Yes, sounds like cheap knock offs with much inferior quality.
Maybe someone should contact the company and find out what gives...
Current Ear Plug Recommendations?
- Thread starter another sean
- Start date
Yes, sounds like cheap knock offs with much inferior quality.
Maybe someone should contact the company and find out what gives...
If they are advertising them as a safety product with a listed NRR, that's a problem.
MemberHmm. It's still possible it's Chinese knockoffs being sold on Amazon, that does happen. You can get some directly from Hearos' website for about the same price: https://www.hearos.com/products/xtreme-protection-series
I ordered some... I'll let you know what I find.
Did you ever find a suitable replacement for large ears? I've still been using Hearos Xtreme as they are a bit larger, but you are absolutely correct, something changed and the new ones are flimsy, less dense, and don't block out nearly as much noise as the original ones. I feel cheated as I was expecting a certain level of protection that I used to get with the same product with no acknowledgement that they changed them.
Edit. I forgot about my last reply. I did order a box from Amazon and a box directly form Hearos. I can confirm, they either screwed around with the formulation to save money or changed manufacturers.
I had ordered a new box this week and they are slightly firmer and denser than the ones last month. So maybe they are back tracking a little. But still not like before but a little better. I got a multi pack of different brands that I still need to test out.
@Alue
My ear canals are also a little larger than average. The Howard Leight Max1 is an excellent choice, although I find them just a tad on the large side which makes them a little uncomfortable as I definitely feel them. They are still my go to choice for loud noise exposures, like lawn mowing, and vacuuming.
The Mack's Ultra Soft is another good choice, and also a little larger. These are quite comfortable, and I like these for sleeping.
My ear canals are also a little larger than average. The Howard Leight Max1 is an excellent choice, although I find them just a tad on the large side which makes them a little uncomfortable as I definitely feel them. They are still my go to choice for loud noise exposures, like lawn mowing, and vacuuming.
The Mack's Ultra Soft is another good choice, and also a little larger. These are quite comfortable, and I like these for sleeping.
Thanks, let me know what you find out as it seems we are on a similar quest. I have custom molded earplugs that work well, but I hardly ever use them because the occlusion effect I get while wearing them is horrible.
I still have a few from an old box (the firm ones) and the difference is really noticeable.
Unfortunately, my ear canals aren't just a little larger than average. I guess I'm just oddly proportioned like that.
Which earplugs are larger? I'll try them out. Buying a box that I may or may not end up using is not a big deal to me if it means protecting my hearing better.
@Alue
https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leigh...d+leight+max1&qid=1556335524&s=gateway&sr=8-4
Howard Leight Max 1's are the larger. Just be careful as the real ones come wrapped 2 in a pack, but there are cheap knockoffs.
https://www.amazon.com/Howard-Leigh...d+leight+max1&qid=1556335524&s=gateway&sr=8-4
Howard Leight Max 1's are the larger. Just be careful as the real ones come wrapped 2 in a pack, but there are cheap knockoffs.
Thanks. I order a lot of things off Amazon, but I'm becoming more and more wary of knockoffs. Are the ones sold on Amazon the real ones?
I find it frustrating that there aren't more options out there. There are small and child sized earplugs for small ear canals, but nothing for extra-large ear canals. The bigger the opening, the more sound gets through.
You have to look. I have bought them twice on Amazon and gotten genuine ones. The 200 box, AFAIK from Amazon as the seller, is genuine. Those resellers are garbage!
Does anyone ever get ear pain from ear plugs or inflammation?
I had 3M and green Howard Leight plugs but eventually my ears got inflamed and soon after that, ear pain (right ear, most recently). I don't know if it is directly from the plugs or some form of h.
I was considering trying Howard leight laser lites (pink and yellow plugs) but now I don't know what to do. I want to try different muffs but the left side of my X4A seems to press too hard on my neck near the ear bone. I have adjusted them multiple times.
I don't know how to solve this. Has anyone ever had anything remotely similar to this?
I had 3M and green Howard Leight plugs but eventually my ears got inflamed and soon after that, ear pain (right ear, most recently). I don't know if it is directly from the plugs or some form of h.
I was considering trying Howard leight laser lites (pink and yellow plugs) but now I don't know what to do. I want to try different muffs but the left side of my X4A seems to press too hard on my neck near the ear bone. I have adjusted them multiple times.
I don't know how to solve this. Has anyone ever had anything remotely similar to this?
@PeteJ
Did you consider some sort of allergic reaction or contact dermatitis? Could also be otitis externa?
Need to have a doctor take a look into the ear canal. I would not use any earplugs until this gets looked at.
