Electronic earmuff options

[wooldl]

Hello all:

I'm considering new hearing protection and want your opinions on the electronic earmuff options.

What do you use? What should I avoid?

thanks,
wooldl

[Superheat]

There is no option.  Proears gold 33.  I can lay down next to a short barreled AR and be ok.  The clarity is outstanding.  They are pricy but worth it.

Everything else is a compromise.

Howard leight is a distant second choice.  Good for pistols and .22's.  Low profile.

My $.02

[mosinguy]

There is no option.  Proears gold 33. 
  They are pricy

~$300??!?   are they made of Unobtanium or some such??!?

I think it's going to be plugs and muffs for me for a while.

[zamboni_driver]

I would recommend these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001T7QJ9O/ref=oh_o05_s00_i01_details

Great for 22LR and if someone is using something big, I just add foam plugs underneath.  I use these for pistol shooting and when instructing.

[slim]

I resisted the electronic muffs for the longest time. Finally got some and wish I would've had them a long time ago. I believe every Line Boss and Shoot Boss should have them. They're almost a requirement for safety's sake.

Harbor Freight sells a pretty decent set for $13. Start with those.

Right now I'm running the Howard Leight Impact Sports (about $50) and they're great. Low-pro, not too bulky, work well.  Check them out!

[Superheat]

Slim,
The howard leights are a good bang for your $50.  I use them too.   Problem is I was avoiding working with centerfires because it hurt my ears.  The DB rating of the Howard Leights was too low.

Proears has the highest DB rating 33.  Now I just walk right over and plop down next to them no worries.  And where the Howard leights clip out the loud noise the proears just removes that part of the sound.  You can hear someone talking normally without missing anything. 

Yes, EVERY instructor should have some kind of electronic muffs.

[GEmanuel]

I resisted the electronic muffs for the longest time. Finally got some and wish I would've had them a long time ago. I believe every Line Boss and Shoot Boss should have them. They're almost a requirement for safety's sake.
Right now I'm running the Howard Leight Impact Sports (about $50) and they're great. Low-pro, not too bulky, work well.  Check them out!

+1 here, but for a slightly different reason. Being a heavy equipment operator for 45 years, and the subsequent roaring of diesel engines, my hearing is not what it once was. ( and no, we were not told about, much less required to wear hearing protection, until the damage had already been done)
I would not go near a range without hearing protection today. I find the Howard Leights to be the ticket. They not only protect against the higher frequency, but they amplify the line commads and normal conversation. I do not yet need hearing aids, but these definitely make me safer to be on the range with as I can hear you.
If you have $300.00 to spend get the Pro Ears. I like the Impact Sports just fine. YMMV

[wooldl]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I had already looked into the Howard Leight models, but will also check out Proears. I appreciate the higher dB protection they would offer, but that price will probably shy me away.

Thanks again for the info.

wooldl

[Justsomedude]

There certainly are options other than expensive models...

I have the cheap Caldwell Low Profile Electronics.
I wear them on long IDPA Shoots and find them totally adequate.
I can hear the timer and RO Commands and no need to Double Plug.
That is HANDGUN mind you.
I do double plug  indoors....I'm a Recording ENgineer....need my ears.
I also double plug on the off chance that I'm adjusting my glasses or something and my ears are exposed and someone fires a cannon next to me!

More expensive ones certainly sound better.
But I'm just after Hearing protection, ability to hear instruction, comfort.
That can be had for less than $50

[Wurstmacher]

Here is my two cents worth. 

We started my wife out with Peltor electronic muffs (the 50-60 dollar ones) a few years back.  When they quit working properly, I began looking for something else.  I settled on MSA Sordin Supreme Pro something behind the head neckband style with the gel earcup.  Yes, they are more than $200.  Do your research.  Decide your budget.  Figure out how much you are going to use them and under what kind of conditions that you are going to use them.  Do you need to worry about using them in the rain? How comfortable are they?  If they are not comfortable, you won't wear them.

For what it is worth, I did buy the kids the Howard and Leight model for Christmas last year when I saw them on sale.

[Superheat]

The howard leight electronic muffs are on sale, seems like a good price.  They are good for rimfire.  Not so good for centerfire.


https://mail.google.com/mail/h/1rto8my3iwl1/?&v=c&ser=AIKcX55ALspPkY_ZAA4ustEiMHq2Yqa9eQ&th=136780f34fdaf477

[dronning]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I had already looked into the Howard Leight models, but will also check out Proears. I appreciate the higher dB protection they would offer, but that price will probably shy me away.

