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Protect your hearing&#;and still hear important range commands.
Tested Shooting Ear Protection Muffs
We&#;ve got the 411 on the best shooting ear protection from affordable passive to electronic earmuffs and even in-ear options that allow you to hear talking but filters out loud & harmful gunshot sounds.
Because whether you&#;re a beginner getting geared up for the range or a seasoned Range Officer&#;you want to protect your hearing.
The percussive vibrations of each gunshot actually kill vital little hairs deep in your inner ear. And that can open the door to a high pitch ringing or humming noise that can last forever. Tinnitus anyone?
THE QUICK LIST
Table of Contents
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How We Tested & Chose
These are the tried and true picks from our team with thousands of hours at the range as shooters, competitors, law enforcement, military, and range officers.
The Pew Pew Tactical Team
This article is the culmination of all our knowledge and what ear pro we would tell our closest friends and family to get.
We specifically chose options based on:
Protection
You&#;ll see NRR (Noise Reduction Ratings, used in the US) and SNR (Single Number Ratings, used in Europe) in dB (decibels). These numbers are lab tested average sound reduction values provided by a device.
Higher is better but you make some tradeoffs with different designs. We tested against close proximity to large caliber rifles and compensated guns for a subjective test as well.
NRR and SNR aren&#;t directly comparable but SNR is a little higher than NRR for the same level of protection.
Comfort & Fit
If it isn&#;t comfortable you&#;ll get a headache or end up adjusting them&#;just in time during an extra loud burst of shooting.
Circle of Shooting Earmuffs
We&#;ve worn all of these for competitions (6+ hours) as competition Range Officers, which means we&#;re extra close to the blasts.
Bang-For-The-Buck
Guns and ammo are expensive already.
We keep your budget in mind for our choices and have some favorites all the way from disposable foam earplugs to $50 best bang-for-the-buck versions to $300 professional grade electronic earmuffs.
Wear Style
We segment the options based on wear style&#;from passive options to electronic earmuffs and now the newest in-ear electronic options.
Best Shooting Ear Protection
Editor&#;s Overall Pick &#; AXIL TRACKR
Pros
-
NRR protection level of 25dB
-
Thin profile allows for good cheekwelds
-
Great job of blocking out shots and amplifying speech
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 27dB SNR
- Weight: 12 oz
- Batteries: 2 AAA
My current go-to Editor&#;s Overall Pick goes to the AXIL TRACKR for an affordable and performing electronic headset.
AXIL TRACKR
Electronic ear protection cuts out harmful shooting sounds but amplifies regular sounds like people talking.
Great for hearing important commands at the range and animal sounds if you&#;re hunting.
Our entire team tested out the TRACKR and found the padding and strap to be a bit tight out of the box but very comfortable once you stretched them out a little bit.
Range Ready
Range Tested with the TRACKR
Side Profile
But the electronics were what really performed.
At the range, they did a great job of blocking out shots and amplifying speech. When I tested them out in my home office, I was somewhat surprised.
I was able to hear a conversation in another room, a bird tweeting outside, and my own breathing. AXIL&#;s background in hearing aids shines through in the amplification.
NRR comes in at 25dB, which is great for thin profile electronic earmuffs and enough for a day at the range unless you go into really big boy caliber ranges.
Price is $64, which is slightly higher than other budget options, but AXIL has a great deal of buying 2 for $99.
There&#;s also a Bluetooth version rated at 27dB where you can also enjoy tunes with a paired device. Separate volume switches allow you to dial the ambient noise or music to your listening pleasure. You&#;ll choose it at the bottom of the page with an extra $30 per headphone.
What do you think about AXIL?
Readers&#; Ratings
4.97/5
()
Your Rating?
Most Comfortable &#; ShellShock Protection EXO PRO
Pros
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 28dB SNR
- Weight: 13 oz with batteries
- Batteries: 2 AAA
The Pew Pew Tactical team brings you our own brand, ShellShock Protection, that comes from our hundreds of hours shooting each year.
We&#;ve spec-ed our earmuffs and glasses to emphasize comfort and protection.
ShellShock EXO PRO, Light On
Gel pads come standard on all our ear pro&#;a feature you only find on $200+ options. These pads help us stay comfy during our hours-long competitions and testing cycles.
28dB SNR and a .5ms attack time keep your hearing intact&#;all the while amplifying sounds you do want to hear such as your buddies and range commands.
