Custom made digital earplugs

[Ttocs]

Does anyone use custom made digital ear protection? I’ve a set of digital ear defenders but I tend not to wear them when shotgun shooting as they clatter on the stock. I’ve a set of silicone ear plugs but I find them uncomfortable.
Most of the time I end up wearing no protection. This can’t be good for my hearing. So… is it worth spending £400 or more on a set of digital ear defenders? I do like my digital ear defenders but theye too bulky.
Interested to hear views of shooters with experience.
Cheers
N

 

[finnbear270]

I use Peltor electronic ones, I hear really well with them & they are very good, I dropped the idea of custom moulded due to their effectiveness.

 

[malmick]

I initially used disposable foam ear plugs and rubber finned industrial types. I then decided on CENS passive plugs several years ago, i found there a lot more comfortable and got on well with them. After using them for about a year I then upgraded to the active Proflex model. These were a revelation, amplifying background sounds when turned up but effectively blocking out percussive noise. I’ve found them great for walked up, driven and clay shotgun shooting. For game shooting you can be tuned in to what’s going on around you and working the dogs. For clay shooting they are effective when in the stand but can difficult to hold a conversation since they continuously subdue noise when shots are repeatedly going off around you.

They are fine indoors with unmoderated .22RF and with CF outdoors. If I’m shooting CF from cover, range hut etc. then I wear the passive CENS with ear muffs on top. I’ve got a pair of Peltor Sporttacs and I’d say that the Proflex are on a par with these with respect to sound and noise management. The Peltors benefit from the muffling effect that they have on noise transfer through the skull bones around the ears.

I’ve used the Proflex and the Peltors in drizzle and intermittent rain and both are still fine. If I know it’s going to lash it down when game shooting then I use the CENS passives.

It’s worthwhile taking the working bits out of the CENS after each use and drying them out.

 

[gixer1]

I use Peltor electronic ones, I hear really well with them & they are very good, I dropped the idea of custom moulded due to their effectiveness.

Same, I use sportec’s and they are very good…regardless of what you pay for hearing protection - get it! Your hearing is worth more!

Regards,
Gixer

 

[Scott Meredith]

I have a set of CENS digital proflex things and honestly for £800 I couldn’t be more disappointed in them. While they do in some modes amplify background noise all the audio that comes through them is in my opinion very distorted. They somehow make my £11000 piano sound like a clown playing an old worn out bar room piano whilst simultaneously kicking me in the ear! Yes I know that’s not their intended use but that is why I place them in the £300 category. One positive I can say about them is that you don’t need to worry about them being water proof; mine have been through the washing machine and don’t sound anymore shite than they did beforehand. Definitely overpriced for the quality.

 

[Jagare]

I bought a pair of the custom moulded ear plugs 5 or 6 years ago. I only use them when shooting my Mauser as it has a raised comb and it hits the underside of normal ear defenders. I use Peltor sport tac or a pair of Sordin when shooting the double rifle or shotgun.
Are they worth the money? Well I think they are.

 

[jall55]

I had some custom made ones but could not get on with them - they made all the sounds seem strange and me seem as if i was floating / off balance
The got some ghost plug in which were better - lost those in a river when i fell in saving my dog - and have now gone back to just the foam ones and to be honest shoot far better with these.
3 of us had the custom ones made at one of the shows and none of us still use them but others may have differing results

 

[lochty]

We got some for work (deer stalking) which were ok until I dropped one in deep heather. Despite it being bright orange, it's still there, somewhere in the Cairngorms....

 

[The Singing Stalker]

First off you will screw your hearing very quickly if you don’t wear protection. If fact you may already have done some damage already so wear something.
you need to wear something even if foam that cut the noise right out. Otherwise stop shooting shotgun. Read up on Tinnitus NOW. You do not want to get that.
secondly, look into fit of the shotgun. If the Ear defenders are hitting the stock there is a good probability that the shotgun does not fit you. That is an issue I had and once I got fitted by some one who actually knew how to do it properly I can wear ear defenders comfortably. I wear the big fat peltors as well.

