Great inexpensive custom ear protection!

[Juna]

So I posted on here about a month ago b/c I was looking for inexpensive but good ear protection. I got a PM from a guy on here, joesolo. He has a company that makes customizeable silicone ear plugs. It's called InSight Technologies (www.earplugsthatfit.com). You mold them to your ear the first time, and then after that you have a durable, 26 dB NRR, custom fit set of ear plugs that are WAY more comfortable than the disposables and look & function like expensive custom-made ear plugs.

I suggest for anyone out there in the same boat as me looking for inexpensive custom ear plugs, shoot a PM to joesolo. He'll also give you a deal for being a member of THR. I have no doubt you'll like 'em as much as I do!

 

[Notch]

seems like a dead link...

 

[Juna]

Sorry... I accidentally had included the ")" in the link. Try it now....

 

[kd7nqb]

These seem pretty cool, would love to know how well the work from multiple people. Thanks for the link.

 

[Bob R]

I like the idea of the differnt colors. I can buy two sets, one for me and one for my wife, one each in red and green. Then make port and starboard ear plugs.

bob

 

[dogloose]

I use standard soft foam ear plugs in conjunction with ear muffs, especially when shooting indoors. I know what the comment about fit being so important to the effectiveness of the ear plugs means. Seems like a decent low-cost accessory. Thanks.

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Seems great. Anyone given them a try? If they perform as stated it's a great price.

Maybe I'll be the guiniea pig if no one else has tried them yet.

 

[hso]

What's the NRR rating of these?
How do you know you've properly molded them to the proper fit?
Can you post a picture of yours?

 

[Ala Dan]

just the ole' $0.29 foam type plugs work best for me; unless of course I'm
firing my Colt M4A3 .223~!

 

[Ohen Cepel]

hso,
They claim 26dB, don't think anyone has bought any yet.

Good point about how to know you're getting the 26dB. If I got them it would still be to wear under my muffs since the foam start to hurt after a while.

By the way is hso a military abbreviation by chance?

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

I guess you can get reimbursed if you buy a pair, and, if you liek them, post your review here or on a personal website.

So that's what I did. Will report back later

http://www.earplugsthatfit.com/free/free.html

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Great, looking forward to your report!

 

[Barn Dog]

I use these - they are perfect with a NRR of 34:

http://www.earplugsonline.com/index.html

 

[Ohen Cepel]

Barn Dog,
How many uses do you get out of a pair? Comfort level?

That's a pretty high reduction claim they make. Do you think they're working that well?

Thanks!

 

[carnaby]

I have the same ones as Barn Dog. They last for many many uses. I bought a whole pack last year and am still on the first pair. I use them in conjunction with muffs for shooting, and by themselves for other noisy environments.

They're good because they're sorta like playdough after you roll them around with your fingers for 20 seconds. Then I roll them into a blunt cone and stuff them in. They form fit every time.

 

[Juna]

What's the NRR rating of these?

These are 26 dB NRR. I have no idea how to verify that myself. I have two pairs. I shoot at an indoor range primarily, so I still double them up with the range muffs (which are junk). I'll probably also buy my own set of muffs for indoor use coupled with these.

How do you know you've properly molded them to the proper fit?

You can tell as soon as you're done molding them. If you can hear around it, it's not molded right. If you can't, then it is. It's pretty easy. It's just like when using disposable plugs. For example, one of my ear canals is larger than the other one, so the disposables don't work as well in that ear. I can hear the little conch shell effect around the plug in that ear. But with these, I can't hear anything around the plug, and it makes up for my ear canal discrepancy. Again, I still double up, but I find these more comfortable & better fitting than the disposables. YMMV.

Can you post a picture of yours?

I'll try to remember to shoot a picture of my plugs & post it. They look just like they do in the web site pic. I have the orange ones. My wife also molded a pair, and she has much smaller ear canals than I do (the disposables don't even go half way into her ears), so she has more material outside the ear (which you could control by not using all of it).

 

[Sawdust]

Thanks for the tip Barn Dog and carnaby...just ordered some.

Sawdust

 

[acdodd]

I have hearing aids from the VA.
They made me a set of custom fit ear plugs at the same time to go with them.
If you are a VA patient you can go to the audiology department and ask them.
Free is a good price and they work great.
AC

 

[hso]

Here's the problem with "custom molded" ear plugs. If the material doesn't fill the ear canal to the little narrow kink in the ear canal they don't provide the protection that the manufacturer claims. The manufacturers test the plugs with a carfully molded set that does reach the little kink. Remember that just a 3 dB difference in protection is a doubling of the sound pressure level your ears experience.

If you go the route of molded plugs be sure that they are fully formed all the way to that little dog-leg in the ear canal.

 

[Juna]

Thanks for the tip, HSO. Actually, when you look at mine (if I get a pic posted, you'll see), there's a kink in the part that goes inside my external ear canal, so that's probably the point you're talking about. It's longer on one side than the other... hence, the asymmetry in my ear canals. Basically, if you push it in far enough to feel the air pressure pressing on your tympanic membrane, then when it sets it should go far enough inside. Just my $.02.

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

Just curious-- how exactly do you mold them to you ear?

 

[scout26]

I have these for about 5-6 years now. They work just fine when shooting trap/skeet, though I also double up and wear electronic muffs also. The reast of the Scout family doubles up with either the foamies and muffs or the flanged rubber plugs and muffs.

I had mine professionally fitted by a guy who comes to one my club's monthly meeting once or twice a year. Got a new pair from him last year for free, because one of the cord holders had pulled out of one of the plugs (my fault, it got snagged when I wasn't wearing them).

I recommed them.

 

[LkWinnipesaukee]

Well I got my DIY kit today. Mixed the silicones together, plopped them in my ear, let em dry. Hour later, popped them back in and they fit REALLY well and block out a lot of noise. I recommend. If you get one and like it, post up your review here and get a another set free. Helps them out, and you get a 2nd pair.

They look like this (except mine are flesh colored).

http://www.earplugsthatfit.com

 

[Zundfolge]

When I took my CCW class, the instructor insisted that everyone wear muffs ... no exceptions.

He claimed that no matter how good the ear plugs are, your hearing can still be damaged by sound that goes around your ear into the side of your head.

Not sure I buy that, but I've never looked into it.

 

[MechAg94]

The site says these have a rating of 26 dB. The expanding foam plugs further down have a rating of 29 dB. I guess if you just really hate sticking stuff in your ear. I suggest muffs in that case.

Go to an industrial supply. You can get them in case lot boxes. Some are more comfortable than others.

I try to double up anyway as long as I am not trying to talk to someone. It is more comfortable and I can easily tune out the shots of others on the firing line.