Electronic Hearing Protection - a nice surprise.

[hps1]

I have gone through at least four rechargeable drills and drivers, all with removeable batteries. Each combo was replaced by a newer model, and all because the batteries refused to take a charge (after several hundred cycles).

Ah! Thanks for the reply. I have had same results with the drill batteries but never disassembled the batteries and my drills are for hobby use only so, while subjected to some abuse (overload) not normally the case. Have gone through three ****** (supposedly top of the line) drills for that reason. (Batteries always dead after sitting idle a week or more). It was cheaper to buy the drill set(s) on sale than to replace the batteries. I finally gave up on the ******'s and bought a cheap drill at Harbor Freight and so far it holds a charge much better than the others.

My earlier comments were for individual AA AND AAA batteries and the charger I use is more sophisticated than those sold with rechargeable batteries, so that is probably why none have leaked. Also these batteries are not subjected to the severe use of a power tool.

Regards,
hps

 

[drband]

The Bolt is worth the extra cash if you have it IMHO.

That looks like a very good value!

 

[Safety First]

I have a couple of Peltors and a couple Caldwell. The Caldwell works good enough but prefer the Peltors. The Peltors seem to quiet the boom a touch better and pick up other voices and noises a little better. Also the Peltors seem to to give me a better sense of direction on sounds at a distance so that I can better determine the direction of the sound. On the subject of rotating out the batteries. I made the mistake once of letting them stay in one of the Caldwells too long. Now I change them out about every 6 months. I may invest in some rechargeable AA & AAA. I have a couple of rechargeable 3500 mah batteries that have paid for themselves over and over again in flashlights and NEVER leak.

 

[hps1]

According to the VA nothing. However the tinnitus is worth 10%.

Must be according to stages of hearing loss?? After numerous tests/re-tests mine was set at 20% but my hearing is toast and severe tinnitus.

Currently have a pair of Walker Quads: https://www.ozarksource.com/walkers...FdulItiLUVt1PBfNnhuxjXVGI3Vugw3UaAn6vEALw_wcB
Each cup has it's own battery (one AAA) easy access outside, bottom of cup. The first Walker Gamer Ear Quads I had used 2 C123 batteries accessible from inside of each muff by separating the foam liner.

These are stereo and work well. I don't think they have quite the volume of my first set of Walkers (Walker Quad Game Ear) muffs but could be due to my hearing slowly deteriorating??

Regards,
hps

 

[old lady new shooter]

you can double plug (plugs and muffs) and then turn the volume all the way up

That's what I do.

 

[GBExpat]

The downside to my Peltors is that when I am shooting non-magnum handguns at my backyard range, between shots I can hear my crows in the trees around me making what I am sure are disparaging comments about my shooting skills & suggestions that I stop such silliness and put out some (more) food for them. Y'know how crows can be.

 

[Poper]

I have two pairs of the Howard Leight Impact Sports electronic ear muffs, the Impact Sport, and the Impact Sport Bolt. The Bolt is worth the extra cash if you have it IMHO.

I recently wore the Bolts from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM plus and they worked as described, and were very comfortable. I upgraded for this type of event and I was very, very, happy with them.

You can find them a little bit cheaper than the Amazon link.


I have no doubt those Peltors are a lot better than the Caldwells, and are in the same basic price range as the Impact Sport Bolt. I have some cheap Caldwells that are very poor. Maybe they make better ones, I don't remember.

Gonna get me a pair of the Impact Sport Bolt and give them a try. I, too, was disappointed with my Caldwell ones. Took the batteries out and left 'em on a shelf... Not sure what happened to them during the move.....

 

[Texas10mm]

Must be according to stages of hearing loss?? After numerous tests/re-tests mine was set at 20% but my hearing is toast and severe tinnitus.

Currently have a pair of Walker Quads: https://www.ozarksource.com/walkers...FdulItiLUVt1PBfNnhuxjXVGI3Vugw3UaAn6vEALw_wcB
Each cup has it's own battery (one AAA) easy access outside, bottom of cup. The first Walker Gamer Ear Quads I had used 2 C123 batteries accessible from inside of each muff by separating the foam liner.

