Please help me decide on ear protection.

[ExZeRoEx]

Hi, I have been debating whether I should get MSA Sordins or Pro Ear Golds because I am looking for compression muffs.

I hear great things about the Sordins like durability and slimness; on the other hand, I hear the Pro Ears sound better and they have higher NRRs. (They also have the low battery warning)

My biggest worry about the Sordins are the under 20 NRRs, and I am put off by reviews of Pro Ears being flimsy and breaking.

What are your opinions on what is better, and why?

[ExZeRoEx]

Nobody has any strong opinion in the matter?

[Beebster]

Howard Leight - Impact Sport
I picked these up for about $60 and I love them

[EBR Works]

I use the Pro Ear Gold unit doubled up with plugs when shooting .50. I can hear normal conversation with them in place and my ears don't feel like they are going to bleed the next day from the 150dB+ blast. They are expensive, but worth it. No issues with them so far.

[BamBam-31]

Howard Leight - Impact Sport
I picked these up for about $60 and I love them

Listen to the new guy. He knows of what he speaks. I have the HL's as well as the Sordins, and man, do I regret dropping $200+ on the Sordins. Just remember to double up w/ plugs whenever using electronic muffs.

[Cobrafreak]

My ear protection usually is decided by what hat I choose to wear before I go to the range.

[XYZ]

Like everyone else I'd double up. The highest NRR you can get from an earplug is 33NRR. I believe the highest you can get from an earmuff is 31NRR. Electronic earmuffs are usually around 21 to 25NRR. If you double up it will help. I would choose first for NRR and then comfort. GL with your decision.

[Toolbox X]

I will only use Sordins from this point forward.

[SkyStorm82]

Howard Leight - Impact Sport is what I use too.

[johnny_22]

I use the unamplified Howard Leight 33 dB ear muffs with 33 dB corded plugs underneath. Some of the compensated guns in the league are just TOO LOUD for me. For amplified, I use the Peltor 7s.

I plan to buy the Pro Ears Gold, since they have 33 dB attenuation when not amplified, which is the best I have found.

[mif_slim]

advice? you know the ones they sell at walmart or tools stores? the sponges that you squeeze and put in your ear? yeah....those are good too.

[Toolbox X]

Which Pro Ears Gold are you looking at? It looks like they have Mag, Predator, Sporting Clay, Stalker, Pro Slim, Tac Mag, Tac Slim, Tac Plus, and Tac SC.

I'm glad you are stepping up to good quality ears. It always puzzles me to see people spend thousands and thousands of dollars on guns, accessories and ammo, but limit their hearing protection budget to $20 or $30.

Some things to keep in mind when buying expensive ears are:

Comfort, especially for prolonged use and in the heat. The Sordins are the most comfortable ears I have ever used. I can wear them for hours and hours (even in the heat) without them bothering me.

Profile. Many ears, especially the high NRR ears, are extremely wide at the bottom. The wide ears will usually interfere with your cheek wield as they bump against the stock when you use a rifle. Very annoying if you do a lot of rifle shooting. The Sordins are designed specifically to interfere with cheek wield as little as possible, and they succeed well.

Batteries and battery life. My Peltors used 4 AAA batteries, and there was no automatic shut off. I never once remembered to turn my ears off so I burned up 4 AAA batteries every time I used them. The Sordins use 2 AAA batters, which last for 600 hours, and the ears have an automatic shut-off after 4 hours. The Pro Ears look like they use 4 N or 4 Lithium 123 batteries. They have an auto shut-off which is fantastic, though I can't find how long the battery life is.

NRR rating. The Sordins only have an NRR of 18dB. Like others have said, for crazy loud noise that is not enough. For me, 18dB is fine for all of my normal shooting, but everyone's hearing sensitivity is different. The 33dB Pro Ears are so wide I don't see how they can be used with rifles, but the Pro Tac Slim Gold and some of the other models have excellent NRR's of 25dB to 28dB and it looks like they wouldn't interfere too much with shooting rifles.


I have used Sordin's for years and love them. Most of my shooting friends use them now as well. Almost all of them started with Howard Leight Impact Sport ears. For $40-$60 those HL's are hard to beat. They just don't seem to hold up very well over time or lots of use. At least that has been my experience. Only one of my friends still has a pair that works I believe. You will find many many people who love and have had great success with the HL's. I consider HL's the perfect spare, or guest set of ears.

I hate to sounds so biased towards the Sordins. I have experience with them but not the Pro Ears. I have never used or seen the Pro Ears Gold series of ears but I have no reason to think they are anything less than excellent. I'm sure if you pick the right set for what you are doing you will not go wrong with them.

Let us know what you choose and make sure to give us a range report. I hope I have been helpful.

-Grant

One more thing. To anyone interested in getting a pair of Sordins, this is the best place my friends and I have found to buy them: http://www.srstactical.com/supreme.php

[asme]

Howard Leight - Impact Sport
I picked these up for about $60 and I love them

Yep, these are farkin' astounding for the price. You, sir, should buy them.

[HskrVern]

advice? you know the ones they sell at walmart or tools stores? the sponges that you squeeze and put in your ear? yeah....those are good too.

Foamies, I love me some foamies and david clark 19A muffs with the jell cushions.