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Best Budget
Decibullz Molded Earplugs
High-quality, custom molded earplugs at a fraction of the standard price, thanks to a fool-proof DIY setup.
Best Overall
Sordin Supreme Pro-X
One of the most highly recommended options on the market, with over-the-head or neckband options and serious waterproofing.
Best for Hunting
Howard Leight Impact Sport
Lightning fast sound cutoff times and a low profile fit, all-day comfort that won’t get in the way when shooting.
Ear protection is one of the most important pieces of gear when it comes time to go shooting. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer earmuffs or earplugs. The important thing is that you use it. Experienced hunters and shooters will tell you that choosing not to wear ear protection is one of their biggest regrets in their outdoor careers. Don’t make the same mistake.
There’s nothing impressive about trying to be the person who can handle the decibels, as any old-timer will tell you. We’ve come a long way from sticking spent .45-caliber cartridge cases in our ears, so be sure to take advantage of the fantastic technology available with our round-up of the best shooting ear protection of 2022.
Best Overall: Sordin Supreme Pro-XBest Electronic: AXIL GS ExtremeBest for Hunting: Howard Leight Impact SportBest Over-the-Ear: Peltor Sport Tactical 500Best Budget: Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs
Best Overall: Sordin Supreme Pro-X
Why It Made The Cut: The Sordin Supreme Pro-X shooting earmuffs are one of the most highly recommended options on the market.
Key Features
Ear cup shapes designed for right or left-handed shootersAudio input (AUX) for connecting external audio sourcesLead with 3.5 mm mono jack plug included
Pros
Over-the-ear or neckband versions are both availableTwo waterproof microphonesGreat amplification with little to no chopping or cutting
Cons
Choose over-the-ear or neckband wisely, as they aren’t interchangeable
Sordin used to be a part of MSA, and that wasn’t a good association to some people. They’ve since split and are now their own company, to the delight of many.
Some people don’t like muffs that fit on the top of their head but don’t like earplugs any better, leaving them to settle for one or the other. Luckily, the Sordin Supreme Pro-X offers a neckband version so that you don’t have to compromise on personal preference, comfort, or performance.
If you shoot outdoors enough, you’re going to end up getting wet sooner or later. The Supreme Pro-X muffs have two waterproof microphones so that you’ll still get great sound quality and amplification when they get wet.
Best In-Ear Electronic: AXIL GS Extreme
Why It Made The Cut: While excellent for noise cancellation and hearing protection, the AXIL GS Extreme earbuds also offer industry-leading hearing enhancement, and they are Bluetooth-capable.
Key Features
50% more decibel protection than other in-ear optionsUp to 25 hours of runtime on one chargeMultiple function modes depending on specific needs
Pros
3-year, no questions asked, replacement guaranteeFast, automatic sound shutoff for noise louder than 85 decibelsCompact and lightweight
Cons
Could be more tech than you need in a set of ear protection
AXIL has updated the technology in their earbuds for 2022 and the results are impressive. Compared to previous models, the AXIL GS Extreme’s hearing enhancement mode now features 2.5x more audio boost, faster and smoother shutoff for loud noise hearing protection, and improved battery life in all of the operating modes.
In the past, you may have needed different products to offer noise-canceling audio streaming, electronic hearing protection, and electronic audio enhancement. AXIL has created a product that does all three of those in one, saving you time, money, and storage space.
Best for Hunting: Howard Leight Impact Sport
Why It Made The Cut: Howard Leight’s New Impact Sport earmuffs offer lightning fast sound cutoff times and a low profile fit, ensuring all-day comfort that won’t get in the way when shooting.
Key Features
Passive and active protection0.5 millisecond reaction timeLow profile ear cup
Pros
Sound amplification up to 5x normal volumeBluetooth capableEar cup shape designed for firearm stock clearance
Cons
Fast reaction time is the only major standout feature
Howard Leight is one of the best-known names in the ear protection business, and their New Impact Sport earmuffs offer great passive and active hearing protection. Perfect for hunting, these earmuffs amplify ambient sounds up to 5x their normal volume, allowing you to hear any animals approaching in the woods, but will also be able to shut everything out when the gun goes off.
When any sound over 85 decibels is detected, the electronic protection kicks in with a 0.5 milliseconds reaction time to provide maximum hearing protection. Some earmuffs can be big and bulky, getting in the way of your gun. This is no good. The New Impact Sport’s ear cups were designed specifically to allow the best unobtrusive fit so that you can make the perfect shot when it counts.
These earmuffs run on two AAA batteries and have an auto-shutoff feature to conserve power. As such, you can expect up to 350 hours of battery life.
Best Over-the-Ear: Peltor Sport Tactical 500
Why It Made The Cut: The noise reduction and protection on the Peltor Sport Tactical 500 is absolutely top-notch. You’ll feel like you’ve walked into a vacuum chamber with no sound.
Key Features
Bluetooth capableClear Voice Tracking TechnologyVoice guidance control
Pros
Great noise reductionPerfect for non-shoot activities, as wellBig buttons and voice guidance
Cons
At 11.4 oz, a little heavier than other options
The whole point of electronic hearing protection is that you can cancel out the damaging loud sounds while still being aware of what’s going on around you. That’s exactly what you get with the Peltor Sport Tactical 500 earmuffs. Peltor’s Clear Voice Tracking Technology is great at seeking out the human voice amongst the noise of a shooting range, improving speech intelligibility and situational awareness.
