9 Best Ear Protection for Shooting (2023)
Finding the best ear protection for shooting can be expensive. However, if you plan on going to the range frequently it is important that you have ear protection that is comfortable.
What things should you consider? Earplugs vs. Earmuffs. Standard vs. Electronic. With so many options what do you choose? For ear protection, price and comfort and going to be the two biggest determining factors.
Also think about taking friends and family to the range. It is always a good idea to have a few extra options available for those who don’t have any.
What to look for when choosing hearing protection for shooting.
How much ear protection do you need?
The minimum reduction level that you should look for with ear protection is 20 db NNR.
Remember, even if you have a 25 db NNR earmuff but the seal on the ear is disrupted, you may only be getting 10-15 db of noise cancelation. Make sure you are wearing your equipment properly.
But for some of the larger caliber guns, you might want to double up on protection with a foam earplug inside of your earmuffs for some extra protection.
Earplugs
Everyone has worn foam earplugs that just never stay in. You end up just rolling them in between your fingers and basically getting rid of any noise reduction factors anyways.
However, earplugs have come a long ways.
There are now reusable options, as well as electronic and Bluetooth options.
This is significantly more low-profile, and may help you have a more ergonomic shooting position.
Earmuffs
The most common ear protection on the market. As far as packing technology into a product, if you are looking for electronic or Bluetooth ear protection, then earmuffs will be cheaper than earplugs.
The biggest downside of earmuffs is that they are bulky. When shooting a long rifle, the cheek rest can bump your earmuffs, lessening the seal created around your ear. This reduces the noice reduction, making them less effective. It’s also just annoying.
Electronic
Almost all new ear protection is electronic. The added feature of enhancing voices allows you to keep your ear protection on and still have conversations at the range.
What happens when the battery dies? The ear protection still works, the voice enhancement and/or Bluetooth stop working.
When looking at electronic ear protection, one nice feature is automatic turn off. This keeps your batteries ready to go, even when you forget to turn things off. I have done this on multiple occasions, only to show up and the range with dead batteries.
What is the best ear protection for shooting?
Here are my top picks for the best ear protection for shooting.
- Walkers Razor Slim (Editors Choice)
- Peltor Tac 500 (Best Overall)
- Howard Leight Impact Sport (Best Budget)
- Walkers Silencer 2.0 (Best Electronic Earplug)
- Axil Trackr (Runner Up)
- Ear Buddy Premium Soft Foam Ear Plugs (Best Foam)
- SureFire EP4 Sonic Defender (Best Earplug)
- Peltor Optime 105 (Best Non-Electric)
- Sordin Supreme Pro-X (Best High End)
Walkers Razor Slim (Editors Choice)
Specs
Rating : 23NNR
Electronic : Yes
Batteries : 2 AAA
Bluetooth : No
My Take
Best bang for your buck ear protection out there. I would say that I have an average size head and they are very comfortable. I haven’t had any problems wearing them for extended periods of time and the noise reduction is great.
It is not perfect tho. You do get a some static when trying to amplify voices. This can be annoying, but try not to crank the volume up to the highest setting.
My other issue with them is that they do not have an automatic shut off timer. I have opened up my range back to find that I forgot to turn them off, and they were completely dead.
However, for $53 you really can’t get much better than this.
Peltor Tac 500 (Best Overall)
Specs
Rating : 26 NNR
Electronic : Yes
Batteries : 2 AA or Alpha 1100 lithium ion rechargeable battery (sold separately)
Bluetooth : Yes
My Take
A little on the bulky side of things, but this ear protection gives you more features at a great price. You get 26 db reduction, which is more than most of the slim options. Not only that but it comes with Bluetooth capability.
Bluetooth is great for when your spouse calls asking how long your are going to be at the range. Nothing is worse than getting back to your car and realizing you have 3 missed calls.
I do with that the rechargeable battery would be standard for the Tac 500; however, you can purchase this rechargeable upgrade for $30.
Howard Leight Impact Sport (Best Budget)
Specs
Rating : 22 NNR
Electronic : Yes
Batteries : 2 AAA
Bluetooth : No
My Take
The Impact Sport is one of the large competitors to the Walker Slims. They are slightly cheaper than the Walkers and have very similar features.
However, the biggest factors between the two of them for me comes down to comfort and options. The Walkers Slim are just a little bit more comfortable for prolong use. Not only that, but they have a few more color options and spots to customize with velcro patches. This ability to personalize your gear gives the edge to Walkers.
