5 MIN READ
Earplugs on the motorcycle: Hearing protection tested
Wearing earplugs while motorcycling is recommended to protect your hearing from constant wind noise at higher speeds. Of course, you still want to hear what's happening around you and you want the earplugs to be comfortable. Which are the best earplugs? We've tested them for you!
Why is wearing motorcycle hearing protection important?
We only have one pair of ears and, as you may already know, hearing damage is irreversible. Nobody wants to go deaf prematurely, suffer permanent hearing damage, or develop tinnitus. As a musician and motorcyclist, I know all too well how important it is to protect my hearing. I have been using custom earplugs for years to enjoy performances worry-free.
When I go for a motorcycle ride, I choose to wear motorcycle earplugs. These earplugs are specially designed to filter out wind noise, lower general noise levels, and allow the right frequencies to pass through. This prevents fatigue, increases your focus, and ensures that your ears are protected.
Motorcycle earplugs as protection against wind noise and hearing damage
The higher the speed on the motorcycle, the louder the wind noise in your helmet is. Prolonged exposure to too high a noise level leaves traces. The louder the noise level, expressed in decibels (dB), the quicker you incur damage.
- 100 km/h – 94 dB: Maximum 15 minutes
- 120 km/h – 98 dB: Maximum 7 minutes
- 140 km/h – 102 dB: Maximum 3 minutes
- 160 km/h – 106 dB: Maximum 90 seconds
Those who make longer rides on the highway and are not completely hidden behind a large windscreen, can suffer permanent damage after just 7 minutes. Repeated exposure to high noise levels can increase the risk of permanent hearing damage, even if the exposure time is shorter than mentioned above. All the more reason to purchase a set of earplugs!
Comparing motor earplugs
I took the test and hit the road with the various earplugs available at RAD to provide you with an honest opinion. In this, you will come across the following term:
Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): This is the measure used to represent the ratio between the desired signal (speech or music) and background noise. This is expressed in decibels (dB). A higher signal-to-noise ratio indicates that the signal is stronger in relation to the background noise, resulting in better intelligibility or detectability of the signal.
ALPINE Plug & Go earplugs
The ALPINE Plug & Go earplugs are sold in a set of 10 reusable soft foam earplugs, including a handy keychain in which you can store a set. You can easily hang this on your keychain so you never forget them.
These are universal earplugs, suitable for motorcycling, sleeping, studying, working, playing, and listening to music. The damping (SNR 35 dB) is present at most frequencies, making almost everything quieter, without letting certain frequencies pass through. These earplugs dampen a lot, in my opinion a bit too much.
ALPINE Plug & Go earplugs
10 foam earplugs including storage keyring
ALPINE MotoSafe Pro earplugs
The MotoSafe Pro® earplugs with acoustic filters offer a great complete package. Two sets of earplugs, a handy storage bag, a tool to easily insert the earplugs into your ear, and a bottle of spray to clean the earplugs. The motorcycle earplugs are equipped with mini-grip and have two silicone lamellae that ensure a good fit. They effectively filter out the higher frequencies, ensuring you remain aware of your surroundings at all times.
These motorcycle earplugs are easy to use, the mini-grip makes it easy to take them out, but in my opinion they protrude a bit too much, which in my case occasionally causes extra noise because they come into contact with my built-in speakers.
The two sets each have a different damping level. A set of earplugs with medium damping (SNR 17 dB) is ideal for touring, holidays, and occasional trips on the motorway. And a set of earplugs with higher damping (SNR 20 dB), perfect for on the motorway, the circuit or with an open helmet. You can also buy both sets separately, without the bottle of cleaning spray.
Alpine MotoSafe Pro earplugs
2 sets of earplugs, including storage bag and cleaning spray
Pinlock Hearing Protection
Anyone who thought that Pinlock only makes anti-fog visors will be pleasantly surprised. Pinlock makes quality earplugs. They come in a foam box where you can also store your bank card. The earplugs are compact and consist of two parts, the plugs and the removable premium filter. There are two different sizes in the box, you just have to insert the filters into the best fitting plugs and you are ready to hit the road.
The filters look immediately familiar to me, they were developed by DYNAMIC. This is the same brand of filters that are in my custom-made hearing protection. These earplugs provide good attenuation (SNR 24 dB) and they are “intercom friendly”. They allow the correct frequencies to pass through so that the noise is reduced and you can still perceive your surroundings and follow intercom conversations or listen to music.
For me, these are the best earplugs available at RAD. They are compact, don’t interfere, there is a choice in fit, and they allow the right frequencies to pass through.
Pinlock Hearing Protection
Earplugs with intercom-friendly noise filter
Hit the road protected
Choosing the right earplugs for motorcycle use is crucial for protecting your hearing from harmful wind noise and high sound levels. As our test has shown, there are various options available each offering their own benefits. The most important thing is to invest in quality and comfort, so you can enjoy every ride safely and without worries. Protect your hearing, because once damaged, it’s irreversible. Safe riding starts with good hearing!
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Nathan is our webshop employee who is ready with advice and assistance to help customers. When he is not answering customer questions, he writes helpful texts and blogs for the RAD site.