Ear protection is important in many jobs, and shooting is one of them. But it’s not just good to protect your ears from loud sounds; you should also consider other aspects. In this article I will suggest the best shooting ear protection.
Shooting has now become popular, thanks to the increase of firearms enthusiasts in Pakistan. Though the best method of training is shooting without ear protection, it’s not the right thing to do as you never know when an up-close gunshot could cause injury (in this scenario, hearing damage). There are now three types of ear protection devices that can be used during shooting: in-ear electronic hearing protection for shooting, best shooting earbuds, and best electronic hearing protection.
Best electronic hearing protection
In my experience, ear protection is one of the most overlooked pieces of shooting gear. Noise exposure can cause a lot of problems down the road, including ringing in the ears and even hearing loss. With that being said, the best ear protection for shooting can help protect your hearing and keep you on the range longer without worrying about any damage.
Once you take up recreational shooting as a hobby, you will quickly realize the fundamentals of wearing ear protection. It’s simple, really. You want to protect your ears from any damage that can be caused by the loud noise produced by guns.
Have you ever experienced shooting ear protection for shooting? If you’re nodding, then you’ve been through the pain of trying to find the best ear protection. You know what I’m talking about — that new pair of highly recommended, $2,000 custom molded earplugs that were supposed to be better than anything on the market.
Best Shooting Ear Protection
Ear muffs are ear protection that prevent noise from entering the ears. They have a protective cup that muffles loud noises and reduce noise levels so they only reach a certain decibel level. With tinnitus, these muffs can keep it at bay.
There are many different types of shooting ear protection available, so it’s important to choose the right type of the best bluetooth shooting ear protection for your practice. Some common types of ear protection include face masks, beanies, and hats. face masks protect your entire head from being injured in a shooting accident. Beanies and hats can be worn around the ears to keep them warm, and they may also be used while firing live rounds. Hats can also help protect against the sun and rain, and they are often recommended for shooters who work outside in wet or cold environments.
How to Choose the Right Ear Protection for Your Shooting Practice
When choosing Shooting Ear Protector type, it is important to consider how you will use them while practicing. For example, if you plan on using them during a firearms safety class, you might want to choose an ear protector that is specifically designed for that purpose. Additionally, it’s helpful to know what type of firearms you will be using when selecting ear protectors—for example handguns or rifles—in order to make sure they are compatible with the protector.
How to Wear Ear Protection
Ear protectors should always be worn snugly against your head so that they fit properly and do not move around during practice. To ensure that your ears stay protected during shootings, it is best practice to keep them covered with a hat or beanie at all times when firing live rounds or using firearms in any situation where head injury could occur. Wearing ear protectors without a hat or beanie can be damaging to your ears, so it is best to wear them in a way that does not cause damage. Additionally, be sure to wash your hands often and dry them completely before shooting so that the protective chemicals do not enter your hearing.
What are the Different Types of Shooting.
Different types of shots can make for different types of shooting, depending on the type of firearm you’re using. Shotguns and rifles are both good for firing single rounds, but shotguns are more accurate when fired in groups. For instance, a shotgun user who wants to fire in close quarters may want to use a rifle instead. Rifle shooters may prefer to shoot from long distances, or use a hunting rifle that fires shot automatically.
How to Shoot a Shotgun
Shooting a shotgun requires some basic steps: Loading the gun with ammunition, cocking the hammer, and pulling the trigger. To reload your shotgun, pull the magazine out of the gun and insert it back into the gun. Then cock the hammer and push down on the butt of the gun until it goes back into place. To shoot a shotgun, point it at the target and pull the trigger.
Tips for Safe Shooting with Shooting Ear Protection.
Wearing ear protection at all times is the best way to ensure a safe and effective shooting experience. By wearing it while you are shooting, you help reduce your chances of getting injured.
Be Aware of Your Environment
Be aware of your surroundings when shooting, and be sure to stay aware of what is around you while you’re shooting. This includes being aware of people, objects, and animals in your vicinity.
Practice Safely and Effectively
Always practice safely and effectively when shooting, whether you are using ear protection or not. You could be injured if you don’t take proper precautions while practicing firearms. By practicing safely and effectively, you can reduce your risk of becoming injured during a Shooting Ear Protection shoot-out.
List of the
1. SUREFIRE SONIC DEFENDERS – BEST EARPLUGS FOR SHOOTING
- Trusted by Military and Law Enforcement
- Multiple color options for use in tactical, hunting, and civilian situations
- Port-plug opening to allow passive sound
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 24DB (Decibels)
The Sonic defenders from surefire are one of the most popular forms of hearing protection for shooters. They come in a range of colors to make them suitable for the type of shooting you are doing and have a number of practical design features that elevates them against other standard earbuds.
