Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

[Adician]

Does anyone here use the custom fit ear plugs? I'm tired of fighting the little foam ones and would rather have ones I know will always fit the first time.

My right ear canal is a little different from being scarred earlier in my life, so that is why I'm asking for the custom ear filling stuff, or anyone who has had experience with them.

Any recommendations? Warnings?

Thanks guys.

 

[gvcandyman]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I have custom made Radians. They work pretty well for only being $15. If you want the extremely nice ones that you can wear at concerts they will cost about $150-200. I am planning on buying a pair of these because they are so nice and I need to be able to hear when I'm working on a concert. But for shooting I would just go with my custom Radians. They work pretty well if you just follow the instructions when forming them

 

[Adician]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Anyone else have any preferences?

I appreciate your input candyman.

 

[R.Walters]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

if you have trouble putting them in pull straight back on youre ear and this opens up the canal for them to slide in easier.

 

[Adician]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

It's not so much I have trouble getting them in, I have trouble with them staying in.

 

[R.Walters]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

you twist them in youre fingers until they are pointy and pull youre ear back and push it in there until it feels like its going into the brain and hold youre finger there until it expands. when i do this there is no possible way its coming out

 

[Anchor Zero Six]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I have been using the Surefire earpro for the past two months and I will never go back to anything else.

Although not custom fitted they are sized with different outer and inner sections. The soft sillocones of both sections is very comfortable for prolonged wear.

Best part IMO is that they filter out noise while still allowing normal volume speech/hearing. They have a sealable hole to increase the noise supression. Only time I have closed the valve opening is when a guy on the line next to me was shooting a 50BMG.

Also have been able to talk on my cell no problem with the earpro in.

13.00 cant bitch about the cost http://www.surefire.com/EP3-Sonic-Defenders

 

[Adician]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Knabstrupper, my ear is a little off due to an injury sustained earlier, I need something other than just the little orange plugs because they don't work, no matter what I do.

 

[GunGuru727]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I have been using the Howard Leight "Airsoft" plugs for over a month now and I like them a lot.

http://www.howardleight.com/family/index/9

GG

 

[Old Justice]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Lots of hearing aid shops can custom make hearing protection (they just don't put in the amplified hearing part.) They block off the ear drum, fill your ear with a rubberized goo that hardens in a few minutes, then they pull it out and trip off the excess. Custom fit to your ear canal. I've had a pair for years, that have not shrunk, expanded or deteriorated.

 

[scottishtornado]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Go to your local hearing specialist and they can make you a custom earmould. Let him know what your needing it for and they should help you out.

 

[hill billy]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

There seems to be someone at every gun show making the custom ones. Takes about five minutes and they're about $50 ish.

 

[deltazulu]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I have worn many different types of hearing protection in the Military, while working in Industry, and in my personal life from ear muff type through custom fit ear plugs and recently I found the best ear plugs I have ever used. I actually bought them at Wal-Mart and they have the best noise reduction of any single hearing protection I have ever used. They are HEAROS brand foam ear plugs and are the Xtreme Protection Series (blue color). They are very comfortable, I have never had a problem with them expanding to fit, and I wouldn't use anything else now that I found them. Worth a try for the price.

 

[LoneWolfUSMC]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I use Howard Leight plugs when I go foamies. I keep a handfull in my bag and they work well for the kids.

Make sure you are placing them in your ears correctly. Roll one between your finger until it's as thin as possible. Then pull back on your ear and insert it. Obviously if you feel discomfort then stop.

If the Howard Leights fall out then you have ear canals like a train tunnel.

Mostly I use electronic ear pro. If I am not using those I wear the Surefires. The foamies are the most comfortable, but they block too much all the time for me to wear them when I am on the range with others.

 

[KTDLS7]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Level of required protection depends on environment. I have a set of the custom plugs I picked up from an audiologist. These are the "goo squirted in the ear canal and sets" type. At a minimum, I will wear these or Peltor electronic. There are times I wear both.

If you are after a "plug" type, the custom molded are the way to go.