Plus for our launch special we have Free Shipping on everything and only TX tax.
ShellShock Protection, Jacki
ShellShock EXO Pro Electronic & Switch Glasses
ShellShock Gel Pads
EXO PRO Electronic units are $99 but we also have a 30% off launch special for our Premium Eyes & Ears Combo Packs.
These include our ANSI-rated Z87.1+ Switch ballistic glasses that come with both Smoke & Clear lenses for shooting both indoors and out.
ShellShock Switch, Double Lenses
Best Foam Earplugs &#; Ear Buddy Foam Earplugs
Pros
-
High NRR (noise reduction rating) of 32dB
-
Small, lightweight, and disposable
-
Affordable
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 32dB NRR
- 50 Pairs
These are the most affordable of the bunch and really protective at 32dB NRR (noise reduction rating).
Great for beginners starting out in shooting sports or for doubling up on ear protection under earmuffs if you&#;re next to really loud guns.
Foam Earplugs
Shooting with Foamies
They take up hardly any space so I always have some in my range bag in case I forgot my larger ones or I have guests.
Remember to fully compress them before sticking them into your ears.
L to R: Badly Inserted, Semi Inserted, Properly Inserted; from NIOSH
However it&#;s not all roses&#;sometimes foam earplugs work TOO well and block out things you want to hear.
And if you have smaller or larger ear canals compared to the average person it might not feel or work that great either.
There are tons of other foam options, but I would stay away from pure cylindrical ones&#;those are not very comfy:
Most Protective Passive &#; 3M Peltor Optime 105
Most Protective Passive
3M Peltor Optime
$25
at Amazon
Prices accurate at time of writing
$25
at Amazon
Prices accurate at time of writing
Pros
-
High protection with 30dB NRR
-
Convenient to put on and take off repeatedly
-
One size usually fits all
-
Can pair with earplugs inside
-
Inexpensive & reusable
Cons
-
Bulkier than other options
-
Can interfere with proper rifle cheek weld
-
Issues with safety or prescription glasses and proper ear seal
Specs
- Protection Level: 30dB NRR
- Weight: 12 oz
Traditional &#;passive&#; earmuffs come on a headband and have foam pads that cover and form a seal around the entire ear.
The Optime 105 on the left is super protective with 30dB NRR but is also quite bulky.
Optime 105 Ear Muffs (L) and Shotgunner (R)
It&#;s not heavy, but it will seriously cramp your cheekweld situation for rifles and shotguns because its large size will hit the stock and get in the way.
Great if you&#;re starting out and shooting handguns&#;and especially if you&#;re at an indoor range where the sound reverberates more than outdoors.
Best In-Ear Electronic &#; Axil XCOR
Best In-Ear Electronic
AXIL XCOR
$199
at AXIL
Prices accurate at time of writing
$199
at AXIL
Prices accurate at time of writing
Pros
-
29dB SNR Rating
-
Bluetooth enabled
-
No cords
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 29dB SNR
- Weight: 6 oz (with case)
- Batteries: Internal Rechargeable
Say goodbye to bulky over-the-ear muffs!
These are the next generation of hearing protection and let&#;s you protect your ears, enhance the things you want to hear, and still give you a great cheekweld.
Using the XCOR, I didn&#;t miss having a cord on the back of my neck or large earmuffs in the way.
The XCOR comes with a recharging case, USB cable, and a packet of different-sized foam plugs. You&#;ll want to spend some time finding the right size.
XCOR with Charging Case
Shooting with the XCOR
Too small, you won&#;t get the protection you need, too big, they&#;ll be uncomfortable after a while.
I&#;ve used these for a few months now, and they seem to do a good job at both protecting me from gunshots and allowing me to hear my team. I like that I can turn active hearing on or off with a touch. I also appreciate being able to listen to music and answer calls if needed.
On a recent flight, I used these to drown out the sounds of a crying baby and listen to soothing music. Thank you 29db SNR!
Best For Competitions &#; MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X
Pros
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 22dB NRR
- Weight: 12 oz
- Batteries: 2 AA
MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X
Most of my fellow competitors wear MSA Sordins for their comfort and sound quality.
I finally caved after I became a range officer for a couple of competitions. That meant constant blasts for hours while still needing to hear everything.
I simply asked my competition buddies, &#;what are the best electronic ear muffs&#; and the MSA&#;s got the majority of votes.
