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Custom molded ear pro material
- Thread starter Wssickta
- Start date
I'm not exactly sure of the material, but I use Decibullz, about $25 on Amazon and they work really well and are comfortable too.
The ad says 'thermoplastic material', for what it's worth
The ad says 'thermoplastic material', for what it's worth
You can go to any place that makes hearing aids or an audiologist they will make molds of your ears and when your plugs come in they will have molds with them. This way if you lose them you can get another set without having molds made again. The ones I use a 100% silicon, I don’t know of the other ones but I will say that they are so much better for sound reduction not to mention comfort. I work around has turbines and have worn mine for 12 hours a day, I just forget they are in
I've been running doubled up since before it was cool. My ears took a beating on indoor ranges trying to practice with a comp'd pistol. First sets were courtesy of Uncle Sam and were a very hard silicone 26 years ago. Other than a brief time where I refused to pay a hearing doc $300 for a new pair, since the originals lost their effectiveness due to shrinkage, I've continually worn them for shooting, mowing etc. Eventually I found a company making while you wait at several shows (auto, NRA, PA sportsman's etc.) and decided to give them a try. They are silicone too, but different formula, softer and way more comfortable than originals. Another option is home kits like the Radians or Decibullz. I haven't tried either, but they are cheap enough to buy and test.
I'm assuming you're looking for an in ear rather than over ear, and other than foamiers, you could go the moldable or hearing aid type route. I haven't tried any of the hearing aid types, but if yo go with a reputable company you can have same functionality put into the silicone plugs as well (speakers or active amplification / cancellation).
If you want pure sound deadening you can't beat the moldable for comfort and effectiveness (without the electronics of course). I can wear them all day without too much ear fatigue, but at some point I have to pull them out to let my ears breath. If done right you don't get the pressure like you do from foamies. Also call it laziness but they are easier to get in and out and I'm less likely to lose a plug. However, I definitely second what 308Gunner said. Make sure you get or put cords in if you make them yourself. It's aggravating dropping one plug and it escapes like those super bouncy balls you had as a kid, right as they call range going hot.
One other thing that falls in the personal preference category, but seems to make a difference to me is how the top is molded. My first set had a little tag end that wrapped around into the depression at the top of your ear. My second set did not and they don't seem to be as quiet and tend to "wallow" around in my ear a little more during movement. I grabbed some pics that kind of show the difference. Green is without, pinks is with the added material. Last one shows where it fills in.
The company that makes my plug material is call Insta-mold Products. This is the kit they use or you can get a consumer version as well:
http://www.instamold.com/silicones-...tant-siliconesthe-ear-mold-color-starter-kit/
This is the company I found at the shows:
https://earinc.com
I'm assuming you're looking for an in ear rather than over ear, and other than foamiers, you could go the moldable or hearing aid type route. I haven't tried any of the hearing aid types, but if yo go with a reputable company you can have same functionality put into the silicone plugs as well (speakers or active amplification / cancellation).
If you want pure sound deadening you can't beat the moldable for comfort and effectiveness (without the electronics of course). I can wear them all day without too much ear fatigue, but at some point I have to pull them out to let my ears breath. If done right you don't get the pressure like you do from foamies. Also call it laziness but they are easier to get in and out and I'm less likely to lose a plug. However, I definitely second what 308Gunner said. Make sure you get or put cords in if you make them yourself. It's aggravating dropping one plug and it escapes like those super bouncy balls you had as a kid, right as they call range going hot.
One other thing that falls in the personal preference category, but seems to make a difference to me is how the top is molded. My first set had a little tag end that wrapped around into the depression at the top of your ear. My second set did not and they don't seem to be as quiet and tend to "wallow" around in my ear a little more during movement. I grabbed some pics that kind of show the difference. Green is without, pinks is with the added material. Last one shows where it fills in.
The company that makes my plug material is call Insta-mold Products. This is the kit they use or you can get a consumer version as well:
http://www.instamold.com/silicones-...tant-siliconesthe-ear-mold-color-starter-kit/
This is the company I found at the shows:
https://earinc.com
Thank you!
This is the info I was trying to get into.
I have done the at home semi soft foam DIY kits with reasonable success, as far as fit goes. They just aren’t very durable and absorb dirt, gun powder residue, Ear wax ect. I’ve got a co worker who is a drummer and uses hard acrylic Material in ear with high end speakers. they look awfully uncomfortable for the amount of movement we do and how long we wear them. I was hoping for some feedback on someone who has tried multiple Material options, preferably electronic and not
I think the gov't issued ones I had were like the putty silicone. The one's I currently have look like the swim plugs or hearing protectors. There is a catalyst that gets mixed up with the silicone, they have a small foam piece they push down in your ear with a string attached. They mix, then fill a syringe, inject from ear canal out and fill in. It sets then they use the foam / string to pull them out. Next the harden and they put a sealant on them.