They have a polymer ear hook system that keeps them locked in place whilst moving or under load. They are by far one of the most secure-fitting earplugs on the market. The triple-flange ear tips grip the inner ear but also increase the NRR to a full 24 decibels. They have a wire attaching the left and right plugs so they don’t get lost. I find they sit very flush to the ear in a low-profile manner that also allows me to use them in combination with earmuffs for maximum hearing protection.
The best part of the sonic defenders is the porthole that runs right through them with a closing cap on the end. When you open the cap it allows you to hear and talk like normal but when you close it your ears are protected from loud discharges. It means you don’t have to fully remove the earplugs when having a conversation.
2. HONEYWELL IMPACT SPORT
- Slimline design is lightweight and free of excess bulk
- Over 10 color options to choose from
- Large and robust controls can be operated with gloves
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 22DB (Decibels)
There are more advanced earmuffs on the market but the Honeywell Impact Sport gets our top recommendation because it balances high-quality build, good hearing protection, and an affordable price point. It is the most popular set of shooting earmuffs on the market and is made by one of the leading specialists in hearing safety products.
It’s much more than just an earmuff as it can also be used as a headphone and amplifies passive sounds up to 85db so you can hear range commands or conversations but not the high impact sounds of guns being fired. The controls for playback and volume are large and robust making it possible to use when operating with gloves and I love the slim profile design that sits close to the head not getting in the way of targeting on rifles.
The Impacts Sport has more color options than any other brand of earphones so whatever your style or purpose for shooting you can find a set that matches you.
Just remember these are not Bluetooth earmuffs like the Walker’s model listed below. To listen to music they need to be connected via cable to your smartphone and require AA batteries. Battery life was almost endless I used them for a month and never had to change the power source.
3. MACK’S ULTRA SOFT EARPLUGS
- Comfortable Polyurethane Foam
- Single-Use – However low cost per use
- Slightly tricky to use correctly
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 33DB (Decibels)
Mack’s Ultra Soft is about as strong a NRR reduction as you can get with an earplug while still remaining comfortable. These reduce noise by 32db when used correctly. To insert you properly need to roll them to compress them in a tube shape, lift you are up from the top to straighten your canal, and insert them deeply. Then hold your finger in your ear for a few seconds whilst the earplug expands to the shape of your canals. People often use this style of earplug incorrectly and the foam expands outwards reducing the benefits.
I don’t consider this a permanent solution but they are good to keep in your shooting or rifle bag as a backup to your primary hearing protection. They are also very comfortable so a lot of people like them. The link to buy takes you to a huge multipack with 50 pairs. For me, that is enough for a year’s supply of visiting the shooting range once a week, working out at around 20 cents per day if you don’t want to reuse them.
4. WALKER’S SILENCER BT 2.0
- Well made and comfortable
- Can be used as an everyday wireless earphone as well as for shooting
- The application has some useful features
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 24DB (Decibels)
Walker’s is well known in the community and has been one of the leaders in creating true wireless earbuds for shooting. Their focus is on providing good earbuds that reduce noise and work well for the purpose. I wasn’t a fan of their generation 1 tactical but the silencer 2.0 fixes all those problems.
The Silencer 2.0 is well made and comfortable. They even include an ear hook that locks the IEM in place to secure them during operation. Bluetooth 5.0 ensures better battery life and a more stable connection along with lower latency when watching videos etc.
My favorite thing about them was the app which works with Android and Apple devices (yes you can even control them with an Apple watch. In the application, you can control left and right channel volumes meaning you can have one side on for music and the other lowered to hear range commands etc.
5. HOWARD LEIGHT BY HONEYWELL LASER LITE EARPLUGS
- Available almost everywhere
- Very comfortable for long periods of time
- Bright colors make them easy to spot in a bag or when dropped
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 33DB (Decibels)
I think anyone who has ever been to a shooting range or construction site has seen a pair of Howard Leight Laser Lite earplugs. For many these are the gold standard, offering a great product at a cheap price. In fact, the laser lite are the earplugs I recommend for sleeping. Well, what makes them good for sleeping also makes them good for things that go bang.
A 33-decibel noise reduction with a good fit and a soft foam that fits the shape of your ears makes them a discrete and good low-cost option (when buying in bulk) to protect your hearing.
The brightly colored foam also makes sure that if dropped you can easily find them unlike the earth-toned Macks earplugs listed above. The reason I give the nod to Mack’s version on this list is to do with the shape for me I love the flange (flared design) that lets me easily handle them but people with very small ears complain that it blocks them from getting a deep insertion to the ear canal.
