ear defenders

[Zirax]

Before I embark on a trip to Lemans, I have standard ear plugs as well as frequency target ones... It's been on the cards for a while but does anyone have any reccomendations of what to look for? The EN352 seems to be standard spec.

I have found these which has an FM radio which will be handy,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EAR-DEFENDERS-WITH-BUILT-IN-FM-RADIO_W0QQitemZ120427482838QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_H ome_Garden_GardenPowerTools_CA?hash=item1c0a098ed6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0| 293%3A2|294%3A50 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/EAR-DEFENDERS-WITH-BUILT-IN-FM-RADIO_W0QQitemZ120427482838QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_H ome_Garden_GardenPowerTools_CA?hash=item1c0a098ed6&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C 301%3A0%7C293%3A2%7C294%3A50)

Or if they would be a bunch of arse,
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PELTOR-OPTIME-III-3-EAR-DEFENDERS-PROTECTORS-MUFFS_W0QQitemZ300313491983QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_B OI_ProtectiveGear_RL?hash=item45ec143a0f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A0| 293%3A3|294%3A50 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/PELTOR-OPTIME-III-3-EAR-DEFENDERS-PROTECTORS-MUFFS_W0QQitemZ300313491983QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_B OI_ProtectiveGear_RL?hash=item45ec143a0f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A1%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C 301%3A0%7C293%3A3%7C294%3A50)

One has an SnR of 25-30, the other 35db. Obviously higher is better, just wondering if anyone has used them at motorsport before? Would say 25dB be enough?

edit:-
Or even the middle ground of which has 30dB
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FOLDING-EAR-MUFFS-DEFENDERS-PROTECTORS-EN352-1-SNR-30dB_W0QQitemZ120427842712QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_BO I_ProtectiveGear_RL?hash=item1c0a0f0c98&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2|65%3A1|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1| 293%3A1|294%3A50

I'm rather confused.

[Darrin]

Check with a firing range. Shooter's hearing protection is some of the best. I still have the ones my father gave me for shooting. 55db from 100Hz to 20KHz. 35db for everything below or above.

I think they were around $25-$35.

[Stan_Lite]

I'm not sure what level of protection you will need for motorsport but as far as brands go, Peltor (like the ones in your second link) are a well respected brand and are widely used in the offshore oil industry. As I'm sure you're aware, our industry is highly safety focussed and if the oil companies are happy with them, you can be fairly sure they'll perform well.

[Desmo]

No idea if they're any good to you or not, but I've got my old shooting defenders in the shed. Pretty sure I've got easy access to them so will dig them out and you're more than welcome to them. They've got a slightly different shape to them in that the bottom section is cut away so as not to interfere with a rifle butt but other than that they should be fine for what you want.

Will dig them out later if I can :)

[Jonny69]

It's not that loud at Lemans. The only place I need them is late at night when there's nobody around to soak up the noise along the straight before Tertre Rouge for the GT2 Porsches because you're very close to the track and they are very noisy. However, there are few Porsches running this year (I think there are only 2) and it's only there you really need them. The rest of the time you're some distance away from the track, certainly far away enough that you can hear the racing but it's not loud. Start-Finish straight is pretty loud, but not so bad that you have to cover your ears.

If you want some I recommend those expanding foam ones from Screwfix. They block out the sound of an angle grinder and that high frequency squeal that gets you in the workshop.

Don't forget you're going to want to listen to Radio Lemans during the racing and I tend to find a pair of ear plug style earphones (like in the noise reduction earphones thread) work the best and block out enough of the racing noise that you can hear the radio without having it up too loud.

[Zirax]

I'll take you up on that Jim, provided you can find them :)

Jonny, they were something that I was meaning to get for a while. They are needed at the A1 GP and will be kept for a while.

[Flibster]

Anything from in here.

http://www.hearingprotection.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=65&Itemid=127

The custom moulded stuff takes 4-6 weeks to make and arrive though.

[Desmo]

Got them :)

Will stick a pick up tomorrow, but they're yours if you want them. They're actually active but I don't have the charger at hand. They worked in that they'd allow speech to be heard but would cut out with loud noises.

[Zirax]

Thanks :) Just to check are you picking them up tomorrow or you want me to? I am out up north Tues -> Weds

[Desmo]

Sorry, just read my post again. I meant stick a pic up..... here it is :p

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v112/piggymon/Odds%20and%20Ends/IMAGE_064.jpg

When do you need them by? We should be home most nights this week so you can pop over pretty much any time. Just give me a shout. Or Sinead has someone over Thursday night so I could pop over to yours then.