My thoughts on a few ear protection choices out there

[1911-CV]

Never felt the need to spend this kind of money, but SoundGear has a 25% discount for USPSA members, good until the end of the year.


If I did the math right, that would be $400 on the Phantoms.

It's in every e-mail I get from USPSA and on their website. You have to log in to get your discount code.

 

[Jeffro_510]

I love the Phantoms.

 

[riceman]

Jeffro_510​

Good read, thanks for the post.

 

[Jeffro_510]

Jeffro_510​

Good read, thanks for the post.

Just my person experience. Hopefully it helps someone looking for info.
I really am loving the Soundgears, but if I was going over the counter in the ears, no issue whatsoever with the ottos.

 

[Shellbackitup]

After losing a lot of hearing in the bowels of an aircraft carrier, I always double up with foam disposables, and then Howard Leights over top.

I've been thinking about upgrading, but >$1000 is way more than I was expecting. I may have to go the insurance/FSA route.

Very informative post OP/Jeffro_510 !!!

 

[Jeffro_510]

You can thank my wife, she found all the info for them. I just wear them, lol.

 

[BCar777]

I’m gonna try some 3M Peltor Sport Tactical 500 with some Decibullz Percussive Moldable Ear Plugs all from Amazon for $150 + $70. I shoot mostly indoor so I hope this setup is very good over Walkers Razors & basic ear plugs.

Please keep me posted. I’m looking for good indoor range over ear or in ear. I go to indoor range once a week and the over ears hurt my ears after an hr.

 

[Jeffro_510]

Please keep me posted. I’m looking for good indoor range over ear or in ear. I go to indoor range once a week and the over ears hurt my ears after an hr.

Over the ears with a hat or glasses sucks. Only thing that helps is the gel cups

 

[Jon F]

I have used Walkers and Sordin Supreme-X over-ear pro. Sordins has vastly superior sound quality and suppression. Walkers just cuts all sound when detecting as gunshot while the Sordins reduces the noise to 85db. You get what you pay for in those.

I wore out a pair of Saf-T-Ear in-ear digital plugs. Otto, Saf-T-ear, and Etymotic are identical products made by Lucid. I loved them. Sound quality and suppression is really good and I only knew I was wearing them because my voice sounded funny. Battery life was 16+ hours when new. At the end of their life after 5 years was down to 4-5hrs.

I currently have SoundGear Phantoms. I picked them up because my health insurance covered them 100% because they are certified as hearing aids. I like them but am not as happy with them as the Saf-T-ear plugs. The key difference is the passive NRR. Comply ear tips on STE is 35NRR while the hard shell phantoms are about 26NRR. Sound quality is good, I prefer program 2 because gunshots are better suppressed. The BT range sucks on these. They cut in and out when I carry my phone in my pants pocket. Also when they are connected to my phone, the ambient sound cuts in and out whenever my phone gets a text message or email.

 

[Experimentalist]

FYI, the Phantoms offer a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 22 db: https://soundgear.com/products/soundgear-phantom

Pro Ears offers a NRR of 29 db: https://proears.com/product/pro-fit-series/

Both offer custom fits.

If you're shooting rifles and / or indoors, or if you're just very protective of your hearing (as I am), then the higher NRR is important.

 

[Jeffro_510]

I have Sordin and Ottos. Sordins are great when not using the carbine, Ottos are good but don't cancel out quite as much even with the improved tips. I have not tried both at the same time but may next time someone is running an open gun. Also, the Ottos seem to hold the charge forever, last all day no problem and the case has a good amount of recharge in it from my experience.

I used my Ottos on 3 separate range days, and still had a full charge. They hold well for sure

 

[Gawernator]

Over the ears with a hat or glasses sucks. Only thing that helps is the gel cups

Really? I have no issues with Oakley M frame and my Peltor or walkers

 

[Jeffro_510]

Really? I have no issues with Oakley M frame and my Peltor or walkers

I will check them out i think because my Wileys have thick arms over the ear, and I wear my hat low, lol