Ear protection - current market

[rocketdogbert]

I have several different types.

In-ear custom molded - wind filtered
CENS Proflex DX-1

and some cheap Awesafe over-ears

I’m in the market for some higher quality over-ear that are comfortable enough to wear all day.

Any thoughts or real-world reviews from you lovely lot?

Thanks in advance

John

 

[Lever357]

I have worn Peltor Sporttac for 8 years and find them comfortable enough to wear for nearly 8 hours when shooting outdoors on the range, I wear them indoors for rifle shooting as well and for clay pigeon shooting. The batteries last a long time and you can buy hygiene kits to replace the foam inside the cups. Just don't regularly fold them up as this can lead to damaging the wires internally. Just shop around as prices vary hugely.

 

[Rasputin]

^^^ this i also wear mine on when visiting on site and in factory.

 

[Malxwal]

Peltors, but with Howard Leight foam ear plugs when shooting muzzle brakes.

 

[Rory]

Peltor Comtac XPI, get the gel ear cups/hygiene kit. Brilliant bits of kit.

 

[Dalua]

I have worn Peltor Sporttac for 8 years and find them comfortable enough to wear for nearly 8 hours when shooting outdoors on the range, I wear them indoors for rifle shooting as well and for clay pigeon shooting. The batteries last a long time and you can buy hygiene kits to replace the foam inside the cups. Just don't regularly fold them up as this can lead to damaging the wires internally. Just shop around as prices vary hugely.

I'm not sure Sporttac are adequate for fullbore rifle reports. I'm happy with them for shotgun, but I definitely use a size up (the older Protac II, in my case) for rifles - usually with plugs under them additionally if under covered firing-points.

I think the Protac III are more-modern version with adequate attenuation for proper rifles.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

I'm not sure Sporttac are adequate for fullbore rifle reports. I'm happy with them for shotgun, but I definitely use a size up (the older Protac II, in my case) for rifles - usually with plugs under them additionally if under covered firing-points.

I think the Protac III are more-modern version with adequate attenuation for proper rifles.

Sportacs are fine for full bore, use mine on a 300wm with a 12 port muzzle break in side a tube range! Have hearing tests as part of my job and had no change in the past few years

 

[Dalua]

Sportacs are fine for full bore, use mine on a 300wm with a 12 port muzzle break in side a tube range! Have hearing tests as part of my job and had no change in the past few years

I guess it depends on the base-line, and the changes they're looking for. Also: your ears, your call!
Nevertheless, I maintain that the attenuation of Sporttacs is not adequate for decent protection from fullbore rifle-fire.
To some extent, it might depend on the number of shots you're exposing yourself to. The damage will be cumulative, but less is, of course, less.

I'm often on range as RO for long periods - which certainly influences my choice to go bigger, and with plugs under in covered points or if muzzle-brakes are involved.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

I guess it depends on the base-line, and the changes they're looking for. Also: your ears, your call!
Nevertheless, I maintain that the attenuation of Sporttacs is not adequate for decent protection from fullbore rifle-fire.

But seriously we get issued the comtacs which are the militarised version for use under helmets. We double plug once we get to 50 cal but we use them with the GPMGs and such with no issues. If health and saftey have signed them off I'm 100% sure they are fine for rifle fire.

They are also great when your RCO as you can mainitain good situational awareness when conducting ranges being electronic. Which regular ear defs dont allow.

 

[Dalua]

But seriously we get issued the comtacs which are the militarised version for use under helmets. We double plug once we get to 50 cal but we use them with the GPMGs and such with no issues. If health and saftey have signed them off I'm 100% sure they are fine for rifle fire.

They are also great when your RCO as you can mainitain good situational awareness when conducting ranges being electronic. Which regular ear defs dont allow.

Another view might be that if HS have signed them off, they're the minimum they can get away with while balancing attenuation against weight, size and robustness?

The Peltor Protac II (old ones, like mine) or the newer Protac III-type are bulkier (which helps with the extra attenuation, I suppose) but also electronic - and I agree completely that this is very helpful for an RO particularly.

 

[jcampbellsmith]

CENS are very good, but also very easy to lose.
Regards
JCS

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Another view might be that if HS have signed them off, they're the minimum they can get away with while balancing attenuation against weight, size and robustness?

The Peltor Protac II (old ones, like mine) or the newer Protac III-type are bulkier (which helps with the extra attenuation, I suppose) but also electronic - and I agree completely that this is very helpful for an RO particularly.

I'd say they are well above the standard now, definitely never used to be to the standard with the old ones.

the army has come down hard since the large amount hearing loss claims have been put against them and realised they need to look after their soldiers to be operationally effective

Yellow squidgy are now banned, minimum of surefire ear plugs now. Hearning tests once a year, and if you get downgraded for hearing your out after 6 months unless it improves.

When doing the ranges you have to inspect their individual PPE, set it out in the saftey brief and get verbal confirmation after firing that you've not experienced any discomfort/ringing during firing.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Slightly off topic but am I correct in assuming there are a variety of replacement gell ear pads for the Comtacs?

I'm seeing pricing from c£12 through to nearly £70 (with VAT from 3M), so assume quality is correspondingly variable.

K

 

[Demetrius]

Peltor LEP-200 EU....I also have Protec ll's. Both are excellent, but the LEP's score because they're in-ear, so are unaffected by the cheekpiece preventing them from fully sealing on some rifles. (It's a shape-of-your-head thing)

D.

 

[Stalker-of-the-deer]

Slightly off topic but am I correct in assuming there are a variety of replacement gell ear pads for the Comtacs?

I'm seeing pricing from c£12 through to nearly £70 (with VAT from 3M), so assume quality is correspondingly variable.

K

Personaly i would buy the official from 3m as you know they are reputable and will work.

 

[Demetrius]

I get mine from Main Home New - Earshot Communications

D.

 

[Dalua]

I'd say they are well above the standard now, definitely never used to be to the standard with the old ones.

the army has come down hard since the large amount hearing loss claims have been put against them and realised they need to look after their soldiers to be operationally effective

Yellow squidgy are now banned, minimum of surefire ear plugs now. Hearning tests once a year, and if you get downgraded for hearing your out after 6 months unless it improves.

When doing the ranges you have to inspect their individual PPE, set it out in the saftey brief and get verbal confirmation after firing that you've not experienced any

discomfort/ringing during firing.

It's good that they've gone from poor to demonstrably-adequate.

I will stick with doing better than that for what remains of my hearing, though.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I get mine from Main Home New - Earshot Communications

D.

Thanks. Very helpful.

Sadly they don't offer gell in green but I have ordered a replacement pair of mic wind sheilds!

K

 

[rocketdogbert]

CENS are very good, but also very easy to lose.
Regards
JCS

Mine are bright pink. Battery life isn’t great tbh, probably every other full day I’m changing them

 

[rocketdogbert]

Thanks for all the input so far guys, quite interesting