Good Quality, Slick Safety Earmuffs

[Jiri]

Hi everyone,

I searched the forum and did not find a thread that would be trully dedicated to all the various earmuffs models.

This thread should give you a space to share links, pictures or simply your experiences with earmuffs that you like the most.

The 2 criteria here are:

1. Good Quality
2. Good Looks

A possible 3rd criterion here could be: Comfort

In an essence, the goal here is to present earmuffs with a solid NRR rating that you would not be ashamed to wear in public. The likes of which could possibly be mistaken for your regular music headphones (Beats etc.).

 

[Bill Bauer]

I trust 3M to have products characterized by good quality.

 

[Jiri]

Ok here are my hot candidates:

1. 3M Peltor X4A https://www.amazon.com/3M-Peltor-33db-Defenders-Headband/dp/B00BBCTQHY
2. Peltor Bullseye 1 Shooting Ear Defenders http://www.countrywaygunshop.co.uk/product/peltor-bullseye-1-shooting-ear-defenders/
3. Peltor Sport Shotgunner Hearing Protector https://www.amazon.com/Shotgunner-Hearing-Protector-Folding-Headband/dp/B0002INNUO
4. Rk Safety, RK-EMO01BK https://www.rksafety.com/products/rk-safety-34db-safety-hearing-protection-head-band-ear-cups-over-the-head-folding-padded-ear-muffs-construction-noise-reduction?utm_campaign=Pinterest Buy Button&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Pinterest&utm_content=pinterest-buy-button-0a0c05c7c-51dd-4265-8c39-cb64a39ed12c
5. Silenta Supermax Ear Muff Class 5 Premium https://www.equipsafety.co.nz/silenta-supermax-ear-muff-class-5-premium
6. ClearArmor 141001 https://www.amazon.com/ClearArmor-1...dded-Certified/dp/B00NKSMPZW/?tag=tinntalk-20

What do you think?

 

[sjtinguy]

I have these and they look good enough.. the low profile design is nice and they fold up small enough to fit in a jacket pocket. I'm not so sure about their long term durability though. As far as comfort they are fine, much more comfortable than ear plugs, but sometimes they are annoying

http://www.gsmoutdoors.com/shopping/RAZOR-SLIM-PASSIVE-MUFF-BLACK-P1012.aspx

 

[Jiri]

I have these and they look good enough

Oh wow, they look super nice! Thanks for sharing.

 

[sjtinguy]

yeah I suppose looking at the ones you presented, they do look better the ones I have look more like these ones actually, which look slightly better than the ones in the first link https://www.ebay.com/p/Walkers-Razor-Slim-Passive-Muff-Black-Gwp-rsmpas-Ear-Muffs/715274004

I wear them in public and a friend who didn't know why I was wearing them thought they were music headphones. I don't care what random people on the street or in stores think though. They don't look like giant safety ones at least. The low profile design helps in that regard

 

[Jiri]

Ok, I do admit. They look superb. I noticed in the first link you posted the NRR is supposedly - 27 dB. The obvious question now is, what about the ANSI testing, certifications, and trustworthiness?

In the ebay link someone rated them only 3 stars and complained: "I was hoping something hardcore for reducing the noise. I would like it to reduce more the noise".

 

[Fangen]

I just ordered these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B072QYR918/ref=ya_aw_od_pi?ie=UTF8&psc=1

They looks really sleek and comes in silver, pink and blue (i picked silver!) and carry 31db reduction. My peltor x4a is 33db reduction so quite close but they are more noticible and also clunky to carry around.

 

[Jiri]

I just ordered these:

Whoa (Keanu Reeve's voice) they look real nice! I like the colour too and the -31 dB noise reduction? Fantastic.Yeah, I was thinking of getting the Peltor X4A for quite a while too but you're right, they do look clunky + the attraction factor. I'd like something that has around -30 dB NRR and attracts least attention possible.

