Hearing protection recommendations

[scott vroom]

My requirements:

1) adjustable to head size

2) no electronics of any type

3) optimal protection for screaming power tools

Amazon has dozens of models, mostly Peltor.....didn't see any that met my requirements.

Suggestions appreciated...thx

[william watts]

Hi Scott
I found Howard Leight model L3 by Sperian at a gun shop. They have an attenuation rating in the low 30's, that was the highest rating of the selection at the shop. Gun shops have a good selection to choose from and you can try them on.

[Keith Hankins]

I prefer muffs. Go to a gun store and try some on. they make the best ones. I found the cheaper ones better.

[Roy Harding]

I like the disposable "squishy" foam ones, over which I wear "shooters ear muffs".

[scott vroom]

Thanks guys...looks like a trip to the gun store next week.

[Tony Roun]

I use the 3M Peltor H10A muffs, and they do adjust to head size. I find them to be comfortable and offer good protection.

[Tom M King]

I like the disposable "squishy" foam ones, over which I wear "shooters ear muffs".
Same with me. I always have foamies in my pocket. They just get washed with the pants, and usually stay in the pocket. On a loud ferry boat, or when I climb on a tractor, I'm ready.

[Myk Rian]

Surprisingly, I found the higher priced HF yellow muffs to be really good. $11 right now.

[Bill White]

Peltor OPTIME 105. Been usin' 'em for about 2 years. In the shop, on the riding mower, on the skeet range. They work.
Bill

[Bruce Page]

3M Peltor X5A Over-the-Head Earmuffs
I bought a pair of these when I bought my cnc router. By far the best noise reduction that I have used.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-X-Series-Earmuffs-X5A/dp/B00CPCHBCQ

[Mark Blatter]

I prefer muffs. Go to a gun store and try some on. they make the best ones. I found the cheaper ones better.

The nice thing about most good quality shooter's ear protection is that they allow for the standard talking to pass into the ear. That way when someone wants you attention, they can call you and not sneak up on you. Always hate getting startled when I am running a hand router or a table saw.

[Mike Schuch]

Surprisingly, I found the higher priced HF yellow muffs to be really good. $11 right now.

I love the yellow squishy ones, they are much better than the orange squishy ones. My local HF seems to have stopped carrying the big box of yellow squishy ones. :( I don't use the squishy ones for wood working though, I use them for sleeping. I like being able to remove and remount my hearing protection when I am working and not have to stick my saw dust and glue covered figers in my ears. For woodworking I use the Peltor muffs that I also bought at HF for a very reasonable price. ( http://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-H10A-Optime-Earmuff/dp/B00009LI4K/ref=pd_sim_328_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=0C1N8F8KYS9Y3YT0Y3KB) They do an excellent job. The fancier Peltors listed above weren't out when I bought the ones I have. I use Peltor electronic muffs at the range... I paid a bunch for them many years ago but the range is MUCH safer when you can hear what is going on around you and only filter out the loud reports.

[Susumu Mori]

I got, http://www.sensgard.com/, based on the recommendation by Paul Marcel.
It works as advertised. It cuts the machine noise considerably while I can still hear my wife calling me.
No, it doesn't cut the machine noise completely like ear muffs, but it's light, easy to put on/off, comfortable on the ears as well as around the neck when it is not used. No sweating in the summer.
It is noise-reduction, not noise elimination. So, if you want to shut out the machine noise, it is not yours.
Also, I have to warn you that if an object hits it (like a Festool vacuum boomarm or a power cord from the ceiling), the sounds magnifies a lot! It surely gives you a jolt.

[glenn bradley]

Peltor OPTIME 105. Been usin' 'em for about 2 years. In the shop, on the riding mower, on the skeet range. They work.
Bill

I also have these (http://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-H10A-Optime-Earmuff/dp/B00009LI4K/ref=pd_sim_sbs_469_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1G9SD5YAW9KXB565WGWB). Inexpensive and the 30db drop is great. They seal fine over safety glasses and do nt interfere with any of my 3 different respirators.

[Cody Colston]

I wear Peltor ear muffs at home but at work, in high-noise locations, double protection is required...both ear plugs and ear muffs.

[Peter Aeschliman]

I got, http://www.sensgard.com/, based on the recommendation by Paul Marcel.
It works as advertised. It cuts the machine noise considerably while I can still hear my wife calling me.
No, it doesn't cut the machine noise completely like ear muffs, but it's light, easy to put on/off, comfortable on the ears as well as around the neck when it is not used. No sweating in the summer.
It is noise-reduction, not noise elimination. So, if you want to shut out the machine noise, it is not yours.
Also, I have to warn you that if an object hits it (like a Festool vacuum boomarm or a power cord from the ceiling), the sounds magnifies a lot! It surely gives you a jolt.

I like the idea of these because you can wear glasses more comfortably. I find that over-ear units are pretty uncomfortable with safety glasses.

[peter gagliardi]

Everybody in my shop has been using the Peltor earmuffs for the last 20+ years exclusively. The Leight units are also good.
I don't know the model I have in the shop, but they have a NRR of 31 so the modern equivalent is the Peltor X5. I don't like ANY of the "in the ear" styles from a comfort, and the possibility of inner ear problems or infections, though those Sensgard units look pretty comfortable.
I will say however, that the muff style is not very comfortable for long periods in a hot shop environment for extended periods.

[Jim Dwight]

I wear these:

http://www.amazon.com/3M-Shotgunner-Folding-Hearing-Protector/dp/B000JCOTC4/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1431885129&sr=8-3&keywords=peltor+shotgunner+earmuff

They are less bulky than other muffs. Work fine, for woodworking or shooting.

