ear plugs or more expensive helmet?

[robson]

what do you use? I started to be concerned with wind noise when riding over 50mph
because I hear voices sometimes after ride Well, not really voices but ringing...
The problem is I hate ear plugs and don't feel comfortable with them. I prefer listen to the engine and road sounds normally. Never tried though high end helmets, do they really work at higher speed on windy days? Are they quiet inside? Not sure if there is any way to test ride helmets like Arai or Shoei?

[RandG]

Regardless of the cost or quality of your helmet, I would always advise earplugs.

[Alban]

I use an ageing Arai Quantum. I always wear ear plugs. I didn't wear ear plugs for a 100 miles of my first 300 mile ride on a bike with a screen. Ended up with tinnitus.
The Arai is much quieter with no screen on a bike, but I think Arais are/were known for being noisy. I own a Schuberth flip-up lid which is pretty quiet, but I find it too uncomfortable to wear anyway - It is literally a pain in the ears!
I believe there are noise-cancelling gismos around or being developed, but until then you probably will damage your hearing :unsure: if you ride at speed without ear plugs.

[92kk k100lt 193214]

I use a Nolan G.Rex 9.1

Its quiet but my K100 has a big screen so noise is not really an issue. On motorway with visor closed its very quiet.

[Peirre]

Earplugs every time !!
Though it's probably too late for me as I'm due in August to be fitted with my own personnel earplugs courtesy of the NHS due to tinnitus and the loss of sounds at higher frequencies.

I also have a set of ultimate ear sound ear plugs so that I can listen to music and the GPS while touring

[DaveCon]

Regardless of the cost or quality of your helmet, I would always advise earplugs.

+1 Always earplugs. Every change you make from exhaust silencer, screen, road surface even clothes you wear etc etc will change the noise level. You would have to do a lot of helmet testing to be sure.

In my opinion the question should be - which type of ear plug? - not whether or not to use them (thumbs)

[SPEN]

If anyone is looking to buy ear plugs i have 600 pairs !! new of course,same as these only loose as they come in a box of 500 same as these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Oxford-Max-Pl ... Sw5dNWp2uL
50 pairs £15 free post !! if your interested PM me

[royle100]

I use the ultimate ear plugs - much more comfortable than trying to squeeze pieces of foam in to each ear. flip side is very expensive (£85-£180)

specsavers also do a moulded ear service (from £129) and plug in variety (£22)

[Toecutter]

Earplugs earplugs earplugs. Every time. I used to work in health and safety and could bore you with any amount of numbers and safe exposure limits, but i'll just say that I wouldn't even ride ten minutes to the shops without my plugs in. Quieter helmets definitely help, but the road and engine noise are still more than enough to cause permanent damage over time. I'm fine with silicon 'Christmas tree' plugs, my wife finds them quite painful after an hour or so and prefers foam disposables. I've been told the custom mounded ones are the comfiest, but as others have said, they're not cheap.

[Nigel]

As already said WEAR EARPLUGS you need to try loads of different types until you find the ones you like, those of us of a certain age didn`t even think about earplugs when we were teenagers and you can usually tell us in a noisy bar as we will be saying "WHAT" no tinnitus but find it difficult to pick up certain words.