SurfEars were designed for one simple purpose: to keep water out and let sound in. The latest edition of these ingenious little earplugs, the SurfEars 3.0, are stronger and more functional than ever before.
But are SurfEars worth it? 100%. We have been using SurfEars for over a year now and we haven’t gotten an ear infection since using them which we did prior to using them if we surfed more than 2 or 3 times a week.
Let’s get into the pros and cons of SurfEars, what size SurfEars you need, and more.
How Do SurfEars Earplugs Work?
SurfEars 3.0 are earplugs that prevent water from getting inside your ear, reducing the risk of a serious ear infection (not to mention short-term and long-term hearing problems like surfer’s ear and swimmer’s ear) in the process.
Each order of SurfEars comes with:
- A pair of SurfEars (color-coded to help you tell the left ear from the right ear)
- 6 sealing gels (2 large, 2 small, 2 extra small) that should work for all ear canal sizes
- 2 support wings
- An adjustable leash
- A storage/carrying case
They fit securely and the leash means that you don’t automatically lose one if it pops out of your ears during a wipeout, which has never happened since we have been using them.
You can get SurfEars on Amazon.
How Do You Use SurfEars (Thanks Tom Carroll)
Benefits of SurfEars 3.0
Firstly, SurfEars 3.0 really do work. They fit comfortably and snugly and they will keep the water out without deafening you.
It’s important to stay alert on the waves and so you need to hear.
SurfEars earplugs will deaden the sound somewhat (as expected) but you can still hear.
They seem to be very well made and are quite durable.
The same applies to the storage case and the leash.
They fit great and we have weirdly shaped ear canals as per our doctor. The varying sizes and sealing gels also help, as it means you can find a size that suits you.
They stick in your ears. We have used them on 8 foot days and they stay put in our ears, no problem. They have yet to fall out.
Some of the features that have been added to the new model include the color-coded plugs—making it easier to know which earpiece goes where—and the fact that you can detach the plugs from the leash.
SurfEars earplugs are a great way to help prevent surfer’s ear and as swimmer’s ear.
Another benefit of note is that you can buy spare and changeable parts for your SurfEars directly from the company site.
If you lose one plug or if the leash becomes worn, you don’t need to buy a pair and can just buy a single replacement.
They clean very easily. Just rinse them after a surf, dry them, keep them away from the sun and store them in a dry place.
Problems with SurfEars 3.0
The price is the main issue that we have with SurfEars. They are expensive little buggers compared to other ear plugs on the market.
You could argue that you’re getting what you pay for as these plugs are high quality and they will also keep your ears protected and reduce the risk of surfer’s ear and other ear problems.
They could end up lost on the ocean floor after a big wipeout, but again they have never even come out of our ears after a wipe out. Not once.
If money is tight, and you’re surfing on an old and battered board, $59 is probably out of the question.
If you’re happy to spend some money to get optimum protection, go for it.
We’ve seen complaints that the earplugs are very uncomfortable and that they can’t hear much when they are wearing them. From our experience they are comfortable but they do deaden the sound a bit.
Another issue concerns the customer support. We found a couple of reviews arguing that the support team refused to honor a return/refund, as they don’t have any such policy in place. We don’t know for sure. We haven’t tried to return ours.
In actual fact, their website clearly states that you can return the plugs up to 30 days after receiving them, providing they haven’t been worn.
Of course, the “must not have been worn” clause is likely what’s angering a few customers, but it’s standard and it’s something you will find with all but the biggest of retailers.
Sure, they could offer some kind of satisfaction guarantee policy, but such policies are not that common with earplugs.
Summary: SurfEars 3.0 Review
If you want to wear earplugs and have the money to invest in the very best plugs on the market, then the SurfEars 3.0 are definitely the way to go.
Pick up some new SurfEars before your next surf trip and keep those ears protected against cold water.
If your child is surfing with you, there are also “Junior” plugs, and these are actually a more reasonably priced option.
