Sorky Ear Plugs

For an earplug that allows full hearing, prevents ‘Surfer’s Ear’, and doesn’t come out, then consider a pair of Sorky’s.

Catching infections or having your ears drilled from exatoses - bone growths in your ears caused by wind or cold water - doesn’t sound like fun. If you’re in cold water a lot, or out in high winds, and even warm water that’s not 100% clean, then earplugs are a must-have part of your gear. In fact even surfers born and bred in Hawaii have been treated for Surfer’s Ear, so it’s a serious problem to avoid.

Sold by earphone manufacturer Sorky, these plugs go deeper into your ear than most models I’ve tried, but they are thinner and definitely stay fixed during rinsings. There’s a thin tag to pull them out with and a little stick to shove ‘em right in, although an index finger will do just fine. (Although ‘never put anything smaller than an elbow in your ear’ is the advice I think Doctors give?) READ FULL REPORT

More at Sorky’s Homepage>

Each pair also comes in a nice aluminium screw tight case with keyring fitting so they’re easy to keep handy and clean.

Without a hood up, you still feel a ‘cold rush’ into your outer ear -more than with a traditional plug such as ‘Docs’ or one of the various triathlon styles, but the important inner ear sections stay dry and warm. Personally I found them a little ‘vacuumy’ with the hood up, but it could just be my ear shape and hood type.

Sorky’s earpiece technology means you have full balance and hearing (if hearing all the BS at the beach is a good thing!) which makes a real difference to sufferers of labyrinthitis and other inner ear balance disorders such as seasickness when out surfing or on open water swims. I reckon, as you keep full hearing, these would be great for avoiding tropical ear infections too.

Priced at Euro39/US$55/GBP35 they’re not cheap but the benefits are clear, plus you’re way less likely to lose ‘em than a 10 buck pair, so they’re probably better value for money in the long run.

So, your choices are, either choose to be be deaf on the water by wearing traditional plugs, or avoid plugs and either go deaf from Surfer’s Ear, or endure the pain of an inner ear bone drilling! Ouch!

More at Sorky’s Homepage