Ear defenders/plugs - advice and recommendations?

[mikebarnard]

Hi guys, we've just got a new chipper. It's a bit of a beast to be honest and much louder than the old one so starting to seriously think about protecting my hearing - really don't want to be deaf or suffering from tinitus in later life.

 

What is the best in terms of heavy duty, reliable hearing protection? Ear defenders or ear plugs? I saw on another thread that someone had ear plugs worth £500 Don't think I can quite justify that but below £100 could be considered.

 

Any recommendations of manufacturers etc appreciated. If there's been other threads or existing info I've missed then feel free to put in a link!

 

Cheers,

Michael

[likeitorlumpit]

Do you mean additional to the ones in your hard hat?

[mikebarnard]

Perhaps, yes. I don't think the ear defenders I've currently got are good enough for loud chippers; fine for chainsaws though. So ear defenders would have to be suitable to be fitted to the helmet; though I guess with ear plugs it wouldn't matter.

[HCR]

These are about as good as it gets, and you can wear them inside the helmet mounted ear defenders if you want:

 

Squidgy

 

God knows why anyone paid £500!

 

Or if you want to listen to your iPod while keeping out unwanted noises, try these bad boys: Motorbike Adventures Supply and Fit Motorcycle HID Lights Motorbike HID's Metal Mule Panniers, Autocom

[scottyd]

I found the stihl ear defenders ( with a snug fitting metal band ) with peltor orange cups , if you want better protection get the green cups ( mine where oil filled and punctured one day though ) but are an awsome fit non catch , but these for me where the best ive used .

[Maxwell]

[ame]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Draper-Ear-Plugs-En352-2-Specification/dp/B000PJAMRM/ref=sr_1_41?ie=UTF8&qid=1340644743&sr=8-41[/ame]

 

these sort work fine, used them for years under ear protectors for drumming. £500 for ear plugs?!?! i bet in 10 years you could buy new ears for that money

[Alinicoll]

I`ve found these ones to be perfectly good.

 

Sordin ear defenders for helmet chipper 31SNR | F R Jones and Son

[Mark J]

Ear defenders are rated with an 'SNR' value. Find out how loud your chipper is is in decibels - there'll usually be a sticker telling you how loud it is, then deduct the SNR rating of ear defenders from that value. Ideally you want to be aiming for a decibel level at the ear of 80 - 75. Any lower than that and you'll block too much sound out.

[Steve Bullman]

These are what i wear....i buy a box full at a time and they last for ages. They are the most comfortable ones ive worn and have an snr rating well above the recommended level

 

40 Howard Leight Laser Lite Ear Plugs (FREE UK P&P) | eBay

[scottyd]

i cant stand any earplugs... thats just me though