Well...I bought something from Twisted Throttle...and they had these ear plugs for sale...called"nonoise".Gotta say....they're VERY good and comfortable....www.nonoise-earplugs.com.Might give em a shot .Highly recommend;)

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/18/2014 @ 11:48 AM *

Heros are what I like best. The foam is big enough fill my big ear holes. You can buy other foam plugs much cheaper somewhere like Menard's or Home Depot but they will be smaller and if your ear holes are big like mine, they aree really hard to get out.

I also think earplugs are a smart choice. I can still hear a horn blast (usually). Might not hear a siren behind me... Helmets DO reduce periferal vision and earplugs DO reduce your ability to hear stuff you should hear but both protect a lot opre than they risk. Try the plugs. They are not expensive. It's not the loud exhaust noise so much as the wind noise. That will cause hearing loss over time. I always wear my plugs. They will last several rides if you are not too picky about having some grotey looking earwax stains on them (just buy orange and you wont see it).

I listen to the Ipod while I ride and I have some Panasonic noise-cancelling earbuds that eliminate a lot of steady state (wind, motor) noise so the volume doesn't have to be at 11 to be able to hear the music. Put them in your ears, hit the button and you hear a soft 'click' and suddenly things get really quiet. I'm sure they work by producing some 'white noise' or anti-noise or whatever. One inline AAA battery last about 12-16 hours with the tunes playing.

I have big ear canals as well. I use these:

Box of 500 plugs has lasted me 3 years and I still have plenty left.

I have tried earbuds. I don't like messing with them.

I drape the wires over the tops of the ears and use the right bud in the left ear and vice versa. I also wear a satin helmet liner (Slik) that makes for zero hassle with earbuds. Without the liner, they tend to pull out when you put on and take off the lid. I started wearing the Slik first to combat helmet itch, which it does nicely.

...these eliminate the wind blast noise virtually completely...I tried several brands...these work the best.The tips do not stick out past the ear.Removing the lid and donning is a no problem deal.Outside noise like sirens and the exhaust can be heard...muted...soft...without harshness.These are the "motorsports" model.

* Last updated by: Grn14 on 1/19/2014 @ 12:15 PM *

I can get the same style as the nonoise from work and they do work very well but on the bike I use the heros because they are just more comfortable to me.

I did the earplugs thing for a while. 1.5 hour rides to work and back got boring. Surefire ep-5 sonic defenders max.

Etymotic hf5 earbuds. Noise cancelling, yada yada yada. Best earbuds under $200. I can still hear everything, minues the wind if i turn them down.

Comply T-100 tipsis what i have on the etymotics. Nice stuff...

I've read the Etymotics are very good, but not cheap. How are they for comfort inside a helmet?

I ran basic earplugs for a long time then I discovered earbuds I can't ride without some music know!!
I'm currently looking for a good quality Bluetooth earbuds now.. But not having much luck ....

I've read the Etymotics are very good, but not cheap. How are they for comfort inside a helmet?

3 hours a day on the bike, not to mention sometimes 8 hours a day at work if I am trapped in the office.

I was originally looking at custom fit ear plugs until I found the etymotics. They also have a custom fit option as well. You would have to go get a mold taken of your ear canal.

Noise Isolation 35-42 dB

Its all about the comply foam. You don't even know they are there. I can get them in deep. Removing them helmet pulls them loose, and sometimes out, but that is to be expected. The cord comes out the bottom, which is nice, because i can run them down and inside my jacket and put my phone in my pants pocket. This allows me to adjust the volume and skip tracks while in flight. The cord is long enough that I can pull over and pull the phone out of my pocket and text or call. There are plenty of other tips, like olives. You can get a cheaper set of ear plugs and try different tips. The tips are cheap enough to try, you can usually get a pack with 3 sizes.

The etymotic hf5's are rated the highest for noise isolation. I need the isolation for the low frequency booming under the edge of the helmet and behind my head. Wearing a backpack makes it much worse. So at the least, I have a set of $130 ear plugs. I have very good hearing, and I intend to keep it that way. I can still hear the engine screaming, other cars tires on the road, horns, tires screaching. I can "feel" the wind hitting the helmet, but I no longer have a headache and or fatigue from it.

If you don't like putting the ear buds in deep, or cant, then you might have an issue with any ear buds. Unless you can find a way to put your helmet on without ripping them out. Like the silk liner mentioned above.

Other noise isolation earplugs to consider, since not everyone's ears are the same.. I'd buy a pair from somewhere you can return them. Grab a pack of tips, at least you will only be out $20 in tips.

Sennheiser CX 300II - $32 Amazon

Shure SE215 - $99 Amazon

Etymotic HF5 - $108 Amazon

I'm currently looking for a good quality Bluetooth earbuds now.. But not having much luck ....

That was my original plan. But either the body is too large, or the cable is too thick. This makes it very difficult to keep them in when putting the helmet on. Not to mention I like to flash new roms on my phone, and I'd have to deal with setting up the bluetooth synch. Some roms have issues with bluetooth transfer as well.

* Last updated by: fatsix on 1/20/2014 @ 8:23 AM *

Exactly there huge in terms of using a helmet... I've searched everywhere even the supposingly worlds smallest but obviously there using these in gym settings or sports not wearing a helmet guess I'll have to get the bose that my wife suggested after all :/

Exactly there huge in terms of using a helmet... I've searched everywhere even the supposingly worlds smallest but obviously there using these in gym settings or sports not wearing a helmet guess I'll have to get the bose that my wife suggested after all :/

There are better options for the money.

Yeah I just looked into those etymotic there only 129 straight from company ..
Think I'll do some more research on them!! I like what I've read so far!!

I posted the prices. 108 on amazon.

I use Mac's Aquablock swimmers ear plugs from Walmart. They are only a couple of bucks and washable. I cut them shorter so that they do not rub the inside of my helmet. I control how much sound is blocked by how far I insert them into my ear. They stay put and if I loose one it's no big deal.

Just ordered some of those @Grn14
You still using them? How are they holding up?