6. 3M PELTOR TEP-200 TACTICAL EAR PLUG
- Excellent build quality
- The physical button for controls can be operated with gloves
- High-quality charging case
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 29DB (Decibels) with appropriate ear tips
Despite being a fan of the Walker’s Silencer 2.0 my own wireless earbuds for shooting are the 3M Pelator TEP-200. 3M makes all manners of tools and products for the construction industry and given hearing loss is high for anyone working with tools it’s no surprise they are in the hearing protection game as well. I have 3M earmuffs in my workshop and the build has never let me down so I thought I would try the Pelators which are designed for the worksite and law enforcement. I’m Impressed for a few reasons.
Firstly you have a physical button and not haptic touch controls meaning you can actually control them when using gloves. Second, the carry case is very high quality and lets you carry spare ear tips. Thirdly the build quality and comfort are the best I have ever tried in this form factor and when used with the right tips they feel remarkably secure.
Finally, the point that sold me on the TEP-200 over everything else was the tips themselves. 3M lets you choose from a variety of tip styles and shapes making them more comfortable or better at protecting your hearing. For maximum protection, I use the TEP with the Skull Screw Tips which ups the NRR to 29 decibels, by far the highest noise reduction on any true wireless earphone in the category.
7. WALKERS XCEL 500BT BLUETOOTH EARMUFFS
- Class-leading comfort for hours of use
- Easy to use physical control buttons
- Class leading build quality
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 26DB (Decibels)
I own the Walkers Xcell 500BT as my primary piece of hearing protection I use when shooting and it falls into the good old category of do I need it? No. Did I really want it? Absolutely. This is the Rolls Royce of earmuffs and everything Walker’s could put into it they did.
It’s a full Bluetooth headset with custom sound profiles that lets you enhance the sounds you want while at the same time blocking out the ones that are going to cause you damage. With the big chunky control buttons on the side, I find them easy to use with gloves on and I love that those controls are mounted to the headband and not the earcups. For me, this helps me stop accidentally pressing buttons with my shoulder, pack, or rifle butt.
The other thing that makes them so great is that walkers nailed the comfort of these earmuffs. I can wear them for hours without pain from clamping pressure and the high-quality pads don’t seem to get as hot as cheaper models I have tried in the past. For a lot of people, they are going to be too expensive but for me, I don’t think I can go back after using them.
For me, it’s easier to recommend the 500BT model over the Firemax or cheaper Xcel 300.
8. RADIANS CUSTOM MOLDED EARPLUGS
- An inexpensive and reusable alternative to disposable earplugs
- Custom fitting
- Molding process can be tricky but results can be excellent i instructions followed
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 26DB (Decibels)
Radians are a do-at-home kit to make your own custom molded earplugs. While they might not be as refined or polished as a custom set you have made at a laboratory they are a cheap alternative that still gets the job done.
A lot of people struggle with the fit of universal earplugs and dislike wasting money on disposable options so this seems like a happy medium. When I tested the Radians kit out I was impressed. I mixed two types of putty together, pushed the gel into my ear canal and outer ear and after 10 minutes they were hard enough to remove.
People who are thinking of going down this direction with a purchase may have also come across a brand of custom moldable plugs called Decibullz but I think the Radians are a far better product at a cheaper price. With the Decibullz you are molding only the outer ear portion and the part that goes inside your ear canal is still a universal fit earplug. Additionally, the method to fit the Radians is far superior and harder to mess up.
9. PROHEAR EAR PROTECTION SAFETY MUFFS
- Best value earmuffs
- Multiple Color Options
- Very hard-wearing, so durable they seem to last forever
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 26DB (Decibels)
I wanted to give a wide range of products in this list of the best hearing protection. Both in the style of the units but also in their price which brings me to the Prohear Saftey Muffs. This budget earmuff might not have the frills you find on the Walker and Honeywell models listed above but for the money, they cannot be beaten.
They are tough and durable headset that is surprisingly comfortable when worn in short bursts. The earcups sit low to the head and are very lightweight. It’s a simple solution to the problem and I have a couple of sets sitting around the house that I can give to friends and family who don’t own hearing protectors themselves.
They fold up small, have replaceable parts available, and come in a wide range of colors.
10. HONEYWELL QUIET BAND EARPLUGS
- Popular and Reliable
- High visibility color makes them easy to locate on the ground or in a bag
- Fitting correctly is a bit tricky
- NRR (Noise Reduction Rating): 25DB (Decibels)
While not my favorite type of hearing protection you can’t have a list of the best earplugs without including the Howard Leight Quiet Band. It’s basically a plastic neckband with replaceable earplugs attached. They come in high visibility orange and offer reasonable noise reduction when used correctly.
These are the earplugs of choice by Youtuber Hickok45 and they are also very popular in the hunting community. You can leave them behind your head until it’s time to take the shot and the color makes them easy to spot when you drop them so you won’t be leaving any trace behind as you should.
A pack of three is relatively expensive and while not my choice for my primary protection they are very convenient in the right situation.
