Custom made ear plugs worth the $$ ?

**Jogh** · 05-20-2010, 01:08 AM

Anyone here had custom ear plugs made ? Where would you go to get them fitted ? How much were they ? Are they worth the money ? Do they last long as in season after season or do you need to replace them...? Do the disposable earplugs you buy at Shoppers or Canada Tire work just as well ?

**matthew** · 05-20-2010, 01:51 AM

I have a custom pair that I had made for me from "Hear at Last" in the walmart in Bolton. I paid $80 for it, and it was worth every penny. They fit perfectly in my ear, and dont have any discomfort. I've used them for 2 seasons, and are still in great shape.
The disposable plugs hurt after a few hours, while I sometimes forget I'm wearing the custom plugs. They also dont get tugged by the helmet when Im taking it on or off

**m.breen** · 05-20-2010, 05:49 AM

Originally Posted by matthew

I have a custom pair that I had made for me from "Hear at Last" in the walmart in Bolton. I paid $80 for it, and it was worth every penny. They fit perfectly in my ear, and dont have any discomfort. I've used them for 2 seasons, and are still in great shape.
The disposable plugs hurt after a few hours, while I sometimes forget I'm wearing the custom plugs. They also dont get tugged by the helmet when Im taking it on or off

Would you be able to use these to drown out noise while sleeping also?

**MotoStark** · 05-20-2010, 05:52 AM

I got some made at the bike show last winter from a company called "EARZ Canada". Think it was around $50-$60.

They are "ok". In fact, I only used them once and haven't used them since.

The problem is, they are indeed shaped for your ear, BUT, they easily fall out and move around when putting the helmet on and off. They aren't as quiet as my cheapie ear plugs that I continue to use.

My biggest beef with them, is because they were molded, while you are sitting stationary and not moving at all. They work fine in this application, however, as soon as you move your jaw or open your mouth, or move your head around, etc, this changes the shape of your ear canal and it lets all kind of noise in, and the ear plugs move. Unacceptable.

For me, I've found what works better is the "flange" type ear plugs. They go in easy, stay in place, continue to form to your ear canal as the shape changes, and are FAR quieter than my custom ear plugs, and they only cost a buck a pair.

Conclusion. Save your money.

.

**snidermire** · 05-20-2010, 07:54 AM

I had a pair made from "listen up Canada" (or something like that). Cost about $90 and have some sort of filter in them that allow only quiet decibels through. When the noise level isn't crazy you can hear people talking but as soon as it gets louder (me flying off the line on my harley) the earplugs shut out that noise. Not sure how it works but they are working quite nicely!

I definitely recommend getting a pair of custom fitted ones. Mine fit in and stay in without me having to squeeze them back in every 15 minutes or so. I've been using them for three seasons already and they still fit and work perfect.

**CrazyKell** · 05-20-2010, 08:14 AM

Originally Posted by MotoStark

I got some made at the bike show last winter from a company called "EARZ Canada". Think it was around $50-$60.

They are "ok". In fact, I only used them once and haven't used them since.

The problem is, they are indeed shaped for your ear, BUT, they easily fall out and move around when putting the helmet on and off. They aren't as quiet as my cheapie ear plugs that I continue to use.

My biggest beef with them, is because they were molded, while you are sitting stationary and not moving at all. They work fine in this application, however, as soon as you move your jaw or open your mouth, or move your head around, etc, this changes the shape of your ear canal and it lets all kind of noise in, and the ear plugs move. Unacceptable.

For me, I've found what works better is the "flange" type ear plugs. They go in easy, stay in place, continue to form to your ear canal as the shape changes, and are FAR quieter than my custom ear plugs, and they only cost a buck a pair.

Conclusion. Save your money.

.

Sorry buddy but you got a crap pair from a crap manufacturer.

I had some made at a bike show by an audiologist that were about $85 and they are the best investment I've ever made.

Molded perfectly, easier to put in than the cheapies, and I've never had them fall out.

They keep noise out far better and are easy to pull in and out.

I highly recommend them and use them both for riding and at the track. I've used them for sleeping too and unlike the cheapies they didn't fall out of my ears and stayed in all night.

edit: I just remembered that I saved the receipt and claimed them as a health expense on my taxes the next year too!

**shane'srr** · 05-20-2010, 08:34 AM

I had a pair made at the spring bike show and they work awesome! Never had any problems with them falling out.

**CrazyKell** · 05-20-2010, 08:41 AM

I had mine made by Hearing Protection Ontario www.protectyourhearing.ca and they have locations in Thornhill and Bowmanville. 416-726-7237 or 905-431-2045 (just happened to have the case in my purse).

**mxs** · 05-20-2010, 08:47 AM

Had a pair made at the last International show and I must say I will never go back to the disposable ones. Better fit, better noise blocking and I never worry about them popping out. You kind of dial them in, so they just cannot slip out, you'd have to consciously try .... I paid 75 and it was a company from US. I liked how they sealed the plugs at the end, so why not totally hard the outside surface is sealed against bacteria, dirt etc. also makes it very easy to clean. That was the difference when compared to the cheaper company who was at the show as well.

The only problem is for people who easily loose things. If you are one of them, you will be throwing decent chunk of money away every time you loose them.