[Phil Mueller]

Years ago I had a pair of custom ear plugs made (some kind of rubber)...fill your ear with goo, it cures, and you have a perfect sealed fit. Had them made for shooting sports. They just stay in while running machines...don't interfere with glasses or respirators. Only downside is they cut out everything...can't hear other's talking, and difficult to tell if a machine is bogging, etc. Kind of in your own zone.

[Jim Matthews]

How much isolation are you after?

I get 25 dB(a weighted) isolation from my Huskvarna ear covers.
They're adjustable and fit my enormous melon with some room to spare.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41mzpRCidYL.jpg

[Hoang N Nguyen]

I use these and their great. I have a set for shooting and a set for the shop. These adjust to sound so you can still hear your machine but won't kill your ears. When I use them at the range, I can hear the guy next to me but a shot gun going off next to me doesn't bother me at all. http://www.lapolicegear.com/sf-ep7-sonic-defenders.html

[Steve Baumgartner]

I'm another happy user of Peltor Optime 105. They are also sold under a couple of other brand names. One caution if you look at the gun shop: many "tactical" protectors are designed for impulse, explosive noises, not for the steady whine of machinery.

[roger wiegand]

I find I can't beat the orange or yellow "squishies" for comfort, no heavy thing hanging on your head and I always have a pair or two in my pocket. For something really loud a set of muffs on top of them is excellent. I also really like the Etymotic ETY "high fidelity" musicians earplugs, which I use when I have to sit in front of the drums or trumpets (most of the time the tubas get to sit in the back row), or when lower level protection is OK and I want to be listening to music in the shop. They only have 20 db reduction, but do so equally across the sound spectrum so that sounds are distorted much less.

[Greg Hines, MD]

For about $12 off Amazon, you can make your own custom fitted ear plugs. Those are what I wear when woodworking or shooting.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003A28OW6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Doc

[J.R. Rutter]

Best foam plugs I have found. Comfy and cooler than muffs in the summer.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-eRz4dUQ2B5Y/VVo2kHd83RI/AAAAAAAAHM8/8SgoihKswAA/w953-h715-no/IMG_3346.JPG

[Matt Meiser]

Another vote for the Peltor H10A. For yard work, I wear ear buds under them for music, works great.

[keith wootton]

i use howard leight qb2 quiet bands. easy to have around your neck all day, and ready to go without having to roll anything up and try to stuff it in your ears.

[Rod Sheridan]

JR, those are ear plugs I use when motorcycling, very comfortable for long duration use.............Rod.

[Marion Smith]

I'm weighing in with Bilsom Viking V3. 29db

[David C. Roseman]

For about $12 off Amazon, you can make your own custom fitted ear plugs. Those are what I wear when woodworking or shooting.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003A28OW6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Doc

+1 for the Radians DIY custom-molded ear plugs. Great for woodworking, shooting, operating a tractor or lawnmower, running a chainsaw, etc. I keep one pair in the shop, another in the tractor cab and a third pair in a gun case. Cooler to wear in the heat. Not so much an issue indoors, but when working outside you can wear a hat. Harder to do with the ear muff style.

[Peter Aeschliman]

How do those earplugs work? I'm used to traditional ear plugs where you roll them up and stuff them in, and let them expand. Do you just kind of push these into your ear and that's it?

Do they get really gross and need replacing, or can you clean and reuse them?

I'm intrigued.

[David C. Roseman]

Peter, the Radians kit comes with two catalyzing components that you knead together like molding clay. Press half the mixture into one outer ear canal, the rest into the other and wait a few minutes for it to set up. Presto, permanently shaped, flexible custom plugs. Washable as necessary. I've yet to wear a pair out in two years of use. The Amazon page Doc linked to has a Q&A, and hundreds of user reviews if you want more detail. Don't know what your level of sensitivity is, but I can use a screaming thickness planer in comfort. They can also be worn under traditional muffs, but that makes things too scary quiet for me, to the point of sensory deprivation when I'm trying to work.

[Izzy Camire]

I just bought a couple sets of these. I had some Howrd Leight previously that worked great until I dropped them while working on a ladder. I think these are the best.


Hi Scott
I found Howard Leight model L3 by Sperian at a gun shop. They have an attenuation rating in the low 30's, that was the highest rating of the selection at the shop. Gun shops have a good selection to choose from and you can try them on.

[Rich Enders]

Besides noise reduction we-all generally need eye protection, and dust filtration at the same time. The Triton powered respirator provides some level of all three and a hard hat to boot. I don't know the dB's or the microns, but the difference when in use is noticeable.

[Art Mulder]

I got, http://www.sensgard.com/, based on the recommendation by Paul Marcel.
It works as advertised. It cuts the machine noise considerably while I can still hear my wife calling me.
No, it doesn't cut the machine noise completely like ear muffs, but it's light, easy to put on/off, comfortable on the ears as well as around the neck when it is not used. No sweating in the summer.
It is noise-reduction, not noise elimination. So, if you want to shut out the machine noise, it is not yours.
Also, I have to warn you that if an object hits it (like a Festool vacuum boomarm or a power cord from the ceiling), the sounds magnifies a lot! It surely gives you a jolt.

+1 on these. I bought them at Lee Valley - same manufacturer, but they're named "ZEMS"
http://www.leevalley.com/en/Wood/page.aspx?p=53610&cat=1,42207

Very lightweight, and do not interfere with safety glasses at all. Also cool and not sweat-inducing.