'Ultimate' ear protection
Review by Brian Whiting

In our day-to-day lives we all rely on our major senses. When we have difficulty to see then we go to the Opticians and get the eyes checked. But  how many of us give any thought to our hearing, especially those of us who ride motorcycle’s!

Speed has a significant effect on the sound level and for each 12 mph increase in speed the intensity of the sound is doubled. This means that at just over 60 mph, the motorcyclist is exposed to approximately the same sound levels as a circular saw operator who would not be allowed by law to operate this equipment without the mandatory use of hearing protection.

Ultimate sound blockers are manufactured in such a way that they fit comfortably under the helmet without degrading the effectiveness through deformation of the seal in the ear canal.

How are these made. The first stage is to inspect the ears to ensure that a good impression can be made. Stage 2 in the insertion of small sponge blocks to ensure the impressions are at the correct depth in the ear canal before Stage 3, when the impression material is piped into each ear to achieve a perfect impression. This process is a bit like using a small mastic gun to insert sealant into a cavity and is quite painless, and allowed to cure in the ear for about 5 minutes. Following this the impressions are remove from which the protectors are manufactured.

Part 2

I previously outlined the preparation needed for the manufacture of the hearing protection Ultimate sound blockers, which  were due to be sent in a couple of weeks, and promised you the results of how they performed ‘on the road‘.

With a weekend in Snowdonia planned I set off to enjoy the trip. After a while it was time for a break and it was a relief to take the plugs out as they had started to become uncomfortable. The instructions do say that they  need a bit of getting used to in how you fit them. With a bit of practice after the break I found them easier to fit and the remainder to the ride was completed in comfort as far as my ears were concerned, although other parts of the anatomy were beginning to fill the strain.

The long break gave me a chance to try the plugs in a variety of locations and weather, during the rides through and sometimes over the mountain Passes that abound the region. Unlike the usual type of ear plugs you don‘t have to worry about getting them to fit correctly every time as there is only one way you can fit them, as each is marked to show the left and the right.

They are not intended to completely shut out all sound, but to reduce the normal noise associated with bike riding to an acceptable level, which I found to be the case. The bike seemed to burble along rather than sound as if the bottom end is about to break loose.

Do I like them? Yes. Would I recommend them? Yes. Are they worth the price? I think so, but  each will have to make up their own mind as to what price you wish to place on your hearing. After all how much is a person prepared to pay for contact lenses or spectacles to be able to see correctly! Would I go back to the ordinary plugs? Definitely not. Even after  the short period of only a few days the difference was quite marked and made a large contribution  to the enjoyment that I found on the ride home by getting rid of that irritating wind noise that seems to be constantly presence regardless of what type of helmet that is used.

When the final units are received the original moulds are also returned for possible future use should a replacement set be required. As all the ‘fitting‘ has already been done these can therefore be supplied at a reduced price.

Part 3

But why stop there? If you are someone who likes to have music on the go, or use an intercom, or have GPS, then why not combine the best of both worlds and get a set of 'Monitors' that are made from the same moulds as the plugs, but have fitted in them tiny speakers that do away with the need to have helmet speakers attached to the lining, and give a good clear reception without the need to try and listern over the wind noise.

I have been using these Monitors for sometime now since writing parts 1 & 2 and would not use anything else when touring.

Full details about the company and the various types of blockers etc available can be found at www.ultimateear.com or by telephone at 0208 309 4385 in the UK.