Best Gun Range Ear Protection

Several years ago, I started taking protecting my hearing very seriously. I was running loud heavy equipment for 10 hours a day and regularly shooting or hunting on the weekends. In my mid-20s, I noticed my hearing was already starting to be affected. When I transitioned to full-time writing and content creation, I was shooting more, and that meant I needed even better ear pro. Before writing the best gun range ear protection article, I tested numerous products at my gun range, spoke with other shooters (several of whom shoot even more frequently than I do), and conducted thorough online research to inform my top choices.

How I Tested The Best Gun Range Ear Protection

To determine the best ear pro for shooting at a range, I based my top choices on several factors. The first and most important is whether they reduced the report to safe hearing levels. If your ear pro doesn’t actually protect your hearing, it’s pointless. The next is comfort. If your ear pro isn’t comfortable, then you won’t want to wear it for extended periods of time at the range (at least I didn’t like wearing uncomfortable ear pro for very long). And last is price. Hearing protection can be expensive, but not all of my top choices will require you to live on ramen noodles for the next six months.

Why I Chose It

The PELTOR ComTac V is the best pair of shooting earmuffs for the range because they have the best audio quality, have been proven in numerous military situations, and are comfortable.

If you’ve ever had the privilege of wearing this pair of ear pro, then you know how comfortable they are and how they nearly sound like you’re not even wearing ear pro. They’re even more comfortable when you add the gel pads, but you will sweat in them on warm days.

Because this ear protection is ready for communication, has numerous tuning capabilities, and can be mounted to a helmet, military personnel love it. Meaning the PELTOR ComTac V can pull double duty at the range and in the field.

However, you'd better be willing to pay the piper. These are expensive; in fact, they are the most expensive pair of ear pro on this list. I’ve also found them to be overkill for anything I’ll ever do as an average shooter and hunter.

Overall, the PELTOR ComTac V Headset is the best because of the high-quality features it offers that few other (if any) ear pro can match.

Why I Chose It

I used to wear these 3M earplugs all day when I worked with heavy equipment and would also wear them while shooting on the weekends because they were inexpensive, comfortable, and highly effective, especially in enclosed environments.

While you might be able to wear them a couple of times, most of the time, it is a one-and-done, which I’m not the biggest fan of because it could get expensive if you shoot a lot. You also have to purchase them in bulk to get the best deal, as you’re constantly throwing them away after each use.

The other drawback is that since these are not electronic ear pro, talking with your buddies at the range is more difficult. However, they are the best at reducing loud noises to safe levels (as long as they are inserted properly).

When I shoot at an indoor range, I use 3M E-A-R Classic earplugs in conjunction with my other ear protection.

Why I Chose It

I purchased the SureFire EP3 Sonic Defenders while in college because I needed an inexpensive pair of ear protection. It turned out to be one of my all-time favorites because it was comfortable, reusable, protected my hearing, and was inexpensive.

The biggest drawback is that this ear pro is only expected to last up to 6 months. I remember getting more use out of it than 6 months, but I tried to take care of it as best I knew how at the time.

If you’re on a tight budget, then the SureFire EP3 Sonic Defenders are some of the best ear protection you can purchase.

Why I Chose It

I’ve been testing the SoundGear Shield Electronic Earplugs for the last couple of months and have loved how they allow a good cheek weld when shooting my rifles and shotguns. I’ve always had a problem getting a good cheek weld on my rifle when shooting with ear muffs, so now I prefer earplugs.

I love these because they’re comfortable, protect my hearing (while allowing me to talk with my buddies or hear while hunting), and enable me to shoot comfortably.

The first time I shot with the SoundGear Shield Earplugs, I was able to pinpoint the direction of the sounds, and they sounded reasonably natural.

However, at $400, this ear pro is expensive. At this price, I would prefer to have an on/off switch or button to extend the battery life, as the batteries last only 140 hours (almost 6 days). I even removed the batteries after use, but they still drained.

While I initially received the SoundGear Shield to use as hunting ear protection, it instantly earned a spot in my range bag when I’m shooting my rifles and shotguns as well.

Why I Chose It

My brother introduced me to Walker’s hearing protection a few years ago, and after that range trip, I knew I needed a pair, especially while shooting pistols (I can use these ear muffs while shooting rifles due to their slimmer profile).

I expected the Walker’s Razor Muffs to be more expensive than they are because I can adjust the volume, and they’re incredibly comfortable. However, I tend to sweat a lot while wearing ear muff style protection on warm days, and these are no exception.

If you want a reasonably priced ear pro that’s comfortable, adjustable, and allows you to connect your phone, then look no further than Walker’s Razor Muffs.

Parting Shots: Best Gun Range Ear Protection

While there are many other excellent options for gun range hearing protection, these are my top five picks based on my experience at the range. Feel free to leave your favorite in the comments.

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