Electronic Earmuff Recommendations in the $100 range

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Rockrivr1

Rockrivr1

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My wife is looking for some xmas ideas and I'm thinking of adding a pair of electronic earmuffs on the list. I've done a search and I've read some reviews of the Peltor 6 & 7 series along with Proears, which seem to be pretty expensive.

For something in the low $100 range what would you recommend as a good option for this type of earmuffs. I appreciate the advise.

Thanks
 
I got a cheap ($65) pair of electronic muffs made by North.

They simply don't block as much noise as a $20 -29 db set of foam muffs, and after 5 minutes of OUCH the first time I tried them, I never used them again.
 
I've seen that Harbor Freight and Salvage has some (electronic muffs) for $20. Does anybody know if they are any good?

The Peltor seems to cost a lot for the technology involved (though $100 is better than the usuall $140-$170). But I don't want to trust my hearing to junky ones that either don't screen out enough of the sound (dB rating) or that don't cut out quickly enough (and then actually amplify the boom for a split second too long).
 
Cheaper than Dirt has some for $39. Liberty Tactical has some Peltors that were $260 marked down to $79, which is still under your $100 limit. I'd get the Peltors.
 
A couple of months ago I bought a pair of Silencio Falcon electronic muffs. I think they were around $60. on sale. They're slimline design and fold up into a small package. I tried them indoors with .45 ACP and .357 mag., and outdoors with .270 Win., .223 Rem., 10mm, and 9mm full auto, and they worked fine. At full volume, they were all a tad loud, but not uncomfortably so, and they tend to amplify the higher frequencies more than the low. Remember that with any of these muffs, you need to tamp them firmly into place over your ears to be fully effective. The Peltors are also outstanding, if a little more bulky.
 
Several posters on the Bullseye forum said recently that the Harbor Freight were surprisingly good; they use them as loaners at their ranges...and on in-store sale for $10...they're not stereo and no one could exactly detail the differences between the 2 models on the web site...speculation was that one was hi-freq and one low

Models are 92851-0VGA vs 46798-1VGA - same specs of 85dB, both w LED, use "AA"

/Bryan
 
It's only my experience, and perhaps my ears are more sensitive than most, but I tried saving a few bucks by using cheaper electronic muffs and found they simply didn't work - I had to use foam earplugs as well, which pretty much negated any advantage to using electronic earmuffs.

I spent $189 on some Pro-Ears Dimension I "Sporting Clays" model and they're simply superb. I had to ask myself, "How much is maintaining my hearing worth?"
 
Cabela's and some others are offering Peltor Tactical 6 outfits with either conventional or backband (cap-friendly) rigging for $69.95 + S&H. Quality set with some nice features. Very good rep for performance and CS.
 
IMHO, in that price range you can definitely find electronic muffs that work... but only for outdoor use. I wouldn't use them for indoor range use since they seem to provide less protection than passive muffs.
 
Ignoring the $100 limit, does anybody know if such a product as a combo headset/eletronic earmuff? So you could talk to someone via a radio headset that also use electronics to maintain hearing while eliminating noise?
 
My roomate has the $20 HF ones. They work good outdoors but indoors he uses the foam ear inserts with them.
 
Old Dog said:
CI, funny you should mention that; Pro-Ears makes exactly that product. Check 'em out at:
http://www.pro-ears.com/
Click to expand...

Cool, thanks! Though what I'm really looking for is a boom mic extending from one of the earphone units to right in front of the mouth. Kinda like David Clarks aviation headsets (the big green ones you always see pilots wearing), except connectable to FRS or with an integral FRS unit.
 
Henry Bowman said:
I've seen that Harbor Freight and Salvage has some (electronic muffs) for $20. Does anybody know if they are any good?
Click to expand...

Ya know Henry, if you would ever come out with us you could have tried my HF ones many times over......

As others have mentioned they are really only good for outdoor use (indoor with ear plugs), but they work fine. The boys' Scout Troop bought a dozen or so pairs for their .22 range. The really nice thing is that it allows everyone to easily hear the range commands & other things going on around them. I bought several pairs for myself, Mrs. L, the kids & anyone who happens to come out with us.

I wouldn't want them as is for any really big rifles but they are fine for most pistols/generic milsurp rifle calibers.

That said, I wouldn't mind having a really nice pair for myself. If you need to buy several pairs for the family or only get out a couple of times per year then the HF is probably a good choice. If it is only for you & don't mind spending a bit more then there are better ones out there.
 
Gentlemen--As a 62 yr old retired aircraft mechanic and pistol shooter I would highly recommend that you look at the db rating of the muffs particularly if you use them on an indoor range with handguns. The electronic portion may cut off at 85 db but you also need to know the passive protection level. I have religiously worn muffs at work and shooting and still have lost a good deal of my hearing in the upper freqs. Part of it is the jet engines but indoor pistol is also a big factor. I don't remember the numbers exactly but I think handguns like the hot 9's and 40's indoors run 130 db plus. If your muffs only attenuate 23-26db your ears are getting hit with over 100 db which is not good. I think 85db is the max safe level. For handguns or an indoor range I would recommend muffs and plugs. Just a thought from a guy who says "what'd you say??" quite a bit. Nick
 
fecmech said:
Gentlemen--As a 62 yr old retired aircraft mechanic and pistol shooter I would highly recommend that you look at the db rating of the muffs particularly if you use them on an indoor range with handguns. The electronic portion may cut off at 85 db but you also need to know the passive protection level. I have religiously worn muffs at work and shooting and still have lost a good deal of my hearing in the upper freqs. Part of it is the jet engines but indoor pistol is also a big factor. I don't remember the numbers exactly but I think handguns like the hot 9's and 40's indoors run 130 db plus. If your muffs only attenuate 23-26db your ears are getting hit with over 100 db which is not good. I think 85db is the max safe level. For handguns or an indoor range I would recommend muffs and plugs. Just a thought from a guy who says "what'd you say??" quite a bit. Nick
Click to expand...

I believe that losing hearing in the upper frequency range is a natural part of the aging process.
 
I believe that losing hearing in the upper frequency range is a natural part of the aging process.
Click to expand...
Yes it is. And any abuse to your hearing equipment will make it worse and also make the onset faster.
For something in the low $100 range what would you recommend as a good option for this type of earmuffs. I appreciate the advise.
Click to expand...
Here's my advice. Price some hearing aids and see if maybe that encourages you to save enough to get a really good set of electronic hearing protectors. I don't really mean to be ragging on you, but I feel like it's definitely something that should be said--you only get one set of ears. You can call me "mom" from now on if that seems too meddlesome... ;)
 
Creeping Incrementalism said:
I believe that losing hearing in the upper frequency range is a natural part of the aging process.
Click to expand...
Creeping-- You are correct to a point on the age issue. My hearing loss is more than that, if I knew then what I know now it would have been plugs and muffs when shooting indoors and trimming engines! Nick
 
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