220
people found this helpful, as of 2023
ranked #139,894 most helpful
out of 571,544,897 reviews
★★★★★
Function over fashion
I'm sort of a nut about hearing protection. I lost a little hearing as a kid so I want to protect what I have left. I play the drums, shoot guns, and enjoy loud live rock and roll. I own ear foam plugs, hi-fi ear plugs (baffles), electronic ear muffs, slim or lo-profile ear muffs, standard ear muffs, and now these extreme muffs.
If you are looking for something that provides moderate hearing protection-- either because the noise you have to deal with isn't very loud (low volume) or you actually want to hear a bit of noise through the muffs (such as while playing the drums for hearing other band members, or riding on a mower or using a chainsaw where you might need situational awareness for safety)-- these ear muffs might be overkill. These ear muffs are the kind best suited for a jet runway or a very loud manufacturing plant. They are pretty extreme and very, very quiet. I wouldn't wear then walking around the street or in a car.
I'm going to keep the pair I ordered and use them for studying and occasional use at the indoor gun range. They are well-constructed and very comfortable. The memory foam ear pads are great, and the overall shape is streamlined so they don't snag on things. They seem durable and like they'll last. I don't like that the acoustic foam in the ear cup is exposed without a liner, but I can always clean dust out with an air compressor. A couple other things to mention:
(1) They are a lighter grey than what is really pictured. Maybe it's just the lighting in the picture.
(2) They are BIG. They look ridiculous on. Then again, these are for function vs. fashion.
(3) Because they are big, you may have some problems getting a good cheek weld on the stock of your rifle if shooting.
Protect your ears and encourage others to do the same!
January 2014 · Tools and Home Improvement · verified purchase
the product in question
3M Peltor X4A Over-the-Head Ear Muffs, Noise Protection, NRR 27 dB, Construction, Manufacturing, Maintenance, Automotive, Woodworking, Heavy Engineering, Mining
4.7★ · 10,916 ratings, as of 2023