I searched the sub and it seems like people can hear the instructions over the loudspeaker OK, but if I am someone who makes very occasional small talk with the people next to me/ the coach (not a ton I promise I’m not annoying) will I be able to hear?
I already really have a hard time with listening to people in loud environments because I have ADHD and struggle to isolate conversation from general noise. I don’t want to miss someone asking for my weights or commiserating after a tough block because of the earplugs, but I also want to protect my hearing.
If anyone has experience with this I would be super grateful!!!
Yes, I wear them every class and have no problem hearing when the coach comes over to say something off-mic or if a neighbor says something to me.
Same. You can hear more than fine OP, they just dial the raw edge of long-term hearing damage down a few notches.
That’s exactly what I need thank you!
Same
Perfect, thank you so much!!
I wear them every class. Since starting to do so, I’m struck by the odd occasion I take them out how fucking loud it is
Same! I forgot mine today, I usually have them on my keys but switched cars today, and was blown away by how loud the class was. Hearing damage might not present itself until years down the road, protect your hearing everyone!
I know this is very crotchety of me but I really feel it was not this loud/ overstimulating a couple of years ago
I actually think it's coach-specific. I do notice loudness differences between different coaches.
I was in a class recently and it was painfully loud. I was wearing earplugs and it was still too loud. I asked if they could lower the volume but it didn’t seem to make a huge difference.
I use the “experience” loops and have no problem hearing coaches or conversations. I do struggle with the volume of my own voice - my voice sounds louder in my head. But I’ve adjusted to that over time.
They say that if you hear your own voice "echo" in your head, you are wearing the earplugs correctly. It's annoying but a good sign haha
Is it bad that I’ve been looking for a reason to buy a loop earplugs and haven’t had a justifiable reason and now I’m just gonna get them because of this post
Please do!! It will protect your ears from having noise-induced hearing loss! I love my loop earplugs
You and me both, go for it!! I want to keep as much of my hearing as possible when I get older, and I’m at OTF almost every day!
Do it! it gets so loud in there
I love my Loops. Only issue I have is not speaking loud enough for someone to hear when the music is going during class. So I take one out and ask for a weight or reply to the coach then put it back in.
You'll just have to be careful you're NOT YELLING YOUR SMALL TALK because your own voice will seem muffled to you.
I have the opposite problem and feel like I’m yelling I guess, so my voice also gets dampened. The people say they can’t hear me 🙃
Ok this is actually a very helpful tip thank you I would be so embarrassed if I was yelling to my neighbors omfg
The music becomes quieter, the instructions become clearer. Loops are magical.
Absolutely. I wear them every class and talk plenty to people around me. I have no issue talking to and hearing people. I have the switch version but keep it on the quietest setting.
Trust me you will appreciate you did this to save your hearing. Bc later you won’t be able to hear in those situations if you have noise-induced hearing loss from not wearing hearing protection.
Signed, a hearing scientist!
I’m just learning about these on this forum now. How Do these loop earplugs compare to the cheap foam inserts which I currently wear?
And I agree, the music is quite loud. My ears were always ringing after class until I started using ear plugs. I don’t care that I am the only one in class that wears earplugs.
The loop ones allow you to hear more of the environment and are more comfortable than the foam earplugs. Let’s in more sounds (the less harmful sounds). In terms of protection they’re pretty similar as long as you are using the foam ones correctly (making sure to roll them up tightly and slide all the way into ear canal so that can fully expand). Foam ones block out all the sounds more so a bit more muffled all around. Hope that makes sense!
Also definitely good you’re wearing them!! Ring in ears is a sign that the music was definitely too loud.
An added benefit - the chatty people next to me aren't as distracting!
They all think they are not annoying!
yes! I wear them all the time as someone wit ADHD :)
Yes. I use them and can hear everything. It’s just way less noisy
Highly recommend. I use Loops every single class and never mishear the coaches unless I’m in that runner’s high zone. I use the Quiet ones, and it still feels a little loud if my station is right under the speaker. Last class a guy asked to borrow a set of dumbbells on my station and heard clearly.
But if I had missed it, it’s super easy to pop one out because I have the loop connector thing so I don’t lose them. The cord also makes it more obvious to other people that my hearing is muted, so you might get less attention. If you like the chit chat, then leave them out before class and be welcoming and friendly upfront - people will engage you with them in or they won’t.
i got the switch (so i can use them outside of OTF) and LOVE them!! when the coach comes over to talk to me, i’ll either pop one out or switch it to the engage setting (the lightest one). One day I forgot them and was like WOW it is so loud and overstimulating in here AKSHSHS
The person next to you may need to speak a touch louder than usual if they're trying to get your attention, but otherwise no difference at all (except your hearing is now safer and more protected lol).
Yes! They are awesome!!!
Like others have said, I can hear the coach off-mic or my neighbors just fine with my Loops in! Honestly the music can be so loud that I expect people to have to speak up/shout in order for me to hear them, even without earplugs in.
I hear what I need to hear.
How loud are people’s studios? I feel like mine never turns the music up insanely loud. And I’m definitely an earplugs at concerts/events type person but never have felt the need at Orangetheory.
At mine some coaches turn it up loud and others a more manageable volume.
My Apple Watch will sometimes give a loud environment warning (90 decibels) during class, so that’s definitely not good for anyone’s hearing! 😳 I wear my Loops at every class, especially since hearing loss is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s and my dad is currently in the late stages of the disease. (He has hearing loss from an injury he sustained in the military.) Protect your hearing, folks!
I haven't tried Loops but I've used foam earplugs and you can actually hear the music and coach better with earplugs in, maybe because they muffle the chaos and filter only in the loudest sound?
Love my loop earplugs. I can still hear everything, but the volume is turned down. The loud music was hurting my ears and giving me headaches. The foam earplugs offered at our studio were hard to put in and compared to my loops did t do as well. These go in easy. Have a case. Easy to clean.
I like the Vibes earplugs better than the Loop for being able to hear while dampening overall noise, but I agree with all the comments that Loops are good, much better than foam earplugs. I also like that the Vibes are white, so I don't lose them as easily as black earplugs
I usually have no problem hearing the coach with the earplugs on
I can hear everything just fine. Conversation and speech is better.
With the loops I have, I can hear the coach’s instructions but if someone speaks to me directly I can’t hear them.
I wore them to hockey playoff games and couldn’t talk to my friend next to me but could clearly hear the strange convo the guys 4 rows behind me were having.
You absolutely can still hear all the instructions and music. It’s just a more well rounded tolerable experience
I didn’t realize how quickly the sound would overstimulate me until I started wearing my loops
No one things they are annoying, yet a few are