They already have built-in gel caps, and there are a couple of colors. I, of course went with the camo&#;
Me Shooting with Sordins
The company is the world’s best Best Electronic Ear Protection for Shooting supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
Supreme Pro-X Controls
MSA Supreme Pro-X, Side
They are comfy for hours with their gel caps, have easily accessible button controls, great sound cutoff, and compression, and allow for earplugs if the decent 22db NRR doesn&#;t cut it.
The quality of the sound is also great. There&#;s no buzzing when things are quiet, it seems the cutoff is faster when there&#;s a loud noise, and voices sound better.
However, one annoying thing is that one of the batteries tends to get jammed and you&#;ll need to carefully knock the entire unit if you want to change them.
Plus, they can attach to ballistic helmets and comms if that&#;s your thing&#;however you&#;ll need to crack open the glued housing.
Best for Helmet Mounting &#; Safariland Liberators
Pros
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 22dB NRR
- Run Time: 160-300 hrs
- Batteries: 2 AA or CR123
What I have on my night vision setup&#;
Safariland Liberator HP 2.0, On
Very comfortable with gel cups and great simultaneous blocking of loud gunshots while still amplifying sounds I want to ear (eg. range commands).
These are much easier to mount onto helmets compared to the Sordins since they don&#;t require opening anything up&#;you just need the Unity SARA clips and Unity Mark 2 Rail Kit which lets you fold it back when not in use.
Safariland Liberator HP 2.0 on Helmet
Also Good Electronic Earmuffs &#; Walker&#;s Razor Slim Muff
Pros
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 23db NRR
- Weight: 12 oz
- Batteries: 2 AAA
These Walker&#;s look great and performance is on-par for their price points. A good solution for beginner electronic ear pro if you didn&#;t pick up the AXIL&#;s above.
Walker's Razor
Walker's Razor, Side with Gel Pads
They are head-to-head against the Impact Sports (with one more dB of NRR).
And keep in mind the Walkers don&#;t have AUX-in if that&#;s important to you. For myself&#;I&#;ve never had the need to use AUX-in since I&#;m not running music in or comms. I prefer to be fully ready to hear range commands.
And, oh yes&#;they also have access to Upgraded Gel Pads which make it so much comfier and creates a better seal against your shooting glasses.
Runner-Up Electronic Earmuff &#; Howard Leight Impact Sport
Pros
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 22dB NRR
- Weight: 12 oz
- Batteries: 2 AAA
These are the OG affordable electronic ear pro.
Howard Leight Impact Sport
They are super popular for a reason. They are affordable, and they work&#;39K reviews on Amazon with a 4.7-star average.
Tons of both beginners and advanced shooters are still rocking them.
It&#;s the first pair of electronic earmuffs people get when they are tired of yelling &#;WHAT?!?&#; when someone speaks to them at the range.
Affordable, decent protection at 22dB NRR, slim for rifle/shotgun shooting, and reasonably comfortable. Plus, they come with AUX-in for devices.
Best Passive Cheekweld &#; 3M Shotgunner II
Best Passive Cheekweld
3M Shotgunner II
$25
at Amazon
Prices accurate at time of writing
$25
at Amazon
Prices accurate at time of writing
Pros
-
Affordable
-
Slimmer profile
-
24dB of NRR protection
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 24dB NRR
- Weight: 9 oz
For going slim&#;I really like the 3M Shotgunner.
I painted mine over, and it served me well for years, especially when I wanted something simple and slim for pistol shooting with a little bit of rifle thrown in.
Passive Shooting Muffs, Side (L to R: Shotgunner, Optime 105, Optime 101)
It&#;s decent protection at the base 24dB model, but you can always double up if it gets really loud with compensated rifles.
Comfort is average, but I found it to be fine for a few hours if I can take it off my ears when they call for a cold range to fix targets. The earcup material can get a little sticky from sweat so I usually take the down time to wipe them off as well.
Best Reusable Earplugs &#; SureFire EP3 Sonic Defenders
Pros
-
Two levels of protection
-
24dB NRR with filter cap
-
Affordable
-
Sized
Cons
Specs
- Protection Level: 24dB NRR
- Weight: Very Light
Want something reusable that gives you two levels of hearing protection?
Enter Surefire EP3 Sonic Defenders which have &#;filter caps&#; you can choose to have in or out.
