So a couple of years ago I got crazy and said "what do military operators use for Hearing protection?" I decided to try a ComTac (cheap Chinese copy of the real $$$$$$ thing) type headset. The first time I took it to the range and a Magnum rifle went off near me, the headset almost hit the berm! The promised 27dB reduction was not there. Why, I pondered, was it not as good as the real thing? The earpads! I researched that the "real thing" uses gel ear pads. $40 upgrade later, it worked as desired. I have since upgraded several sets of hearing protection in the family to the gel version of the earpads. Most of the brand name gear has an after market set of gels available. We spend a lot of time in our hearing protection and comfort and effectiveness are very important. You will likely find better occlusion and comfort in the gels. Folks at my shoots are welcome to try a set of mine for the difference. My latest set has a notch for the ear pieces of your glasses to again improve comfort and effectiveness. Your mileage may vary but I think gels are great. Should your hearing protection break you can always move the gels to a replacement set and protect that investment.
I use a pair of Howard Leights with Noisefighter gel cups. The whole combo can be had on Amazon for around $90 and is well worth it in my opinion. With an Appleseed event requiring you to wear ear protection pretty much all day, the gel cups really take pressure off your head and especially where the eye protection sits behind your ears and makes for a very comfortable setup for all day use. Here is a link to what I am using.
Howard Leight Ear Protection
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7QJ9O/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Noisefighter Gel Cups
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5Y6FPV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Quote from: The Wolfhound on January 26, 2019, 06:52:15 PM
$40 upgrade later, it worked as desired. I have since upgraded several sets of hearing protection in the family to the gel version of the earpads.
At the Wolfhound's suggestion I got a pair of these:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5Y6FPV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07L5Y6FPV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) Money very well spent indeed. Much more comfortable, and much quieter headsets now. Installation was very easy.
Late to the game, but I use two layers of hearing protection. I've got tinnitus, so I'm paranoid about my hearing.
Layer 1: -32dB foam inserts in my ears.
Layer 2: Howard Leight slim electronic earmuffs, rated at -23dB.
If you look into this, I've read that any additional layer only subtracts 10dB regardless of rating, so my -32dB is boosted to -42dB.
BUT... the electronic muffs can amplify ambient noise 2-3x as loud as normal.
I set my electronic muffs to full volume, so that I hear conversation through the -32dB plugs fine, but anything louder than 82dB is cut off and I get my -42dB protection.
Quote from: CatDoc on May 18, 2019, 01:23:16 AM
Late to the game, but I use two layers of hearing protection. I've got tinnitus, so I'm paranoid about my hearing.
I set my electronic muffs to full volume, so that I hear conversation through the -32dB plugs fine, but anything louder than 82dB is cut off and I get my -42dB protection.
Thanks. Good idea and one I have sometimes contemplated. I have tinnitus with moderate loss through many years of military firearms and pyrotechnics exposure and aircraft. I recently began using the electronic muffs to be able to do team work after RBC and facilitate instructor duties, and now will try your suggestion for a second layer of protection when firing above 22 cal, or around anyone who is. In my last AS a fellow had a M1A1 and my Howard Leights were not providing the level of protection I expected, but they sure beat cigarette filters like we used in '69. By the time I came on AD in '72 triple flange worn on the uniform were standard. Still use them on occasion.