Cycling ear protectors (from wind noise etc)
I am compiling a list of 'ear protectors' that are designed to protect the ears from wind noise when cycling. This is an ongoing project
List of wind blockers tried : my opinion
Airstreamz (formerly Cat Ears) Tried. Didn't notice any difference. Fit to your helmet so can't be worn without. Too expensive
Windfree : Tried. Felt these worked at low speeds but not above that. Say under 15km (speed + windspeed) Once you get to around 15km speed (or wind is that high) the protection dips, though I guess it still helps a bit. You wear on ears so no helmet needed. Can be sweaty when hot, or wet when raining. Doesnt't block non-wind noise. I would design it to dampen all noise a bit (say at the front). Very awkward to buy (2014 ... from Swedish website. Amazon would be nice). Too expensive.
Finger test : if you put a finger in front of your ear when air is passing you at speed you can see how good ear protection could be. The 2 I have tried came nowhere near this.
Verdict : Still would choose to design my own but for now I use windfree
List of known wind-blockers (2015)
AirStreamz
 |
| cat-ears pro 2014 |
Price : around $12 - $22
Buy at : Their website. Based in Denver Colorado
http://www.cat-ears.com/
Buy at : their website. South African company ?
http://www.slipstreamz.com/
http://wind-blox.com/
Blog Discounts (courtesy of Windblox) :
10% discount on Wind-blox website : use code gocommuterbike (see this comment)
15% off Wind-blox pro on their site : use code gocommuterbikePRO (see this comment)
Windfree
Price : 31 Euros ?
Based : Sweden
http://www.windfree.se/en/home
Buy at : Their website. Based in Denver Colorado
http://www.cat-ears.com/
Slipstreamz
Price : Around $22 ?Buy at : their website. South African company ?
http://www.slipstreamz.com/
Wind-blox
Price : £15/$15 ? http://wind-blox.com/
Blog Discounts (courtesy of Windblox) :
10% discount on Wind-blox website : use code gocommuterbike (see this comment)
15% off Wind-blox pro on their site : use code gocommuterbikePRO (see this comment)
Available on Amazon
Windfree
Based : Sweden
http://www.windfree.se/en/home
update jul21 :
Been using this for years. Works like a mic muff. Diffuses low wind noise.
It works for me, until around 14kph (then I guess still dampens real noise).
A bit warm in hot weather but def worthwhile for me <14kph (maybe <15mph. I can't recall).
A thick headband with ear protection
price : £25 plus shipping ?
Windrush website (Sweden) : link
Windrush headband
A thick headband with ear protection
price : £25 plus shipping ?
Windrush website (Sweden) : link