ear plugs

[Former member 42123]

After my first Camino I was aware of the value and necessity of ear plugs.I allways carry a bag of earplugs with me to use and offer to nearby sleepers if in smaller rooms(I too snore).On C.P.this year I shared a two bed room with a gentleman from France ,who had walked many Camino's.As is my habit,I offered him earplugs and he fell about laughing.He said no thanks,but it was the funniest thing he had ever seen on Camino.He insisted I hold my bag of earplugs so he could photo us,and assured me this would be his "story" of his Camino,and he would tell all at home about this Irish Peregrino with his special equipment.

 

[Jacobus]

After my first Camino I was aware of the value and necessity of ear plugs.I allways carry a bag of earplugs with me to use and offer to nearby sleepers if in smaller rooms(I too snore).On C.P.this year I shared a two bed room with a gentleman from France ,who had walked many Camino's.As is my habit,I offered him earplugs and he fell about laughing.He said no thanks,but it was the funniest thing he had ever seen on Camino.He insisted I hold my bag of earplugs so he could photo us,and assured me this would be his "story" of his Camino,and he would tell all at home about this Irish Peregrino with his special equipment.

Hola
I take a set of noise cancelling ear phones. They work wonders. Not so much of a help to those around me although I seldom snore.My wife says my snoring is alcohol related. I disagree, it's relaxation related of course, at least that's what they told me at my last meeting

 

[Rich1]

Definitely a very important piece of kit - meant I could get to sleep AND stay asleep.
I even took spares

 

[Anniesantiago]

I wouldn't walk the Camino without earplugs!

 

[AnnieS]

Any alternatives to earplugs? I have problems using them - they don't stay in my ears too well (very narrow ear canal), plus they make my ears itchy (allergy to the material?) which can lead to outer ear infection. I don't want to spend money investing in noise canceling headphones and I don't own any electronics anyway!

 

[rossmckay]

Any alternatives to earplugs? I have problems using them - they don't stay in my ears too well (very narrow ear canal), plus they make my ears itchy (allergy to the material?) which can lead to outer ear infection. I don't want to spend money investing in noise canceling headphones and I don't own any electronics anyway!

I'm afflicted with the narrow ear canal thing but as a long time motorcycle rider it was either plugs or deafness. I use Howard Leight Laser Lite as they are very soft and compressible and don't press hard when they expand. I'll be taking six packs with me as they would only weigh a couple of grams each. I'd be looking at throwing them away after one use to see if that solved the irritation thing.

If not there are different style of plugs and Etymotic http://www.etymotic.com/consumer/hearing-protection.html are a leading exponent of these.

 

[AnnieS]

@rossmckay Thanks for the info! I'll check into the Howard Leight Laser earplugs to see if they are available here in Canada. I like that you say they don't press hard when they expand. I find the foam ones hurt when they expand. The other alternative is to let my ear wax really build up and have the most 'natural ear plugs ever'...and hear nothing night or day!!

 

[Dave2525]

I too, found them invaluable. With all the snoring, movement, etc I couldn't have slept without them

 

[gerardcarey]

Someone on the forum noted they had used an all wax variety which adapted readily to the ear canal shape.
Anyone have any knowledge or a link to same?
Regds
Gerard

 

[LauraK]

After my first Camino I was aware of the value and necessity of ear plugs.I allways carry a bag of earplugs with me to use and offer to nearby sleepers if in smaller rooms(I too snore).On C.P.this year I shared a two bed room with a gentleman from France ,who had walked many Camino's.As is my habit,I offered him earplugs and he fell about laughing.He said no thanks,but it was the funniest thing he had ever seen on Camino.He insisted I hold my bag of earplugs so he could photo us,and assured me this would be his "story" of his Camino,and he would tell all at home about this Irish Peregrino with his special equipment.

I had a similar humorous snoring incident. I walked with some men from Catalonia one day. At the albergue I got a top bunk with one of the men on the bottom bunk. He tied a string around his wrist and then looped it up to my bunk and told me to just tug on the string if he snored. I said "okay?!?"....and then the three men broke out laughing. I of course took a photo to share at home! (thank goodness I did have ear plugs since he was telling the truth when he said he snored!)

 

[Albertagirl]

I like that you say they don't press hard when they expand. I find the foam ones hurt when they expand. The other alternative is to let my ear wax really build up and have the most 'natural ear plugs ever'...and hear nothing night or day!!

