1 Year Review Of Climbing With Earplugs

[Steve Bullman]

do you keep that same set up at the chippper or is it just for climbing?

 

Plugs for everything here

[Logrod]

Has anyone tried the custom fit earplugs? I wondered about getting a set for my motorbike but if they worked for the saw as well would be a blessing as I hate muffs (earmuffs that is)

[Marc]

I prefer muffs as they are easier to snap on and off to make communication easier, also I may be wrong about this but thought they offer greater protection when feeding a chipper as they cover the whole ear and not just shoved in the canal. Also I have heard of other problems with ear infections and blocking your ear with wax with plugs, but this is extreme and unlikely.

 

They may mute more noise, again a negative for me as I like to hear someone shouting if they want my attention, the higher levels of noise cancelling doesn't nescersarily mean greater protection.

 

I do use plugs from time to time myself though.

[James Atkinson]

i see your point marc, i can hear people shouting on the ground, but your right not as clear as with muffs, i only use plugs for climbing, have helmet with muffs for the ground usually

[coleman]

I tried them and found they got dirty taking them out repeatedly to hear the ground staff. This gave me spots in my ear. Gross.

[Steve Bullman]

I do have to take mine out if I need to speak to the groundstaff which is slightly annoying but not a huge problem. I was concerned about the possibility of getting ear infections, particularly as im not particularly fussy about what i do with the plugs...they generally get stuffed in my pocket along with the sawdust at break times and at the end of the day. So far I have had no problems in about 6 years of using them.

[skyhuck]

I prefer muffs as they are easier to snap on and off to make communication easier, also I may be wrong about this but thought they offer greater protection when feeding a chipper as they cover the whole ear and not just shoved in the canal. Also I have heard of other problems with ear infections and blocking your ear with wax with plugs, but this is extreme and unlikely.

 

They may mute more noise, again a negative for me as I like to hear someone shouting if they want my attention, the higher levels of noise cancelling doesn't nescersarily mean greater protection.

 

I do use plugs from time to time myself though.

 

This is exactly how I feel.

 

But I guess I have no issues with standard defenders, so feel no need to try plugs.

 

I do find it very hard to believe the weight difference is noticeable

[Sully]

I have trouble with my ears. tinnitus being one. I have worried for a while of the effectiveness of ear defenders. especially over years of use stood next to a Vermeer bc 1000! The higher db ones with the extra foam are ok. I think there is room for improvement in ear protection, and this is definatley one way forward. Ill give it a go. Thanks for posting

Edited October 22, 2013 by Sully

[fen01]

I use moulded in ear plugs, they are great. Go in at the start of the day and stay in until endex. I can hear speaking etc, but they block the high pitch noise from kit. I do also put muffs on as well when chipping - i heard () that chippers can do serious hearing damage. They are not cheap though!

[MOG]

how come the DB rating is so low on then? i thought need to be way higher? most chainsaws are over 100DB?