What Type of Ear Protection is Right for You?

If you shoot firearms, you need ear protection. If you do so frequently, you should probably invest in good quality ear protection. Here are some of the most popular options, with pros and cons for each.

First up is “foamies”. I don’t know if that’s the official name, but that’s what everyone calls them. Foam ear plugs offer a high noise reduction rating (NRR). They work by conforming to the shape of your ear canal, forming a seal that acts as a protection barrier. I usually keep a jar of these in my range bag as an emergency backup or to give to friends.

Pros: High NRR; inexpensive; disposable

Cons: Difficult to hear conversations/surrounding environment

Walkers Foam Ear Plugs in bulk

Next up is passive over-the-ears, or ear muffs. As the name implies, these consist of two over-the-ear cups that form a seal against the head. They are connected by a band that wraps over the top of the head. The quality of the band is important, both for comfort as well as getting a good seal to protect your ears.

Pros: High NRR; inexpensive

Cons: Can be uncomfortable over extended periods; may be difficult to use with long guns

An inexpensive set of Walker’s Over-the-Ear muffs

A step above over-the-ears is active or electronic over-the-ears ear protection. Active over-the-ears have the same form factor as passive with the addition of external microphones and internal speakers. The microphones detect loud noises and reduce the sound to tolerable levels. The speakers allow you to hear things like range commands from an instructor or what the couple four stalls over is arguing about.

Pros: Medium NRR; increased awareness of general surroundings

Cons: At least twice the cost of passive ear pro (and on up!); can be uncomfortable for extended periods; may be difficult to use with long guns

I have owned and used the Peltor Sport Tactical 500 electronic over-the-ear muffs for many years. They are worth every penny.

Lastly, we have active or electronic in-ear ear protection. Electronic in-ear protection offers the comfort of foamies with the benefits of electronic over-the-ear protection. It’s kind of the “best of both worlds”. They sit in the ear, more like ear buds than plugs, which creates a tighter seal, thus providing higher NRR than over-the-ears. And the electronics shut down loud noises while allowing you to hear normal sounds in your environment.

Pros: NRR close to foamies; comfortable

Cons: Can be expensive; must be fitted properly

These Pro Ears Stealth 28 HTs are my current go-to ear protection. They are very comfortable, the controls are simple, and they fit in your pocket.

Speaking of ear buds, DON’T use ear buds as ear protection. They are not designed to be used in that manner and do not provide a proper seal of the ear canal to protect your ears. Don’t get me wrong; I love my AirPods and have them in as I’m typing this. But they are not for use at the gun range.

There you go. An introduction to the different types of ear protection available, with ones I have used and recommend. Grab a couple different types and toss them in your range bag. Happy shooting!