If anybody's looking for new earplugs I just found this site ultimateear.com
Custom made and multifunctional , check it out , it might be useful to you. I came across them whilst watching a YouTube channel ( the missenden flyer, TMF ) he rates them and so do other yt channellers.
If I've made an address mistake it's.net instead. :facepalm:
https://www.ultimateear.com/
I gather these custom made ones are rated pretty good here in Aus and as normal plugs hurt my ears when used for a long trip, I was thinking of giving these a try.
https://www.earmold.com.au/
Check this site out
https://www.earjobs.com.au/collections/motorcycle-ear-plugs?
I've bought earplugs from this site. No problems at all and they post very quickly as well.
I bought the DIY custom molded ear plug kit and it is easy to do yourself and works well. just as a hint if anyone else buys it, you only need about 1/4 of each of the 2 types of materials that you mix together and don't wait too long once you knead the materials to then put it in your ear to mold the shape. It doesn't take long to start to firm up. It does stay firmish soft once cured. Easier to put in your ear than the foam type that you have to squash and then try and shove into your ears.
That said - the Alpine earplugs that they sell are also very easy to put in your ear as well. I've also tried several models of the Alpine ear plugs (purchased from the website as well)
On a quietness level/rating, with regards to all 3 types.
I think that the 3M foam earplugs you can buy from the chemist or bulk pack from Bunnings are the best. The soft yellow ones, not the orange harder foam ones. I find the yellow ones are easy to squash down to shove in your ear and then wait for it to expand. The orange ones don't squash down much and take next to no time to expand again, making it difficult to get them in your ears and a good seal. With these, I can't hear any wind noise, but can still hear the engine - but not loudly.
Next comes the molded ear plugs. Not quite as quiet as the yellow foam ones, but easier to put in your ears. Just watch out when you take your helmet off. If you have too much of the ear plug material in your ear, then the side inner material of your helmet will try and grab the ear plug as you take your helmet off and then tries to take your ear with it.
third place for quietness goes to the Alpine ear plugs - I've tried all the types they have. They knock out a lot of noise - but there is a very noticeable difference between these and the yellow foam plugs. Alpine are also super easy to put in. Are re-useable (like the molded ones) and the kit comes with a spray cleaner as well and they are also very comfortable as the silicone is very soft. I would use these if I lived in the city and was riding daily as they cut down on noise, but I can still hear sirens, engine etc. but wouldn't use these for long distance.
That said - if I had an intercom between rider/passenger/other riders, I would use the Alpine ear plugs as I doubt very much the yellow foam plugs would let me hear anything from the intercom.
These ear plugs have been used/tested over the past few years. Helmet is a Kabuto Aeroblade 5. Which is known to be a very quiet helmet. Which I have to say is way better than the Shark Helmet I had before and the Kabuto is just as good as a previous Arai helmet - without costing you and arm, leg and a kidney to buy.
Hope this helps.
Just a personal thing, but I don't like the custom moulded ear plugs. We got them supplied free at work a few years ago. I found them difficult to fit and even more difficult to remove. I stick to the "Rhubarb and custard" Howard Leight Laser Lite foam type now. These are also free from work, so every so often I fill a plastic drinking cup with them from the dispenser and take them home..Job done :imrgreen:
I just use the triple mushroom ones, also free. Work for me. I wont ride without plugs now. Cannot see any advantage on personally made type. IMO.
I found on the MCR ride a few years back that my ears ended up hurting quite a lot and I was using I think those howard leight ones.
That's not to say of course that I wouldn't have the same issue with custom ones but the way I see it it has to be worth a try....
If only I needed ear plugs unfortunately I'm already half deaf and probably more in need of hearing aids🦻🤣😂
My wife tells me I need hearing aids, bit in truth I'm just not listening.
Actually my hearing is shit - years of being a LR Defender owner...