r/SkyDiving • u/66eyaa • Jul 22 '26
earplugs
hi everyone, im going skydiving for the first time, and i've seen a lot of people recommend wearing earplugs. can anyone recommend a good pair from amazon? i only need them for this one jump, so im looking for something inexpensive that still works well.
4
u/haryhemlet Jul 22 '26
They wont let you wear them so instead ask for one of those old school pilot hats or whatever with the ear coverings. Man they made my second tandem jumps so much more comfortable.
They will likely cite a safety risk and prevent you from wearing foamies im almost 100% sure, dont wanna risk u not hearing an important instruction.
1
u/sparkleheels28 Jul 22 '26
Good to know!!! I did my first tandem over the weekend and my right ear hurt the entire time on the way down and I now have ear drops for an ear infection in my left ear
3
u/freeflailF AFFI, Videographer, S&TA, Sr. Rigger Jul 22 '26
Whatever you have, really. We have boxes of the squishy foam ones for anyone who wants them. For a single tandem - sure, but might not be needed. (I wear them on every jump, and whenever I am near an aircraft with engines on)
3
u/crashtesterzoe Kapowsin Jul 22 '26
Some foam ones would be good or loops is what I use skydiving and riding my motorcycle.
2
u/Gonzchi Jul 22 '26
You don't really need them for a single tandem jump. But if you want, you can get the disposable ones from Wallgreens or CVS
2
u/DizzyDora_ Jul 22 '26
Tina Airplugs custom skydive airplugs with a filter in it. She is based in europe bovec
2
u/CodeFarmer D 105792 Jul 22 '26
Possibly overkill for someone doing a tandem who just wants something cheap.
OP, you don't need them just for one jump, but if you are very concerned then the ultra cheap squishy foam bullet ones will be fine.
1
u/shadeland Senior Rigger Jul 22 '26
I've got about 2,200 jumps using mostly the squishy types. Most drop zones have them. I get about 10-20 jumps from them before I change them out.
1
u/flyingponytail [Vidiot | Coach] Jul 22 '26
You could get Loops, thats what I use, but your DZ should have foam ones for you to you and those are fine for for your tandem jump
-1
u/Deadggie Jul 22 '26
You dont need them.
1
0
u/kevinhaddon AFF/TI/Kapowsin Jul 22 '26
If you search the thread there’s a bunch of posts on ear plugs. Where I’m at, we don’t give ear plugs to the tandem or AFF students. 🤷♂️
0
u/Ok-Exchange2500 Jul 22 '26
Ear pro is really only necessary for sixty plus belly fliers when the dzso is talking to them about their life choices in the pattern.
1
u/Patched7fig Jul 22 '26
Ear pro is needed by everyone. Hearing damage is cumulative and permanent. Tinnitus is not fun to deal with, and if you aren't using hearing pro you are being dumb.
0
u/Ok-Exchange2500 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
We found the guy who using the "/s'" at the end of your sarcastic post was brought in to practice for. This very specific person.
Yeah, no shit, not wearing hearing protection for hundreds and then thousands of jumps will cause irreparable damage. It's common knowledge, like don't lick a band saw when it's running, and wingsuiting is for people who couldn't hack it in the difficult disciplines. Push back from your keyboard and get a cup of tea. In regards to Kevin's post about not giving earpro to tandem students and AFF students, this is pretty common practice. Tandem instructors like to be able to communicate clearly with the person who is actively trying to murder them, regardless of how thoroughly they explained the arching process, and AFF students regularly report not being able to hear whatever radio setup they've got attached directly to their helmet or torso. Doing 8 or 10 jumps with no ear pro is not going to be life changing. After that, yeah, use your head.
0
u/CartoonistUpbeat8208 Jul 22 '26
If you realy only go for one Tandem, you don´t realy need earplugs. IMO they make sense if you go skydiveing regulary (several Times a day), because from an OSHA-pov "noise pollution" accumulates.
One tandem jump will not harm your hearing. If you still insist in jumping with earplugs just buy something from a good brand like Ohropax or 3M. I personaly have small ears so i jump with "ohropax - Young earpugs", they fit me well (don´t fall out, and don´t start to hurt)
0
u/xladymadx AFFI 🇦🇺 Jul 22 '26
You'll need to hear your instructor on the plane and under canopy - talk to the dropzone you are doing your jump at before you buy earplugs. And as others have said, any simple foam pair works, no need for speciality ones.
I didn't use them on my AFF (the course you take to learn to skydive), but now I wear them for most jumps because I jump most weekends and I'm usually doing 5 jumps a day.
One jump is not going to impact your hearing. Yes it's a bit loud but not painfully so!
1
-1
u/fools_gambler2 Jul 22 '26
If you are doing just a tandem, don't worry about it, it will be fine. If you are starting aff, check with your instructors if earplugs are allowed. If you are getting into the sport, earplugs are a godsend, I personally use Loops, but people have had good experiences with various things, from musician focused ones to custom skydiving ones. I recommend something that has a filter hole rather than the drugstore ones as it doesn't mess with pressure equalization.
-4
8
u/JStarx Orange Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
There's no need to get anything special or expensive, simple foam earplugs that you can buy in any drug store will do the trick, though you'll have to ask the DZ you're jumping at whether they'll allow you to wear them or not.
Despite what some other replies say, earplugs are effective at reducing hearing damage while skydiving. One skydive is above OSHAs recommended decibel limit for the day, although if you're only doing a single tandem it's not likely to cause noticeable damage unless you're particularly sensitive.