Hearing Protection

Shellshock Protection is slowly making a name for themselves in the eye and ear pro sector of the firearm industry. We reported on one of their first product releases ever in 2024, and now they have something new for us in the EXO Pro Elite Electronic Hearing Protection: an over-ear muff touting excellent noise mitigation at an accessible price-point.

Swedish hearing protection manufacturer Sordin has launched the Supreme X2, the first product in its new X2 series of active hearing protectors built for hunters and shooters. The company, which has been producing hearing protection since 1976, describes the X2 as its new flagship platform targeting shooters and hunters who want "next-gen awareness" with all-day comfort.

Radio discipline, earpro compliance, and the gap between "we have a plan" and "that plan survived contact with an actual call."

It wasn’t until my mid-to-late 20s that I began to take my hearing protection seriously. I ran heavy equipment for a living and loved shooting and hunting, so my ears were often under fire from dangerously loud noises. I began to notice a slight hearing decline, so I started wearing foam earplugs at work and ear pro while shooting and hunting. However, I found that shouldering my rifle and shotgun while wearing my old earmuffs didn’t allow me to get a good cheek weld on the stock. So, I began the search for the best shooting earbuds. Below are my top picks for 2025.

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.

Walker’s has released its new Suppressor Earbuds, available in two versions: a standard model and a Bluetooth® 5.3 Low Energy (LE) version. Both provide electronic hearing protection that reduces harmful noise while enhancing ambient sounds. The Bluetooth model also allows audio streaming from phones, tablets, and other devices.

Sooner or later, you’re going to understand that protecting your eyes and ears is quite important. Hopefully, you’ll discover this before it’s too late to repair the damage, and there’s really no excuse not to, thanks to a variety of products on the market. Safariland, a brand under The Safariland Group and Cadre Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: CDRE), has added new in-ear and Bluetooth over-the-ear models to its Impulse hearing protection lineup. These products provide shooters with reliable noise protection, comfort, and the ability to stay aware of their surroundings. Ideal for range sessions or demanding settings, they offer a streamlined alternative to traditional hearing protection gear.

With the continually growing popularity of ear protection with cable downleads there’s a growing need for a system to manage those downleads when not in use. Enter the OPE Gear LCM (Lead Cable Management) Wrap, or just LCM for short.

Something that we all take for granted (until its gone) is our hearing and precious eyesight. That is why it is so imperative to protect those senses. One of Shellshock Protection’s mantras are to “protect your senses,” and that is exactly what their Eye and Ear Combo packages aim to do. From beginner combos to more elaborate ones for seasoned shooters, they are now offering a bit of everything.

Noveske Rifleworks and Safariland have collaborated on a limited edition set of Liberator HP Electronic hearing protection with a special Cerakote finish. This will couple the qualities of the already high-performing Liberator HP 2.0 hearing protection with a one-of-a-kind Cerakote finish licensed under Noveske Rifleworks.

Newly-founded WarBird Protection might be best known for its soft body armor, which launched earlier this year, but it makes protection for your eyes and ears, too. For 2024, WarBird just brought out its new Intrepid hearing protection lineup, with three sets of electronic earmuffs.

In a bold move pushing the boundaries of passive hearing technology, Axil, a leading innovator in the hearing aid industry, is set to introduce the X-Pro system: a new earbud that maintains ambient noise while filtering louder noise over the 85-decibel limit, all without the aid of electronics.

Decibullz unveiled its affordable, custom-molded earplugs aimed at hunters, recreational shooters, law enforcement, and anyone in need of hearing protection at the SHOT Show. Retailing at approximately $25, these earplugs uniquely offer a DIY customization process, making them a cost-effective alternative to traditional custom-fit counterparts.

Adaptive hearing technology firm, Eartune, famed for its cutting-edge sound reduction tech that curbs noise above 85 dB, has introduced a new custom fit option to its suite of products. Making great strides in customizable hearing protection, the California-based company now offers earplugs tailored to the unique shapes of customers’ ears for a personalized fit.

At SHOT Show 2024, Savior Equipment unveiled their entry into the electronic hearing protection market. The new product, which is not named yet, boasts a range of features designed to enhance user experience. Among the notable characteristics are gel ear cups for added comfort, stainless steel microphone covers for durability, and hook-and-loop fields that allow for the attachment of patches for personalization.

Today’s announcement from Michigan-based Altus marks a significant step in making custom hearing protection more accessible in the U.S. Adapting Denmark-based Earfab‘s custom plug-making technology, Altus introduces a user-friendly way to obtain personalized ear protection without the associated high costs or the need to visit an audiologist.

We understand the importance of protecting your hearing in various environments, whether at the range or on the hunt, at work, during recreational activities, or even for everyday noise reduction. In this comprehensive buyer’s guide, we will explore and compare different products available in the market to help you choose the best over-the-ear hearing protection that suits your needs and will help you navigate the top over-the-ear hearing protection products on the market, focusing on key factors like comfort, noise reduction rating (NRR), durability, and design.

Having just gotten back from my first-ever Tactical Games event, I wanted to put together a write-up on all of the gear I used down at the GTI in South Carolina. I will also be including the prices of all of the gear that I utilized as I feel like I spent a lot of money just to compete at this event. Also, please keep in mind that this was my first event, and I will be doing a follow-up article on lessons learned and how I would tackle my second go around at the GTI Tactical Games. Also, all prices will be MSRP aside from the pistol and ear pro.

