Do You Need Earplugs for Dirt Bikes, ATVs and Snowmobiles?

Yes, for most riders, earplugs are a smart part of the gear bag. Dirt bikes can run from 80 up to 110 dBA, and long days on a snowmobile have been measured above the level NIOSH recommends for a full day. A helmet alone doesn’t do the job, but a comfortable pair of earplugs that fits under it can help protect your hearing for many seasons of riding.

Quick answer

• How loud: the NIDCD lists motorcycles and dirt bikes at 80–110 dBA, and names snowmobile riding as a risky activity for hearing.
• Why it adds up: riding days are long, and NIOSH halves the safe time for every 3 dBA above 85.
• Helmets: a helmet isn’t hearing protection; earplugs go underneath.
• Enough, not too much: NIOSH suggests aiming for about 75–85 dBA at the ear so you still hear what’s around you.
• Our picks: The One with a 25 or 30 dB filter for dirt bikes, and solid Full Stop Super-Soft for time off the machine.

How loud are dirt bikes, ATVs and snowmobiles?

Loud enough to take seriously. The NIDCD puts motorcycles and dirt bikes at an average of 80–110 dBA, and it lists snowmobile riding among the recreational activities that can put your hearing at risk. For comparison, normal conversation sits around 60–70 dBA.

The NIDCD also gives two markers worth keeping in mind. Sounds at or below 70 dBA are unlikely to cause hearing loss, even after long exposure. Long or repeated exposure at or above 85 dBA can cause hearing loss, and the louder the sound, the sooner it happens.

There’s less published sound data for ATVs and UTVs, and every machine, exhaust and riding style is different. That’s why the simple voice check further down is so handy.

What did researchers find when they measured snowmobilers?

A Doctor of Audiology project at the University of Northern Colorado followed 10 recreational snowmobilers on a typical riding day, with noise dosimeters placed under their helmets. The riders covered about 51 miles and spent roughly 3.5 to 9 hours out, breaks included.

Here’s what the study reported:

• Seven of the 10 riders went over the OSHA action level of 85 dBA averaged over the day.
• Measured the NIOSH way, the group’s average was about 91 dBA, and every rider went over the NIOSH recommended limit.
• Half the riders believed their helmet protected them from hazardous noise.
• The author pointed to cost, communication and comfort as reasons riders skip hearing protection.

Ten riders is a small group, so think of this as a helpful snapshot rather than the final word. Still, it lines up with what the NIDCD says about snowmobile riding, and it shows how a fun day out can quietly add up for your ears.

Why do long rides matter so much for your hearing?

Because time counts as much as loudness. NIOSH recommends a limit of 85 dBA averaged over eight hours, and for each 3 dBA increase it recommends cutting the time in half. By that rule, 88 dBA works out to about four hours and 91 dBA to about two.

Now picture a six-hour trail day near 91 dBA. That’s roughly three times the time NIOSH would suggest at that level. Earplugs that bring the sound at your ear down to a calmer level make those long days a lot kinder to your hearing.

How can you tell if your ride is too loud?

You don’t need a sound meter to get a good idea. NIOSH offers an easy rule of thumb: if you have to raise your voice to be heard by someone about 3 feet away, the noise is often around 85 dBA. If you have to shout, it’s likely 95 dBA or more.

Try it at the trailhead with the engine running. Other clues are ringing or buzzing in your ears after a ride, or sound seeming muffled on the drive home. The NIDCD notes that this kind of temporary dullness usually fades within 16 to 48 hours, though there may still be lasting damage.

If ringing is new or getting worse, if your hearing changes suddenly, or if you have ear pain, please see a doctor or audiologist. The same goes if you have ear tubes or have had recent ear surgery: check with your doctor before using earplugs.

Isn’t a helmet enough protection?

A helmet’s job is protecting your head. In the snowmobile study, half the riders believed their helmet also protected them from hazardous noise, yet every rider still went over the NIOSH limit, measured right under the helmet.

