Wind noise in the helmet when riding a motorcycle is a nuisance that bothers many motorcyclists. This is easily understandable when you consider that wind noise often exceeds 95-100 dB at 100 km/h. This can cause hearing damage after 15 minutes of exposure without protection. If you experience tinnitus when you stop and turn off the engine, this article should be of interest to you.
To reduce this problem, you can always buy high-end helmets with careful aerodynamic design, but they are not within everyone’s budget. There is also the option of earplugs, which are divided into three main categories:
- Models with acoustic filters that allow essential sounds (sirens, engine, voices) to pass through but attenuate harmful frequencies, such as wind noise.
- Foam earplugs block out almost everything: excellent for the track, but less suitable for the road.
- Custom-made earplugs (e.g., made by audiologists) are expensive but very effective and durable.
The three models of acoustic earplugs tested
We will therefore focus on the first category and evaluate three popular models. Here is a summary description of their products provided by the manufacturers.
Oxford Filterbud distributed by Kimpex
The earplugs are made of soft silicone with wings. The filters are not interchangeable. Oxford claims a noise reduction of +/- 25 dB. The perceived quality is good value for money. The earplugs come with a practical and durable aluminum case.
Artevive
Artevive is a brand that aims to be high-end. The manufacturer claims a noise reduction of between 26 and 28 dB. According to the manufacturer, the high-fidelity filters effectively attenuate unwanted sounds without muffling useful sounds. There are four different sizes of ear tips to fit all ears, and a plastic case is included.
Ear Peace Vitae Soul
The model tested is designed for live music shows and festivals, and therefore focuses on musical fidelity. There is another model, Ear Peace Moto, which is specifically designed to filter out wind noise. Three earplugs are provided in the kit with three types of interchangeable acoustic filters. The advertised noise reduction according to the acoustic filter chosen is 17, 20, or 26 dB. The earplugs are made of soft silicone and a cylindrical metal case is included.
Evaluation criteria and methodology for the test
We do not have precision measuring devices to measure decibels. So we compared the performance by wearing the three models of earplugs simultaneously under comparable conditions of use: same rider, same day, same cruising speed, same helmet. We focused our attention on the following three elements:
Noise reduction (SNR or NRR) perceived by the motorcyclist
Expressed in decibels, this is the ability to reduce noise. Motorcycle earplugs are designed to reduce wind noise without blocking important sounds (engine, traffic, intercom).
Comfort and fit
For prolonged wear under a helmet, comfort is essential. We therefore evaluate: irritation or not, how well they stay in place, and how easy they are to put in and take out.
Preservation of useful sound perception
Perception of the sound environment around us is essential for safety. Some models use acoustic filters to maintain clear perception of the sound environment while reducing overall intensity. We therefore paid attention to the sounds we could hear around us.
What we found
The tests were carried out on the road in real-life conditions. Obviously, no measurements were taken with precision instruments. The results are the impressions of the users who took turns using the devices.
The test conditions were also consistent: same user tester, same helmet, tests conducted at comparable speeds, equivalent weather conditions (wind, temperature, etc.).
General findings
- Forget the Facebook ads that show a motorcyclist riding along and clearly hearing their engine running while the sound of the wind has disappeared. No earplugs can do that. All sounds are reduced, with variations in the frequencies that are best controlled.
- The shape of your ears has a major impact on the overall effectiveness of earplugs. This is an important factor but difficult to assess in advance. In short, what works wonders for you may be disappointing for your neighbor and vice versa.
Findings by brand
Here are the findings by brand and model:
– EarPeace Vitae Soul
The soft material of the earplugs means they fit well in the ear canal, making them comfortable to wear. They stay in place under headphones. The interchangeable filters did not make a noticeable difference to the level of noise reduction. Wind noise is effectively reduced, and this model allows you to hear traffic and voices best. Since they filter out less voice noise, they are better suited for use with intercoms. Finally, they are not too intrusive and are suitable for long-distance riding. Cost price: $35.
– Oxford Filterbud
These silicone earplugs are also very flexible and do not cause discomfort for the motorcyclist. They are also suitable for long-distance riding. They fit well in the ear canal and stay in place. Noise reduction is effective, but it is uniform across all sound frequencies. However, they are still safe for hearing ambient traffic noise. Cost: $50.00
– Artevive
Recently launched on the market, this brand is the subject of an intense advertising campaign on Facebook. Artevive is positioned as a high-end product with an ergonomic design that ensures excellent comfort. The original design consists of filters that are placed in the ear canal, over which a small ring is folded to hold the earplug in place.
Surprisingly, this model proved to be the least comfortable to use, despite the possibility of interchanging the four different sizes of ear tips provided. The earplugs are more intrusive and do not stay in place well, to the point of falling on the floor several times when the headphones are removed. We carefully checked the instructions provided and the YouTube videos available, and the earplugs were used in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. Perhaps the tester’s morphology is not well suited to this design.
As for noise reduction, it is effective but uniform across all sound frequencies. Again, they do not interfere with hearing ambient traffic noise. Cost price: $45.00.
Conclusions
We will not be establishing a formal ranking. While this seemed easy to do at the beginning of the test, we realized that things were more complicated than expected. However, we can still share some of the findings we made.
First of all, to be effective, earplugs must be comfortable. If the earplugs irritate your ears, they will remain in their cases and be of no use, despite the product’s excellent technical specifications. Depending on each person’s morphology, the model that suits Victor may be terrible for Leopold.
The perception of noise reduction is very difficult to evaluate objectively. Without really picking a winner, we can say that all models reduce noise and do not interfere with the perception of ambient traffic noise. Therefore, all models fulfill the essential function for which they are designed.
