The best motorcycle earplugs to protect your ears on the go

Published: 17 August 2023 Updated: 15 April 2024

Whichever way you look at it, riding motorbikes is a noisy business, so motorcycle earplugs are generally considered to be a good idea.

Sustained exposure to a continuous loud noise can seriously damage your hearing and cause conditions like tinnitus that can blight the lives of sufferers.

The problem isn’t so much the sound of an internal combustion engine doing its thing (unless it’s constantly at full chat, such as riding your bike on a track or firing through an obnoxiously loud exhaust) but the turbulent roar of wind ripping around a helmet. Thankfully a decent pair of motorcycle earplugs can make all the difference.

Tests have shown that the interior of a motorcycle helmet can experience Sound Pressure Levels (SPL) well in excess of 100dB, and this can quickly end up causing permanent hearing damage. There is also the potential for increased fatigue, which can lead to a dangerous drop in concentration on long journeys.

The best motorcycle earplugs at a glance:

Best cheap ones: Howard Leight Laser Lite – view on Amazon UK
Best compact ones: Oxford FilterBuds – view on Sportsbikeshop
Best moulded ones: CF Motoblock – view on Custom Fit Guards
Best value ones: Pinlock Ear Plugs – view on Sportsbikeshop

There are lots of different motorcycle earplugs available, from incredibly cheap disposable off-the-shelf ones to custom-made items costing significant money. We’ve listed a broad selection of what’s available, along with real-world reviews and an overview of key points.

Top motorcycle earplugs

Howard Leight Laser Lite

Best cheap ones

Price: £14.94

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Classic foam motorcycle earplugs regularly used in loud working environments. Recognisable for their 'rhubarb and custard' colours, these are disposable and only really last for a day before you need a fresh pair.

Tested by Justin Hayzelden for more than 10 years and over 50,000 miles.

These squidgy little 'rhubarb and custard' foam plugs were my introduction to hearing protection. They're so easy to use - simply roll between thumb and forefinger, insert into the ear canal and then hold them in place for a few moments as they expand to make a seal. Providing your ears aren't particularly greasy, they should stay in place for the day. I've worn them for in excess of eight hours continuously, and comfort is certainly not an issue. In fact, you can't feel they're in at all.

At 35 dB, the SNR is just about as effective as earplugs get. For keeping out noise, they can't be faulted. However, it is a total block and useful sounds such as engine noise, traffic and voices are heavily muted.

Howard Leight Laser Lites are designed as a disposable, single-use item, which does have environmental implications if you wear them on a regular basis. I've binned countless pairs over the years, and the lack of biodegradability is the reason I no longer use them. It's also why I've marked them down for quality.

Despite those drawbacks, they're still the choice of many professional riders, as they do exactly what they're supposed to and are dead cheap - especially if you buy in bulk.

CE approved. SNR 35.

Pros

Easy to use
Economical

Cons

Not great for the environment

Quality:

4.0
Value:

5.0

Oxford FilterBuds

Best compact ones

Price: £15.94 (was £19.99)

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

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These reusable, silicone-free earplugs are hypoallergenic and come in a handy carry case you can clip to your keyring. They claim to filter the damaging noise but let the rest through so you can hear what's around you.

Tested by Adam Binnie for 500 miles.

I've had a hard time finding motorcycle earplugs I like - most I've tried block out too much noise, making me feel disorientated and off-balance, and also removing the thing I like much about riding a motorbike - the engine and exhaust noise.

These Oxford FilterBuds have a lower SNR number than others on this list,t and I'm fine with that because I have a brilliantly quiet helmet (a Schuberth C5,) so there's only a bit of wind rustle to dial out anyway. For an off-the-peg pair, they fit my ears remarkably well, and although I can't quantify it, the 'filtering' Oxford promises (less wind noise without blocking engine or traffic sounds) works really well, certainly better than a foam set.

