Foam Earplug Warning

[45R]

I use the same orange Winchester foam plugs from Walmart. I've always rolled them up and inserted them into my ear and let the foam expand before shooting (you can feel them close up the ear canal and you can't hear anything afterwards).

I always double up with electronic muffs at the indoor range. With those on, you can still clearly hear people talking around you, even with foam plugs in. Outdoors, it depends on what I'm shooting and what I'm doing, and also on the weather.



Are the Howard Leight foam plugs using a different material than the orange Winchester foam plugs? Are they softer or absorb/block more sound waves? Just wondering if it's worth picking up and trying out or to just stick with what's working for me now.

I have used Howard Leight for years. They work better than just about everything I have tried.

[Patchbunny]

I picked up some blue foam ones at the local supermarket, and they work better than any others I've tried.

I like my ears. I double up whether on an indoor or outdoor range.

[cabinetguy]

if they are cold, foam plugs can take a long time to expand

[jyo]

Personally, I always use muffs outdoors and sometimes plugs as well (454 Casull)---when I shoot indoors (rarely), I also use muffs and plugs. I do keep several sets of plugs in my shooting bag to equip unprepared shooters---I just can't let them ruin their hearing! This is NOT an option.

[call-in]

I recently purchased a pack of foam orange earplugs from Walmart that were marked Winchester and had an NRR of 31. They are actually distributed by Kimberly Clark. I used them once indoors (under regular muffs) and noticed they didn't seem to work as well as previous foam plugs to stay in the ear and block noise. I then used them in and outdoor setting and the really failed me. My ears were ringing for a week following that use. I am now not sure how long to wait before shooting again to avoid from having the ringing problem return. The lot number was UQ11193101.

I called the number on the back of the box to report the problem; a woman answered and made it sound like nobody ever had a problem with this item.

I suggest staying away from this product. These are worst foam plugs I have ever used.

I got some with the same number printed on the back of the packaging. My problem with them is they expanded too fast for me to insert them properly. I have since bought more of the Howard Leight MaxLites and couldn't be happier, the remaining Winchester plugs I got I still bring to the range as back ups.

[redcliff]

I've used, for the last 35 years, Silencio silicone ear plugs along with muffs. They come with a little case I attach to my range bag so I can install them before going into the range and digging out my electronic muffs.



I shoot better with muffs and plugs versus just muffs or just plugs; less flinch.

[SDM44]

Are the Howard Leight foam plugs using a different material than the orange Winchester foam plugs? Are they softer or absorb/block more sound waves? Just wondering if it's worth picking up and trying out or to just stick with what's working for me now.

I have used Howard Leight for years. They work better than just about everything I have tried.

Ok, that's nice and all.... but going back to my question, what makes the Howard Leight foam plugs better than the orange Winchester foam plugs? Material? Foam density? NRR rating?