Having said that look at these bad boys that I'm wearing now, even in public - 27 dB NRR, big (constantly knocking into things with them) and I know I look like a retard in them too lol

 

[Joel Waterman]

the goal here is to present earmuffs with a solid NRR rating that you would not be ashamed to wear in public. The likes of which could possibly be mistaken for your regular music headphones (Beats etc.).

I'd just mention to be careful about using hearing protection too much. Most experts say to only wear it when you're around unsafe noise levels(like a concert) I started wearing it almost everywhere I went because I was worried about protecting my hearing, and I became more sensitive to noise than I used to be as a result.
A theory is that the auditory gain in your head gets turned up if you wear them too much around normal sounds, and it can be very difficult to get the gain back to normal.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/overuse-of-hearing-protection-what-do-professionals-say.4905/

I don't want to discourage you from wearing hearing protection around unsafe sound levels, just wanted to mention this aspect of hearing protection in case you weren't aware, 'cause I definitely overused it, and wish I hadn't. It's also interesting that the hearing protection I bought didn't say anything about this in the warning section. It would be nice if they did.

 

[dpdx]

I am getting those peltor muffs
I dont care if look weird with them outside, better safe than sorry.

 

[Jiri]

I'd just mention to be careful about using hearing protection too much. Most experts say to only wear it when you're around unsafe noise levels(like a concert) I started wearing it almost everywhere I went because I was worried about protecting my hearing, and I became more sensitive to noise than I used to be as a result.
A theory is that the auditory gain in your head gets turned up if you wear them too much around normal sounds, and it can be very difficult to get the gain back to normal.

https://www.tinnitustalk.com/threads/overuse-of-hearing-protection-what-do-professionals-say.4905/

I don't want to discourage you from wearing hearing protection around unsafe sound levels, just wanted to mention this aspect of hearing protection in case you weren't aware, 'cause I definitely overused it, and wish I hadn't. It's also interesting that the hearing protection I bought didn't say anything about this in the warning section. It would be nice if they did.

This is so very true. However, wouldn't you consider a loud city (London, Prague, etc.) as a good enough reason to wear a safety ear protection? Especially for someone who's still in the acute phase of tinnitus and has got a hyperacusis too. @Bill Bauer i.e. recommends wearing safety earmuffs around the house too when you're washing the dishes e.g. My idea is to live this next 3 - 6 months in a bubble, wearing earmuffs and/or earplugs too (public traffic especially with lorries around is defo 85 dB +, then you get superbikes revving it up, construction sites, tube and rail). What do you think?

+ the goal is to look stylish in those earmuffs too. I'm definitelly not an attention seeker.

 

[Bill Bauer]

I started wearing it almost everywhere I went because I was worried about protecting my hearing

During that time, did you have a source of mild noise like a TV with its volume level set to medium? That's what I had been doing, and my H went away (instead of getting worse as a result of all of my hearing protection).

 

[Joel Waterman]

This is so very true. However, wouldn't you consider a loud city (London, Prague, etc.) as a good enough reason to wear a safety ear protection?

Jiri, it's hard to say for sure because the science of it all is so uncertain. Stuff like city noise and dishes definitely get above safe volume levels, so I think it would be good to have some protection around them. I try to avoid walking through my city too much, but when I do I wear headphones that block off maybe between 4-10 decibals, rather than the 34 decibal stuff I was using for a while. I'm generally avoid being around anything over 70 decibals ('cause I'm going by the EPA's safe volume chart), and wear varying levels of protection when around louder sounds.
Also keep in mind that I while overusing hearing protection made me more sensitive to noise, it was after I tried flushing my ears out with water that I became really sensitive.
Just do the best research you can, and try to make the best decision based on it. Sorry you're having to deal with H and T. Really not a fun thing to have to do.

During that time, did you have a source of mild noise like a TV with its volume level set to medium? That's what I had been doing, and my H went away (instead of getting worse as a result of all of my hearing protection).

Bill, I think a big part of my problem is that since I wore it around people who were talking to me, my ears were always trying to hear their voices past the hearing protection. Thus, the possibility that my auditory gain turned itself up in order to do that. I was focusing on avoiding noise at that time, and I do think that watching TV at medium volume levels at that time would have helped keep my ears from getting more sensitive. I've been doing that a lot lately (watching TV with the decibals just under 70) and it seems to help on readjusting my ears/brain to noise.