Surefire EP3 Sonic Defenders
Wearing Surefire EP3 Sonic Defenders
Having it open gives you still decent protection against gunshots but allows you to hear range commands and regular talking.
Having them in gives you a decent 24dB NRR of protection. They fit very well but keep in mind there are sizes&#;here I am comfy with Mediums above.
Great for outdoor ranges and &#;normal&#; calibers&#;but if you&#;re shooting indoors or shooting magnums, I&#;d double-up with these inside and then earmuffs over.
Runner-Up In-Ear &#; Axil GS Extreme 2.0
Specs
- Protection Level: 29dB SNR
- Weight: 1 oz
- Batteries: Internal Rechargeable
- Battery Life: 25 hrs active or 120 hrs standby
Pros
Cons
We tried the first generation of GS Extremes and were not impressed. But&#;the newest generation is great.
AXIL GS Extreme 2.0
However, we must note that you have to really fit the ear with the foam plugs.
AXIL GS Extreme 2 Foamies
AXIL GS Extreme 2 Everything
They come in a variety of sizes, and so far, the three of us that tested them could find a size that worked.
Another note is that the smaller silicone plugs are just for music&#;not for blasting guns.
Now you&#;ll have no excuse to have a good cheekweld&#;but make sure to put some sunblock on your ears (we learned the hard way).
As for price, they are decent at $129 for one pair, but Axil currently has a great deal of 2 pairs for $199.
How Sound Damages Your Ears
Everyone always talks about the middle ear. That&#;s mainly the eardrum and those three little bones with cool names: the hammer, anvil, and stirrup.
But what really causes hearing damage though is what happens in the inner ear.
Anatomy of the ear
Inside, picture a spiral staircase. Only this passage is just 2 millimeters wide and maybe 30 millimeters long, all coiled up.
Sound races along the outside of the staircase, but in the middle are the organ of Corti (yup, sounds ominous) and the basilar membrane.
Both are long and thin, with the organ resting on the membrane. All along this little assembly are tiny little hairs. They register sound and transmit it through the auditory nerve to your brain.
Daniel Defense DDM4ISR Range Shooting
But &#; and here&#;s the kicker &#; exposure to an intense sound that&#;s 140 dB or more can make segments of the organ of Corti separate from the basilar membrane. Portions of it actually tear away and float around.
Sounds you hear all the time can have a huge effect on your hearing.
So you end up with an inflamed lesion that causes an accompanying chemical reaction. Hairs die. Scar tissue forms, and even with rest, the tiny hairs typically continue to degenerate. A cascade effect takes over, and the entire auditory central nervous system goes deaf.
Researchers suspect that tinnitus &#; that high pitch noise inside your head that won&#;t go away &#; &#;begins as a result of the brain trying to regain the ability to hear the sound frequencies it has lost by turning up the signals of neighboring frequencies.&#;
One more thing: noise exposure is cumulative. Each loud sound is killing ear hairs, so you need to be thinking about total exposure over the course of days, weeks, and years.
FN502 Shooting
Ready for some hearing protection yet?
Pregnant Women, Take Note
If you&#;re looking to go to the range while you&#;re pregnant, there are some special considerations that you should know if before going.
Check out our complete article Shooting While Pregnant, for more details!
Proper Hearing Protection
First of all, forget cotton balls, tissue, packing peanuts, or my personal old-shooter favorite, cigarette filters.
While they are better than nothing, they are also next to nothing. At best, you&#;ll get a reduction of maybe 7dB.
Cotton balls&#;just don&#;t
Effective choices for hearing protection come down to
There are so many options, there&#;s no reason not to protect your ear hairs. From neon foam-on-strings to high-tech headphones, there&#;s something for everyone.
What you should be looking for is a minimum noise reduction of 15dB, but 30dB is preferable. Pair a good set of plugs with muffs, and you might shut out another 10 to 15dB or so.
Gun Decibel Chart (Photo:
Silencer Central)
You know the load you like to shoot, but a conservative 140dB is a common figure for an average muzzle blast. A .22 will be less, a magnum more.
With quality protection, you can start approaching a range that&#;s still loud &#; as in chainsaw or sandblast loud &#; but may be up to 1,000 times quieter.
FAQs
What decibel protection do you need for shooting?
Higher is always better but aim for something at least 20dB to 30dB NRR.
Do you have to wear ear protection while shooting?
To protect your hearing, always wear proper ear protection with a high Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). Eye protection is also highly recommended when shooting.