 

[chainring]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Yeah the custom molded ones are amazing. Took me a couple times to get used to putting them in, but if you get 'em a little wet they just slide in....and then you can't hear JACK! Most effective plug I've ever tried, and no way it's coming out. Other than those, the Sordins from Steve at TRIAD are the way to go.

 

[operatorj]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

+1 on the Surefire Ear Pro. They fit great and I have even forgot I had them in. They also come in different sizes now so fitment should not be a problem.

 

[Mr_Brass]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: operator j</div><div class="ubbcode-body">+1 on the Surefire Ear Pro. They fit great and I have even forgot I had them in. They also come in different sizes now so fitment should not be a problem. </div></div>

I hear the SF EPs aren't any good for anything over a 9mm any say on this?

I was looking at getting some but not sure

 

[VKC]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

1+ for surefire EP4 SonicDefenders plus. Low-profile, works well, also you to hear softer sounds.

 

[KNIGHT11B4]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

+2 For Surefire Ear Pro
Ive use them on many heavy calibers and they work great.

 

[acespeedy]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

+3 for the Surefire Ear Pro they are lightweight, inexpensive, and have that cdi factor! lol

 

[longshotbml]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Find a local audiologist. You mentioned some external ear damage and a custom fit ear plug will be made to compensate for that. I had a pair made last year and they are very comfortable and effective. The audiologist explained that the Noise Redution Rating wasen't better than the foam plug but in the real world, because they seal perfectly, they give superior hearing protection.

 

[marduk185]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

wtf, just shove a couple pistol empties in yer ears and go. kiss is how i was trained. course i hear cans do wonders so....

 

[chris223]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

have used surefire for over a year and zero cmplaints like the other posters.

 

[marduk185]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

field strip a couple cigarette butts and march nancies.

 

[Insayn]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I've used everything from foamies, Peltor Comtacs, SF EP3's and I find that Silencio fit the best and offer the most sound protection. They advertise a 26dB reduction and are cheap. I wear them while shooting outdoors, in shoothouses, on the .50 doubled up and when setting off charges.

 

[stan462]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

If you have a local hearing aid store, they will usually have the wax mold for custom ear pieces. They should be no more than $75.

They work great, use them on my Harley and shooting.

 

[esheato]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

First, I have no affiliation with this store, but I found them useful a few years ago when I was looking for new plugs.

Of course, they're not tactical, or sniper like, but they work and they're cheap.

Earplug Superstore

They have assortment packs at the link above...really cheap and you can try them all until you find the pair you like, then buy them in bulk. Corded plugs too.

 

[Sniper52]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

+4 for the Surefire Ear Pro. Started using them about a year ago and they have worked well even with the 50BMG. JAA

 

[utahcybercowboy]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Aren't the Surefire Ear Pro only 16db noise reduction? Isn't that inadequate? I would love to give them a try. That 16db kept me from trying them.

 

[Adician]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Follow up here.

I have to say the radians kick much ass. They fit always, no messing around at all. I slide them in and it's good to go.

Even if you don't have weird ears I'd recommend these. Going to the range atleast two times a week and most of the time three times, I hated using the orange plugs.

Radians are awesome. Still kinda iffy on the surefire because they say 16-19 db reduction and batteries crap out.

 

[CK_32]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Surefire EP Sonic Defenders. Only $12.99.

Find a place that sells these around you and your good to go. I dint have much faith in them either but when I tried them I was impressed. And they fit really snug and nice inside the ear. Never fall out.. Well Once you get them in right it took me a second to figure out how to actually put it in properly.

 

[savage110]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam p

ep4's bro, they are the shit.

 

[hoguer]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam p

I just had custom made ListenHear ear plugs. they are the mold in type, and they are "high frequency noise blockers" while they DO in fact reduce ambient noise levels, they also DO "activate" when shooting and reduce any noises above 80db by either 24 or 26db.

http://shop.listenhearstore.com/products/high-frequency-noise-filter

got them at the last gun show for $172 with tax. It also gives you a digital scan number of your ear plug so in the event you loose your plugs, they can make you a replacement without remolding your ears

 

[igofast]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CK_32</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Surefire EP Sonic Defenders. Only $12.99.
</div></div>

I use these as well. I have some custom fit ones and they fit the same as the Surefires. Also work great for doubling up with muffs.

