Ear Plugs?

[SurfingShark]

Anybody use ear plugs while surfing? I hate the idea, I personally don't like wetsuit hoods because even that has a tendency to deafen me. Unfortunately my ears are getting to a point where the water is just not draining out any more (I use swimmer's ear alcohol mixture to evaporate the water but that just doesn't work anymore either).

For the ear plug surfers out there, how is it? Thoughts? And also, if you use ear plugs what have you found to be the best ones?


Thanks!

[billie_morini]

Many surfers use Doc's Pro Plugs. I sometimes use them when the water is really cold because I get ear infections too easily. Here are some links for them. The reason they are pretty neat is they mass produce well-fitting plugs, without the expense of custom plugs.

https://www.aquagear.com/docs-pro-plugs/
http://www.proplugs.com/mm5/merchant.mv ... e=proplugs

Some people use foam ear plugs designed for loud noise. They provide too much quieting for me. Some surf shops cell a kind of waxy-putty plug. I've never tried these.

[jaffa1949]

Mr. Shark ( I always address sharks politely) I suggest you have your ears checked by a medico, if you are surfing where it is cold enough to,warrant a hood, then you are running the risk of growing bony growth in your ear canal osteitis medialis ( ear plugs can help,prevent this.)

Some of the alcohol ear drops can harden the wax, sand and dead skin help make nice wax pearls, your ears may need syringing get it done medically.. If you have used cotton buds you may also have jammed the wax further into the canals.

I'll do a photo review of plugs to help you, if not hearing with plugs in bugs you. How does genuine hearing loss sound?

Brutal answer , but worth thinking about!

[kitesurfer]

Thanks billie. I will get some of these as the doc has said my ears are starting to develops surfers ear.

KS

[billie_morini]

You are welcome, Kitey. Sorry you are developing that ear condition. By the way, the Doc's Pro Plugs are available with a thin line between them and without.

[kitesurfer]

Is the thin line kind of like the piece of string my mother used to attach to my wooly mittens as a kid? It passed up the arms of my coat so I wouldn't lose them.
If so does one have to thread the thin line attaching the ear plugs through ones ears and out the other side???

KS

[Big H]

If so does one have to thread the thin line attaching the ear plugs through ones ears and out the other side???

I know some people for whom that wouldn't be a big issue.....

[jaffa1949]

Uncle jaffa's review of how ear plugs worked for him. ( note that opinion, is based on how it worked for me )

Number 1.

Docs Pro plugs, comes in various sizes and has a between the ears leash, fitted well and no water entry.
Hearing diminished somewhat and when I was walking in, each footstep produced a loud drum beat in my ears, annoying. After a big paddle I could hear my carotid pulse , sort of OK.
The leash part was at times annoying as my surf hat chin strap and ear flaps kept catching the leash and tugging a plug out if I turned my head suddenly. No irritation of the ear canal.

Number 2

Speedo brand blue ear plugs, prevented water entry well, major hearing loss and reverberation if I spoke. The sticky out bits caught on my surf hat and made loud scrapping sounds if my hat moved, again carotid pulse and footstep noise. Slight irritation from the plucking of the stub end of the plug by the surf hat.

Number 3

The surf ear plugs. Great presentation and storage case, a bit of a performance to insert at first but each time was easier as I became more proficient in placing them.
No water penetration.
All the same sound issues (drumming and heartbeat )and were there but the overall hearing was better, the blue hook was good to hold in the ear but I felt like it was always about to fall out ( probably wouldn't because of the surf hat) but I kept readjusting it.
The fiddling with the plug also produced some feeling of ear canal soreness and slight inflammation ( in fairness this all could be due to first usage and possible not doing it right).
There is also my dislike of ear plugs overall fiddliness and for me just another thing to think about ( often forget to use them) and after wearing hearing aids all day, nothing in my ears feels great.

Thoughts on blue tack, ear putty, silicon balls etc., I wonder about ongoing cleanliness of the substance after a few insertions as the surface is folded and reworked so any stuff becomes part of the plug ( possible source of infection). All the plugs mentioned above can be cleaned by alcohol (Aquaear drops etc).

All plugs are miles better than having the operation to remove boney exostosis from you ear canals. Beside if you have the Op and don't plug the boney growths happen again.

[Big H]

Just another reason to appreciate my warm water environs......

[Jamiemead]

Hi if your surfing in cold water defo wear them , I use zoogs you can hear through them and after a while there ok .
If you don't where them in cold water your get surfers ear , where a growth grows in your ear , very painful to remove surgery required.
Hope this helps

[pmcaero]

I used ear plugs for a while but gave up. I used to get ear aches and some ringing. Now I don't anymore.

2 things helped: if you have hair in your ears, get rid of it. It helps keep water in. Also, after every session, I use instant ear dry solution. Not sure why it doesn't work for you, maybe it's the hairs?