Ear plugs, to wear or not wear, style etc. seems to fall into the "personal preference" category. I've gotten in the habit of wearing the 25 cent a pair foam rubber disposable kind from the local pharmacy. For me they eliminate wind noise, sharp exhaust under power noise and I can still hear conversations and other background noises including traffic.

I have some hearing loss in my left ear from 1) a childhood infection, 2) a Wishbone Ash concert in 1974, 3) chainsaws, 4) 20,000 hours of holding a telephone against the side of my head.

Good luck

JH

"It's not what I say that's important, it's what you hear" Red Auerbach