Big Ear ear protection - review

[fwafwow]

As I mentioned in a post in another thread (https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/hearing-protection-at-the-range.368813/post-3752921), I ordered some custom ear plugs from Big Ear and I will share in this thread how the process works, and when I get the product, how they perform.

1. Customer service. The President (Stone Hood) is incredibly available and responsive. In addition to him helping me narrow my choices (and save me complexity and money), he's consistently quick to reply to the chat feature on their website. He has also been very receptive to each item of feedback provided.
2. Ordering. This was pretty easy, but I personally think that the names of the plugs could be a bit easier to discern.
   • Heads up - creating an account will not help with tracking your order, etc. I think the account feature is aimed at group/employer purchases.
   • I went with "The One" model, otherwise referred to as the "Best Pistol Range Earplugs". You may do better by watching the intro YT video at the top of the page "Firearms, Hunting and Shooting" under categories. (I skipped the video...)
   • I went with the 1/2 shell (to better fit under my muffs), also got both a solid plug, and a 30dB reduction filter.
   • All in with extras and shipping - $287. (I know - I could buy a million foamies, or quite a bit of ammo, for that price.)
3. Home impression kit. I can mess up most things, so I was hesitant to use the home impression kit (which was mailed out the next business day following my Sunday afternoon order).
   • This requires someone to help you. Mrs. fwafwow refused to do the task, but I was able to convince my (adult) daughter to help.
   • Warning - the material hardens so fast that it's almost impossible to do both ears with one set of material.
   • After returning my impression, I received a quick email reply to confirm receipt and that they were good.
4. Delivery time.
   • I may have missed this during the ordering process, but I apparently first learned of the time to make and deliver when I got the email confirm that my impressions had been received and approved. 6-8 weeks. This was really the first bad news/experience - but again, that could be user error.
   • Note also that the email with the time for completion also included the following: "However the build time can change at any time, Due to this being a custom molded product." I'm hoping this is a chance they could be complete earlier, not later.

More to follow.

 

[tommy226]

Following

 

[fwafwow]

I still haven't received the product and it's been a month. I asked and was told it will be another 3+ weeks. Not cool IMHO - but perhaps I missed this estimate on the website before I purchased.

 

[RWT]

Any updates ?

 

[fwafwow]

Any updates ?

Sorry. I will update soon. Short version - I got them and they seem fine. Much better than foamies, but I’m not sure (at least yet) if the price is worth it. The CS dropped off considerably after I ordered.

 

[fwafwow]

I don't have much to add of substance.

1. As mentioned above, the CS on the front end was awesome.
2. I sent a detailed email to the President with some of the above feedback, but I never received a response.
3. The plugs took quite a while to get here. I don't have the exact date, but it was at the end (or maybe a bit past) the "6-8 weeks" quoted in the confirmation email.
4. I have yet to compare the solid plug to the 30dB filter, and while I could put one in one ear and the other in the other ear, I'm not sure I will do that.
5. Overall I'm glad that I have the form fitted plugs, but I know I could have gotten them for less from another source.

 

[Cosmono]

Peltor
For electronic the tactical pro
Standard the ultimate 10

 

[zdc1775]

As a bit of a counter point, I also bought two sets, one for me one for the wife, of the their filtered earplugs at the Barber Vintage Motorcycle Festival last October and had excellent customer service, both at the festival itself and after the sale with several emails from Glenn Hood with updates on the progress. Only minor complaint was that we were quoted 4-6 weeks and they did end up taking 7 weeks to ship, but like I said we did receive multiple emails concerning the progress.

While we got these mainly for when we are riding motorcycles, they are the same as their filtered shooting ear plugs. So far I have used them at two concerts, on a flight to and from Las Vegas, for a day of skeet shooting, and of course on the motorcycles and they have been the most comfortable plugs I have ever worn, even with me wearing them for almost 14 hours straight on a recent bike trip.

Since we bought them from their tent at the festival; we both got a decent festival discount with the molds made onsite by Stone Hood. They also included an extra set of the filter plugs and the filter tubes, the deluxe case, and a set of their custom silicon plugs for "free". All told it was $545 for everything.