These are stereo and work well. I don't think they have quite the volume of my first set of Walkers (Walker Quad Game Ear) muffs but could be due to my hearing slowly deteriorating??

Regards,
hps

To get a 10% hearing loss from the VA you have to be almost stone cold deaf. But it's nice they do provide hearing aids to all Veterans now.

Over the years I've been involved in three different hearing/tinnitus studies at the VA. They acknowledge that the rate of hearing loss is much higher among Veterans. But there's a huge disconnect between the benefits side and the health care side when it comes to hearing loss.

 

[hps1]

They acknowledge that the rate of hearing loss is much higher among Veterans.

Yeah, just about all our tools made really loud noises!
Supplying hearing aids and even the batteries is a real plus. VA has really improved in the last couple of years, though!

Regards,
hps

 

[Texas10mm]

Yeah, just about all our tools made really loud noises!
Supplying hearing aids and even the batteries is a real plus. VA has really improved in the last couple of years, though!

Regards,
hps

My new pair of hearing aids are rechargeable and the battery life is around 16 hours. It's nice not having to change those tiny batteries.

 

[Waveski]

Now you've got me thinking about putting the batteries in mine. I've used them for years but never with the batteries installed. Yes I know kind of defeats the purpose of having electronic hearing protection.

I must point out an egregious pun in the above post —- “...defeats the purpose of having electronic hearing protection.”

Get it?
Worst one I’ve “heard” in a long time.

 

[Zaydok Allen]

Y'know how crows can be

I see crows and ravens as the living embodiment of mother nature giving the middle finger to the human race.

I love them for that reason.

 

[stolivar]

I like my Peltors; another excellent brand is Walker's Game Ear - not cheap, but what's your hearing worth?

I love my walker game ear about 8 years old now. Only use rechargeable batteries in all my electronics. (Enloop)

Steve

 

[Thunderchicken]

I'm interested in the Bluetooth headphone/hearing protectors. They claim 30dB reduction, which seems really high--over-ear units are usually 22--and look exactly like the $25 ones I use that provide no hearing protection to speak of. I see they use non-rechargable batteries too--mine are USB-pluggable.

Do they really seem effective when you use them? If they are, I really like the idea. Lots of good content in this thread--might be time to replace my seven year old Howard Leighs (which are actually still using the first set of AA batteries... guess I don't get out shooting enough).

 

[mrblenderson]

I have the Howard Leight Honeywell ones, the first time I wore them I immediately went back out and put in earplugs underneath.

Now I only wear them if I am with friends (with earplugs) but for solo shooting I just wear my normal Howard Leights.

It's odd though, because I just looked them up and the Electronic ones say Noise Reduction Rating of 22 and the regular are 23. That doesn't seem like much, but I definitely need earplugs under the electronic but could shoot all day without wearing the regular ones.

 

[bassjam]

I have the Howard Leight Honeywell ones, the first time I wore them I immediately went back out and put in earplugs underneath.

Now I only wear them if I am with friends (with earplugs) but for solo shooting I just wear my normal Howard Leights.

It's odd though, because I just looked them up and the Electronic ones say Noise Reduction Rating of 22 and the regular are 23. That doesn't seem like much, but I definitely need earplugs under the electronic but could shoot all day without wearing the regular ones.

The difference could simply be the material and/or shape of the ear cups. I have some ear muffs that don't do well when wearing eye protection because the ear pieces allow just enough noise to creep through. But then other ear muffs that have a different shape or different padding do fine when wearing eye protection.

 

[Legionnaire]

I'm sure the newer technology has improved some, but I have two pairs of Peltor Tac-7s that I bought over 15 years ago now. Still going strong.

 

[rust collector]

I had some of the early Peltors which were an improvement over passive muffs once the cups were reversed, but would shut sound off and on abruptly. The Howard Leight impact set I have now seems to be less jarring and works well for me. I'm not sure the Bolt offers enough improvement to warrant the upgrade.

 

[Walkalong]

I'm not sure the Bolt offers enough improvement to warrant the upgrade.

I have both and IMHO it is, but it may not be for others. There is definitely a difference.