I have a set of these that I use as loaners. They are marginally better than the Peltor Soundtrap/Tac6. The Leights and the cheap Peltors blow chunks when compared to the Peltor ComTac and ProTac.+1. I like mine but they don't tame the sting of my 7mm mag. Browning A-Bolt Boss without foamies. They are fine for pistol and shotgun and are very comfy to wear and can be used with a ball hat. And they're inexpensive; got mine from Cabela's US for $55.
Electronic hearing protection- Peltor vs Pro Ears?Howard Leight?Sordin Supreme Pro X?
- Thread starter lanis
- Start date
I think that I will give those a shot, at that price it is certainly worth a try, as one of the alternatives.
+1. I like mine but they don't tame the sting of my 7mm mag. Browning A-Bolt Boss without foamies. They are fine for pistol and shotgun and are very comfy to wear and can be used with a ball hat. And they're inexpensive; got mine from Cabela's US for $55.
I shoot handguns in heavy calibres and frequently indoors.
What you are telling me is that these would have limited value for that shooting activity?
I was in US last week, and almost picked them up from gun store at $60 dollars, but decided to get more informations prior to purchase.
Pehaps that was a good decision.
I use the Howard Leights. I got tipped off about them by some guys who were running them in Iraq and found that they were pretty tough. They were guys with a lot of trigger time in muffs so I took the advice.
They have been very good. I often wear EP4s underneath, but that's mainly because I am very protective of my hearing. The muffs alone would be fine for most people.
They have been very good. I often wear EP4s underneath, but that's mainly because I am very protective of my hearing. The muffs alone would be fine for most people.
I have the Peltor Swat tacs (Com tacs same thing but different color). I absolutley love mine and they fit my head (have about 1/4"-1/2" of adjustmentstrap left on IDPA ball cap). They are -20db; they work really well otuside, but I am not sure about inside. The recovery time is phenominal; I can have a conversation while other people are shootign and I lose very little of the conversation. The batteries last quite well, they are asy to repalce, and they turn off after 2 hours if not adjusted. I sued them 2 years ago as ear muffs during hutning season; you would be suprised how many deer you get near that you never see.
Corey, it appears that those would work very well for hunting and perhaps for IPSC.
Not so good for indoor shooting perhaps.
I like most Peltors as well, but as mentioned, these Tac Pro were just not right fit for me.
That is an interesting option that I might try in the future, but not right now.
I want to see what are the best overhead ear muff head protection units, and work my way from there.
Surefire EP models are also interesting.
Moulded ones will do once I tried other stuff first, gradual approach.
Excellent question, I would like to know that as well!
That is all good news, but I am getting gun shy
about ordering online after my experience with Peltors, which I thought were sure bet.Good thing is that Amazon will take them back without any penalties to the buyer.
Sight unseen, I think that it is very important to find retailers that have good return policies, when buying a product that has fair possibility of being returned.
I am getting curious about Peltor ComTac, they seem very slim and good for action shooting.
BTW, I think that we shoot at the same gun club.
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I've been using Peltor electronic ear protection for years, and like them a lot. But, one try wearing Sordin Supreme Pro X and that's my next purchase. They rule. Just to be sure I tried them again when I was in Montreal, yup, best electronic protection made, bar none.
LOL I know they are the best in terms of the highest price, but what makes them the best? Level of suppression? Recovery time?
I still have a couple of electronic muffs I got from Princess Auto for $7 each. They were crap (longest shot recovery time I've heard) while they worked - luckily, they broke quickly.
I then got 2 sets of Howard Leigh sports, shipped from the US for about $50 each. That's what me & my older son use, but we double up with foamies when shooting indoors. The recovery time is not the greatest - I cannot hear speech if someone is firing strings next to me.
My yonger kid has a Ryobi Tek4 from Home Depot for $70, and they do the job pretty much the same as Howard Leigh.
I also got ProEars 33NRR passives - and still find that I have to double up indoors.
All in all, I know that our ears are protected with all three kinds of muffs we use - because of the foamies. I suppose I could spend $300+ on a set of Sordins - but I need a good justification, my budget is NOT unlimited.
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I'm currently looking at the Sordins as well. I don't think there suppression is really any better. From what I have read there is no recovery time, they just limit everything to 82db, so there is no cutting out. There battery comp. is waterproof, and the Pro-X also have waterproof mics. Battery life on the Pros is 600hrs, and lastly it seems most peope say there construction, and warranty are the best.
Yes they are alot of money, if they protect your ears the best then obviously we would all buy them. Depends what you want, I've been caught too many times lifting a muff to hear somebody, I think the Sordins will be in my future.
