GophersGarage
Well-known member
I am looking for in ear disposable version. I see a lot of talk on the standard 3m 1100 vs the 3m soft 1250 vs Flents brand
your thoughts?
your thoughts?
Which disposable ear plugs do you recommend?
- Thread starter GophersGarage
- Start date
cvairwerks
Well-known member
You need to look a the NRR rating first......Higher the NRR, the better. In this case, the ones you show are NRR 33's. Almost any 33 rated ones are going to be quite similar and about the only differences, other than color and cost, will be corded or not.
The 1100's are NRR 29's, and the 1250's are NRR 32.
The 1100's are NRR 29's, and the 1250's are NRR 32.
OP
GophersGarage
Well-known member
Thanks
for me no matter I am just looking for something to use during car detailing etc I use my 3m over ear ear muffs for real work.
for me no matter I am just looking for something to use during car detailing etc I use my 3m over ear ear muffs for real work.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I use 3m skull screws. They are corded and have a plastic piece that allows you to insert them without having to put your dirty hands on the foam. Not sure what the nrr is, but it's what we use at work in loud manufacturing environments, so I know they meet testing requirements
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Ive been using the band style. I wear them around my neck in between uses. It's so convenient and I'm more likely to use this style.
When I need ear plugs, my hands are usually not clean, and I hate compressing and cramming dirt in my ears.
Im currently using these 20 NRR SAS 6102 which still allows me to hear when talking but makes the machinery I'm around tolerable:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000M5Z6HK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I like the ones tethered on a string for hardhat use.
When I need ear plugs, my hands are usually not clean, and I hate compressing and cramming dirt in my ears.
Im currently using these 20 NRR SAS 6102 which still allows me to hear when talking but makes the machinery I'm around tolerable:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000M5Z6HK/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I like the ones tethered on a string for hardhat use.
bluedog225
Well-known member
I’ve been using the 3m yellow ones for decades. They are lying around everywhere. Many trips through the washer. Not supposed to reuse but I do. No issues. Though I use the muffs more as I believe they globally provide better protection. Esp sharp/loud noises that travel through the bone.
kngelv
Well-known member
The most comfortable are the foam Howard Leight. They are not as abrasive as most others.
James
James
This.
I use the Howard Leight LPF-1's as they are low pressure and much more comfy but still NRR 30.
RTM
Well-known member
Look for the extra soft foam ones. Some of the real cheap ones are quite rigid and abrasive, hurt the heck out of my ears. (We run Howard Leight Laser Lite in my lab, NRR 32)
Corded are worth the few extra ¢ each.
I'm not a fan of the
tree kind, find I don't get a consistent seal with them.
Reading how to put them in makes a huge difference. I see people with them practically falling out of their ears cuz they just jam them in, complaining they don't work. Others take the time to roll them (as noted, hard with dirty hands), stretch the ear and insert, and don't hear a thing.
Corded are worth the few extra ¢ each.
I'm not a fan of the
tree kind, find I don't get a consistent seal with them.Reading how to put them in makes a huge difference. I see people with them practically falling out of their ears cuz they just jam them in, complaining they don't work. Others take the time to roll them (as noted, hard with dirty hands), stretch the ear and insert, and don't hear a thing.
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I use plugs daily in a high noise industrial setting. We have access to just about every option out there at our safety store. General consensus for comfort, noise cancelation and ease of use are the Moldex Sparkplug.
MOLDEX Sparkplugs Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pairs Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Work, Travel, Shooting - 33dB Highest NRR Made in USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DJ4IER4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
At home in the garage, and while sleeping during the day, I use Howard Leight by Honeywell Max Lite. They are softer and more comfortable for longer use. They don't protrude as far as the Sparkplugs, ideal for sleeping. They also come in a corded version.
Howard Leight by Honeywell Maximum Lite Low Pressure Disposable Foam Earplugs, 200-Pairs (LPF-1), Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RMFGGY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
MOLDEX Sparkplugs Soft Foam Earplugs 50 Pairs Ear Plugs for Sleeping, Snoring, Work, Travel, Shooting - 33dB Highest NRR Made in USA https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01DJ4IER4/?tag=atomicindus08-20
At home in the garage, and while sleeping during the day, I use Howard Leight by Honeywell Max Lite. They are softer and more comfortable for longer use. They don't protrude as far as the Sparkplugs, ideal for sleeping. They also come in a corded version.
Howard Leight by Honeywell Maximum Lite Low Pressure Disposable Foam Earplugs, 200-Pairs (LPF-1), Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000RMFGGY/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Ton ton
Well-known member
I have been waiting a long time for a PPE thread to show up. Thank you for the effort you put into this thread OP. I'm always looking for better earplugs.
superspec
Well-known member
I grew up with the yellow 3m with blue cord barrel shaped ones at home. My dad worked at a paper mill so they were plentiful. I grew up slow rolling them and working them into my ears. If it didn’t get a good fit dad pointed it out.
FF 35 years and I did contract work at the same mill. They still use the same ear plugs. It was also wild to see how many mill hands improperly use company provided PPE.
FF 35 years and I did contract work at the same mill. They still use the same ear plugs. It was also wild to see how many mill hands improperly use company provided PPE.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Ironic, my current experience is with paper mills. Considering the amount of water, pulp and fiberglass around, no one should be touching the plugs before pushing them into their ears. The options available today for insert able plugs that don't require rolling are quite good.