AXIL has recently released a breakthrough product that is a game-changer for those who require high-quality hearing protection. The XCOR is the world’s first true wireless 100% digital EarPro buds, offering the best in sound quality, noise cancellation, and comfort. Unlike traditional hearing protection, the XCOR buds feature cutting-edge technology that allows users to experience 100% digital audio clarity. This means that you can hear your surroundings clearly without any distortion or interference from background noise. With the XCOR, you’ll never have to worry about missing a conversation or important instructions again.

Hearing protection often goes through the same incremental improvement process that firearms gear and ammunition do. Safariland’s Liberator HP line of over-the-ear hearing protection has been some of the best in the business in terms of overall value for performance, but they recently announced that they’ve made some significant improvements to the line including a customer-demanded onboard rechargeable battery. These new models, the Liberator HP-R, are available now and feature more than just a rechargeable battery.

Hearing protection on the range or when you’re out hunting is always one of your top priorities and WildEar is a company that is entirely dedicated to helping you protect your hearing. WildEar is excited to announce their new Ready-Fit SafEarz earplugs that filter out harmful high-intensity noise while still allowing you to hear things like speech, and other low-intensity noise all without having to worry about powering your hearing protection.

Safariland is extending and enhancing the coverage program for their Liberator and Redline series of electronic hearing protection headsets with the Liberator Advantage Enhanced Warranty Program. This program is designed to minimize the cost and expense that organizations like law enforcement and fire departments must incur when their equipment inevitably gets worn out and damaged from regular use and needs replacement. Full details on this extended program are posted below.

Walker’s is probably most well known for its popular Razor series of electronic and passive low-profile earmuffs. TFBTV Executive Producer James Reeves is a huge fan of his personal pair of Walker’s Razors for their slim profile, which often aids in forming a solid cheek weld when firing rifles. Walker’s has updated their lineup of electronic muffs with the introduction of the new Firemax Digital Muffs featuring brand new omnidirectional microphones, new electronics, and an onboard rechargeable battery system that lasts up to 150 hours on a single charge.

Following up on the massive success they experienced with the release of their Limited Edition MultiCam Black gear, Safariland have opted to release a new set of limited edition hearing protection and holsters. The new Limited Edition Safariland MultiCam Tropic lineup of gear is here and ready for order directly through the Safariland Webstore.

When it comes to hearing protection there are a few key markers in a good set. For one, we want them to be comfortable enough where we are willing to wear them continually during long range sessions. Secondly, they need to adequately suppress sound so they are hearing safe (a bonus would be an electronic set that allows you to hear lower decibel sounds like a conversation). Finally, I would like my hearing protection to be slim, light, and potentially even allow me to listen to music or receive phone calls. One new option that achieves all of this is the ATN X-Sound Hearing Protector recently debuted by ATN Corp. So, we are going to examine how their new set of electronic and Bluetooth technology equipped earmuffs perform here today. Let’s dive in!

Hearing protection isn’t a term I’d normally associate with ATN and their product lineup but it might start to be more common given that the company just announced the release of their new X-Sound hearing protection. X-Sound hearing protection comes with a standard noise reduction rating of 22 dB and also sports numerous Bluetooth-enabled features that make them suitable for more than just shooting sports.

When it comes to personal protection items, having a lot of versatility and options to choose from is always great. While the first thing that may come to mind when you hear the name Otis Technology is firearms cleaning products, Otis has now joined the ear protection industry with three brand new pairs of hearing protection in their new EarShield Ranger lineup. These new hearing protection units look to be decently constructed with a good set of features for some of the more advanced models and are sold at what appears to be competitive pricing.

Welcome to TFB Weekly Amazon Deals 31. In-ear electronic hearing protection has seen an explosion of new products in recent years and this is great for a number of reasons. First, it’s always great to have options but secondly, the technology stuffed inside of these tiny little in-ear devices has become quite good and in some cases can enhance your hearing while simultaneously protecting it. I don’t think anyone is going to argue that in-ear electronic hearing protection is in any way superior to traditional over-the-ear muffs but on a hot summer day when the sweat is pouring down your neck, those giant gel ear cups can be quite uncomfortable. Even if it’s cold out, over-the-ear hearing protection can often interfere with your cheek weld when shooting a rifle, and for these reasons, I generally prefer to field in-ear electronic hearing protection. If you’re looking to pick a pair up, I’ve gathered some of my favorites that are currently on sale.

It’s universally agreed these days that eye and ear protection should always be worn when you’re out shooting. Whether you’re out hunting, competing at a match, or just out goofing around on the range, keeping your sensitive organs protected from unnecessary trauma is important if you want to keep listening to “ A Thousand Miles” by Vanessa Carlton on your way home from the range (don’t lie we all know you do it). Wireless earbuds have become extremely popular these days but often suffer from a couple of core drawbacks. A lot of wireless earbuds lack sufficient battery capacity to last you all day and others aren’t all that durable when it comes to hard range use. The new ISOtunes Sport CALIBER wireless Bluetooth earbuds aim to correct a few of those drawbacks and provide shooters with another option for convenient hearing protection both on and off the range. ISOtunes was generous enough to provide me with early access to these new earbuds for testing and evaluation and today we’ll take a look at the features, pros, and cons of these new earbuds to see if they’d be a right fit for you and the type of shooting that you do.

New for 2022 from Axil in collaboration with Sig Sauer is the Ghost Stryke Extreme 2.0 in-ear bluetooth compatible electronic hearing protection system.  The Ghost Stryke 2.0 is connected via bluetooth to your device, and the earbuds are tethered to each other via a cable that also connects the on/off switch, volume controls, and rechargeable power source.