Don’t want to go deaf?

The percussive vibrations of each gunshot actually kill vital little hairs deep in your inner ear.  And that can open the door to a high pitch ringing or humming noise that can last forever.

We’ve got the 411 on the best shooting ear protection…from affordable passive ones to the top-of-the-line electronic earmuffs.

We’ve tried them all over hundreds of hours at the range as shooters and range officers.

We’ll go over some preliminary info but if you want the results right away…check out our table of contents.

Shockwave, Meet Inner Ear

Everyone always talks about the middle ear.  That’s mainly the eardrum and those three little bones with cool names: the hammer, anvil, and stirrup.

But what really causes hearing damage though is what happens in the inner ear.

Inside, picture a spiral staircase.  Only this passage is just 2 millimeters wide and maybe 30 millimeters long all coiled up.

Sound races along the outside of the staircase, but in the middle are the organ of Corti (yup, sounds ominous) and the basilar membrane.  Both are long and thin, with the organ resting on the membrane.  All along this little assembly are tiny little hairs.  They register sound and transmit it through the auditory nerve to your brain.

But—and here’s the kicker—exposure to an intense sound—that’s 140 dB or more—can make segments of the organ of Corti separate from the basilar membrane.  Portions of it actually tear away and float around.

So you end up with an inflamed lesion that causes an accompanying chemical reaction.  Hairs die.  Scar tissue forms, and even with rest, the tiny hairs typically continue to degenerate.  A cascade effect takes over, and the entire auditory central nervous system goes deaf.

Researchers suspect that tinnitus—that high pitch noise inside your head that won’t go away—“begins as a result of the brain trying to regain the ability to hear the sound frequencies it has lost by turning up the signals of neighboring frequencies.”

One more thing: noise exposure is cumulative.  Each loud sound is killing ear hairs, so you need to be thinking about total exposure over the course of days, weeks and years.

Ready for some hearing protection yet?

Pregnant Women, Take Note

If you’re looking to go to the range while you’re pregnant, you might want to rethink that. There are some special considerations that you should know if before going.

Check out our complete article Shooting While Pregnant for more details!

“Proper” Hearing Protection

First of all, forget cotton balls, tissue, packing peanuts, or my personal old-shooter favorite, cigarette filters. 

While they are better than nothing, they are also next to nothing.  At best, you’ll get a reduction of maybe 7dB.

Effective choices for hearing protection come down to

• earplugs
• earmuffs
• combinations of the two and
• some techy alternatives with sound-circuit technology.

There are so many options, there’s no reason not to protect your ear hairs.  From neon foam-on-strings to high-tech headphones, there’s something for everyone. 

What you should be looking for is a minimum noise reduction of 15dB, but 30dB is preferable.  Pair a good set of plugs with muffs and you might shut out another 10 to 15dB or so.

You know the load you like to shoot, but a conservative 140dB is a common figure for an average muzzle blast.  A .22 will be less, a magnum more.  With quality protection, you can start approaching a range that’s still loud—as in chainsaw- or sandblast-loud—but may be up to 1,000 times quieter.

Best Shooting Ear Protection

Earplugs

Traditional earplugs fit inside the ear, forming a seal that blocks sound. 

They come in a range of sizes, configurations and materials—from foam to hypoallergenic rubber and moldable polymers.  Earplugs tend to be more efficient at handling low-frequency noise.

Pros:

• Least expensive option.
• Highly effective.
• Disposables available in bulk at pennies per pair.
• Some rated 30dB or better.
• Available strung or unstrung.
• Reusable models washable.
• Some models moldable for custom fit.
• Compact for transport.
• Good for tight spaces; no snagging.

Cons:

• Fit constraints for narrow or wide ear canals.
• Comfort varies widely.
• Muffles all sound indiscriminately; works too well.
• Foam models require proper roll-down insertion, removal and reuse.
• Some models difficult to pair with muffs.
• Moldables more expensive; may be difficult to alter.
• Fumble-and-loss factor in dirty environments.

1. Disposable Foam Earplugs

The most affordable of the bunch and really protective at 32dB NRR (noise reduction rating).  Remember to fully compress them before sticking them into your ears.

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There’s tons of other foam options but I would stay away from cylindrical ones…those are not very comfy.

2. SureFire EP3 Sonic Defenders

Want something reusable and gives you two levels of hearing protection?

Enter Surefire EP3 Sonic Defenders which have “filter caps” you can choose to have in or out.

Having it open gives you still decent protection against gun shots but allows you to hear range commands and regular talking.

They fit very well but keep in mind there are sizes…here I am comfy with Mediums.

Great for outdoor ranges and “normal” calibers…but if you’re shooting indoors or shooting magnums…I’d double-up with these inside and then earmuffs over.

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There’s also EP4 Sonic Defenders which have a longer flange into your ears. I prefer the EP3s though.

Passive Protection

Traditional earmuffs come on a headband and have foam pads that cover and form a seal around the entire ear. 

For those who don’t like the over-the-head fit, a few versions have back-of-the-head wrap designs.  Muffs typically are better at screening out higher frequency sounds.

Pros:

• Convenient to put on and take off repeatedly.
• Comfort level.
• Easily paired with earplugs.
• Relatively inexpensive.
• Foldable models compact.
• One size usually fits all.
• Durable.

