Sensgard ZEM hearing protectors

[Guy B. Meredith]

Anyone had experience with them? For those not familiar with the product, they are hearing protectors that resemble the earplugs on a headband that have been around for a while.

The Sensgard units are supposed to act like electronic hearing protectors in that they supposedly permit normal hearing at safe levels and compress or suppress the louder levels. I bought a pair to try out as the $29 at Home Depot is much more attractive to my budget than the $100+ for electronic units.

I haven't been to the range much recently so my first experience was while hammering nails in a clothes closet. While wearing them my voice sounds to me like it does when I'm wearing ear plugs. Other voices sound pretty normal, though slightly reduced. The loud sound of the hammer that had been painful without protection was reduced to a very decent level.

This last weekend I finally got a chance to use them at the range with my 4" M66 and 900+ fps .38 spl rounds. I was focused on too many other things so I did not do a really critical analysis of whether the claimed 31 NRR is accurate, but the fact that I did not notice the sound of the revolver enough to be interested is a very positive thing.

 

[urbaneruralite]

I have some sold by Allen brand as Sound Sensors. They work. I try not go deer hunting without them. I can hear a deer walking in leaves and tell the direction. It cuts the blast of the rifle down enough it doesn't ring my ears.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

The Allen units are rated at NRR26 where the Sensgard that I bought at Home Depot are rated at NRR31. I was shooting from a covered bay about 200+ sq ft in size out into an uncovered target area so the sound was confined and more intense than a strictly outdoor shoot. Will try rifle next time, though the Garands really aren't too noisy to begin with.

The main difference I see right now between these and electronic sets is that I can double plug (or maybe it is that I HAVE to double plug) with electronic sets and crank the volume up to hear turkeys tip toeing or conversation at a distance. This is a nice feature for home defense where I can amp up the conversation of intruders or listen to their progress through the house.

For now, I'm not ready to put big bucks into the electronics and chase after keeping the batteries fresh.