 

[Jiri]

I wear headphones that block off maybe between 4-10 decibals, rather than the 34 decibal stuff I was using for a while

This was the idea. I want to give my ears a couple of months time chance to relax and recover as much as possible (starting HBOT therapy soon). Then slowly decreasing the amount of hearing protection I use. I already got only - 11 dB invisible earplugs + with time I plan on buying the Peltor Shotgunner (- 22 dB only).

I'm generally avoid being around anything over 70 decibals ('cause I'm going by the EPA's safe volume chart)

As of now I'm deciding buying the RK Safety, Silenta Supermax or Razor Slim Passive Muff. I might have to hop on a plane for London again for my graduation so will proly be getting the best among the best Clear Armor Muffs too. Thanks for the referal for the EPA's safe volume chart. Will check it out for sure.

And thanks for your input anyway. Much appreciated.

 

[Jiri]

and carry 31db reduction.

Just one question. Where did you find that these muffs have NRR 31 dB?

I found similar ones in black (same brand, same style): https://www.amazon.com/TOENNESEN-Protection-Reduction-Shooters-Defenders/dp/B0711899LZ and they say that the NRR is only 21 dB.

 

[Rajin]

I bought these on Amazon , it reduces noise . It this a bad idea . My work truck get spike to 99 dB can stay at 80 to 87 dB . Trying to get a new position different Truck. What you think. Joel waterman . I can use some advice. Thanks

 

[Fangen]

Just one question. Where did you find that these muffs have NRR 31 dB?

I found similar ones in black (same brand, same style): https://www.amazon.com/TOENNESEN-Protection-Reduction-Shooters-Defenders/dp/B0711899LZ and they say that the NRR is only 21 dB.

In the description they stated "NRR 31 db". I use Amazon UK due to taxes and stuff so not sure if US Amazon carry the same model.

 

[Jiri]

In the description they stated "NRR 31 db".

I couldn't find the description NRR 31 dB. Only on different sites that it is somewhere around 21 dB :/ I was quite disappointed bec I found the same model in black and wanted to get it. However, it's gotta be around 30 dB NRR.

Oh and btw, remember like I told you we're gonna calculate the noise blast of fireworks over distance in dB? Here you go: https://www.tinnitustalk.com/thread...levels-in-db-over-distance.25880/#post-297978

 

[sjtinguy]

I bought these on Amazon , it reduces noise . It this a bad idea . My work truck get spike to 99 dB can stay at 80 to 87 dB . Trying to get a new position different Truck. What you think. Joel waterman . I can use some advice. Thanks

I am generally weary of noise cancelling devices because the way they work is to play sounds that are inverted waveforms of the external sounds.. if the cancelling isn't perfect it seems like it could still be blasting sound right in your ear

 

[Jiri]

It almost seems as though 3M Peltor recommends using less powerful hearing protection for the tinnitus sufferers for the reason that the surrounding noise may still provide enough distraction from our own tinnitus, quotting:

"When noise is loud enough to require hearing protection for safety reasons (greater than 85 dBA), the hearing protection can block hazardous noise while still allowing enough sound to pass to still provide distraction from the tinnitus" a couple more lines further down the list "Many noise exposures only require about 10 dB of noise reduction for adequate protection from noise damage". (Berger, et al., 2011)

On a different note the Tinnitus Association Victoria states this: "Most earplugs are about 25 dBA and good ear muffs start at about 28dBA and go up to 34dBA." (Tinnitus Association Victoria, 2018)

So now what? More hearing protection or less is better for tinnitus ppl? It makes sense that if you were to wear a hearing protection of say, 30 dB you'd be more aware of your tinnitus, the sound around you would be distorted & muffled (couldn't this also have smth to do with the occlusion effect?) and this could also lead to a condition known as phonobia.