+1, I also have the Sordin Supreme Pro X's, best purchase on ear protection I have made in a long time. If you do go for these, make sure to get the gel inserts, they make a world of comfort and seal (with glasses) difference.
As the thread is progressing, more and more people have strong preference for Sordin.
At that price, I would really like to try them on first, so that I don't have to deal with returning product again.
LOL I know they are the best in terms of the highest price, but what makes them the best? Level of suppression? Recovery time?
I still have a couple of electronic muffs I got from Princess Auto for $7 each. They were crap (longest shot recovery time I've heard) while they worked - luckily, they broke quickly.
I then got 2 sets of Howard Leigh sports, shipped from the US for about $50 each. That's what me & my older son use, but we double up with foamies when shooting indoors. The recovery time is not the greatest - I cannot hear speech if someone is firing strings next to me.
My yonger kid has a Ryobi Tek4 from Home Depot for $70, and they do the job pretty much the same as Howard Leigh.
I also got ProEars 33NRR passives - and still find that I have to double up indoors.
All in all, I know that our ears are protected with all three kinds of muffs we use - because of the foamies. I suppose I could spend $300+ on a set of Sordins - but I need a good justification, my budget is NOT unlimited.
Where did you get your Howard Leight muffs?
Best place to buy them? SRS Tactical seem the best bet so far.
You purchased your Howard Leight at Cabela Canada?
Thanks for that tip, I will make sure to remember it.
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Reading thread again, I noticed individuals with similar difficulties getting quality ear protection.
See post by 1bighead.
On a serious note, there seems to be two distinct criteria for getting excellent ear protection.
1. Technically superior system that blocks loud sounds best on the market.
2. Comfortable fit, large enough, yet satisfactory for smaller individuals. Manufacturers might consider making expensive headphones in few sizes.
Large and regular? Large, medium, small?
Then, we come to different purpose ear protection.
You might find that you need different ear protection for various activities and shooting sports that you do.
If you are shooting rimfire outdoors, ear plugs, SureFire EP6 and moulded plugs would be more than enough, and perspiration on hot summer day would be less of a problem.
IPSC might call for slim and light electronic ear protection, with NRR around 20db.
Shooting indoors would call for maximum protection, large, bulky muffs and doubling up with ear plugs.
Your experience and advices have been great, keep it coming.
I highly dislike returning products, and avoid it at all costs.
However, buying ear protection muffs is shot in the dark, and it would be so much easier to try them on first.
Since that retailer is in Alberta, it is not practical for me to do so, and their policy is 20% restocking fee is charged for returned goods or if order cancellation is received.
Makes me little leary of dealing with them, unless I get a chance to first try the item owned by local shooter, and I am sure that specific model works for me in terms of quality and physical fit.
Any offers?
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I ordered from US, $47 + shipping:
w ww.envirosafetyproducts.com/howard-leight-impact-sport-earmuff.html
These aren't difficult to find though...
well it might sound silly, but ive started shooting in doors recently, and i use cheap canuck rubber e-muffs (my peltor ones dont fit right with ep) and my ep6 as a double up. not gonna lie, didnt work near as good as i hoped, gotta crank my e-muffs up, but all in all its not bad, the whole combo was only 70 bucks..ish and it will work for what ever shooting you do, in or our. at least i would assume it would
I was using thme the other day under an enclosed bench with my 375 H&H; the concusssion was powerful enough to blow the snow off the roof, but I did not find any difference in the sound from shooting anything else.
I got mine through a bulk purchase that was piggybacked on a compnay order of one of my shooting buddies.
I had Sound Traps before; they are the 6S with a plug in for a radio. The recovery time on them was not nearly as good as the Swat Tacs and my ears rang like a bugger after leaving the range as they did not seal all that well. They also took 4 AAA batteries that died quite easy since the dial on the side of them could be bumped back on (kept them in tupperware after a while to avoid this). I also found issue with corrosion as the electronics were not sealed from the sweat from your ears.
Ianis, I ended up eating the price of the MSA Sordin Pro-X's. I shoot indoors only in the GTA, so far. I opted for the gel pads as I wear glasses. I found if I use a foam plug and turn the volume up to 2 or 3 (out of 5) I can carry on a conversation and the nearby shots are very muffled thanks to the noise cancelling. I've tried the 'thick' non electronic's and found I feel overly muffled and can't hear anything. I already have some minor hearing loss and tinnitus from way to many years in airplanes and bikes. I know it's a lot of money for 'ears'. A year ago I bought a very expensive noise cancelling Sennheiser headset/mike for work. It's probably a little to late for me but I'd give my left, you know what, to go back and have looked after my hearing better.
