PADDLE & KAYAK //001
Earplugs for kayaking & paddling
River and estuary water is often cold, and water quality varies with rainfall and the catchment upstream. Rolling puts that water straight into your ear canal, on purpose, several times a session.
WHY PADDLERS //002
Rolling is deliberate immersion
A surfer gets dunked when things go wrong. A kayaker rolls on purpose, repeatedly, in cold water - head fully under, ears first.
Fresh water carries more
Rivers, lakes and canals carry bacterial loads that the open sea largely does not, particularly after rain. That is an infection question rather than a bone-growth one.
Communication is safety
On moving water you run rapids on calls from the bank and from each other. Anything that cuts you off from your group is a safety problem, not a comfort one.
FIT FOR PADDLE //003
Seal first, then check it survives a roll
Get the tip sealing properly on flat water, then roll and check. A plug that seals standing up but leaks upside down usually needs the next tip size rather than a bigger wing.
Helmets are standard on moving water. Fit the plugs first, keep the leash clear of the chin strap, and re-check after your first roll.
EAR HEALTH //004
Infections first, exostosis second
For paddlers the near-term problem is usually swimmer's ear - water sitting in the canal after repeated rolls. SEAR Plugs form a waterproof seal that keeps the canal dry, which prevents it.
The longer-term one is the same as for surfers: cold water and wind over years causes surfer's ear, and keeping them out prevents it.
SEAR PLUGS V2 //005
What SEAR actually is
One box covers the sizing. Four wing sizes and three tips ship in the box - twelve combinations - so you size up on the spot instead of guessing before you order, and you can run a different size in each ear if that is what your ears want.
The plugs are reusable silicone on a leash, in a case that clips to a kit bag. A hydrophobic pathway is designed to resist water while letting ambient sound through, so you can still hear the people and the conditions around you.
SHOP //006
SEAR Plugs V2
Twelve fit combinations in the box. Delivery 4-7 working days. 30-Day Guarantee - customers cover return shipping.
PADDLE QUESTIONS //007
Questions from this sport
Will they stay in through a roll?
Rolling loads a plug less than a wipeout but immerses it more completely. Get the seal right first, then test it - and use the leash.
Can I hear calls on moving water?
The acoustic pathway allows ambient sound to pass through, which is why we would not recommend a solid plug for whitewater. It is quieter than open ears - brief your group that you are wearing them.
Does this cover SUP and sea kayak?
Yes. SUP is drier day to day but the falls are full immersion, and sea kayaking adds cold water plus wind - closer to the surf exposure pattern.
River water gave me an ear infection before
Then get it looked at by a doctor before your next trip, and wear your plugs every session once it has cleared.
Can I wear them under a helmet?
Yes. Plugs in first, leash routed clear of the chin strap, helmet on last.
How should I clean them after a river session?
Rinse in clean fresh water as soon as you can, dry fully, and store in the case. Do not put them back in a wet drybag.
OTHER SPORTS //008