References:

1. https://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/883205O/tinnitus-and-hearing-protection-fiction-and-fact.pdf
2. http://tinnitus.org.au/Hearing-Protection/Hearing-Protection-Devices

 

[GregCA]

So now what? More hearing protection or less is better for tinnitus ppl?

I doubt that there exists a "one size fits all" answer to that question.

 

[JurgenG]

https://www.amazon.de/dp/B004H38ROW/ref=pe_1941441_77693631_tnp_email_TE_Cardp_2
I use these when I need slim ones.

 

[Jiri]

I doubt that there exists a "one size fits all" answer to that question.

There's no doubt about it. You get the idea tho, don't you? Most people on this thread/forum (me included) try to get the best possible NRR protection while still not looking like wackos. Now 3M recommends less might actually be better.

As against to the other association.

 

[Jiri]

I use these when I need slim ones.

Nice ones. What is the NRR?

 

[JurgenG]

Nice ones. What is the NRR?

I am not sure, I think it's like 24 or so.
Not super high, but more than enough if combined with plugs.

 

[Alue]

I am generally weary of noise cancelling devices because the way they work is to play sounds that are inverted waveforms of the external sounds.. if the cancelling isn't perfect it seems like it could still be blasting sound right in your ear

Doesn't the canceling speaker face away from the ear? I hear they are very good for cancelling low frequency sounds, but for the higher frequency sounds the speaker is not close enough to the eardrum to be effective because of the shorter wavelength. I have been thinking about buying some NC headphones for flying and wearing earplugs underneath, but I'm unsure. I don't see why manufacturers can't make noise cancelling and noise isolating earmuffs, but I can't find any that really do both.

 

[GregCA]

There's no doubt about it. You get the idea tho, don't you?

No, I don't get the idea, sorry.

Most people on this thread/forum (me included) try to get the best possible NRR protection while still not looking like wackos.

The look is something irrelevant to your original question, which I was responding to. I don't know why you're bringing it up now.
For reference, it was:

So now what? More hearing protection or less is better for tinnitus ppl?

As against to the other association.

I don't understand this sentence (I don't mean to be mean: it just doesn't have a verb and is quite ambiguous).

 

[Jiri]

@GregCA Why do you have to be all offensive?

First off, Engl. is not my first language. I'm sorry if I typed smth that didn't make much sense. A language barrier and a 2nd language speakers problems. However, I don't think that this time this was the case.

No, I don't get the idea, sorry.

Then read the post again, perhaps? Super simple: One side claims that lesser protection is better (10 dB protection might be sufficent) + the stronger the NRR rating the more you will be aware of your tinnitus and can develop symptoms such as hyperacusis and later even phonophobia. The other side claims that good earmuff protection starts at -28 dB NRR.

I noticed that on this thread and this forum majority of people prefere to get higher NRR protection.

The look is something irrelevant to your original question, which I was responding to. I don't know why you're bringing it up now.

It is not irrelevant, the name of the thread is Good Quality, Slick Safety Eaermuffs. You could also change slick for sleek or simply good looking. Furthermore, in my opening post is stated this:

In an essence, the goal here is to present earmuffs with a solid NRR rating that you would not be ashamed to wear in public. The likes of which could possibly be mistaken for your regular music headphones (Beats etc.).

It is not irrelevant.

I don't understand this sentence (I don't mean to be mean: it just doesn't have a verb and is quite ambiguous).

The other association (Tinnitus Association Victoria) claims that good protection earmuffs start at 28 dB NRR+ which is quite contrary to what 3m statets, in an essence.

 

[GregCA]

@GregCA Why do you have to be all offensive?

I don't see anything offensive in what I wrote. I'm sorry that you felt offended.

First off, Engl. is not my first language.

I figured that, but asking for a clarification on a sentence that didn't make sense doesn't seem offensive to me. I don't see anything wrong with making mistakes trying to express oneself, especially in a language that one isn't familiar with - like you did - but by the same token I see nothing wrong asking for a clarification.

I won't get dragged into a semantic argument, so I wish you good luck with your T.