Bonneville America Forums Forums Rider Safety Forums Helmets and Gear Helmet w/ extra room for ears

I'm going to start looking around for a new full-face helmet, and was wondering if anyone else has run into this:

I wear earplugs when I ride just about all the time. That's not a problem normally, but on long days I get some pretty severe pain in my ear canal after a few hours. Short breaks help at first, but on really long days the pain is still there even after I remove the ear plugs. Just wearing my helmet for a long time doesn't cause it, and just wearing earplugs for a long time also doesn't bother my ears. I'm pretty sure it's the padding inside my helmet pressing against the end of the ear plug that's causing the pain. (I usually use the purple Flents foam plugs, but have also tried some other types of plugs with similar results. Even tried the wax, but couldn't get the seal to stay with these. Helmet's a HJC CS-12 that's about four+ years old).

Before I start shopping around, I was wondering if there are helmets out there without tight padding right against your ears. I don't listen to music with ear buds when I ride, but it seems like people who do this would need some extra room where the end of the ear bud and the wire stick out of your ear. Maybe I need to look at helmets that are built for communication systems? I'm just wondering if any of you have suggestions for full-face helmets that are built like this.

Thanks,

Will

Take a look at Nolan, the N-series is designed for helmet communications and it seems like the ear padding in mine is really easy at the ear canal. To date the Nolan N-43 is my favorite...adaptable 3/4 or full face, nice air movement and wonderful wide field of view.

Shoei Multitec

I run into the same problems you have. I also like some tunes inside the helmet as I ride. Found the newer HJCs best for installing a bluetooth headset with those flat style speakers. I use a Sena unit in the HJC 3/4-IS 33. No pressure on the ears. Just bought a new Arai RXQ full face. Wonderful quality helmet. Those same speakers just fit in, but I can feel them as the ride progresses. Also, ear plugs create pressure and hurt after a while. Seems most full face helmets are meant to fit tight to the head and leave little room for ear buds, etc. I may try a set of those individual form fitting ear plugs with the built in speakers next.

Thanks guys. I haven't been able to get my hands on a Nolan around here to try on, but did put on some Shoei Qwest, Multitec, and RF1100, a few Arai's and HJC's. I like the feel of a regular full-face more than the flip-ups, so I've decided on the Shoei RF1100. It's got some ear room (it's Blue Tooth-ready), quite a bit more than my old helmet has. I think it's going to be a big improvement for the ride up to NY in a couple of weeks.

Will

Husband wears a Shoei full face and uses earplugs and no problems. Good Luck.

Try cotton balls.

I use normal earplugs when shooting and experience the same pain you do. But for riding, I take a cotton ball, rip off a piece just big enough to fit tightly in my ear canal(but not too small either, you don't want it to get lost in there). I find this provides all of the noise protection I need but without the pain.

It also allows me to hear what I need to hear.