Reusing earplugs can be a setup for an ear infection.
Both of those earplugs are not coated, and have open cells. You may do better with a sealed design, or the old fashioned PVC ones, and not the newer polyurethane ones.
A low profile ear muff is less protective, but may be more comfortable for you.
Did you consider some sort of allergic reaction or contact dermatitis? Could also be otitis externa?
Need to have a doctor take a look into the ear canal. I would not use any earplugs until this gets looked at.
Reusing earplugs can be a setup for an ear infection.
Both of those earplugs are not coated, and have open cells. You may do better with a sealed design, or the old fashioned PVC ones, and not the newer polyurethane ones.
A low profile ear muff is less protective, but may be more comfortable for you.
Well I inquired about the change in the Hearos Xtreme product and got this response.
I'm glad they responded, but I'm pretty disappointed they changed things. I for one have noticed a huge drop in the noise reduction and it doesn't seem like I'm the only one.
I'm glad they responded, but I'm pretty disappointed they changed things. I for one have noticed a huge drop in the noise reduction and it doesn't seem like I'm the only one.
Indeed. They did drop the reported NRR, but only by one. As myself and a couple others have noted, it seems to be a much bigger difference than that.
Those NRR are really just estimates, and will depend on a number of factors including how it fits in the user's ear canal, and how deep it is inserted. A drop in the NRR can't be a good thing though, and may indicate a drop in quality from cheapening it up too much. I look for the NRR 33's for my lawn work personally.
- Aug 21, 2014
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If I leave foam plugs in for long enough that they absorb moisture and expand more, then this will create pain, which is also painful to (slowly and carefully) remove the plug. In general I tend to stop whatever I'm doing and take plugs out / replace as needed, before things get to that point. This is why I use silicone plugs for sleep, rather than foam; silicone plugs do not create this same situation (though they can still create discomfort because of air pressure).
Howard Leight max plugs were worse in this regard than cheap generic orange ones, but overall I still think they're better plugs, at least for stuff like motorcycles and chainsaws where it really matters.
O' I know. That's the point I was getting at. My problem is my ear canals are larger than most, so more than likely I get less NRR because of that fact alone. It's hard finding ones that feel like they give me adaquite protection as it is, the Hearos Xtreme were the only ones I found until they changed their formula.
Yes. Olive oil helps soothe the irritated skin and makes them slide in and out more easily. It's just like a friction burn on the inside of your ear canal.
I like custom molded ear plugs when you need to wear them a lot: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00WIXL4UM/
Bumping this thread. Why can't they make extra large earplugs??? It's not one size fits all and earplugs being too small makes them useless for people with large ear canals.
I have several pairs of custom molded earplugs. They work roughly around as well as deeply inserted foam earplugs, they're comfortable, but the occlusion effect I get with them is HORRIBLE. I have a deep voice and it just ends up being booming in my head when I'm wearing custom molded earplugs. I have to lower my voice so much that people can't hear me or talk loud enough that it really irritates my ears.
I have several pairs of custom molded earplugs. They work roughly around as well as deeply inserted foam earplugs, they're comfortable, but the occlusion effect I get with them is HORRIBLE. I have a deep voice and it just ends up being booming in my head when I'm wearing custom molded earplugs. I have to lower my voice so much that people can't hear me or talk loud enough that it really irritates my ears.
I've tried doing this for similar reasons, but the silicone earplugs either seem to fall out when I sleep, or they form this air tight suction seal when I put them in. I'd wear custom molded earplugs, but they are uncomfortable when laying on your side.
I have to give my ears a break sometime!
Mister Muso
Member
3M Clear E-A-R silicon musician's earplugs for general use. They're discreet and you can leave them half in for a little noise reduction allowing easy conversation, then push them further in when needed.
Mack's Ultra Soft foam plugs, NRR 32 when you need something stronger.
Try to avoid over reliance on earplugs though especially if you have hyperacusis.
Mack's Ultra Soft foam plugs, NRR 32 when you need something stronger.
Try to avoid over reliance on earplugs though especially if you have hyperacusis.
- Aug 21, 2014
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I have the first problem a lot less if I break an earplug in half, and use one for both ears.
They do form an air tight seal, as do all earplugs that work, but because they don't go into the ear canal, I don't have the problem with them expanding overnight and hurting.
Too small for me. Like I said, I have large ear canals. In particular my right ear canal seems larger than my left. If the plug is too small it's next to useless.
Mister Muso
Member
Yes I do have quite small ear canals. Other plugs I've tried have been too big and wouldn't go in at all.
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