Find the perfect earmuffs for shooting practice
Whether you’re shooting for competition, recreation or work, repeated exposure to loud noise puts your hearing at risk. A quality earmuff, then, is an essential part of any shooter’s safety repertoire.
Learn more about the best shooting earmuffs in this buying guide. We’re detailing what type, Noise Reduction Rating, fit and other considerations to keep in mind before you buy. Our top pick, the Howard Leight Honeywell Impact Sport, offers excellent protection with a low-profile design for firearm stock clearance.
What to know before you buy shooting earmuffs
ive vs. electronic
There are two types of shooting earmuffs, ive and electronic. Constructed of foam and plastic, ive earmuffs protect hearing by reducing all incoming noise but can make communication difficult. However, their simple construction allows for a lower price point and makes sanitization easier.
Likewise, electronic earmuffs provide the same noise reduction as their ive counterparts. Also, they can differentiate between loud and quiet sounds using small microphones and speakers built into the equipment, allowing the shooter to easily communicate with others while still being protected from the damaging noise of a gunshot. The electronic components inside the earmuff are delicate and can make sanitization and storage more complicated.
Area of use
Though all shooting earmuffs provide noise reduction, some earmuffs are not practical for specific environments. If used in the field, a shooter should consider an earmuff with a lower profile to discourage the earmuff from being caught or pulled by low-hanging branches or foliage.
If the intends to be at a shooting range, they should consider an earmuff that allows for better communication. Better communication means a shooter can easily hear safety precautions, instructions or advice from fellow shooters or instructors.
Some shooters may need an earmuff for various settings and consider a product that provides accessible communication, quality ear protection and a low profile. Models that include all these features may mean a higher price point.
Multifunctional
Some shooting earmuffs are multifunctional and can be used for more than just noise reduction. You can use a more comfortable and durable pair for yard work, building projects or machine work. A few electronic models feature a 3.5-millimeter audio input jack, allowing s to listen to music or podcasts.
What to look for in quality shooting earmuffs
Noise Reduction Rating
Every shooting earmuff comes with a Noise Reduction Rating. The higher NRR, the greater the number of decibels it cancels, resulting in more outstanding ear protection quality.
To determine how many decibels an earmuff cancels out, simply subtract seven from the NRR and divide the result by two.
Any noise above 120 decibels can cause damage to the ear, especially if the noise is continuous or repeated. Therefore, when deciding on a shooting earmuff, make sure that the listed NRR accurately reflects the manufacturer’s decibel reduction claims and reduces the decibel level to as safe a level as possible.
Proper fit
An earmuff that fits improperly will become uncomfortable and require adjustments while wearing. Frequent adjustments compromise the seal of the ear cup and result in ineffective sound reduction. Consider lightweight models, which tend to be more comfortable during extended use. Also, ear cups secured by a flexible material with a greater range of motion require less adjustment and make it easier to find a proper fit.
Maintenance
For avid and cost-savvy shooters, light maintenance can significantly increase the life span of a shooting earmuff. Earcups can become cracked, stiff, or worn, becoming uncomfortable or compromising their noise-canceling effectiveness.
Electronic earmuffs require a power source, and a will need to monitor the earmuffs for a proper charge or enough batteries for the equipment to operate. When sanitizing, ensure that the speakers and microphones inside the earmuff do not get wet, or they can stop functioning.
When storing your earmuff, consider the temperature, air moisture and type of container wherein the shooting earmuff will be stored. Between uses, if the earmuff is exposed to extremely high or low temperatures or high humidity, the ear cup cushioning, ear cup lining or any possible electronics could become damaged.
Before purchasing a shooting earmuff, consider the level of care required for maintaining its components or the ease and cost of replacing components during its life span. More durable components mean a higher quality of life for the shooter.
How much you can expect to spend on a shooting earmuff
ive earmuffs tend to cost less than their electronic counterparts, but don’t expect to spend big for either. Quality ive earmuffs can be found for $20 or less, while you should expect to pay around $50-$70 for electronic variants.
Shooting earmuffs FAQ
Q. Will shooting earmuffs completely cancel incoming sound?
A. Shooting earmuffs are not designed for completely eliminating noise, though some do better at limiting noise than others. Make sure to locate the NRR to find out how many decibels you can expect to cancel out.
Q. Why can I hear quiet sounds, but not loud sounds, with electronic shooting earmuffs?
A. The small microphones inside of electronic shooting earmuffs capture all incoming sounds. A microchip then determines the decibel levels of each sound and plays the ‘quiet’ sounds through built-in speakers.
Q. When should I replace the batteries in an electronic shooting earmuff?
A. Some electronic shooting earmuffs have a small LED light which indicates when it’s time to charge or change batteries, while other models play a tone or tones to designate low power.
Q. If the battery dies in my electronic shooting earmuff, can I still use it?
A. ive and electronic both decrease noise by utilizing layers of physical foam and padding. If unpowered, electronic shooting earmuffs still provide ear protection but lose their functions, like determining and playing ‘quiet’ sounds.
Noise-canceling earmuffs for shooting
Top noise-canceling earmuffs
Howard Leight Honeywell Impact Sport
What you need to know: No other earmuff we tested had better features or higher quality.
What you’ll love: These earmuffs provide excellent ear protection and noise reduction inside a low-profile design without sacrificing comfort.
What you should consider: These had the highest price point of all the earmuffs we tested.
Top noise-canceling earmuffs for the money
What you need to know: For shooters on a budget, this provides quality for the value.
What you’ll love: This shooting earmuff’s easy-to-fold design allows for easy storage and travel, while providing quality ear protection.
What you should consider: Some wearers might find the limited adjustment range doesn’t fit their needs.
Worth checking out
ClearArmor Folding-Padded Headband
What you need to know: These earmuffs have high performance at the expense of profile and features.
What you’ll love: Rugged yet lightweight, these shooting earmuffs provide quality ear protection with manufacturer-backed consumer satisfaction.
What you should consider: These are bulky compared to other options we tested and lacking in features.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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