Wind noise
 

Does anyone know of any gadgets for helmets to stop or reduce wind noise? SW Minnesota
is very windy and going into it is very loud.

thanks

I have discovered two equally effective tricks:
1) Stop and stand still, or
2) Take your hearing aids out.

Works for me!

Hello, just me, have you used slipstreamz and like them?
R&J

Nope, though after seeing them I experimentally tried just folding a flap of duct tape around the front strap of my helmet, and that worked OK so I have no reason to think the product wouldn't work, and they're cheap enough to try.

Earplugs: Cheap, especially when bought by the box, and effective but not very entertaining. For entertainment switch to ear buds and your favorite tunes.

Of course if you want to be part of the Red Green Team use duct tape.

slipstreamz can vastly improve your ability to hear environmental noise by stopping wind noise but not other noises. earplugs stop all noises equally.

I've found that lycra headbands reduce wind noise quite a bit. They keep your ears warm, too: http://www.nashbar.com/bikes/Product...0_10000_200489

One guy at work bought those and said they don't do jack for the wind noise unless places in a very particular position which is impossible most of the time. If it's chilly and windy earmuffs work fine for me.

ear plugs would be a very dangerous idea. I haven't used the slipstreams. For now, I just turn my head at a 45 degree angle to hear when I'm moving.

I've been using Slipstreamz for about 3 years now and love them. They reduce the wind noise by about 60-70% (in my estimation) and I love having my headphones outside of ears so I can hear the world around me while listening to talk radio.

I highly recommend them.

Just ordered mine, I hope you are right. Time will tell.

Upon what do you base that? Is there a study somewhere that supports the idea that earplugs are dangerous? If there is you'd better let the folks who write and enforce worker safety laws know.

you can get a clip on light which you can clip on any hat from camping section from store like walmart or Kmart. or from EMS, REI

I think the inference there is that you can't hear what's going on around you, i.e. cars coming up behind you, dogs chasing you. It's the same reason why many of us don't like riding with our MP3 players/earbuds on. Less pontification, more switching to decaf.
I've noticed the same thing. Mine is a microfleece ear warmer/sweatband from Pricepoint- http://www.pricepoint.com/detail/20191-510_PNTHB9-1-Clothing-2-Cool-Weather-Gear/Price-Point-Headband.htm.
Definite reduction in wind noise when over my ears.

i mean while riding...i would imagine you'd want to hear dogs coming at you or cars coming up behind. Unless you can use the force :)

I think I'm going to invent an "ear fairing" to deal with this problem. Wind noise is quite loud for me.

Tom

I put two of my fingers alongside my helmet strap today whilst riding into the wind and noticed a great reduction in noise. I suppose this is how the slipstreamz work to reduce noise.

I imagine one would have to be careful to keep the slipstreamz in the correct spot in order for them to work.

Thanks for all the replies.

Try a search in a motorcycle forum. Some of the better motorcycle half helmets address this with a removeable padded triangle that velcros to the strap. Some bikers just wear a bandana tied around their head covering thier ears. I'd assume that a thin piece of material attached to the helmet strap covering the ear would help cut down on the wind noise..

I'll give another endorsement for the Slipstreamz Spoilerz. I've been using them for a couple of months now, and they definitely reduce wind noise. It's not like riding in a vacuum, but they work. And as noted, since they deflect air around your ear rather than block sounds from entering your ear, you can hear environmental/ambient sounds better, e.g. when having a conversation with companion cyclists...or the kid in the sidecar!

Thanks Chaadster, do you find that you need to have the slipstreamz located just so on your straps? are they hard to keep positioned? Also, were they hard to put on originally?

thanks

In answer to the above question - I believe it took me about 3-5 minutes to put them on the first time. I've moved them once to another helmet and it was under 2 minutes to move them. Luckily I have 2 helmets, so that I can have one that I use with the kids and one I use for commuting so I don't have to take them on and off, which would be a pain.

As for positioning, I did play a little with the positioning the first couple of rides until I found the 'just right' spot and I haven't moved it since (that was over 2 years ago and I ride nearly every day). I have gone through 2 pairs of headphones in that time though =).

Implants!

Glad to hear, pun intended, slipstreams work for several of you, we ordered two sets for the tandem
R&J

One of the things I like about winter riding is that my balaclava significantly cuts down the wind noise. Since the OP is from Minnesota, I'm guessing a balaclava would be appropriate maybe 10 mos / year? :)

I've also tried Slipstreamz. Works OK. I've found that to get them to work at all I have to place them directly above the point where the front and rear straps join.