Hypoallergenic and silicone free, they are comfortable to wear for a long ride and small enough when inserted so they don't catch on your helmet and get pulled out. Just be careful you don't poke them in too far, as I've found that compact design also means they can sometimes be tricky to remove, despite coming with an extended tab to pull on.

They're a good price and come with a hard keyring case - great for protecting the plugs but annoying when it rattles against your top yoke, so better off stashed in a pocket.

Pros

Hypoallergenic
Silicone-free
Handy carry case

Cons

Sometimes tricky to remove

Quality:

4.0
Value:

5.0

CF Motoblock

Best bespoke ones

Price: £79.00

customfitguards.com

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The CF Block is a completely solid custom ear plug that reduces approximately 30dB of noise. It gives all the comfort of our custom-fit hearing protection with the highest protection level possible at all times.

Tested by Justin Hayzelden for 2 months, 2,200 miles.

Disposable foam earplugs do the job well enough, but they don't always fit right and chucking them away after every ride can feel a bit wasteful. The solution is to get a reusable bespoke set made, so I employed Custom Fit Guards' home service' to come to my house and take moulds of my ear canals. The process took less than ten minutes, and eight weeks later, I was presented with a pair of made-to-measure plugs.

Although products with specific filters and integrated speakers are available, I opted for the 'CF Motoblock', which offers the maximum sound reduction at a claimed 30dB. Out of the box, they feel suitably durable, with a metal bung in place of a filter and red/blue markings for left/right ear.

Inserting them requires a bit of a knack. The medical grade silicone doesn't slide against skin, quite the opposite, in fact, but like a double D-ring helmet strap, it becomes much easier with practice. Once wiggled in, they fit snug and secure, as only a custom product can. There's a slight sensation of weight, but it's not in any way uncomfortable, more reassuring, if anything.

On the move, the effect on noise reduction is dramatic, cutting wind roar to little more than a background effect. Even though the CF Motoblock doesn't have a filter, the soundscape seems much richer than with foam plugs. Engine and exhaust notes are clear enough to bring a smile to my face, and vital sounds, such as traffic and emergency vehicles, are not unduly muffled. Even with a helmet on, it's not that hard to discern speech, and a conversation can still be had without shouting like a lost tourist looking for the beach.

It's hard to estimate exactly how much fatigue is caused by wind noise, but with these, in place, I feel that I can stay at peak concentration far longer - and that's got to be a good thing. The only negative comment I have is the production time being twice that as advertised. That said, a perfect fit was worth the wait, and after living with the Motoblock, I'd be very reluctant to go back to foam... Manufacturer claimed 30dB reduction.

Pros

Perfect fit for you
30dB reduction
Range of colours

Cons

There is a cost for fitting if you can't get the CF's HQ

Quality:

4.0
Value:

4.0

Pinlock Ear Plugs

Best reusable ones<br><br>Tested by Justin Hayzelden for three months

Price: £17.76 (was £19.99)

www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk

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If you’ve bought a helmet in the last twenty years, the chances are that you’ve used (or at least heard of) Pinlock anti-fog visor inserts. What you may not know is that the company renowned for keeping vision clear, also make a product designed to help with hearing. I’ve been using unfiltered custom fit plugs for a few years, which effectively reduce all sounds to a minimum, but having recently kitted out my lid with a Cardo comms system, I wanted to try something that would allow me to enjoy its JBL speakers on the move.

Manufactured from soft, medical grade TPE, these plugs slip into the ear canal with a gentle push, whilst pulling the outer ear back to open the orifice. Two sizes are included in the pack for the best fit. I’ve worn them for hours on end and, provided you get them in right to begin with, they’ll stay in place all day – even in my greasy lugholes. Removal is a simple case of pulling on the tab. In the centre of each plug is a red plastic filter, and this tiny pill is key to their performance. Sound reduction is a certified SNR24, which in practice means a dramatic reduction in wind roar and other damaging frequencies, but thanks to the filter, both music and speech from my in-helmet comms comes through clearly. It’s easy enough to hear other road users too, as well as engine and exhaust noise, and to be able to communicate at standstill.