Thanks again for the info.

wooldl

Take it from someone that just spent $5,000 on hearing aids (insurance doesn't cover it either) $300 is cheap!

You can also use foam plugs with the cheaper electronic muffs and turn the muf volume up - not the best for hearing conversation but it protects your ears

I use the Walker Game ear with custom molded ear inserts not the foam ones.

Dave

[Roland]

I use Surefire EP5 plugs. You can actually still here pretty decent when they're in, and they provide enough protection for anything except many .308s or above. And they're 12.95 a pair.

[dronning]

Natchez has a hearing and eye protection sale on
http://catalogs.natchezss.com/email/04032012hq.html

[boscohurn]

Just got some Howard Leight , 22 rating?  I had planned on giving them a real test.  That did not work out but did test them against a .45.  They worked great.....and I could plug an MP3 into them......if'n I had one.  Think they were about $55.

[Sly223]

I really thought the Harbor Tool and Freight muffs were good for the money;But I am rough on my equipment and have been through several pair.
Right now I'm in plugs with Winchester muffs.
I will invest in a better pair as now I am shoot Boss and I think it important that nothing slips past me.
As an IIT i did not need to hear the whining.LOL

[NhLibertas]

The Pro Ears are incredible. They have excellent noise compression technology, which lowers the volume of gunfire while amplifying quieter sounds. The cheaper electronic muffs use sound clipping technology, essentially they kill all sound as soon as they detect noise above the decibel threshold they are programmed for. This means that you can hear people talking clearly while you are shooting or next to a shooter. I actually hear my rounds impacting downrange when I shoot alone. You don't get this with the cheaper types.

If you have the money, there is no comparison whatsoever.....buy the Pro Ears. At the same time, the Howard Leight's are still great and will serve you well for a far lower cost.

I personally don't like ANY of the muffs that are capable of the highest NRR ratings. They are (by necessity to do their job) too large to allow good contact with the stocks of some rifles and shotguns depending on your position and application. For me I am willing to get a lower NRR for the versatility offered by a low profile design. The muffs that I use all the time and am thrilled with are the Predator Gold model, here's a link: http://www.proears.com/Pro-Ears-Shooting-Hearing-Ear-Protection-Predator-Gold
If you look around you can pick them up for close to a hundred bucks less than their listed price, I think I paid about $240 for mine.

[JV]

i use the howard leight impact sports regularly with pistol, shotgun, rimfire and my ar15. love them. also nice going to the range by yourself and hooking up the old ipod to keep you company. line commands are nice and clear. i purchased a cheaper set before these to see if i liked the idea or not, and after a few range trips, they died. picked up the sports and they have been through mud. rain. dry, left on. no problems, they also have a 4hr auto shutoff to keep you from killing them between trips by leaving them on. i would recommend them to anyone. never tried the really expensive ones, these work fine for me.

[Psych Doc]

I have the Leights. They are pretty good for the price (around $50). My suggestion is try before you buy. Before you lay down serious cash for an expensive set of muffs, try on the model you want to use if possible. For example, the Leights are fine for me on an outdoor range but do not fit my head well enough for indoor use where noise is more of an issue. An old el-cheapo pair of Caldwells work better for me at the indoor range. I don't mind this for $50, but if I had spent 200-300 for premium muffs and they did not fit well, I would not be happy.

[yellowhousejake]

My Caldwells were an interesting experiment and i found electronic muffs worth having for safety reasons. But now they are dead, after two years of very hard use.

I would be interested in the high end muffs, especially the ones that do not clip, but how do they hold up in weather? I expect my muffs to survive pouring rain, blowing dirt, and a overnight below freezing. For several years being used 30+ weekends a year. If they cannot do that, I will likely go back to plain muffs and ear plugs when required.

YHJ

[NhLibertas]

yellowhousejake, I am not really sure how weatherproof the Pro Ears are. I have worn them in moderate rain, and generally try to keep the hood of a rain coat over them. If the weather gets really bad, I generally put in some foam ear plugs and leave the Pro Ears under cover.

My view of it is that they are worth it even if I don't use them in exceptionally bad weather.

[The Old Guide]

Wife and I have Howard Leights. They suppress gunshots and make voices very audible. I turn the volume down just below the hiss from wind. I have worn them in rain and wind. I am very satisfied.

North Country Lady and I both wear hearing aids. The Howard Leights work well with hearing aids. They also amplify enough if you don't wear hearing aids on the line.

A big advantage for us is that they turn off automatically after 4 hours so if you suddenly can't hear at a shoot, just turn them off and on. No need to change batteries.

