In ear hearing protection

[PDizzle]

Afternoon all,

I was having a think about ear defenders today and remembered a while back at a motorbike show there was a stall selling (i think) electronic hearing protection, custom moulded to your ears. I've managed to find similar stuff online but it seems to be mainly catered for shooting.

has anyone used/does anyone use these for tree work? If i got a set for shooting would they offer the same protection from a saw or chipper as the noise is constant as opposed to short loud bursts. if anyone knows of some that can connect to a phone/play music aswell that would be magical.

Ive got an electric topper now and although people say you dont need ear pro for them I dont really want to take the risk but having earmuffs on seems overkill! the real attraction is that they say they dont filter normal noise out, just the harmful levels. I dont understand how but if it works i'd be happy to give them a go!

any insight people have got on these is welcome,

Cheers.

[Stubby]

The shooting ones ( I have some ) I think work on the shock wave hitting the defender and closing it off before it reaches your ear drum . They are tuned to this frequency hence you are able to converse whilst wearing them but the gunshot report is significantly  reduced , So , I don't think they would work . Yellow foam ones do though . I used to use them on track days on my bike and they reduced the wind noise you get from the fairing .

Edited July 18, 2018 by Stubby

[Andymacp]

Spoke to the hearing woman at specsavers today about this as I was getting electronic moulds for shooting.
There’s a bone in your skull behind the ear that takes in some noise so the moulds wouldn’t protect that.
Also there’s a risk of infection from having them in all the time.
She said the same as above about the shock closing off the noise and not being effective with constant noise.

[PDizzle]

The shooting ones ( I have some ) I think work on the shock wave hitting the defender and closing it off before it reaches your ear drum . They are tuned to this frequency hence you are able to converse whilst wearing them but the gunshot report is significantly  reduced , So , I don't think they would work . Yellow foam ones do though . I used to use them on track days on my bike and they reduced the wind noise you get from the fairing .

Thanks.
Yes I have the little yellow ones for riding, though I've usually got music headphones. I'll chuck a few of them in my bag and try them out tomorrow. I was just wondering if anyone had experience with some fancy ones

[PDizzle]

Spoke to the hearing woman at specsavers today about this as I was getting electronic moulds for shooting.
There’s a bone in your skull behind the ear that takes in some noise so the moulds wouldn’t protect that.
Also there’s a risk of infection from having them in all the time.
She said the same as above about the shock closing off the noise and not being effective with constant noise.

Did you ask what 'all the time' classed as?

[Mark J]

Have a look at musicians custom ear plugs.

[Andymacp]

Did you ask what 'all the time' classed as?

They’re really small and expensive (£600) so you wouldn’t want to be taking them in and out all the time.
I’d assume they’d have to be in for the day

[DuncanH]

I got some custom made ones at the opticians in Boots. They can make them just as noise blockers or they can make them to fit in ear headphones which come with the rubber inserts. If you take your headphones in with you they can check the fit.
It's an odd experience having silicon injected into your ear canal to get the custom fit but mine fit well and I'd happily wear them all day. Once the silicon is set they send it away to produce the ear plugs.
Price was less than £100 and I've had them for over 6 years

[Mark Bolam]

@Steve Bullmanwas a fan of ear plugs I recall.

Electronic shooting ones won’t work if my experience of feeding a Bandit for a day wearing my Peltor Sport-tac muffs is anything to go by.

[Steve Bullman]

I am indeed.  I looked at the specially made ones but knowing that I would likely lose them I didn't bother.

I buy them by the box full on ebay and they last for ever.  Look for 37snr rating, you won't get better ear protection IMO.

This is the most comfortable shape i've used

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/20-Pairs-of-Howard-Leight-by-Honeywell-MAX-Soft-Foam-Ear-Plugs-SNR37dB/182058016588?epid=2254482626&hash=item2a6380df4c%3Ag%3AztMAAOSwB4NWwOQZ&_sacat=0&_nkw=earplugs+37snr&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR1.TRC0.A0.H0.Xearplugs+37snr.TRS0

 

Also make sure you put them in properly by stretching your ear lobe out.  Theres a technique for this and it makes all the difference.  Honestly, every time I try and teach someone this they look at me thinking im trying to prank them.