I am in need of an in ear hearing protector and looking for those who currently use them.

If tech, the Apple Air Pod Pros work excellently. They’ve gotten so good I can use them mowing. Mower, weed eater, and blower which is a 2 stroke.

You want the cheaper, simpler solution, some 33db pink or orange foamies from harbor freight.

I Use Otto bought from Brownells. They went bad and they gave me full credit and I have my second set now.

Otto

I use the 3M, X5A, Peltor X5 Earmuffs X5A/37274

They're comfortable and have one of the highest NRR ratings on the market.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
I use the 3M, X5A, Peltor X5 Earmuffs X5A/37274

They're comfortable and have one of the highest NRR ratings on the market.

He asked for in ear, not over ear.

Look for a specialist in your area who will mold silicone protection in your actual ears.

Motorcycle shops may know who does this.

An audiologist may know.

Simple, effective and comfortable.

My audiologist, same guy that fitted my hearing aids, offers custom molded in the ear protection. I have a set for skeet shooting. Mine are basic silicon and work pretty well for shotgun.
In the ear do have limitations, mine are sometimes not enough at the pistol and rifle ranges when someone is shooting higher calibers.

Colion Noir pushes ATK1 Blackout in ear protection pretty hard.

quote:

Originally posted by 4MUL8R:
Look for a specialist in your area who will mold silicone protection in your actual ears.

Motorcycle shops may know who does this.

An audiologist may know.

Simple, effective and comfortable.

https://www.bigearinc.com/

These guys are usually at the large bike events, it's where I got mine, they do over the internet sales, motorcycle, gun, aviation, for many different categories.

They do the plugs that are for just blocking noise and can do electronic.

Good company

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
If tech, the Apple Air Pod Pros work excellently. They’ve gotten so good I can use them mowing. Mower, weed eater, and blower which is a 2 stroke.

I've got the newest AirPod Pros and it's my understanding that they incorporate noise cancellation rather than a true NRR type protection. Are they really protecting hearing in the same way?

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
I Use Otto bought from Brownells. They went bad and they gave me full credit and I have my second set now.

Otto

questions, please


do you use them on the range?


looks like they stick out of your ears a bit (not so much like the Star Trek ear buds from The Original Series) but more so than standard foam plugs or similar,
so are they stable, stay in place?

interfere with position shooting?


thanks

One size does not fit all.

I've tried multiple sets of custom molded ear plugs now and all have disappointed me, where I felt quality foam disposables work better for me.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
If tech, the Apple Air Pod Pros work excellently. They’ve gotten so good I can use them mowing. Mower, weed eater, and blower which is a 2 stroke.

I've got the newest AirPod Pros and it's my understanding that they incorporate noise cancellation rather than a true NRR type protection. Are they really protecting hearing in the same way?

Per Apple's Hearing Protection Data Sheet:

the passive NRR is 10 dBA

the active attenuation depends on whether in transparency (lowest), adaptive (moderate), or active noise cancelling (most). It also includes exposure limit in hours/minutes per noise level of environment and results go from 2.5 minutes to 4 hours.

I wear my AirPods Pro2 mowing the lawn, but don't wear them shooting guns or riding on a helicopter (e.g. Tuesday flew on one and had both foam earplugs and ear muffs. My AirPods were in my pocket).

top of page has this warning:

quote:

The Hearing Protection feature is not suitable for protection against extremely loud impulse sounds, such as gunfire, fireworks, or jackhammers, or against sustained sounds louder than 110 dBA

I do security for our Church and need to hear as well as provide for the proverbial "bang" indoors. Being discrete is a necessity.

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
I Use Otto bought from Brownells. They went bad and they gave me full credit and I have my second set now.

Otto

questions, please


do you use them on the range?


looks like they stick out of your ears a bit (not so much like the Star Trek ear buds from The Original Series) but more so than standard foam plugs or similar,
so are they stable, stay in place?

interfere with position shooting?


thanks

I use these 99% of the time, they have not interfered with my shooting at all. They do stick out a little but nothing that hinders shooting. I do have some over the ear but only use those in the winter. It’s too hot in South Texas for over the ear.

quote:

Originally posted by Grumpy Old Man:
I do security for our Church and need to hear as well as provide for the proverbial "bang" indoors. Being discrete is a necessity.

I just started wearing hearing aids last year. Even 4k hearing aids that were completely in the ear canal did not work for me. I use over the ear and they pick up sound much better. I guess if you have good hearing, in the ear canal may work. I think the only discrete ones are completely in the ear canal. Of course, you could just tell people you have hearing aids on.

Another vote for Otto ear pro. I likes mine.

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:

quote:

Originally posted by lyman:

quote:

Originally posted by mrvmax:
I Use Otto bought from Brownells. They went bad and they gave me full credit and I have my second set now.

Otto

questions, please


do you use them on the range?


looks like they stick out of your ears a bit (not so much like the Star Trek ear buds from The Original Series) but more so than standard foam plugs or similar,
so are they stable, stay in place?

interfere with position shooting?


thanks

I use these 99% of the time, they have not interfered with my shooting at all. They do stick out a little but nothing that hinders shooting. I do have some over the ear but only use those in the winter. It’s too hot in South Texas for over the ear.

thank you!

quote:

Originally posted by SPWAMike0317:
My audiologist, same guy that fitted my hearing aids, offers custom molded in the ear protection. I have a set for skeet shooting. Mine are basic silicon and work pretty well for shotgun.
In the ear do have limitations, mine are sometimes not enough at the pistol and rifle ranges when someone is shooting higher calibers.

I always use IN ear and over the ear together at the indoor range for that reason.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

quote:

Originally posted by SPWAMike0317:
My audiologist, same guy that fitted my hearing aids, offers custom molded in the ear protection. I have a set for skeet shooting. Mine are basic silicon and work pretty well for shotgun.
In the ear do have limitations, mine are sometimes not enough at the pistol and rifle ranges when someone is shooting higher calibers.

I always use IN ear and over the ear together at the indoor range for that reason.

I use Walkers electronic muffs, they do a good job of cutting the shots w/o cutting the rest