Cons:

• Can be bulky, heavy.
• May snag or bump in confined spaces.
• Comfort issues, especially in humidity, hot or wet weather.
• Can interfere with proper cheek weld.
• Issues with safety or prescription glasses and proper ear seal.
• May not provide as much noise reduction as earplugs; can require pairing with plugs.
• Hats or long hair, anyone?

My favorites and what I wore for a long time are the 3M Optime model and Shotgunner model.

3. 3M Peltor Optime 105

The Optime 105 is super protective with 30dB NRR but is also quite bulky.

It’s not heavy but it will seriously cramp on your cheekweld situation for rifles and shotguns.

Use if you’re shooting handguns…and especially if you’re at an indoor range where the sound reverberates.

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4. 3M Shotgunner II

For going slim…I really like the 3M Shotgunner.

I painted mine over and it served me well for years.  It’s less protection at 24dB but you can always double up if it gets really loud with compensated rifles.  Comfort is average but I found it to be fine for a few hours if I can take it off my ears during downtime.

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Now, let’s dive into electronic ear protection that cuts out harmful shooting sounds but amplifies regular sounds like people talking.

5. 3M Optime 101 (Behind the Ear)

One of my newer passive earmuffs is the Optime 101 Behind the Ear which allows you to wear a hat, helmet, or face mask unobstructed.

I’d try these out if the other earmuffs aren’t to your liking.

Now how about we move onto…

Electronic Protection

High-tech electronics are stepping up the game for earplugs, ear cuffs, ear muffs, and every smart device in between. 

These focus on screening out the loud booms while letting you still hear conversations and the sounds of the great outdoors.

Pros:

• Noise filtering; loud noises muffled but conversation and subtle noises amplified.
• Comfort.
• Small, compact.
• Lots of options, including Bluetooth to enable smartphones.
• Available in stereo.
• Variety of formats—muffs, earplugs, semis and cuffs.

Cons:

• Price point—usually $50 and up, up, up.
• Batteries required.
• Not always water-resistant.
• Expensive to lose; fallen electronic cuffs and earplugs hard to find in the field.
• Comfort.
• Some models are bulky, heavy.

6. Howard Leight Impact Sport

My go-to recommendation is the Howard Leight Impact Sports (free shipping and only tax in FL).

They are super popular for a reason.  They are affordable and they work…15K reviews on Amazon with a 4.5 star average.

It’s the first pair of electronic earmuffs people get when they are tired of yelling “WHAT?!?” when someone speaks to them at the range.

Affordable, decent protection at 22dB NRR, slim for rifle/shotgun shooting, and reasonably comfortable.

Plus they come with AUX-in for devices.

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The only thing I could knock them for was their comfort.  But now there’s third party gel caps that makes them super comfortable.

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These feel like the pads used in my favorite $200+ earmuffs further down the list.

7. Howard Leight Impact Pro

If you’re ready to jump up a notch you get 30 dB of protection and ability to hear people around you and range commands.

They are large, bulky, but surprisingly light and comfy to wear even for longer range sessions and provide amazing noise reduction.  I’d recommend these if you are shooting large caliber handguns or shoot at an indoor range. 

They are pretty thick and will mess up your rifle cheekweld.

Plus…since they also fit the Noisefighters Gel Caps!

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8. Walker’s Razor Slim Muff

Ok, no list would be complete without the Impact Sport’s arch-nemesis…Walker’s Razor Slims.  They look cooler and performance is pretty on par.

I’d say get whichever one is cheaper or on sale…which usually are the Impact Sports.

And keep in mind the Walker’s don’t have AUX-in if that’s important to you.

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And oh yes…they also have access to Upgraded Gel Pads.

9. Pro Ears Pro Tac Slim Gold

For most you’ll be well-served with any of the Howard Leights with the possibility of upgrading to gel caps.

Next up is a bigger jump in price.

But with that you get much better cutoff and amplification.  Pro Ears has a stellar reputation and I like their Pro Tac Slim Gold edition.  They don’t make my Editor’s Pick because they fit a little tight for people and the ears aren’t as comfy as the MSA Sordins.

But if you want better sound quality and shutoff (plus the ability to change it for each ear), I like Pro Ears’ Pro Tac Slim Gold with 28dB NRR.

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10. MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X

Most of my fellow competitors wear MSA Sordins for their comfort and sound quality.

I finally caved after I became range officer for a couple competitions.  That meant constant blasts for hours while still needing to hear everything.

I simply asked my competition buddies “what are the best electronic ear muffs” and the MSA’s got the majority of votes.

They already has built in gel caps and there’s a couple colors.  I of course went with the camo…

They are comfy for hours with their gel caps, have easily accessible button controls, great sound cutoff and compression, and allow for earplugs if the decent 22db NRR doesn’t cut it.

Plus they can attach to ballistic helmets and comms if that’s your thing.

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What I wear when I shoot for hours and my main recommendation for when people want the best.

What do you think about the MSA Sordins?

Conclusion

To sum it all up…

To get great protection and not have to deal with earmuffs…get some disposable foam earplugs.

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Want to upgrade to some earmuffs?

I like the slim Shotgunner ones if I’m shooting rifle.

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Otherwise if I want the most protection I go with Optime 105s which are bulky but the best rated.

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Ready for electronic protection?  My go-to suggestion is Howard Leight.

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And for the best electronic earmuffs I’ve been rocking for the last few years…MSA Sordins.

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Let me know if there’s any that we missed.  And if you’re looking for Best Shooting Glasses or Best Shooting Gloves, click those links to see our other hands-on reviews.

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