I use soft earplugs which mould to the shape of the ear. They are the only kind that don't pop right out of my ears. The best are the wax and cotton ones. You can get them in Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada. I think that the cotton helps them to stay in one piece, so they can easily be removed. I also have silicone ear plugs, but I find that they cannot be used too many times, or they will disintegrate, leaving half of the plug material in the ear. I find that any soft ear plug is irritating to my ears if used over and over, so throw them out after a few uses and use fresh ones. Both come in packs with several sets.

 

[William Garza]

Zee safety supply 30 NRR
you can not hear much noise.
Magical to wear them until your in the wide open an then take em out...

 

[gracethepilgrim]

The malleable earplugs are available at most pharmacies in Spain (ask for ‘tapones’ and point to your ears)

 

[Harington]

In my experience no earplug can drown out some snorers, because it's not just the noise - it's the fact the snoring resonates, and you can actually feels the vibrations.

 

[peregrina2000]

Someone on the forum noted they had used an all wax variety which adapted readily to the ear canal shape.
Anyone have any knowledge or a link to same?
Regds
Gerard

I now always use Ototaps, after many years of trying all sorts of things. http://ototap.es/tapones-cera-ototap-oto-tap.html They are made of wax, and even though the picture on the website doesn't look like it, they are covered with a light white fuzzy material, kind of like peach fuzz. When warmed up, they mold to the shape of your ear. They are very inexpensive, last for a few uses, and are readily available. Buen camino, Laurie

 

[Griffin57]

Someone on the forum noted they had used an all wax variety which adapted readily to the ear canal shape.
Anyone have any knowledge or a link to same?
Regds
Gerard

I love my earplugs!!! They are also made from wax and cotton, they are from 'Boots the Chemist' in the UK and are called 'Muffles'. I once woke up to a symphony of snorers and they had protected me completely!

 

[Felice]

I used to have problems with ear plugs falling out. In preparation for walking the Camino, I bought an 'ear plug variety trial pack 11 pairs', sold by 3M, from Amazon UK. The pack contained quite a variety of plugs - many made of soft material, and in a variety of sizes. Then, having found that 1 variety suited me, I bought a pack of 20. Neither purchase cost any more than buying a pack of 3 ear plugs from Boots on the high street.

 

[DebofDebandJohn]

A light sleeper, I was a little concerned about any noise. After years of trying near every brand which, hurt my ears and fell out, I decided to have them custom made. Turns out I have small ear canals. These work wonderfully, block out all the background noise, don't hurt and stay in place. I consider them well worth the investment for a sound sleep.

 

[AnnieS]

@JohnandDeborah Where do you go to get custom earplugs? I'm thinking that's what I need!

 

[DebofDebandJohn]

@JohnandDeborah Where do you go to get custom earplugs? I'm thinking that's what I need!

Annie, I looked up a local hearing centre. Usually for hearing aids and sound muffling ear plugs. they also offered sleeping plugs. Brilliant!

 

[Kim DeCelles]

I wouldn't walk the Camino without earplugs!

Me either!

 

[smj6]

Someone on the forum noted they had used an all wax variety which adapted readily to the ear canal shape.
Anyone have any knowledge or a link to same?
Regds
Gerard

Gerard, I've used wax ear plugs for years because my husband snores badly. Boots Chemist (British- based company although they have some shops in overseas airport like Dubai) do a pack of about six (if I recall well). They're comfortable, mould to your ear & block out noise very well (in fact so well that one summer's evening years back, my son forgot his house key & was unable to wake me even though my bedroom window was open, eventually he had to crawl into the dog kennel & curl up with our two Labradors for the rest of the night together with a friend's daughter who was spending the summer with us!!).
Regards
Suzanne

 

[gerardcarey]

Gerard, I've used wax ear plugs for years because my husband snores badly. Boots Chemist (British- based company although they have some shops in overseas airport like Dubai) do a pack of about six (if I recall well). They're comfortable, mould to your ear & block out noise very well (in fact so well that one summer's evening years back, my son forgot his house key & was unable to wake me even though my bedroom window was open, eventually he had to crawl into the dog kennel & curl up with our two Labradors for the rest of the night together with a friend's daughter who was spending the summer with us!!).
Regards
Suzanne

Thank you very kindly ma'am.
Regds
Gerard