Looking into some new ears having a hard time deciding what i would like, i do not want muffs any recommendations? I dont mind paying a fair price they are the only ears you get in life! Also can you get a ear bud style that are like the muffs that you can still hear people speak?
Hearing protection
- Thread starter scott9001
- Start date
I just purchased a pair of in the ear custom fit electronic plugs from "SoundGear". Very happy with them. They have four settings and volume control. Parent company is Starkey, a large US hearing aid company. They have regular special promo's, right now $150 off. I looked at E.A.R and E.S.P. and these seemed like the best bang for the buck. NRR is 25dB. I wear them for Clays, Upland and Waterfowling and I like them better than muffs. I do still double up when shooting rifle or handgun. You'd need to get molds done to send to whatever company you choose. I called around and prices were all over the place. Ended up getting them done in Stratford, for free 
at the Stratford Audiology Clinic on Huron.
at the Stratford Audiology Clinic on Huron.Cardamonfrost
Regular
- Location
- Barrie, Ontario
I change it up depending on what I am doing.
3M pink/yellow in ears (32 dB) with 3M muffs for all indoor. Same setup for all outdoor rifle.
Just the 3M pink/yellow for outdoor clays. I find the over ears get in my way.
Not everyone does, but I take the 3M pink/yellow and roll them small then insert and hold while they expand. I have found them to be as good as anything else. YMMV.
C
3M pink/yellow in ears (32 dB) with 3M muffs for all indoor. Same setup for all outdoor rifle.
Just the 3M pink/yellow for outdoor clays. I find the over ears get in my way.
Not everyone does, but I take the 3M pink/yellow and roll them small then insert and hold while they expand. I have found them to be as good as anything else. YMMV.
C
Not cheap but ESP or EarInc are both great. If you think they are too much money, price out hearing aids.
One of the best parts of electronics is you tend to leave them in, because you can still hear.
One of the best parts of electronics is you tend to leave them in, because you can still hear.
Sakoman .308
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nova Scotia
I just purchased a pair of in the ear custom fit electronic plugs from "SoundGear". Very happy with them. They have four settings and volume control. Parent company is Starkey, a large US hearing aid company. They have regular special promo's, right now $150 off. I looked at E.A.R and E.S.P. and these seemed like the best bang for the buck. NRR is 25dB. I wear them for Clays, Upland and Waterfowling and I like them better than muffs. I do still double up when shooting rifle or handgun. You'd need to get molds done to send to whatever company you choose. I called around and prices were all over the place. Ended up getting them done in Stratford, for free
That sounds pretty good.
You did well.
So, I'm not real clear on the process. You buy the "kit" from the soundgear website - and then go to an audiologist to get moulds made - or first the moulds and then send them to soundgear?
Interested because I'm increasingly unhappy with my pro-ears muffs.
Thanks
Rob!
Audiologists have the 2 part rubber? compound for swim plugs or solid plugs and they make the moulds. Those moulds I then mailed to Soundgear to be used to make the plugs.
Soundgear/Starkey doesn't currently have Canadian offices that they work with. If you're close to the border you may find a US office. Their US affiliates generally make the moulds and look after the back and forth shipping. I assume there would definitely be a margin built into the MSRP for the retail outlet.
Lance Kraemer, Lance_Kraemer@starkey. com, was who I dealt with for the purchase. He was quite helpful and accommodating. He waived the shipping back to me as I paid to ship the moulds down. There was no duty as they are US made.
The batteries are #13 hearing aid batteries, about $13 for 48 batteries at Costco and last about 2 weeks in mine with intermittent use.
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I recently lost all hearing in one ear due to surgery so my ENT doctor recommended I always use an ear plug and muffs to protect my hearing ear when shooting. With a foam plug and my MSA muffs turned up to maximum volume, I can barely hear range commands, voices, etc. I discussed this with my audiologist and am going to try a 'bernafon noise braker', a non-electronic plug. This is a custom molded plug with a vent and filter that is supposed to allow better perception of voice frequencies than a foam plug. I will wear it under my muffs. Hopefully this combination will work for me.
The MSA Supreme Pro-X muffs are amazing, by the way.
The MSA Supreme Pro-X muffs are amazing, by the way.
I have the same muffs, and for the price don't have the same review.
Muffs can only be so good, but I do have issues. Quick review of my thoughts after having them for a couple years with 1000's of rounds shot:
1) Fit is good. Comfortable with gel cups. Don't notice weight, etc compared to other muffs. They are warm still, can't get around that, but the flip side is they keep your ears warm in the winter or cooler days. I'd say the gel is better than alternative cushions, but not exceptionally better. The gel does seal well around hats and glasses. No complaints on fit. I like that I can easily flip one or both ears up when not needed, like walking between stations at sporting clay ranges, or killing time at competitions, etc.
2) Battery life is ok. Not exceptional but adequate. I can tell by the sound in the muffs when they are getting low. AA's are accessible and reasonably priced.
3) Durability. Seems good. I've used them in the rain, I walk through the bush with them when hunting upland, etc. Still look new, other than the leather headband showing some weathering as you would expect. Very minor wear overall. I can't see them being damaged unless you do something silly like drive over them.
4) My complaint? The sound. I've had cheap muffs before where the volume controlled the localized sound as you would think most should do. You turn up the volume, the voices get louder. Easier to hear and allow double protection with foam plugs. On the MSA's, the volume mostly controls BACKGROUND noise. If you want to get really frustrated with them, shoot by trees with rustling leaves, or walking for pheasants for miles on end listening to loud grass making noise while trying to hear commands and conversations with guys 30-40 yards away. Extreme frustration where I often just turn them off.
5) They are bad in the wind. I wish they made wind blocking foam covers, but they don't. I'll fab something up, but they are TERRIBLE if windy. I just shut them off again. Not something you want to do with nearly, if not the most expensive muffs one can buy.
I thought these muffs were a one off. The seller/importer let me swing by and try additional headphones and they all were quite similar. I made my complaints known and he said some people like them for that reason. Hunters, etc. I'll admit, I used them for hunting on perfectly calm days in the bush and you can listen for the birds. That's great, but if it's windy you are left with no option other than to turn them off unless you want to get fatigued by constant roaring in your ear.
This winter I'll try some different foam covers to help reduce wind noise and improve voice volume vs background noise. I hope I can find an improvement. It's an investment you don't want to give up on, but at the same time I'd think most users would have the same complaints.
Alternative options? 3M Tactical, at half the price.
I recently purchased a set of the Walker Silencer Earbuds electronic plugs and have had them for about 2 months now and so far have been extremely happy. Another member of our club also purchased them and is quite satisfied also. We will see long term but most all reviews that I looked at were good.
I saw those at Cabelas and was wondering if they worked. So many electronic foam ear plugs seem to have issues at 500. 00 per pair. They won't be refundable if you don't like them.
- Location
- Next door to my neighbour
Bought a pair of Etymotic Gunsport Pro last year for outdoor shooting. You almost forget you have them in when not shooting, sound is very natural. I find I now wear them for hunting as well because they are so comfortable. They also have an amplified mode which is killer for hunting. You can almost hear ducks landing in the next pond over! They fit like a tapered, flanged plug and come with a few different styles and sizes. $300-$400 depending on where you look if I remember correctly.
I totally agree.
My right eardrum is perforated due to a muzzle break on a nearby shooter's rifle and my left ear hearing
is way down.
I rarely shoot now as I am concerned about keeping what little hearing I have. Once gone, never to return.
