Thread: Hearing protection?

I have to agree with Brads about Howard Leights. I couldn't resist when I was over in the US grabbing some as they were only about $40. The headband design is their biggest weakness- the yolks tend to splay the earcups so they leak at the bottom. Like any badly-inserted plugs, this totally ruins the protection. A Class/Level 4 device will become a 2 or even 1. I always shake my head when you see closed-cell foam plugs with 2/3 of them visible in the ear as they will be providing sod-all protection. This is why plugs tend to have lower ratings, ie user incompetence. Also, about 1/4 of ear canals are very difficult to seal with plugs from being very oval/hairy/twisty. This applies particularly to flanged designs.

I once had some ? 6S Peltors but they eventually shat themselves when the wiring between the cups failed, a common problem apparently. I thought they were pretty reasonable except for being prone to switching themselves on in your bag and draining the batteries.

These days I use custom electronic plugs built round (expensive) hearing aid guts. These aren't a viable option unless you have industry contacts. I've lost track of the current commercial versions available but decent ones will never be cheap. If you decide to get custom-moulded plugs, either passive or electronic, it is --critical-- that the ear impressions and subsequent manufacturing are of the highest standard. Believe me, it doesn't matter what qualifications or experience the person has, the final efficacy can vary widely for the same product. I've seen some shockers over the years. If gunfire does not sound to be down to a safe level and you experience tinnitus ( ringing in the ears) after shooting, I'd be taking them back for warranty attention.