earplugs

[prettybirdSE]

So I went and ordered some 'no-noise' earplugs.
Gotta say,these are THE BEST plugs I've ever used.Wore all day riding and no discomfort at all.Forgot totally I had em in there.Amazing sound blockage.No wind noise(so muffled it virtually didn't exist).But able to hear voices and such.For anyone wanting excellent plugs..these are the bomb.Seriously.I'll never use anything else again.

Almost forgot to say THANKS to the person here that suggested these.THANK YOU

[Champ87]

Comparison:

I decided to try these. Compared to my usual foam plugs, the noise reduction of the NoNoise plugs was pretty average.

After trying various different plugs over the years, I’ve ended up using Flents Quiet Contour Foam Earplugs. They give good noise reduction, I find them comfortable and they’re super cheap.

I bought some NoNoise plugs and gave them a back-to-back comparison. Started off with the NoNoise plugs. They inserted into my ears very easily – no messing rolling and compressing them like foam plugs. The NoNoise plugs are extremely comfortable – could barely notice that there was anything in my ear. When I started riding, the noise reduction seemed good.

I switched to my usual cheapo Flents. I immediately noticed they are quieter. That was a surprise. The Flents have a NRR 33 noise reduction rating whereas NoNoise quote a mean sound attenuation of 29.6dB. I suspect they’re being rated by different methods (US vs. European), but the numbers reflect what I experienced - a noticeable difference in favor of the Flents.

NoNoise make a point that they don’t filter out communication. I use a Sena Bluetooth setup to give me radar detector alerts. The NoNoise plugs were noticeably better than the Flents at allowing the sounds from helmet speakers to come through. The volume and clarity with the NoNoise plugs was pretty close to no plugs at all. Good performance there.

Price – there is no comparison here. I paid $26 for one pair of NoNoise plugs. The Flents cost me $1.79 at WalMart for a box of 10 pairs. OK, price is not the primary decider, but you get more noise reduction from a product that is cheap enough to throw away and grab a fresh pair after a couple of uses. That’s hard to ignore.

Now I have the NoNoise plugs I will use them. If you use a communication system, then they’re a very good choice. If you’re just looking for noise reduction you can get more for a fraction of the price. For ultimate noise reduction, custom molded plugs or active noise reduction must be the way to go. I haven't tried either of those, although I do have a ANR aviation headset so I know they can create quite a serene environment.

[prettybirdSE]

Good review Champs.I'll be darned if I didn't lose one after several rides.Found a small hole in my pant pocket.Didn't know it was there lol.Soooo..Imma gonna try the flents,and buy another set of the NoNoise.But actually,this Arai helmet is so well made it's VERY hard to hear the bike/wind noises.Been on a few rides now without plugs.I was really surprised how good this lid blocks sounds.

[prettybirdSE]

Well okay..I ordered the fluents last week.The verdict's in....the fluents WIN!Thanks champs for the heads up on those.Totally comfortable and sound blocking.Be stickin with these from now on...best I've used.Thanks again...
Wore em today for the first time.Couple hundred miles.Didn't even notice they were in there.I must say,with the no-noise,I did start to get a teensy bit of discomfort after about an hour.Got to the point I almost stopped and reinserted.So they don't score 100% for me.

Fluents?100% score.

[atc250r]

In 2016, I spent $800 on a custom set of Sensaphonics IEMs (In Ear Monitors). It’s what a lot of big name celebrities use (Motley Crüe, Aerosmith, Indy car race teams, etc). When I received them and began riding with them, I thought they were good, but for $800 I expected more. Previously, I had been using Howard Leight Max disposable ear plugs


The Sensaphonics were a bit sub-par compared to the Max’s as far as wind noise isolation goes, however the Sensaphonics allowed me to hear music and radar detector alerts which was a bonus.

Then, a co-worker was raving about his Bose QC-20 noise cancelling ear buds that he uses for air travel. I gave his Bose a try under my Shoei Neotec 2 and went for a ride. That ride sold me instantly. The Bose are incredible. I ordered myself a set that same day. No wind noise. Just bliss. And my favourite music playing softly. They have a 90-day money back guarantee so I highly recommend you try them. With a modular helmet, they fit nice underneath. Without a modular, I can’t guarantee they’ll work for you, but that’s what the 90 day trial period is for.
The $250 cost is far less than the cost of future hearing aids. Give ‘em a try. You’ll be impressed. After 3+ years and tens of thousands of miles, I’ll buy another set of them if these die.

[FastFrank]

I second the motion for the Fluents, they are amazingly effective, probably too effective if you want music...

[prettybirdSE]

It wouldn't be safe for me listening to Joe Satriani.
Looking at their site,I don't think a regular helmet would work.
So you download your music into these?

[danham]

I’ve tried lots of plugs over the years and have never found any that are better than the Howard Leights. I can hear radar alerts and intercom just fine, yet they all but eliminate road and wind noise.

They can cause minor discomfort on really long days, but I’ve found a way to minimize that. I “lube” them with a tiny amount of bacitracin ointment before putting them in at the start of a long haul. This helps fend off germs and allows them to move without abrasion.

-dan

[SDH2Mike]

I use custom molded earplugs. I have got mine at the Minneapolis International motorcycle show. Cost is around $50 for the pair. They fit perfectly since they make them on the spot. You can also get ones with speakers I think but I can hear my Cardo in helmet speakers just fine.
I definitely recommend Earplugs for road-trips. Used the foam ones for years but custom ones are simple to use.

[JohnQ]

+1 for custom fit.

Had to get these for on site work in a can making factory.
Never going back to foam. To much fukery with the helmet.

Expensive, but worth it. Same fit every time. 5 second install. Hear the cardo fine wearing these (no lanyard). I have a set in my laptop bag and a bike dedicated set now.

They are true to their word with the stuff about saving everyone’s molds. Got my first set in 17, ordered 2 more sets last November and they fit exactly the same.
After 5yrs they trash the molds and want you to pay fitting cost again. The 5yrs does seem legit, my molds were still there.

With fitting my 1st set was like $150ish IIRC.
Replacements were $80 with no fitting.

It’s worth the read about these, they aren’t made like most ear plugs. They are tunable per user spec. They can be used without the lanyard (less suppression based on installed filter) or with lanyard and provide full suppression.

https://www.protectear.com/products/db-blocker/