How much dB is a gunshot?
An unsuppressed gunshot is varies between 140dB (.22LR) to 167dB (.308 Win).
How loud is a 9mm gunshot?
A Glock 17 firing 9mm ammo is 162dB
Final Thoughts
To sum it all up&#;
Let me know if there&#;s any that we missed. And if you&#;re looking for Best Shooting Glasses or Best Shooting Gloves, click those links to see our other hands-on reviews.
March 13, &#; Added ShellShock Protection and Safariland options. Removed Gold Ears and Impact Pros. Added information to Sordins.
November 15, &#; Updated list, added additional information, and fact-checked by Editor-in-Chief.
We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More &#;
A 9mm handgun has a 160-decibel report, which is loud enough to cause permanent damage without hearing protection. That&#;s why there are three things you need to bring to every gun range: hearing protection, eye protection, and common sense. I&#;ve been testing the best shooting ear protection over the past month to see, which offers the best comfort and decibel reduction. Here are my top picks.
How I Evaluated the Best Hearing Protection
The best shooting ear pro was tested under real-world conditions. Nick Setting
Testing the best hearing protection involved shooting, hunting, and wearing them for long periods. While doing those tests, I judged each pair on the following criteria:
Comfort
I&#;ve shot USPA events that go all day, and with bad ear pro, you end up with a headache after wearing them for six or more hours. Comfortable ear protection makes a huge difference, and I&#;m a stickler for any pressure points or discomfort felt after an hour of wearing the ear pro.
Noise Reduction
Testing Decibullz ear plugs.
Shooting ear protection needs to protect your ears, and they do that by effectively blocking sounds higher than 100 dB. I tested this by wearing the ear pro at the range and while cutting grass with my very-loud mower.
Fit
Hearing protection must fit the user for comfort and protection. I evaluated how flexible each pair of ear pro was on shooters of different sizes.
Best Shooting Ear Protection: Reviews and Recommendations
Key Features
- Decibel Reduction: 26 dB
- Bluetooth
- Uses two AA batteries
- Ear cups have cut-outs for use with long guns
- Adjustable headband
Pros
- Comfortable
- Easily connects to your
- Easy volume adjustment
Cons
- Creates a pressure point on the top of the head after a few hours use
The Peltor Sport Tactical 500 in testing. Nick Setting
I&#;ve been wearing the Peltor Sport Tactical 500 for shooting and cutting grass for long stretches to test comfort and noise protection. The muffs have a nice seal on them, and they effectively reduce noise, even in loud indoor ranges. I like that electronic ear protection allows you to hear conversations at a normal level. It&#;s a great feature if you want to hear people talking around you, but I always end up in a bay next to loud talkers that I&#;d prefer to drown out. The Sport Tactical 500 have a feature just for such an occasion. There are two large arrows on the muff that control the volume of sounds that enter the internal speaker. With the volume down, voices are reduced to a low rumble. If you want to drown out the world around you even more, you can connect the ear protection to your via Bluetooth. Podcasts and music are great to listen to, but I especially like the Bluetooth feature for using a shot timer app I have on my . A standard shot timer won&#;t work at an indoor range, and using the par timer on my PACT is obtrusive around other shooters. So, instead I set the par timer on my shot timer app, and the sound feeds directly into my ears only.
The cups that come on the Sport Tactical are comfortable and nearly as good as the best gel cups I&#;ve used. I don&#;t think you&#;ll have to upgrade the cups unless you want maximum comfort. One area that does need improvement is the headband. After a few hours, the top of the band creates a pain point right at the top of my head. A cushioned band like the one on the Sordin Supreme Pro, would be ideal.
Best In-Ear
Walker&#;s Silencer BT 2.0
Key Features
- Noise Reduction Rating: 26 decibels
- Rechargeable
- Bluetooth
- Voice prompts
- Connects with Walker&#;s Link app for custom settings
Pros
- Comfortable
- Good sound suppression
- Carrying case recharges the ear buds
Cons
- Left and right ear bud will occasionally lose synch
- Too large to double under over-ear muffs
Over-the-ear hearing protection does a great job at providing maximum hearing protection, especially when paired with foam ear plugs. But, that style comes up short in comfort and it can get in the way of a proper cheek weld on some shotguns and rifles. That&#;s why a lot of shooters prefer in-ear hearing protection. In that category you can spend a few cents for foam plugs or more than $400 for Axil ear buds. While both of those extremes have their place, I think the Walker&#;s Silencer 2.0s strike a great balance of price, performance, and features. Like all electronic hearing protection, the Walker&#;s Silencer 2.0s allow you to hear what&#;s going on around you while dampening loud noises. They also connect to your like any bluetooth earbuds. So you can listen to music while you shoot and even take calls. They pair to the Walker&#;s app which has volume control, custom auto-off settings, and four sound settings with variable sound suppression and boosting.
