Alpine MotoSafe Earplugs review

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Alpine Motosafe are a reuseable earplug that come in two flavours – ‘Race’, with an SNR (Single Number Rating, the value given to their sound reduction as rated by ISO standards) of 20, and the ‘Tour’ with a 17 SNR. Construction is silicone free, and each pack incudes an insertion tool and storage bag.

Tested by Justin Hayzelden for 3 months, 2,400 miles
Quality 5/5, Value 5/5

Are they easy to use?

I’ve tried all kinds of earplugs, from foam disposables to bespoke custom jobbies and these are by far the easiest to insert. That’s because they come with a short plastic tube that makes sliding them into your lugholes less fiddly than any other method and allows you to give them a wiggle to ensure they’re seated correctly. Foam plugs take a while to expand and can drift out once you’ve got your helmet on, and bespoke ones can be an awkward squeeze, especially when your ears are cold.

MotoSafe are manufactured using Alpine’s ‘ThermoShape’ material, a substance that stays soft and easily conforms to the ear canal. They’re so comfortable that sometimes I have to dab a finger in just to check they’re still in place. I’ve had them in for over 8 hours at a stretch without any issues at all.

Getting them out again can be a bit trickier, as the tab used for removal is quite small. Ensuring it’s in the right place when putting them in, towards the back of the ear, helps a lot and in that position even my stubby digits can grasp it without too much fiddling about.

How quiet are they?

I put both versions to the test, and the ‘Tour’ are only really suited to an urban environment. Above 40 mph their effectiveness drops off rapidly, but if all you’re doing is riding around town, then they could be a good compromise. With an SNR of 17, they take the edge off traffic, yet you can still hear everything around you.

The SNR 20 ‘Race’ on the other hand do a fantastic job. I’ve used them with several different helmets – adventure (Arai Tour-X 4 and 5), touring (Shoei Neotec 3), street (SHARK Skwal i3) and race (Arai RX-7V Evo) – and they provide all the noise reduction I need. Even after a full day’s ride at motorway speeds, they do nothing to provoke my tinnitus, which should mean that I can maintain peak concentration longer.

Can you use comms with them?

Both sets are filtered and effectively cut out harmful frequencies like wind roar, whilst still letting through those you want to hear, such as music, speech and other vehicles. I’ve had no problems using the Sena SRL-3 comms in my Shoei Neotec 3 and can easily hold a conversation on the move. Be it Mozart or Motorhead, music comes through loud and clear too.

How long do they last?

Alpine say the MotoSafe can be used at least 100 times, and I’m definitely getting on for that. They’re easy to clean with mild soap and warm water, which I do every couple of days, and so far I haven’t noticed any wear and tear or drop in performance at all. They also come with a handy pouch to keep them safe when not in use.

Verdict

Without using a controlled scientific method, testing earplugs is a very subjective process. Although the MotoSafe have a lower SNR than others I’ve tried, I’ve found that they are among the most comfortable to wear, easiest to fit and offer a reduction in noise that keeps fatigue at bay. I’d gladly shell out £15 a couple of times a year on these, as the fact that they don’t leave my ears ringing is perhaps the best indication that they’re doing a good job.