EZrider Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 (edited) If you're like me, you just can't find a proper pair of ear plugs that fits you right, for whatever the reason that is... Some downsides of "normal" earplugs: Some won't fit your ears (either to small or too big) ; You have to wash them after everyday of use (otherwise you will at some point get an ear infection) ; They push the ear wax further down the ear canal, which can enventually lead to ear wax plugs ; Some can get expensive (especially if you get a "custom made" pair) ; etc. Ladies and gents, I present to you the (tried and tested for the last couple of weeks) home made solution and it gets as simple as this: + Cotton balls and olive oil! Cotton balls, ok, yeah, you get the picture, but pretty "meh" by themselves for sound dampening... But why olive oil you migh ask ? 3 reasons: 1) It helps the cotton ball to fit the shape of your ear (and doesn't dry up as water would) 2) It makes the cotton ball "denser", therefore more sound dampening 3) In addition, olive oil naturally prevents earwax buildup (as per my ear, nose and throat specialist, so medically proven stuff! ) With just a few drops of olive oil + one cotton ball (depending on the size of it), you can easily get from 1 to 3 pairs, so when you break it down, it barely comes out to a penny a pair, and they are always fresh, custom made to fit your ear shape each and every time, and bonus, also prevents ear wax (wax plugs) buildup! Granted those are not esthetic (but who cares if you have a full face ?), but for anyone not being able to put any kind of ear plugs out on the market, try this... You might be surprised! And if you are part of those lucky people (which I am not) that can efficiently wear normal ear plugs and you are used to wearing them while riding, I would really like your input on a comparison vs this home made solution! Edited September 27, 2019 by EZrider 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbo10 Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 Yours is a great solution. I would be using medical olive oil, as I expect you do. I use a similar home made solution too. I could never get any other filling to stay put or be effective. I have tried all sorts. Mine is a wad of facial tissue plus a little water. The wad is big enough to fill the main opening of the ear. I can mould it nicely to shape. I also use a similar arrangement at night cos of a noisy 'neighbour'. Also, I use a slip of leather over my head and ears which keeps it all in place- for when putting on my helmet. Some years of experience of this has shown no ill effects....so far. Just do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geophb Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 You have problems with even the basic foam ear plug? Reason reason I ask is most people ive seen dont know how to use them correctly. i.e. you don't just stuff em in. Gotta roll them up TIGHT, then pull top of ear to open up canal, and slide them in gently BEFORE they expand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemer Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 That may be great for saving $$ but when I get the itch to take a ride I like being able to go like right now, I don't want to be held up because I have to stand in front of a sink to make my own ear plugs. I think the time it takes to make them could instead be better spent washing a good, washable pair after a ride when you're not pressed for time. There are good ear plugs out there that work and don't necessarily push ear wax deep into your ear to cause a wax plug. I've been using ear plugs on and off for 40 years and I've never had that problem. It's not to say you can't but I think the odds of it happening are low. I was with a company of guys here and there in the army for three years and not one of them ever complained about the soft foam plugs causing an infection or a wax plug problem. Here's what I have but a different model made for musicians and they work well for me. I like how they block the high pitched sounds that can cause damage and most of the rest but not all, you can still hear things around you that you need and want to hear, including music from a head set. There are different models of ear plugs from this company. https://www.amazon.com/Alpine-Hearing-Protection-Earplugs-Motosafe/dp/B06Y29FZ1M/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1ORIS714TKC9K&keywords=alpine+hearing+protection+earplugs+motosafe&qid=1569589996&sprefix=alpine+hearing+protection%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-4 Beemer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbo10 Posted September 27, 2019 Share Posted September 27, 2019 We are all different....ears an' all. 2 Just do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EZrider Posted September 28, 2019 Author Share Posted September 28, 2019 (edited) 16 hours ago, robbo10 said: I would be using medical olive oil, as I expect you do. Actually I don't. I did inquire about it and I was told (by an e.n.t. specialist and also some nurses) that "medical grade" basically means "tested and confirmed as not harmful to/for the human body", so therefore ok to use (like described in my OP, a few drops) the ones that we buy at any grocery stores. So, anyone can easily get some anywhere 15 hours ago, geophb said: You have problems with even the basic foam ear plug? Yup. 15 hours ago, geophb said: Gotta roll them up TIGHT, then pull top of ear to open up canal, and slide them in gently BEFORE they expand. In my case, short story, they dont fit, even tightly rolled, my canal is too small (so small that I'm part of that 0.0001% part of the population that, if I hop in an airplane, my eardrum(s) just rips apart on landing, so no more airplane for me! Not complaing at all, I'm actually considering myself lucky to still have a relatively good hearing (amongst other things, my eardrums blew at least 10 times each from the 30'some otitis I got from 0 to +-8yo) as I'm also playing a few musical instruments, hence why I want to protect my ears (from that M4 exhaust! Never thought it was THAT loud in person, but at least I got a stage 2 / Q4 db killer in it, which makes it much more bearable...) while riding. I wanna hear those notes for a long time, whether they come out of a musical instrument or an FZ07 aftermarket exhaust 14 hours ago, Beemer said: That may be great for saving $$ I personally don't do it for savings, but rather because it's currently the only efficient ear plugs for me, but for those who are on a tighter budget and part of that 0.0001% population with weird ear canals, good news, don't have to break the bank if nothing on the market fits you and you wanna protect your hearing 14 hours ago, Beemer said: I don't want to be held up because I have to stand in front of a sink to make my own ear plugs. I think the time it takes to make them... I don't either! lol... It litterally takes at the most 10 to 15 seconds to make and have a pair ready in my ears (I just carry with me 2 or 3 small cotton balls + 1 small flask (like those for ear drops they sell in pharmacies) in which I put the olive oil in, all of this in ziplocks, in my coat pocket and when I need a pair, I just rip a cotton ball in two, put a couple of olive oil drops on each, put in the ears, done for the next 2-3 hours at least! As I don't really have much other alternatives, I live with it 11 hours ago, robbo10 said: We are all different....ears an' all. That sums it up pretty good Edited September 28, 2019 by EZrider 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbo10 Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 My problem is small canal too. I had someone come and make those silicone fitted ones. "Ooh", he said, "those are narrow!" They didn't work either. I play in a band too; my hearing is pretty good still. Narrow canals win out! 1 Just do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beemer Posted September 28, 2019 Share Posted September 28, 2019 In the end all that matters is that something works for you, you put the word out and it may help others and that you're happy riding. Beemer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EZrider Posted October 1, 2019 Author Share Posted October 1, 2019 On 9/28/2019 at 6:39 AM, robbo10 said: My problem is small canal too. I had someone come and make those silicone fitted ones. "Ooh", he said, "those are narrow!" They didn't work either. I can so much relate! I heard EXACTLY this so many times!! Even with the "Ooh!..." And when they say that "Ooh..." you can actually feel they are genuinely surprised, but you also know that by "Ooh", they actually mean "How the **** can a 6'1" grown adult can have some 5y.o. tiny canals like this ?? " ... And guess what ? The silicone fitted one didn't fitted on me either On 9/28/2019 at 8:15 AM, Beemer said: In the end all that matters is that something works for you, you put the word out and it may help others and that you're happy riding. This ^ says it all... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbo10 Posted October 1, 2019 Share Posted October 1, 2019 As Sachmo said in the film: "End of Story". For a while anyway.... Just do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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