Earplugs are usually the easiest partner for a helmet. NIOSH points out that earmuffs can interfere with the fit of other gear worn on the head, helmets included. It also notes that earplugs are often more comfortable than earmuffs when worn for long periods, and that “Comfort is the key to consistent use of hearing protection.”

Which hearing protection works best for powersports?

The best choice is the one that fits under your helmet, stays comfortable all day and still lets you hear your group. Here’s how the common options compare:

Watch out for too much protection on the trail. NIOSH advises against overprotection: aim for just enough reduction to bring what reaches your ears to about 75–85 dBA. Too much can leave you less aware of your surroundings, and it can tempt people to pull their protection out to hear properly.

How does Big Ear help riders protect their hearing?

We hand-build custom earplugs in the USA from impressions of your own ears, so they seat the same way every time you put them in. For riders, two products do most of the work.

The One is our filtered earplug. It uses a two-part, analog, non-electronic filter system with interchangeable flat filters of 9, 15, 20, 25 or 30 dB that swap in seconds, with no new mold needed. It carries an NRR of 25 dB with one filter installed. For motorcycles, dirt bikes included, we recommend the 25 or 30 dB filter. Riding an ATV, UTV or sled? Give us a call and we’ll talk through your machine and your riding so we can help you pick a filter.

Kits come in three sizes. Standard is $224.95 with one filter set. Select is $299.95 with two, so one pair covers two noise levels, say a stronger filter for the trail and a lighter one for quieter moments. Premium is $574.95 with all five filters, plus the hole plug, solid plugs, tactical piece and a case.

Full Stop Super-Soft is a solid plug in soft Shore A 25 platinum-cure silicone, hypoallergenic and antibacterial, with an NRR of 32 dB, for $168.95. It’s a good pick for the times you’re off the machine and just want quiet, like working on an engine in the garage or sleeping at a noisy camp. You can learn more about matching filters to noise in our guide to which earplug filter you need, and riders can find more on our motorcycle earplugs page.

Getting started is easy. Every order includes a free Home Impression Kit that ships in 2–3 business days and takes about 10–15 minutes with a helper and a guided video, with return postage paid. If an impression can’t be used, we send a second kit free. We build your pair within 40 business days of your impressions reaching our lab, and order shipping is $10. You’re covered by our 30-Day Fit Warranty and a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects (loss isn’t covered). Custom products can’t be returned.

Frequently asked questions

Will I still hear my riding buddies with earplugs in?

Usually, if the protection matches the noise. That’s the idea behind NIOSH’s 75–85 dBA target and its advice to avoid overprotection. A filtered earplug like The One lets you choose how much sound comes through.

Do earplugs fit under a motocross or snowmobile helmet?

Earplugs sit in the ear, so they generally work under a helmet better than earmuffs, which NIOSH notes can interfere with headgear. Put your earplugs in first, then pull the helmet on gently.

Is a short ride okay without earplugs?

Shorter is better than longer, since NIOSH’s guidance ties safe time to loudness. But at 80–110 dBA, the range the NIDCD lists for dirt bikes, the time adds up quickly. Earplugs are an easy habit to build for every ride.

My ears ring after riding. Should I worry?

Ringing is a sign the sound was loud enough to affect your ears. The NIDCD notes tinnitus may fade or may last. If it’s new, getting worse or won’t go away, please see a doctor or audiologist and get your hearing checked.

Ready to ride with happier ears?

Try Find my pair for a quick recommendation, or order and we’ll send your free Home Impression Kit. You can also call us at (719) 271-4528. We’d love to help you find a pair that’s comfortable under your helmet, ride after ride.

Sources

• National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.
• Moore KL. Noise Exposures of Recreational Snowmobilers. Doctor of Audiology capstone, University of Northern Colorado, 2014.
• NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Noise-Induced Hearing Loss.
• NIOSH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Provide Hearing Protection.