Tyler Freel was able to listen to safely music on the range with the Walker&#;s Silencer BT 2.0. Scott Einsmann
OL staff writer, Tyler Freel, tested the Silencer 2.0s during our annual gun test where he shot thousands of rounds through rifles and pistols. Freel says the Silencer 2.0s were comfortable and provided great sound suppression even when firing rifles with muzzle brakes. He used the Bluetooth function to listen to music, which worked well, but occasionally the left or right ear bud would lose connection. Also, the earbuds would lose the bluetooth connection occasionally. He found the ambient sound to be very natural, and that some wind on the mic will remind you that you&#;re wearing ear protection.
Key Features
- Decibel Reduction: 23dB
- Bluetooth
- Two AAA batteries
- Four hi-gain omnidirectional microphones
Pros
- Excellent situational awareness
- Easy to pack
Cons
I like to think that I&#;m getting smarter as I get older. During an action-packed deer drive, I had a realization&#;after the smoke cleared and my ears stopped ringing&#;that I didn&#;t need to damage my hearing every time I went on a successful hunt. After that day, I wore ear muffs whenever I hunted with a gun. From deer to upland hunts, I rocked my Walkers Razor Quads every time I pulled the trigger.
I didn&#;t buy these ear pro specifically for hunting, they&#;re just what I had, but they ended up being a great choice. The reason why I still prefer them for hunting is the omnidirectional microphones. Most electronic hearing protection will allow you to hear just as well as you do with your naked ears, but you lose the ability to pinpoint a sound&#;s directions. You gain some of that ability back with the omnidirectional mics on the Razor Quads. It&#;s still not naked ear precision, but you can at least determine the general direction the sound came from.
The Razor Quads benefit greatly from aftermarket gel cups because without them, you can&#;t wear the ear pro for much longer than an hour without a headache.
Key Features
- Decibel Reduction: 30 dB
- Padded headband
- Designed for pistol shooters
Pros
- Efficient noise reduction
- Comfortable
- Affordable
Cons
- Not ideal for rifle or shotgun shooting
Serious shooters invest in Gucci gear like electronic or even custom hearing protection. But, everyone should have at least one pair of Howard Leight Leightning L3s for guest shooters or for times when you forget your primary pair. These muffs are about $30 and offer an impressive 30 dB of sound reduction, and that&#;s a lot of shooting ear protection for the money.
The downside of these muffs is they are bulky and will interfere with the cheek weld on most shotguns and rifles. But, these are an excellent option for maximum hearing protection, especially helpful for new shooters.
Key Features
- Decibel Reduction: 23 dB
- Passive hearing protection
- Suitable from ages six months to eight years
- Colors: Coral, Highlighter Yellow, Next Camo, Blue, Green, Orange, Pink
Pros
- A lot of color options
- Designed to fit youth shooters
- Light
Cons
- Most effective when used in conjunction with ear plugs
The Kid&#;s Muff are made to fit youth shooters for comfort and protection Nick Setting
The best rifles for an adult aren&#;t the best for young shooters, and the same goes for hearing protection. That&#;s why these kid-sized muffs are ideal for getting a young shooter started. They&#;ll fit their head for comfort and a good seal. They also come in a wide range of colors, so they&#;ll be psyched to put them on. If you&#;re headed to an indoor range or someone is shooting a braked rifle nearby, it&#;s a good idea to use some foam plugs in addition to the muffs because the muffs alone provide 23 dB of protection.
Key Features
- Decibel Reduction: 23 dB
- Bluetooth
- Two AAA batteries
- Four omnidirectional microphones
Pros
- Comfortable
- Padded headband
- Low profile
Cons
- Batteries die if you forget to turn it off
The Walker&#;s Razor Slim hearing protection have the same omnidirectional microphones I liked in the Razor Quads. That features is excellent, but they are also comfortable enough to wear all day.
