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Best Hearing Protection Choices 2022
07/11/2022
Have you ever noticed when you go to the range, you see a wide variety of ear protection that other shooters are using? Have you wondered what they are using and why? While I everyone has their own preferences and reasons, I’m going to break down my top choices for hearing protection for shooting.
There are many hearing protection options out there in today’s market, which can make it a bit much to take in when deciding which one you should get. I’m going make a list that’s easy to read and will help you decide which option is most suitable for your needs.
First, lets talk about the purpose behind hearing protection (known as “ear pro”).
When it comes to ear pro, the purpose is straightforward: protect your hearing from loud, damaging noises. To understand how ear pro provides hearing protection, let’s look at some charts.
Hearing protection offers protection from damaging decibel (dB) levels by muffling a level of dB that comes through. The higher level the hearing protection is rated, the more damaging dB it will block out.
As you can see in the chart above, dB's above 85 are harmful to your hearing. Gun shots register at 140dB and higher, a little less than 2x the minimum harmful amount. To preserve your hearing and prevent hearing loss, it is recommended to use ear pro that offers a minimum of a 22 Noise Reduction Rating (NRR). While the minimum recommended NRR is 22, you will want to have a higher NRR value if you are shooting larger handgun calibers and rifle calibers. It is recommended to use ear pro with a 25 NRR or higher for rifles and larger calibers.
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) is the unit of measure in the effectiveness of a hearing protection device to reduce noise levels. The higher the NRR value is, the greater the noise reduction is. NRR values range up to approximately 30 dB.
There are three main factors that affect your hearing loss: distance, amount of time exposed and number of decibels. Typically, when sport shooting, guns are not fired for long amounts of time or at a great distance away, so the main factor you should focus on is the number of decibels being put out by the gun. There are different kinds of hearing protection out there that offer different decibel reduction.
Earplugs
The cheapest option. Earplugs fit right inside the ear and can be bought in bulk packs. Earplugs can take longer to properly place inside your ear and can be a one-time use option.
Earmuffs
Earmuffs make a great beginner ear pro. They go over the ears and are easy to slip on. Muffs can be paired with earplugs to increase your hearing protection. Unfortunately, it can be hard to hear your surroundings and conversations with earmuffs on.
Electronic hearing protection
Electronic hearing protection is the best option for shooters. They offer over the ear protection and typically have high NRR values. Like earmuffs, they can be combined with earplugs for greater noise reduction. The biggest benefit to electronic hearing protection is their ability to muffle high dB sounds while allowing lower frequency sounds to come through, such as conversation. Certain models can also be utilized with communication devices such as radios and phones.
My Top Choices
With some ear pro costing $50 and more, for someone who doesn’t shoot often, these can be a great option. The Walker’s Game foam ear plugs only run $8.99 for 50 pair. These have a NRR of 32 dB.
Pros:
-Cheap Price
-Good NRR value
-Disposable after use
Cons:
-Can be tricky to put in correctly
-Not much passive noise comes through so conversations may be hard to hear
-Not the most comfortable option
The Walker’s Razor is the best electronic ear pro for the money in my opinion. They are comfortable to wear on your head or with a hat and are easy to operate. They have a dial on the side to control the volume and power. At $59.99, they come in as one of the cheaper options for electronic ear pro, while offering good protection and allowing passive noise like conversations to come through clear. They have a NRR of 23 dB which is around average for electronic ear pro.
Pros:
-Electronic
-Let’s passive noise like conversation come through clear
-Price point is economic
-Easy to wear
-They come in a wide variety of patterns and colors
Cons:
-Lower NRR value than other options
-Requires batteries
If you are looking for an economical protective earmuff, the Champion Protective earmuff is my favorite option. These earmuffs are very easy to use, as all you need to do is slip them on your head. No power or volume controls to mess with. These have a NRR 27 dB, making them a solid choice for hearing protection while shooting. At their $14.99 price point, it’s hard to beat.
Pros:
-Easy to use
-Comfortable
-Economic
-High NRR value
Cons:
-Can be hard to hear passive noise, like conversation
-Bulky
Top Recommendations for comms capabilities: 3M Peltor Comtac’s $550-$750
The Peltor Comtac’s are widely utilized in the U.S. Military. They offer hearing protection with 23 NRR and two-way communication capabilities. They are offered in single and dual lead options, with the latter having separate left and right audio traffic. They were specifically designed to be used with ballistic combat helmets and firearms.
Pros:
-Comms capabilities
-3M’s compression technology removes “clipping” (missing the first syllable of a sentence with talk-thru headsets)
-Offered in single and dual lead options
-Comfortable ear cups and gel cup options
-Can be mounted onto helmets
-Comes with boom mic
Cons:
-Mounting can be difficult if you purchase the headband version.
-Has a fixed downlead, which can get in the way when not using a radio
-Converting mounted Comtacs back to headband version requires some effort
- Moderately expensive for comms headsets on the market
Top Recommendations for comms capabilities: Ops Core AMP Communication Headset $799-$1025
The Ops Core AMP headset is the state-of-the-art communication headset on the market. Now being worn by US SOF (United States Special Operations Forces), this headset offers world-class audio quality and are easily configurable dependent on the mission. They are offered in a connectorized model (downlead optional) or a fixed downlead model. They are easy to attach to a helmet and reattach to your headband. They can be mounted to your helmet with Ops Core AMP Rail Mounts, which offer state-of-the-art sturdiness and function.
Pros:
-State-Of-The-Art audio quality and configuration
-Extremely comfortable
-Offered in fixed and connectorized downlead options
-Option to remove downlead on connectorized model
Cons:
-With a base price of $799 and ranging up to over $1000, they remain one of the most expensive comms headsets on the market
-Connectorized option does not come with downlead ($130)
The Howard Impact Sport ear pro comes in at a close second to the Walker’s Razor Electronic Earmuffs. The Impact Sport’s carry a 22 dB NRR. They easily allow for passive noise like conversation while blocking out noises over 82 dB, like the Razors. They run $84, which is a little more expensive than the Walker’s Razor and offer 22 NRR vs. the Razor’s 23 NRR. The volume dial is recessed, which can make it challenging to manipulate without looking. Some see this as a good thing, so the volume doesn’t get accidentally bumped while on. This is user’s preference.
Pros:
-Electronic
-Easy to wear
Cons:
-Cost is greater than other options
-Requires batteries
-Lower NRR than other electronic options
