Best In Ear Shooting Protection
Whether you are a shooting enthusiast or an avid hunter, hearing protection is an absolute must to prevent hearing loss and tinnitus. I’m Dr. Amy, an expert on hearing healthcare, including hearing protection. If you’re looking for the best in ear shooting protection, then you want to invest in something that will provide maximum protection and comfort. Here we’ll take a look at some of the most important factors to consider when investing in the best in ear shooting protection.
Why should you trust me?
I’m a Doctor of Audiology and expert on hearing loss and hearing loss prevention. I have years of experience with patients who engage in loud recreational activities and make recommendations for how they can best protect their hearing.
What type of hearing protection do I need?
If you are going to the gun range, it is crucial to use appropriate protection. Permanent hearing damage occurs instantly without protection when firing guns. Ear protection comes in different categories, let’s highlight some of these:
- foam earplugs – disposable foam plugs that provide minimal protection for your hearing.
- custom molded earplugs – fit to the unique shape of your ear.
- electronic protection devices – noise protection that allows you to hear range commands at the shooting range, while providing protection with active protection for your ears.
- passive hearing protection – earmuffs or other protection creates passive protection with foam or other materials without any digital or electronic parts.
Gunshot noises are loud, regardless of the type of weapon. However, this chart shows the range of loud noise you can expect:
Are you looking for shooting ear protection? To prevent noise damage, you’ll want to protect your ears and create safe decibel levels. Additionally, if you engage in other loud hobbies, such as using power tools or chainsaws, you’ll want to use appropriate hearing protection. Let’s talk about the best in ear protection to use for shooting hearing protection.
Can I use foam earplugs?
Foam earplugs will not provide enough protection to protect your from gunshot noises. Ideally, you’ll use earmuffs on top of those foam earplugs. Or better yet? Electronic protection instead.
Electronic protection – Shooting Earmuffs
While electronic protection is pricier, it is one of the best shooting ear protection you’ll find. Why is that? You’ll be able to hear conversations or commands at the shooting range, while still having that impulse noise protection to protect your ears.
Peltor sport tactical 500
A solid choice for electronic ear protection. They also have Bluetooth capability so you can listen to music or take phone calls without having to remove your hearing protection. .
Howard Leight Impact Sport
Howard Leight Hearing Protection
These earmuffs will amplify sounds in your environment to up to 82 dB SPL, while reducing any sounds that surpass that safe level. The electronic protection, when activated, will provide 22 dB NRR.
Walker’s Razor Thin Earmuffs
This electronic protection is one of the most popular brands on the market, and for good reason. These ear muffs are comfortable, stylish, and effective. (One caveat: they don’t offer aux audio input jack.)
One of the most popular electronic hearing protection brands on the market. You’ll appreciate the comfort, style, and effectiveness.
Electronic Ear Plugs – Ear buds
Another option in protection for shooting are ear buds with active hearing protection devices build in due to sound activated compression circuits in the device. Let’s look at some excellent protection options.
Axil GS Extreme 2.0 Electronic Ear Buds
These ear buds are much better than foam earplugs. Their sound activated compression circuit will cut out those loud noises from gunshots, 25 hours of battery life, great noise compression, and excellent audio quality.
These ear buds have a sound activated compression circuit that will cut out those loud noises from gunshots. You’ll appreciate their 25 hours of battery life, great noise compression, and excellent audio quality.
Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic 5.0 Shooting Ear Buds
Another great option for active noise cancellation devices at the shooting range. They offer a passive protection level of 29 dB while adding that impulse sound protection from the electronic protection. You’ll also appreciate the Bluetooth capability.
This is a great option for hearing protection at the shooting range. They offer both active and passive hearing protection in addition to impulse sound protection.
How We Picked
As a hearing health expert, there are several points to consider when selecting shooting ear protection for the gun range. Here are the factors we evaluated these on:
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR)
The NRR rating is one of the most important factors to consider when investing in the best ear shooting protection. This rating measures how much sound can be reduced by wearing protection. Generally speaking, higher ratings mean more noise reduction and therefore better protection from loud noises such as gunfire. It’s important to note that this rating does not take into account ambient noise levels so it’s important to factor that in when selecting your hearing protection.
Battery Life
Another important factor to consider when choosing your best in ear shooting protection is battery life. Electronic ear muffs and plugs require batteries which need to be replaced fairly frequently. The battery life of your device will determine how often you need to replace them, so it’s important to check the product specifications before making a purchase.
Comfort & Fit
When buying any kind of hearing protection, comfort and fit are key considerations. Ear muffs should fit comfortably over your ears without feeling too tight or too loose; similarly, foam or silicone earplugs should fit snugly but not painfully into your ear canal for maximum effectiveness and comfort. Additionally, if you wear hearing aids, you may want to look for models designed specifically for those with special needs – these often come with custom-molded earplugs for maximum comfort and convenience.
Protect Your Hearing
Noise induced hearing loss and tinnitus are preventable. Use one of these excellent protection options to protect your inner ear from hearing loss.
Conclusion:
Investing in quality protection is essential for protecting your ears from loud noises like gunshots or other loud sounds that can damage your hearing over time. When shopping for the best in ear shooting protection, it’s important to consider factors such as the Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) rating, battery life, and comfort & fit of the device – all of which will help ensure maximum hearing safety during activities like hunting or target practice! With some research and knowledge on what makes a good pair of protective gear, you can find exactly what you need quickly and easily!
