FAQ's
Q: How do I know what size to choose?
A: You don’t need to worry about size because SurfEars is fully customisable. In every package of SurfEars you will find:
- One pair of pre-assembled earplugs with Medium sealing gel and Medium Support wings
- Two sealing gels size x-small
- Two sealing gels size small
- Two sealing gels size large
- Two support wings size small
- One premium storage case
Q: Where can I find instructions on how to use SurfEars and how to take care of my SurfEars?
A: You can find everything you need to know here.
Q: Why do you only have two sizes Support Wing (S+M) but four sizing Sealing Gels (XS+S+M+L)?
A: We’ve tested SurfEars on a lot of different people with different ear shapes and sizes, and found that this size combination is enough to fit most people’s ears. Please let us know if it shouldn’t fit yours!
Q: How do I know which ear plug is for the right ear and left ear?
A: We have color-coded our plugs: red is designed for the left ear and green for the right ear. When using SurfEars for the first time we recommend that you try them out in front of a mirror. The support wing is supposed to point to back end of the ear. When you have the plug in your ear it should look like this (see image below).
Q: I get a sense of vacuum in my ears when using SurfEars. How do I avoid that?
A: The reason for this issue is due to the fact that when water enters your ear canal the capillary effect creates a complete seal between the rubber and your skin, creating a sense of vacuum in your ear. We've noticed that this happens more often when using larger ear gels than when using smaller.
To avoid it you could try the following:
- Go down one size with the ear gel
- When coming up from under water ”click” your ears, similar to what you do when pressure equalizing
- Wiggle the plugs in your ear with your hands a few times. If none of the above helps, this one usually does
Q: What size sealing gel should I use?
A: Larger gels tend to seal better and smaller gels tend to let most sound through. Most prefer to use medium gels which gives the best sound throughput while sealing well enough to keep water out. This is of course relative to the size of your ear canals. Try the different sizes on in water and you’ll notice the differences.
Q: How durable is the acoustic mesh?
A: The acoustic mesh is a polyester fabric made from ultra thin fibers. It’s quite a bit stronger that you would believe, so durability of the mesh itself is not a problem. For the 3.0 version we have improved the durability by increasing the area for the adhesive that holds the mesh in place and added a stabilizing rib in the middle which makes it less sensitive for fingers and nails when the plugs are pushed in place in the ear. To help extend the life of your SurfEars, we do ask that you try to avoid touching the mesh when inserting the plugs into your ears. In case it still would break we have a 6 month warranty and thereafter we offer option to buy spare parts.
Q: Do SurfEars block cold air even though the mesh is an open structure?
A: The mesh is an open structure, which will allow some air to flow through while blocking water. This is one of the reasons why SurfEars let so much sound through. If you blow through the plugs from the gel side there should be some resistance. This is enough to avoid excessive circulation and will keep the air inside your ear canal warm. We have not experiences any complaints here to date so we do not consider this to be an issue.
Q: I can’t hear as well through my plugs anymore. They seemed to have become clogged up.
A: Salt crystals can build up in the mesh over time, reducing the amount of sound that can pass through. To prevent this you should rinse your plugs in clean fresh water after each use or as often as possible. If the plugs have clogged up, you can place them in warm water and leave them in for an hour or two, which will dissolve the salt crystals. Rinse and the hearability should be restored. To go one step further you can clean the mesh using a soft brush or cloth after having soaked the plugs in warm water which will eliminate any remaining salt crystals.
Q: Will SurfEars work for diving?
A: Yes! We have tested SurfEars while diving down to 15 meters where they functioned well and we could equalize the pressure in our ears just like normal. We have positive indications that they could work even deeper. We have been given some great feedback from professional free divers who has tested SurfEars, you can read about their experience diving with SurfEars here and here.
Q: My SurfEars have broken, what can I do?
A: Within 6 months after purchase we have a warranty, so if your plugs break within this time due to normal use, we’ll replace what is broken (If you got your SurfEars elsewhere than this website, reach out to your point of purchase and they will support you). After the warranty runs out spare parts can be purchased here.
Q: I accidentally lost my plugs, can I get new ones?
A: Unfortunately we can’t replace lost plugs. SurfEars come with different size options for the sealing gel and the fixation wing and it is important that you find the perfect fit for your ear. With the right fit SurfEars are designed to stay in your ear even during heavy wipeouts and are proven to do so most of the time. There is no guarantee though and accidents where plugs fall out may occur. If you use the leash the risk of losing your plugs will be eliminated!
Q: I have lost one of my ear plugs, can I buy just one?
A: If you have lost one of your plugs you can order spare parts in your size (one plastic core, one sealing gel and one fixation wing makes one ear plug) instead of buying a whole new set of SurfEars.