but they are both quiet.
Both are excellent for music, but my favorite is the SE535. It has a better and tighter bass response than the ER4, so I like it better for listening to music while riding.
I was at a Metallica concert in Orlando last year - took my daughters there when we were visiting Mickey - and the Etymotic was great. It's usually my goto if I want just quiet. I could hear the music fine, but at lower levels.
Both are excellent for music, but my favorite is the SE535. It has a better and tighter bass response than the ER4, so I like it better for listening to music while riding.
I was at a Metallica concert in Orlando last year - took my daughters there when we were visiting Mickey - and the Etymotic was great. It's usually my goto if I want just quiet. I could hear the music fine, but at lower levels.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 671
Likes: 168
From: Ontario, Canada
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Modern helmets are less noisy than when we were first warned to protect our hearing, back in the 1970s, but are still noisier than is good for us, so you are wise to wear them still. Have you managed to find some suitable plugs/phones?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,882
Likes: 83
I really hate wearing a helmet but i hate wind blast and rain in the face even worse so i wear a FF Shoei 95% of the time. A high quality FF helmet reduces noise quite a bit. I ride behind a fairing and a tall windshield where i can ride with visor up at highway speed in relative peace but if i need quiet i drop the visor down. Ironically in high noise windy conditions i can hear my sound system better with foam ear plugs. A properly fitted helmet makes a big difference in wind noise reduction as well.