 

[Rasputin]

I had some acs ones which I rated highly till I lost one. Shooting is not their main area it’s music and was put onto them by a Dj friend who played large clubs. Iirc they were not that expensive but it was 5 years ago.

 

[JohnIS]

I am of the age that ear plugs were not heard of when I was younger, nowadays I cannot make out conversation when in a group struggle, to hear soft voices and have tinnitus. Family get-togethers are difficult I cannot follow conversations, a large number of my friends are deaf also caused by shooting hearing aids are not the answer, deafness reduces the quality of life.

 

[VSS]

Custom moulded is definitely the way to go, whether you opt for digital or passive. Well worth it in comfort alone.

 

[dave 67]

Know they are not custom made but I have the Vario Novo I find them a good compromise over cost and comfort they come with only one setting standard or enhanced depending which model you buy and different foam ear tips.

Products - Vario Hearables

Take a look at the most exciting innovation in hearing protection...

variohearables.com

 

[Alantoo]

Custom moulded is definitely the way to go, whether you opt for digital or passive.

I have to disagree...the foam tipped electronic plugs like the Peltor LEP or EEP have a much higher SNR and offer much more protection than the custom mould ones which do not go so far into the ear canal.

If you compare the SNR ratings that CENS provide for their custom moulded and their Mino tipped products the Minos offer more than twice the sound pressure protection. And at £200 their Mino model is the least expensive active CENS option.

Both CENS Minos and Peltor EEPs provide more protection than the Peltor over ear muffs like Sportacs. Compare the SNR ratings.

Peltor EEP are slightly better protection wise and also have the advantage of being rechargeable rather than the using zinc air cells of the CENS.

Well worth it in comfort alone.

I agree it is far better to have something that is comfortable that you will wear all the time than something which may be higher rated which you have in your pocket when exposed to the bang. So if you can't get on with the foam tipped electronics in your ear then custom moulded are much better than nothing.

Alan

 

[Deanot2000]

Not 'custom' i know but as an FYI, I bought a set of IsoTunes Caliber wireless, in-ear jobbies when they first came out. Very impressed and the only issue i've had is after a shot on a Fallow, I knocked one out and as they are green and I was in 'post shot' follow up mode, I moved about 10m away to keep eyes on the beast as it dropped....... Queue 20 mins of frantic searching before I (thankfully) found it in the grass. Other than that I'm impressed, sound quality is good and you can crank it above ambient to assist you in in situational awareness ona stalk.

Deano

 

[Bones]

+1 for Vario hearables (Custom)

 

[404Boar]

I wear the customer ear plugs from ACS every time I shoot. I have the ones with the little electronic valve in but not the full digital ones. They are £120 and worth every penny, Rightly or wrongly I couldn’t bring myself to spend £500 on the digital ones. You get a voucher to go to any Boots Hearing Centre for the moulds to be made of your ears. Takes minutes, the plugs then turn up two weeks later.

 

[Clubby]

Does anyone use custom made digital ear protection? I’ve a set of digital ear defenders but I tend not to wear them when shotgun shooting as they clatter on the stock. I’ve a set of silicone ear plugs but I find them uncomfortable.
Most of the time I end up wearing no protection. This can’t be good for my hearing. So… is it worth spending £400 or more on a set of digital ear defenders? I do like my digital ear defenders but theye too bulky.
Interested to hear views of shooters with experience.
Cheers
N

Hi I use Custom Fit Guards, work very well, lots of options,come to your house to take moulds not silly money.

 

[scotch_egg]

I wear Peltor EEP. They are simply the best value in war electronic ear protection on the market.

Bear in mind the ear continues to grow and custom moulded protection needs re-fitting at some stage.

 

[Pedro]

Ttocs, if your ear protection is interfering with you mounting your gun, you are doing it wrong. I suspect you might be one of those people that tilts their head over towards the top of the stock to look down the gun. Try keeping your head vertical. Your bedroom mirror can be your friend here.

But whatever you do, persist until you find a method that works for you.