The control buttons on the Sport Tactical 500 earmuffs are big and easy to navigate while wearing, and there’s a voice guidance option so that you can make changes in a hands-free environment.
If you wear hearing protection for other activities, such as yard work, the Bluetooth capability in these earmuffs is perfect to keep you entertained while doing mundane chores.
Best Budget: Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs
Why It Made The Cut: The biggest drawback to custom-molded earplugs is usually the price. Decibullz has managed to create a product with professional performance, a DIY setup, and, importantly, a DIY pricepoint.
Key Features
Easy DIY setup with professional resultsMuch more affordable than comparable productsCan be swapped for different purposes
Pros
No gooey mold material injected into your earsRemoldable Swap out inner pieces for music or percussive filters
Cons
Really and truly, I do not have anything to detract from this product
Custom-molded earplugs are often expensive to buy and uncomfortable to make. They usually require you to shell out a lot of money for the privilege of having someone squirt that gooey mold material into your ears and sit with it as the material dries. Those days are over with the Decibullz Custom Molded Earplugs.
Because the Decibullz earplugs are a DIY product, they’re a lot more affordable than comparable custom earplugs. Plus, the material can be molded and remolded in as little as five minutes using nothing more than hot water.
Available in multiple colors and with different filter options for music earbuds and percussive filters, you can now have truly custom in-ear protection for a fraction of the price as before.
Things to Consider Before Buying Shooting Ear Protection
Shooting ear protection comes in a wide variety of types and applications. Some are well-suited for multiple kinds of uses while others can be more mission-specific. Here are some of the most important considerations to make when protecting your ears.
How Long are You Shooting?
Are you going to be wearing the ear protection for a long period of time? This could include hours at a time in the field hunting or at an all-day shooting competition. If this is the case, then comfort is going to be of extreme importance to you here. Having protection in your ears versus over your ears could be the difference between having a great time or having a real pain in your ear.
Where Are You Shooting?
Will you need to hear other sounds going on around you? If you’re at a range or event with a lot of people with whom you’ll be interacting, or perhaps you’re trying to hear approaching game in the woods, then you’ll probably want to go with some kind of active, or electronic, hearing protection. This helps amplify ambient sounds while blocking out the percussion of the firearm.
What’s Your Budget?
What kind of a budget do you have? Hearing protection costs vary widely—from a few cents for a pair of foam earplugs to hundreds of dollars for the latest-and-greatest electronic ear protection with Bluetooth and other technologies built into them. Cost doesn’t always equal quality, so don’t think you’ve got to shell out big bucks to protect your hearing.
In any case, the products on this list will fit all kinds of shooters in all kinds of situations and at different price points.
FAQs
Q: Are foam earplugs good for shooting?
Foam earplugs are good for shooting, with some caveats. They are certainly better than no hearing protection at all, but there are definitely better options on the market. You can spend a bit more money upfront and have a higher quality form of ear protection that will last a lot longer.
Q: What gives the maximum hearing protection?
The maximum hearing protection would be a combination of both earplugs and earmuffs. This provides a double layer of protection and does not require any fancy or expensive equipment. You can buy a good pair of passive earmuffs and a bunch of foam earplugs for far less than any of the fancy electronic options on the market.
Q: What level of ear protection is best for shooting?
The best level of ear protection for shooting is a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 33, which is the highest on the scale. Any product with a 28 to 31 NRR is recommended for shooting.
Q: Can I harm my eardrums by shooting a gun without ear protection?
Yes. Permanent and temporary hearing loss can occur from a single gunshot when not using any ear protection. Sound levels can also be increased when shooting at a firing range since sound waves bounce off walls.
Q: How do I clean my shooting ear protection?
Most ear protection can be wiped down with a damp towel and some soap. Electronic ear protection should never be submerged in water and should be cleaned using a device-safe cloth.
Q: What is the difference between earmuffs and earplugs?
Earmuffs are ear cushions that sit over the ears and are made from a material that attenuates sounds. Earplugs sit inside your ear to block the ear canal. Both earmuffs and earplugs can be effective and safe solutions for ear protection.
Final Thoughts
The decision to wear earmuffs or earplugs is a singularly personal decision. With so many options on the market, no one design is better than another. The most important decision is that you actually wear some kind of ear protection when you’re hunting or shooting. You only get one set of ears, and any of the options on this list will ensure that you keep your hearing for as long as possible.
How We Made Our Picks
There’s a lot that goes into picking proper ear protection. When deciding what products would make this list, I looked at a wide variety of deciding factors. This included multiple brands such as Howard Leight, Peltor, SureFire, Decibullz, Caldwell, Sordin, and more. Below are the criteria I based my selections on.
Performance: The performance has to match or exceed the value so that your money is well spent.Versatility: Does the ear protection offer Bluetooth, noise cancellation as headphones, and other features?Comfort: Is the ear protection comfortable and will I be able to wear it all day?Brand: Does the company have a reputable history of producing quality products?Price: Is the product worth what I’m paying for?
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