I tried them but they cause me problems with gooey ears so now I use cotton wool which cuts the noise down but lets the air through so my ears stay goo free and dry.

 

I wear them now on anything other than short rides around town or to work. When I forget to use them, I really notice the difference when I get off the bike.

Like someone else said, I wish I had been more aware of hearing loss issues when I was young - motorcycles, guns, younger years playing in/working for rock bands, etc., have all taken their toll.

 

I use them for long rides or when I'm gonna be on the interstates. I have the constant ringing in my ears (can't spell it so I'm not gonna try) since as early as I can remember, have always had to have "white noise" to sleep. Anyway, besides the wind, the noise from those trucks when they are passing you very slowly is deafening. Also, when wearing a full face helmet, and with the Heritage pipes design, the exhaust can be bad on the right side.

 

I cut a foam one in half with scissors and wear them most of the time. On long trips or without the windshield. I keep them in the watchpocket of my jeans.

 

I only wear them when the wind noise is bad. Those days seem to be when it's windy and/or very humid. Otherwise, most days the windnoise doesn't bother me.
The deaf feeling you get from earplugs does bother me, so I find that I can often put one plug in the ear on the windy side and still have some hearing ability. I use the earplugs on a string like you can get in the hunting section at WalMart, and just hang them around my neck under my shirt til I need them.

 

My last freeway ride was overbearing. I've used the squishy orange foam type, but they onlywork best the first time you use them.

Last year my friend told me about these:

http://earplugstore.stores.yahoo.net/almoprdrearp.html

I ordered a pair last week and they should be arriving today or tomorrow!

 

I use em for all rides. Got mine at Lowe's. They are contruction type with a graduated plastic (??) malleable plug, yellow in color with a retention strap (which was promptly cut-off). They cost all of a 1.99, bought 5 pair. They block the wind noise perfectly, but can still hear the exhaust, horn etc.