Hey all,
I was reminded about surfer's ear recently, so thought I'd start to look into ear protection. It's been a long time since I've tried different types of ear plugs. I tried 'docs' long ago, but I always had a hard time putting them in and having them stay:
www.proplugs.com
Been seeing more on 'SurfEars' around, but reviews seem to suggest they fall out easily:
dailystoke.com/
Noticed that review of SurfEars has a comment that talks about wetplugz:http://wetplugz.com/where-to-buy/
I have also used just the cheap hardware store plugs, but I lose the too easily.
Any recommendations from experience from seabreeze community?
I have been using surf ears and found them great, the 2.0 version not 1.0 as per the link. 2.0 are orange and more triangular and fit in your ear better compared to the original and have a leash.
www.torpedo7.co.nz/catalogindexsearch.do?formAction=search&searchString=&categoryCode=S8A&redirectFrom=discontinued
Never had issues loosing while on SUP (without leash) but when body surfing / body-boarding I have the leash on which comes with the 2.0. This has saved me loosing one while been pummeled in a 3-4ft beach break a few weeks ago on the Sunshine coast while on holiday. I would recommend.
had the original surfear and they were good but you could hear the comments/insults directed at sup but they did fall out and lost them. Gone to blue tac .
What you can't hear..... 
go blue tack, it's the best. Will mould into any ear shape, make sure you tear off a descent hunk, roll into a ball and push it your earhole.
If you can find the coloured stuff at the news agent or big w then grab that.,Its the Winna!
I have the first version of the surf ears and thought they were OK, but not worth the price. I have tried foam plugs and various silicone ones. Personally I have found Docs pro plugs to be the best, but you need to get the sizing right, other wise they just don't work.
I've got surfers ear plus my left ear has a weak point in the ear drum which causes it to perforate easily and i ended up just putting some rubber glue to seal the small hole in the pro plugs and they don't let any pressure or water past. The others at some stage did and I ended up with perforation.
Everyone's ear shape is slightly different I guess, so what works for one, may not work for another.
Surfing and swim team all my life.
I spent 6 months every year with ear infections and total blockage in at least 1 ear.... always in summer and fall.
Reason?
No wetsuit hood.
Tried plugs... still had the problems.
Since I started wearing a "kook hat" with over ear chin strap..... not 1 infection and zero hearing loss, and I was on a SUP 228 days last year.
The mesh ear cover does not keep water out completely, but it totally blocks the wind, and that may be the real culprit.
I can hear perfectly.
It never falls off, gives sun protection and looks so very Kool 
Cheers for replies everyone. Taking it all in, sounds like the real answer is to relocate to Queensland. See you in the lineup rockmagnet!
Good to hear that 2.0 version of surfears is improved, and never heard of blu tac before so that's cool. Slick looking lid, creek! Great that it sorted things for you. Creek, any warning signs for infections and such? For instance, I feel like my ears have been ringing more lately, but maybe that's watching too much of dogman's metal dolphins. I've been rocking boardies until just a couple weeks ago, so it hasn't been that cold ....
G'day gogogo I have surfers ear in both ears so bad I need to go under the knife but can't afford the 3 months of work and time out of the water.
I have to wear ear plugs all the time from Bluetac, Doc Pro Plugs, Swimmers Plugs you name it I've used it.
I also go down to Tweed Heads to get my ears Vacuumed Out 3 time a year, it's better than getting them flushed out.
I'm as def as f@#k now due to my surfers ear thats why people can't work it out why I talk so loud and if I'm watching TV you can hear the TV out in the street.
One day I'll go get my ears drilled.
DW
After about $1000 spent at a ENT this year I have as previously said use the Surf Ears and use also a product called Vosol (over the counter product) which is for Swimmers Ear, I now use Vosol most days as a preventative not just Surf days (& they have been too common lately)
63 years old getting more deaf by the day, super narrow ear canals, get them vacuumed out from time to time 
Blue tac and and a FCS hat seem to help. Wish I had used blue tac 50 years ago
I agree with supthecreek the surf hats are deffinately worth a go, if you need to wear plugs underneath you wont lose them, good sun protection and keep your sunnies in place. Lots of different brands out there, I picked up a ocean and earth indo hat $35 dollars wear it all the time. Money well spent
Okay this is a topic I have researched a lot about as my dad has swimmers ear really badly and I started preventing it for myself 10 years ago.
First thing is to check the water temperature at your break. From my experience you will not have a problem until the water reaches under 19 degrees. You will notice that your ears will not drain out the water in the first couple of duck dives. In sydney this happens around late may till end of september. Always wear pugs in this time doesnt matter which, swimming, blue tac etc.
The wind will increase the problem, so if its windy wear a hat, ear hoodie, gath etc, If your heads small get the neoprene cover for your ears.
After swimming you will notice if your ears don't rinse out. Then use a ear clearing mixture. I like the earclear (yellow pack). It is mainly Peroxide and pop it in each ear for 1 minute. You may need to do this twice at night after you have been in cold water. You can use ear clear (alcohol based) to protect your ear before a surf but I found plugs work better. Its also called viscol I think.
When the water warms up in spring use the ear clear maybe twice a month to just maintain the wax and sand build up in your ears. You will not need the plugs.
This is for surfing or surf swimming.
On the sup you should be fine. How much are you in the water? I would recommend a hat with ear protection as the wind is your main problem. I like the FCS sup hat from sup the creek.
I have two one from BCF that is for the sun and covers me totally except my eyes. http://www.bcf.com.au/online-store/products/SunProtection-Australia-Adapt-A-Cap-Unisex-Marine-Camo-OSFM.aspx?pid=37603902#Recommendations.
The other is an Outdoor research Seattle sombrero wide brim with polarfleece to keep my head warm from canada.
www.outdoorresearch.com/en/seattle-sombrero.html
The more you keep the ear clean of wax and sand the less maintainace you will need. Keep on top of the ear cleaning routines.
Surgery is expensive, invasive and hardly ever improves with drilling of the ear. My dad cant hear the tv under 40 on the volume. That is loud.
My advice would be to go and buy four sets of plugs and two bottles of earclear. This will save you big money in the long run.
gogo...
If I feel a twinge in my ear.... the kind that just zap you, then fade, I have adopted an unusual remedy.
I take a dab of over the counter antibiotic like Neosporen, place it at the end of a Q-Tip, and gently swab my ear canal with it.... just before bed.
I lie with that ear up. My natural body heat slides the antibiotic into my ear canal. One application is usually enough, provided that you do it at the first sign of pain.
My history was years of making Dr's appointments, paying him, then paying for some expensive Otic drops that I had to take on a regime. Stupid.
One day I had an epiphany.... "Hey, I put standard antibiotics in my dogs ears... why not just try that?" Saved millions since then, and hear just fine
I use this, but only the red egg w/flesh colored putty, the others don't work.
Easy in, easy out, bonds with the skin just enough to make a waterproof seal.
And don't laugh, those who have tried it, never went back to anything else.
Thanks for the replies, everyone
.
Yes, unfortunately, I’m usually upside down in the water getting pummelled. Nice one with Neosporin, creek. Next time I feel a dull ear ache, might give that a go. Did some reading, and sounds like a very small percentage of people have an allergic reaction to the stuff, so if you’re thinking of trying it, maybe try a bit on your skin somewhere else first.
Mastebender, so I did have a laugh about silly putty, but hey, whatever works!
