Hearing Protection for Clays – What Actually Works (and What Have You Learned the Hard Way)?

ModestDaniel

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Looking to dial in a solid hearing protection setup for trap and getting into sporting.

Main priorities:
  • Doesn’t interfere with gun mount
  • Comfortable over a full round
  • Something I’ll actually use consistently
For context, I’ve got some tinnitus, likely from shooting when I was young without proper protection, so trying not to make that worse.

Right now I’m using custom in-ear plugs only, which I like for comfort and consistency, but curious what others are running.
  • Anyone stick with customs long-term?
  • Anyone move away from them to electronic muffs or doubling up?
Also wondering if anyone has experience with the newer electronic plugs/muffs — are they actually worth it, or just more complexity?

Looking forward to the feedback.
Dan
 
My step-dad shot clays, trap and sporting clays as his secondary hobby after migratory game hunting for 50-ish years. He used custom fit and molded in-ear plugs his whole life. Occasionally if he was at a competition or somewhere that talking was often expected while shooting was close he would double up with and electronic earmuff (like a Walker's Razor) to slightly increase the protection and allow hearing other's talking through the in-ear plugs. He refused to use anything else.

Personally, I have moved to his method as anything else doesn't work for me. I don't shoot enough to get accustom to something else. I found the in-ear electronic not to work that well, personally, and the "rubber fin" plugs (like the Howard Leight AirSoft style) those devices use will not work in my ears (and I find them annoying): they don't encourage use. The in-ear customs and the thin ear muffs don't interfere with mounting a shotgun at all for me.

Just remember that doubling up is important in 100bd or higher environments, but it only adds 4–8 dB of extra protection beyond single-device use. NOT a product recommendation: other than custom earplugs, said to be -32Db, I keep a few Mack’s Maximum Protection Soft Foam (-33Db) and my ISOtunes DEFY Slim BT Earmuff (-21Db) from work on hand (work max expected is 90Db, so -21Db works fine).

More for other readers, not OP... Main thing is to find what is comfortable: you need to wear it, and want to. If what you choose doesn't encourage use (because they are annoying, can't mount the gun, etc) then you must change.

Just my opinion...
 
There is no way that I could wear muffs, so I went with molded plugs with valves ,close to ten years ago, after wearing foam plugs, for decades. I find the comfort excellent, and I can hear conversation well, but the hearing protection is excellent.
 
Esp America custom electronics.

I can't use muffs, they always interfere with my gun mount.

They are comfortable and because I can hear with the electronics, i dont pull them out to hear something and get blasted.

Used them for years, and my hearing tests are still excellent.
 
My step-dad shot clays, trap and sporting clays as his secondary hobby after migratory game hunting for 50-ish years. He used custom fit and molded in-ear plugs his whole life. Occasionally if he was at a competition or somewhere that talking was often expected while shooting was close he would double up with and electronic earmuff (like a Walker's Razor) to slightly increase the protection and allow hearing other's talking through the in-ear plugs. He refused to use anything else.

Personally, I have moved to his method as anything else doesn't work for me. I don't shoot enough to get accustom to something else. I found the in-ear electronic not to work that well, personally, and the "rubber fin" plugs (like the Howard Leight AirSoft style) those devices use will not work in my ears (and I find them annoying): they don't encourage use. The in-ear customs and the thin ear muffs don't interfere with mounting a shotgun at all for me.

Just remember that doubling up is important in 100bd or higher environments, but it only adds 4–8 dB of extra protection beyond single-device use. NOT a product recommendation: other than custom earplugs, said to be -32Db, I keep a few Mack’s Maximum Protection Soft Foam (-33Db) and my ISOtunes DEFY Slim BT Earmuff (-21Db) from work on hand (work max expected is 90Db, so -21Db works fine).

More for other readers, not OP... Main thing is to find what is comfortable: you need to wear it, and want to. If what you choose doesn't encourage use (because they are annoying, can't mount the gun, etc) then you must change.

Just my opinion...
Thanks for the feedback. This is great information.
 
Esp America custom electronics.

I can't use muffs, they always interfere with my gun mount.

They are comfortable and because I can hear with the electronics, i dont pull them out to hear something and get blasted.

Used them for years, and my hearing tests are still excellent.
Wow. The ESP America Custom Electronics are no joke! Thanks for the feedback.
 
Currently i am wearing custom fit Isotunes Pro 2.0 hearing protection. They can be had without the custom fit of course. I find them excellant. I cannot wear muffs as they interfere with my mount.
I find the custom molded plugs to be a more comfortable fit for long durations. I find with the foam plugs, taper fit 2 are my preferred there, that after a few hours I start to "feel" them and need to take them out for a break. Cost is a big factor to consider as the Isotunes model i have were $330, that is a lot of earplugs even if you change them out a couple of times a day. The custom fit option pushed the total cost to close to $700.

As for the Isotunes i would still highly recommend them. You can listen to music, turn them into a complete ear plug with no ambient noise amplification or turn on the amplification for speaking between stations. When i shoot with them i leave them on all times until i get in the station at which point i turn them off to drown out any unwanted noise or chatter. If I'm shooting for score on a serious squad with no talking I turn some music on between stations and relax.
 
I have used just about every type of hearing protection. I’ve settled on Sordin Supreme with the gel cups and will never look back. They’re so comfortable and the sound quality is amazing. Have different modes depending on your activity. I use them for hunting as well as clay bustin. They’re a real advantage hunting!! I have custom moulded plugs as well but only use them if I forgot to pack the Sordins
 
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