[aragornelessar86]

Just wore my new HLs to the range for the first time, and I'm pretty happy with themthough I bought the Impact Sport version not realizing they make a higher DB rated version. I'd say for outdoor shooting of full-length rifles or most pistols they'll be fine, but carbines might overpower them and an indoor range definitely does..

[dwarven1]

Take it from someone that just spent $5,000 on hearing aids (insurance doesn't cover it either) $300 is cheap!

You can also use foam plugs with the cheaper electronic muffs and turn the muf volume up - not the best for hearing conversation but it protects your ears

I use the Walker Game ear with custom molded ear inserts not the foam ones.

Dave

Wooldl - read Dave's comments VERY CAREFULLY. I, too, have hearing damage. Wore hearing protectors religiously for 30 years of shooting. And spent 10 of those years riding a motorcycle withOUT ear protection - I didn't know wind noise would damage my hearing.  I know now. And I'm TERRIFIED of losing any more!!! I already have to ask people to repeat themselves. When I watch TV, I use closed captioning because with the constant music soundtracks on TV shows these days, I miss a LOT of the conversation.

Last year, after about 10 years or so of use, I wore out a pair of Browning electronic muffs (NRR 28). I went looking for new ones. Frankly, Peltor muffs are NOT WORTH BUYING. Their NRR rating is pathetically low. I will never waste the money on them and I don't understand why such crap is so popular.

I wound up getting the Pro-Ears Gold. They were >$300 and worth EVERY PENNY. If I want to shoot a long arm and they get in the way, then I have a case of the Howard Leight Maxx earplugs (Amazon, about $24 for 100 (or was it 200?)) - 33 NRR. They work very well, even for shooting big rifles. (for a .50BMG, I put the plugs UNDER my Pro-Ears!). I give these plugs away to anyone who needs them when I'm on the range - If I can save someone from damaging his ears like I did, it's worth it.

You don't have to listen to my advice. You don't know me from Isaac Davis. I hope you DO, though... so that in 10 years you're not kicking yourself saying "Why did I cheap out on ear protection???".

Good luck, whatever you choose.

[Nickle]

And, mind you, Ross's bike is a nice quiet BMW Airhead, or was last I knew. Those bikes are real quiet, I know from personal experience.

Seriously folks, eye and ear protection are not good places to skimp on. Ask anyone that's had severe ear or eye injuries if they think it is.

And, I'll mention that wearing hearing aids isn't the great fix they're cracked up to be.

By the way, I use USGI triple flange ear plugs, size large (I was fitted). Muffs over those when need be.

[dwarven1]

And, mind you, Ross's bike is a nice quiet BMW Airhead, or was last I knew. Those bikes are real quiet, I know from personal experience.

It wasn't the engine noise, it's the WIND noise - wind whistling past your helmet at 75MPH is NOT quite.

[Nickle]

Yup, ironically speaking, you don't get that level of noise when you aren't wearing a helmet.

[TxBobS]

I'll add a couple of comments about the Howard Leight muffs I have been wearing recently.   This first comment is probably going to apply to any electronic device.  While at an indoor range with near constant firing, it is pretty must like wearing non-electronic muffs.  This is because the electronics are kicking in pretty much all of the time.  So at an indoor range (and probably outdoor if it is busy enough) I was neither pleased nor dissatisfied with them.

At this weekend's Appleseed I really found how much I like them.  I could leave my muffs on and hear the other instructors without any problems.  I could easily hear the shooters and engage in conversations with them even while others were shooting.  With mostly 22s being shot, they didn't seem to shut down the audio nearly as much as when indoors.  I pretty much left them on the whole time and never struggled to hear anyone talking. 

A great item for me since I was always leaving my muffs off until the first rounds were shot, then scrambling to put them on.  They get a big thumbs up for me.

[dwarven1]

The reason that so many people recommend the Pro-Ears electronic muffs is that they do NOT shut down; instead, they compress the sound so that the sound does not go above the 82db danger level - you can still hear but you don't get your ears damaged.

My old Browning ear muffs did what you mentioned; the world "went away" briefly when a shot went off, and then gradually (over 2-3 seconds) "came back" as the electronics engaged again.

Personally, now that I've found the Pro-Ears Gold muffs, I won't use anything else. I love how the work. And I can even plug in an iPod while I'm mowing the lawn (Yes, I use them for mowing the lawn. Noise is noise.)

[Pitmaster]

I've got a pair of Peltor's and they drive me nuts shooting indoors. Our club's exhaust fan is loud and gets through when the shooting stops. Unfortunately, I'm usually RO'ing and like to hear what's going on.