This is an article I wrote for Urban Moto Which came out February 2007. I give you my opinion of two different custom made ear-plugs and tell why you would want a pair.

Big Ear vs PlugUp – Custom Fit Ear Plugs
by Torrey Nommesen

Image from article. Photo by Jennifer Delk

I don’t wear ear plugs around town, but I do when I go on long trips or out for a Sunday ride. I’ve been to San Diego from San Francisco a few times and one of the worst feelings is having an earplug slip. I’m on the highway and I’m in my groove. It’s just me, my bike, and the road. Then all of a sudden the wind whistles in one ear. Do I try to ignore it? Wiggle my head until the other plug falls out? Or do I pull over, take off my helmet, adjust my ear plug only to have it fall out again in another 20 miles down the road? Well, I’ve done all three, and all three options are a real pain in the ass.

This is where an expensive pair of custom made earplugs shows its true value. You can usually find a booth at any motorcycle race in the vendors area or at a motorcycle show. They sit you down and squish this goo in your ear (it helps if you clean your ears before you sit down). The goo hardens a bit and they pull it out. The product is finished right there but you have to wait a little under half an hour.

I’ve been using a pair from PlugUp and I recently got a pair from Big Ear to see the difference. I went on a ride out to Drakes Beach. I used the Big Ear ones on the way up and the PlugUp ones on the way back.

The Big Ear plugs slipped out, so I had to pull over to adjust it. It took a bit to figure out how they were supposed to go in, but once I did, I was golden and they worked great the rest of the trip. Then when I took my helmet off, one of them slipped out and fell on the ground. I think I need a bit more practice with them.

The PlugUp ones worked fine and there was nothing to talk about other than they just worked.

They both cut down the noise of my engine and cut the wind noise of my helmet out (I wear a flip-up, so there’s lots of wind noise), but you can still hear horns and sirens. The Big Ear product seems to be a little softer than the PlugUp one and have less material. The PlugUp ear plugs have an extra bit that goes around the outside. This harder material with more to go around the ear ensures that they stay in place. The softer material of the Big Ear ones are a little more comfortable and they don’t show up as much when you take the helmet off.

I recommend getting a pair of custom made earplugs, they are totally worth the expense.