If you are looking for the cheapest option and just looking for a bare bones design, the Impact Sport is a great choice.
Walkers Silencer 2.0 (Best Earplug)
Specs
Rating : 24 NNR
Electronic : Yes
Batteries : Rechargeable
Bluetooth : Yes
My Take
In my opinion, one of the biggest downsides of earmuffs is that the butt of the stock can sometime push against your earmuffs when looking down the scope. This isn’t supposed to happen, and if it is, you might be shooting incorrectly. However, it is still annoying.
Pushing on the earmuffs can reduce the seal, reducing the noise reduction. This can be fixed by a lower profile or switching to ear plugs.
Electronic ear plugs are still a relatively expensive option in the ear protection world. However, you do get a lot of extra features without sacrificing much of the protection.
The best part about these earplugs is that they feel like wearing a more secure/protective version of the Apple AirPods. If you are someone who likes the utility of the AirPods, this is a great fit, and allows you to amplify voices, answer the phone, or listen to music while still protecting your ears from gunshots.
Axil Trackr Electronic BLU (Runner Up)
Specs
Rating : 25 NNR
Electronic : Yes
Batteries : 2 AAA
Bluetooth : Yes
My Take
The Trackr Electronics are almost the same price as the Walkers Slim, and very comparable in almost every way. I honestly do not see a huge difference in these ear protection, it really comes down to personal preference and availability.
However, the BLU option includes a Bluetooth capability. This is a great added feature for only $40 compared to the Trackr Electronic and the Walkers Slim.
Ear Buddy Premium Soft Foam Ear Plugs (Best Foam)
Specs
Rating : 32 NNR
Count : 50
Electronic : No
Batteries : None
Bluetooth : No
My Take
In my opinion, everyone should have a set of these earplugs in their range bag. You never know when something is going to break or when a range partner or friend is going to be underprepared.
Being tactical means preparation for any situation. This is a very inexpensive option for backups as well as extra pairs for friends and family.
SureFire EP4 Sonic Defender (Best Earplug)
Specs
Rating : 24 NNR
Electronic : No
Batteries : None
Bluetooth : No
My Take
There is a huge price jump from the foam earplugs to the electronic, Bluetooth ear plugs. If you are looking for a re-usable in-ear option, but not wanting to spend the money for electric, SureFire makes a line of great options.
The EP7 goes all the way up to 28 db reduction, but I feel like 24 is plenty for most firearm enthusiasts. I also like the in-ear silicone option over the large foam insert, it is more comfortable.
The SureFire line also has filter caps that can be easily unplugged, so you do not have to take your earplugs in and out of your ear at the range. Not necessary, but a very appreciated feature.
Peltor Optime 105 (Best Non-Electric)
Specs
Rating : 30 NNR
Electronic : No
Batteries : None
Bluetooth : No
My Take
I am pretty sure that my dad has like 3 pair of these in his range bag, and they have been there since the dawn of time. The best part about them is that they still work. All these years later, nothing fancy, but they get the job done.
Over the years, the foam covers have cracked a bit, but for the price and the level of noise reduction, you can’t beat it. They will fit almost any head, and are low profile enough to wear a hat over.
The only downside is that they are bulky.
Sordin Supreme Pro-X (Best High End)
Specs
Rating : 25 NNR
Electronic : Yes
Batteries : 2 AA
Bluetooth : No
My Take
If you are looking for all day comfort, most people gravitate to the Sordin Supreme Pro-X. With their standard gel earmuffs, they are great for all day wear.
Even with a lower NNR rating than some of the competitors, you can notice an even better noise cancelation. This is because the Sardin sits comfortably and completely around your ear for a better seal.
Plus, if you are looking to attach them to your ballistic helmet, they are easily attachable.
If you are looking for the best ear protection for shooting, this is it.
What is the best ear protection for shooting?
When looking for the best ear protection for shooting it helps to have a little bit of a budget. The amount of extra features you can get with ear protection now days is amazing. From electronic voice enhancement to Bluetooth, ear protection is getting high tech, with a price tag.
At a bare minimum get some extra foam plugs for your buddies. But as far as a personal set goes, the Walkers Slim are my go-to option, but if you are looking for Bluetooth the Pelator Tac 500 and Walkers Silencer 2.0 are great options. You just have to pay a premium for the extra features.
If comfort is your #1 concern, and you don’t care about Bluetooth, you can’t go wrong with the best, the Sardin Supreme Pro-X.