The filter is removable so that you can wash the plugs to keep them fresh (soapy water does the trick) and Pinlock even include a carry case that has space for a credit card and key. There’s no sign of a drop off in fit or performance as yet, so for £20 they offer great value for money and a more eco-friendly solution than disposables.

Pros

Handy carry case
Two sizes of plugs

Cons

Don't stay in as well after several uses

Quality

4.0
Value

4.0

AURITECH Biker Earplugs

Best comfy ones

Rrp: £19.95

Price: £18.95

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Made in silicone-free plastic, these auritech Biker Earplugs use three different-sized 'flanges' to ensure a proper fit while remaining exceptionally comfortable. The flexible design means a good seal, and they use an internal filter to allow useful sound, like the noise of other road users, for example - to come through while removing the damaging noise. It also means you can hear any intercoms for phone calls, music or sat nav instructions. They come with a handy keyring storage tube too. SNR 35

Pros

Let some noise in
Come with a storage tube

Cons

Soft construction makes them tricky to get in

Earpeace Moto Earplugs

Best adjustable ones

Price: £29.95

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The idea here is that in addition to three hypoallergenic silicone flanged earplugs, you get three pairs of interchangeable filters to allow you to tailor the amount of noise that comes through, depending on whether you're riding in town and need to hear traffic around you or on a motorway where you want to cut as much wind noise as possible. SNR 17/20/26

Pros

Three interchangeable filters
Three sizes of earplugs

Cons

You always wonder if there's a better combination of plug and filter

Decibullz

Best mouldable ones

Price: £49.99

View Offer

These mouldable motorcycle earplugs from Decibullz take things one step further. They pair thermoplastic mouldable sections with either flanged or nosed ear foams. You heat the mouldable section in boiling water, let them cool and then mould them to fit your earlobes, helping seal against noise while giving a personal fit to your ear to prevent them from falling out. It's an interesting concept, and they can be heated and re-moulded again if necessary. You can also get them with speakers built in, for example, for connecting to intercoms. SNR 27

Pros

Moulded to your ears
Self-fit at home
Version with speakers available

Cons

Other plugs have better noise reduction

Loop Quiet

Best funky ones

Price: £22.95

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These weird-looking earplugs from the USA come in two flavours. Quiet blocks all sound, reducing noise by 27dB, while the Experience reduces it by 18dB to allow speech and other sounds through, thanks to its 'acoustic channel' forming part of the circular section and an integrated filter system. And while the Loop Quiet may have a unique appearance, once you've got your helmet on, who's to know? SNR -18dB Experience, -27dB Quiet

Pros

Look cool
Lots of bud options to get the perfect fit
Handy carry case

Cons

Start falling out after prolonged use

Jabra Elite 75t

Best connected ones

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These Jabra Elite 75t earbuds work exceptionally well as earplugs, albeit rather bulky. The HearThrough system uses the microphones to play ambient sounds into your ears, allowing you to hear traffic around you, for example. With it turned off, they block an impressive amount of noise while also pairing with your smartphone for audio or sat nav instructions. SNR N/A

Read our full Jabra Elite Active 75t wireless earbuds review

Pros

Audio for sat nav or music
HearThrough system lets you hear traffic

Cons

Bulky

Things to consider before you buy:

There are several things to consider when purchasing earplugs. In order to compare their effectiveness, look for the SNR or Single Number Rating.

This indicates by how much they reduce noise in decibels (dB) as per ISO certification. The bigger the number, the greater the reduction. There’s also CE approval to EN 352-2, the certification for hearing PPE.

Noise reduction is, of course, the goal, but cut out too much sound, and you may lose some that’s helpful, such as engine, traffic and emergency vehicles.

This is where filters come in, as they will still allow certain frequencies to be heard. With the right filter, wind noise can be reduced without losing the ability to hold a conversation.

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

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By Jim Blackstock

Keen wet weather rider and dedicated product tester for MCN and sister publication RiDE Magazine.

Pinlock reusable ear plugs