In-Ear Hearing Protection

Just got the Axils mentioned above. Have heard good reviews on them from guys I trust. They do say there is a little bit of a learning curve as far as getting them in your ear right. Am going to be on the range all day tomorrow so will give them a good workout and report back.
 
I haven’t used many brands but I do have a set of Tetras and they are great. They custom fit them to not only my ear shape/contour but they custom tailor them to your hearing. They discovered I had significant ear damage to my left ear (they say that is common for a right handed shooter) and I’m trying to avoid further permanent damage.
Full disclosure: I know the Docs that started Tetra however I’m not affiliated with them. They are salt of the earth guys who are true outdoorsmen and passionate about what they do.
 
Used the Axils for several hours on range yesterday. Impressed with the noise cancellation compared to other noise cancelling muffs I have used. Relatively comfortable but no so great I want to wear them all of the time. If you can go in with a buddy and get two sets so you get the discount, I would say they are definitely worth the $100 price tag.
 
I use the soundgear platinum. Not rechargeable, but batteries weigh nothing. Expensive, and fitted / molded to your ear by a doctor.

Primary use has been skeet shooting and waterfowl hunting, and being fitted for my ear they work great and I can still tell sound direction fine trying to pinpoint incoming birds, etc. They do have a setting for use in wind - it helps some, but there's no set out there that will be 100% natural. It's still amazing to take them out after a long hunt.

I think they'd be fine for a couple shots from my 300WM, but for range usage I'm sill throwing a set of muffs over them.
 
I have the Otto Noizebarrier. They work very well. a 6 hour duck hunt used about 15% of the battery. The case will keep them charged for literally weeks. They even cancel out duck call noise. I’ve been happy with them. Tried the Pro Ears and Walkers before and hate changing those little batteries out and neither worked as well as the Otto’s.
 

I've been looking at these. I've read and heard some pretty good things about them.
 
Guys that like what they have, are you able to wear a winter hat/ beanie or does it interfere with your ability to hear???
What about hoods?
 
I second the opinion on the Axils. I was less than impressed. The hearing enhancement is great, but you can’t tell where anything is coming from. Kinda like being in an echo chamber. I haven’t tried them at the range. I unfortunately missed the return timeframe so I’m stuck with them.
 
I have been using Etymotic GSPs as a competitive shooter for 8 or 9 years. They finally died a few months ago. I bought a new pair.

Mine take hearing aid batteries. They make rechargeable as well. I know a couple of people who had the rechargeable and had them only last a couple of years. The battery option is not that inconvenient to me. If you open the battery door in between uses so that the circuit is broken, they last a lot longer.

I think the Otto's are rebranded Etymotics.
 
Looks like the non rechargeable etymotic gun pros are pre order. Probably will get some of those. I shoots shot gun leagues and normally use the foam orange ones but dpnt use anything waterfowl hunting and probably should. Hunting sea ducks I need to hear whistling wings since we heat them before we see them so hopefully these will still allow me to hear the wings.

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I used the Axils on several duck hunts this year and they do a pretty good job at noise cancellation when put in the ear correctly. When it was windy I did not like them and it also canceled out noise whenever I was calling which I did not like. Found myself wearing them less as the season went on and the weather got worse. In a controlled environment like at an indoor range or in a duck blind without any wind they work pretty well but most days it was pretty windy and you get that feedback/ hissing noise from the wind and that drove me nuts.
 
I’ve been really considering the Tetra’s. Just hard to pull the trigger when they cost so much.


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I have hunted with the Etymotics, spot and stalk as well as bird hunting. If the wind is up, it is a pain. I don't know what we could use that amplifies that would be better.

In high wind, I have taken the battery out of one ear, still having active ear pro plus amplification available in one ear. I don't know if you could accomplish this with the rechargeable.
 
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I like the ottos. Felt pretty darn natural to me on normal mode. Just a touch of white noise but I think that is pretty standard. Also changed to the comply tips which are nicer. So far so good. Cheaper than the tetras but a good value for me mainly for treestand whitetail and spring turkey.
 
nothing to compare them to but i've used the otto noizebarriers for 2-3 seasons now. i like them. on the amplification mode wind noise can be noticeable but hiking through the woods they work well. charge easily lasts for a full weekend of hunting and they charge in the case which isn't too heavy to leave in the pack if i needed it. i dont wear them at the range, i have better options, but for hunting the do exactly what i need
 
Meateater just had a hearing specialist on, worth a listen!


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