The padded headband, soft ear cups, and scant weight make these ear pro so comfortable. I also like that the headband can be extended enough that it sits above my enormous head&#;keeping the headband off my head reduces pressure for all-day comfort. They&#;re also so light that I hardly notice I&#;m wearing them.
Key Features
- Affordable
- Fit many of the best shooting ear protection
Pros
- Comfortable
- Cooler than foam
Cons
A gel cup is the best thing you can add to an ear muff to increase comfort. They are easy to install and cost about $30. Here are some gel cups that fit popular shooting ear protection.
Key Features
- Decibel Reduction: 26 dB
- Can be used with behind-the-head or helmet mounts
- Uses CR123 batteries, HP-R uses a USB-C rechargeable battery
- Durable and washable
- Three modes of operation
Pros
- Comfortable
- Long battery life
- Different modes for different activities
- Slim earcups don&#;t interfere with rifle stocks
Cons
- Shooting indoors or with muzzle brakes requires doubling up with plugs
One of the most comfortable sets of ear protection I&#;ve worn is the new Liberator HP 2.0 from Safariland. These muffs are tough, versatile, and designed to be compatible with the overhead strap, behind-the-head harness, and helmet setups. They have three electronic operation modes, which range from full ambient sound amplification with active protection from dangerous sounds, to full sound suppression for very loud environments.
The standard model uses a CR123 battery, and the HP-R model, which I have, uses a rechargeable battery that replenishes via a USB-C cable. All functions of the headset are controlled by the power and volume buttons, and each ear muff has a front-facing speaker. It&#;s easy to forget that you&#;re wearing ear protection because the sound is good, but direction pinpointing isn&#;t easy.
The only downside I&#;ve found is that the overall level of sound suppression could be better. It&#;s fine for handgun and general range use, but when using in tight quarters, indoors, or next to someone shooting through a muzzle brake, the impulse is still loud enough to hurt your ears&#;so double up with foam plugs in that case.&#;Tyler Freel
How to Choose the Best Shooting Ear Protection
The ear pro you choose will depend on your shooting discipline and how they fit your ears. Nick Setting
When you&#;re choosing hearing protection, you&#;ll first have to decide between over-ear and in-ear protection. Here are some pros and cons of each style.
Ear Plugs
Pros
- Low profile
- Excellent noise protection
- Usually less expensive than muffs
Cons
- No sharing (Need to be sized for your ear canal.)
- Wide quality spectrum
- Can lose seal from sweat and movement
Ear Muffs
Pros
- One size fits most
- Many electronic and bluetooth options
Cons
- Can be uncomfortable
- Can interfere with cheek weld
If you&#;re shooting in an especially loud environment, like an indoor range, the best shooting ear protection is to use both ear plugs and ear muffs at the same time.
Active vs. Passive
Passive hearing protection uses foam or specialized material to create a barrier that protects your ears. Active hearing protection uses both passive and electronic protection. The advantage is that the external microphone and internal speakers allow shooters to hear normally&#;keeping situational awareness&#;while blocking hearing damaging audio levels.
In-ear pro allows you to achieve a proper cheek weld. Scott Einsmann
Comfort
Some ear pro is comfortable all day, but others cause discomfort after a few hours. The key to comfort is padding used in over-ear and the fit of in-ear protection. Look for ear muffs with gel pads and ear plugs that offer a custom fit.
Features
Shooting ear protection does more than protect your hearing while you&#;re shooting the best handguns&#;they also can play music and take calls. Bluetooth is just one of the great features of the best hearing protection. Here are a few others to look for:
- Compatibility with aftermarket gel pads
- Custom fit
- Size
FAQs
Q: Should I look for in shooting ear protection? The best shooting ear protection is comfortable and has more than 20 dB of protection.
Q: Are ear muffs better than ear plugs? Ear muffs are easier to take on and off, and don&#;t require custom fitting. Ear plugs must be fit to your ear canal but offer more comfort and protection than muffs.
Q: What is the highest dB for ear plugs? Anything over 25 dB of reduction is excellent performance for ear plugs.
Q: What decibel shooting ear protection is needed for shooting? Most firearms produce 160 decibels and you&#;ll need to drop that to under 140 decibels to prevent hearing damage.
Final Thoughts on the Best Shooting Ear Protection
The best shooting ear protection makes a day at the range much more enjoyable. Choose the pair that best suits your needs, and wear them each time you pull a trigger.
For more Types of Ear Protectioninformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.
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