My original set had to be molded, mold sent off like hearing aids and took about 3 months but again that was 25+ years ago. The others on amazon or elsewhere seem to be air hardening and don't really have a protective sealer with them. Mine get filthy when shooting from both powder, dirt or dust on my hands and ear wax. They are slightly porous but a soft tootbrush and dawn typically cleans most of the gunk off. I've got a pair in the Flo orange and yellow so I can hopefully see them when I misplace them.
I may get some of the radians or others to try out, even if they aren't as good as the insta mold stuff, probably still better than the foam. Of course your can't argue with how cheap / available foam ones are.
I think the one's you're referring too you friend has are probably Westone, Sures or Entymnics. They make high end in-ears headphones for for musicians and singers, but also make active hearing protection as well. Pro ear seems to have an new set, Walkers have been around for years. You've got Otto, 3m/peltor, and others. There's plenty of threads on here just search for in-ear hearing protection. I thought about eventually going this route only because I ran into a guy who runs tactical hearing and claims to have non FDA approved but equivalent or better hearing aid type solutions. Problem with most of these is they are pricey.
Other thing I discovered was even with double protection getting hammer by by a brake, the vibrations still get to your inner ear parts. Even as careful as I have been I've still lost hearing over the years. I know some love and some hate them but the current best decision I made was to buy a pair of MSA Sordins to run over the top of my plugs. They seem to do a very good job of knocking down the right frequencies even more so than my non-electronic Peltors. I can actually shoot with them alone if outdoors. Indoors I still have to double up. If I could get that kind of reduction with an in-ear plus the active listening capability that would be awesome, but I don't think that's likely. It's an unsolvable physics problem with sound / vibration proportion form what I've read. Though I never thought the MSAs would be that much better, I probably need to do some research and just test some out to see how well they perform. With the MSAs, I just turn them up and can still hear through the plugs but get the benefits of the electronic enough to hear range commands and conversations.
My original set had to be molded, mold sent off like hearing aids and took about 3 months but again that was 25+ years ago. The others on amazon or elsewhere seem to be air hardening and don't really have a protective sealer with them. Mine get filthy when shooting from both powder, dirt or dust on my hands and ear wax. They are slightly porous but a soft tootbrush and dawn typically cleans most of the gunk off. I've got a pair in the Flo orange and yellow so I can hopefully see them when I misplace them.
I may get some of the radians or others to try out, even if they aren't as good as the insta mold stuff, probably still better than the foam. Of course your can't argue with how cheap / available foam ones are.
I think the one's you're referring too you friend has are probably Westone, Sures or Entymnics. They make high end in-ears headphones for for musicians and singers, but also make active hearing protection as well. Pro ear seems to have an new set, Walkers have been around for years. You've got Otto, 3m/peltor, and others. There's plenty of threads on here just search for in-ear hearing protection. I thought about eventually going this route only because I ran into a guy who runs tactical hearing and claims to have non FDA approved but equivalent or better hearing aid type solutions. Problem with most of these is they are pricey.
Other thing I discovered was even with double protection getting hammer by by a brake, the vibrations still get to your inner ear parts. Even as careful as I have been I've still lost hearing over the years. I know some love and some hate them but the current best decision I made was to buy a pair of MSA Sordins to run over the top of my plugs. They seem to do a very good job of knocking down the right frequencies even more so than my non-electronic Peltors. I can actually shoot with them alone if outdoors. Indoors I still have to double up. If I could get that kind of reduction with an in-ear plus the active listening capability that would be awesome, but I don't think that's likely. It's an unsolvable physics problem with sound / vibration proportion form what I've read. Though I never thought the MSAs would be that much better, I probably need to do some research and just test some out to see how well they perform. With the MSAs, I just turn them up and can still hear through the plugs but get the benefits of the electronic enough to hear range commands and conversations.
Very interesting experiences guys - thanks for sharing. I have used MSA’s exclusively for the last few years, without doubling up when outdoors, only when inside.
I’ve got a pair of otto’s on the way now and bought a few different foam tips to try and find what fits best. I’ve read other places that the custom molded are more comfortable but actually reduce less than some of the better foams you really jan in there like the skulls screws. I don’t plan on using these indoors, just outdoors at rifle comps where it can get hot and sweaty in the muffs. I hope they do a good job in that setting.
I’ve got a pair of otto’s on the way now and bought a few different foam tips to try and find what fits best. I’ve read other places that the custom molded are more comfortable but actually reduce less than some of the better foams you really jan in there like the skulls screws. I don’t plan on using these indoors, just outdoors at rifle comps where it can get hot and sweaty in the muffs. I hope they do a good job in that setting.
That can certainly be true. Problem I have with foams is due to shape of my ear canal and my canals are smaller so a lot of foams cause pressure leading to headaches. Friend just had a set made by audiologist and they didnt do the little tab into to recess at top of ear. I liken it to they did not fully fill his ear with enough putty to get the full seal that you are referring to with foams. One set of mine are like this and if I turn my head or put any induced physical input on my ear, they tend to let a lot of sound by.
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