After switching to them at home, my ears are noticeably cleaner after a day of working on projects
oldtractors
Well-known member
You have to try multiple different ones and find the ones that are comfortable and work for you. Everyone is different.
tool_scrounge
Well-known member
Howard leight MAX-1 ear plugs, 33NRR. The fit me well and have smooth surfaces so they get less dirty with handling. I really like them.
Nutria
Well-known member
For me, these by a mile:
www.macksearplugs.com
Pillow Soft™ Silicone Earplugs: Find a Retailer | Mack's Ear Plug
Mack's Pillow Soft® Silicone Ear Plugs provide comfortable and effective hearing protection for sleep, swimming, and travel. Find a retailer near you!
www.macksearplugs.com
RedneckWelder
Well-known member
3M makes or used to make a larger, fluffier, softer one that I like the most and is the most comfortable.
Work buys Howard Leight generic orange ones that are OK but not as comfortable.
Work buys Howard Leight generic orange ones that are OK but not as comfortable.
mike93lx
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I am sure those are comfortable, but a nrr of 22db is way below.most options for workshop useFor me, these by a mile:
Pillow Soft™ Silicone Earplugs: Find a Retailer | Mack's Ear Plug
Mack's Pillow Soft® Silicone Ear Plugs provide comfortable and effective hearing protection for sleep, swimming, and travel. Find a retailer near you!
superspec
Well-known member
I put them in at 6am with clean fingers and they came out at end of day.
We've been rocking the 3m corded neon blasts for a while, especially popular with the guys if we're around compressors/blowers/pumps all day. If we're going to be taking them in and out a lot in dirty environments we have 3m corded express pods around too.
tez929rr
Well-known member
This. I buy the boxes with 200 pairs - use them on the bikes and when shooting (under earmuffs).
Surprised we don't have more people who shoot?
Once you get proper Silicone custom molded ear plugs made to your own ears you just don't understand how effective AND how comfortable ear plugs can be!
I worked decades in offshore oil and gas which is a massively noisy environment with constant 24/7 activity that never stops. I worked with them in and had to sleep with them too because of the intense noise.
Made from Silicone and they are right and left marked red for right and blue for left. They just fit so well you don't know they are there. I used those crappy foam cylinders for years. You can keep ALL that junk! Get Silicon molded plugs made to your ears.
The one downside? Cost! About $160 for the set but they don't seem to wear out and cleaning is a breeze since they are Silicon. Any gun store will be able to send you to the right guy. I went to his house to get the Silicone injected. Strange to sit around for 10 minutes or so with your ears full of Silicone!
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Once you get proper Silicone custom molded ear plugs made to your own ears you just don't understand how effective AND how comfortable ear plugs can be!
I worked decades in offshore oil and gas which is a massively noisy environment with constant 24/7 activity that never stops. I worked with them in and had to sleep with them too because of the intense noise.
Made from Silicone and they are right and left marked red for right and blue for left. They just fit so well you don't know they are there. I used those crappy foam cylinders for years. You can keep ALL that junk! Get Silicon molded plugs made to your ears.
The one downside? Cost! About $160 for the set but they don't seem to wear out and cleaning is a breeze since they are Silicon. Any gun store will be able to send you to the right guy. I went to his house to get the Silicone injected. Strange to sit around for 10 minutes or so with your ears full of Silicone!
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cvairwerks
Well-known member
Some people can't use the molded plugs. We had about a 15% failure rate on molded plugs at work. About 450 of us were fitted for some very expensive headset/molded plug combination ANR/Communication units and somewhere around 50 people couldn't get them to fit correctly and provide the proper seals. At over 2K$ a person for the headset, ear inserts, batteries and chargers , it was an expensive failure.
Our audiology lab makes passive ones in house, and it still runs about 10-15% failure on them. One of the guys on my crew had to have his remade 3 times before they gave up.
Our audiology lab makes passive ones in house, and it still runs about 10-15% failure on them. One of the guys on my crew had to have his remade 3 times before they gave up.
RTM
Well-known member
I had the custom molded ones back when I worked in a brewery, and they were ok. They were a harder plastic, not silicone. They were great for convenience, but I don’t think the NRR was as high as the foam ones.
I have a set of Decibullz waiting to be fitted here at home, they have an NRR of 31, so hoping for good things.
I have a set of Decibullz waiting to be fitted here at home, they have an NRR of 31, so hoping for good things.
neophyte
Well-known member
Cool thing about goam earplugs.
If you wear them while you sleep,
And put them in while your ear canals are wet, such as after a shower,
Ear wax will cling to the foam plugs as the water evaporates thru the foam,
And this will eventually clear most of the ear wax over time if you have an issue with that.
At least it works with the 3M plugs.
If you have problems with ear infections after wearing ear plugs or ear muffs a lot,
A bit of colloidal silver dropped in the ear will likely sort the issue out.
If you wear them while you sleep,
And put them in while your ear canals are wet, such as after a shower,
Ear wax will cling to the foam plugs as the water evaporates thru the foam,
And this will eventually clear most of the ear wax over time if you have an issue with that.
At least it works with the 3M plugs.
If you have problems with ear infections after wearing ear plugs or ear muffs a lot,
A bit of colloidal silver dropped in the ear will likely sort the issue out.