 

[buzzard2172]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Utahcybercowboy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Aren't the Surefire Ear Pro only 16db noise reduction? Isn't that inadequate? I would love to give them a try. That 16db kept me from trying them.</div></div>

From what I've read, the plug and the noise break combined offer better protection than what is listed on the NRR. Assuming SureFire is not misleading us with marketing hype, the EP3 and especially the EP4 should be sufficient for an outdoor range. They are very comfortable for extended use.

http://www.surefire.com/pdfs/ep3-ep4_tech_copy.pdf

 

[nobbie333]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

take a look at Ear inc. if you don't want to here anything but if at a public range I use surefire plugs

 

[Captain Moroni]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I work at an indoor range and when I don't have my Peltor muffs on I use the Surefire EP3's. We rent a 50 BMG in there and the EP3's are GTG.

 

[TrooperBrian]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Anchor Zero Six</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have been using the Surefire earpro for the past two months and I will never go back to anything else.

Although not custom fitted they are sized with different outer and inner sections. The soft sillocones of both sections is very comfortable for prolonged wear.

Best part IMO is that they filter out noise while still allowing normal volume speech/hearing. They have a sealable hole to increase the noise supression. Only time I have closed the valve opening is when a guy on the line next to me was shooting a 50BMG.

Also have been able to talk on my cell no problem with the earpro in.

13.00 cant bitch about the cost http://www.surefire.com/EP3-Sonic-Defenders</div></div>

Same. And my success story goes much farther.

Dropped them in the street once, spent two days and nights in the rain, ran over by easily hundreds of cars, went back the third day, found them laying in the street.

Washed them off in warm water, and still using them two years later.

 

[M25BeastShooter]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

The SureFire Pro's like everyone before said they are GREAT!! I wear them under my electronic muffs after years of military and fun shooting I go with 2X protection.

The great thing about the Pro's is I can wear them all day, as someone said before I forget I have them in. I keep them in when there is a cease fire cause as we all know some guy on the range quietly asks "ok to shoot now" some other guy gives the ok and you're oblivious to the .30000000 MAGNUM that is about to be launched. No more ringing the ears cause I can wear them all the time.

They do protect by themselves with .308 and .223 as I have to wear my KPOT and can't use my muffs.

 

[ryanjay11]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

Adician,
I have a set of the custom one like you can have made at some gunshows. They are more expensive than the do it yourself kits, but they work great for me. If your scarring is at the edge of your ear canal, I would contact an audiologist as mentioned above. It would not be good if they could not be removed after they set up.

 

[60BDriver]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

The Surefire are very nice. They have three models of the EP... The EP3s, EP4s and EP6s.

The EP3s have a double flange that actually enters your ear canal and are rated at 24db reduction. Anything over 85db is reduced. The small plug gives an extra 16db reduction.

The EP4s are similar but have a triple flange plug for "larger ear canals" and are rated at the same 24db reduction.

The EP6s are for auto race crews/pit crews allowing anything below 85db to enter while blocking that above 140db. The small plug that you can use gives an extra 16db reduction. These are dual flange as well.

 

[John M]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I have an Audiologist who works for me that shoots quite frequently and swears by the EP-3.

I figure if he says its GTG, it's GTG.

 

[Mr_Brass]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

surefire EPs are the way to go. my only problem is when its really hot out they tend to not seal as good some times under shotgun run and guns.

but i loooooooove then anyways

 

[flyrodder]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I prefer suppressed fire when possible, but otherwise I use muffs since they are quick and easy on and off and to share if there are more shooters than hearing protection. Never had much luck with plugs.

 

[FL_Tactical]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

The SureFire EarPros state a product life of "3 to 6+ months, depending on usage and care". Since so many here recommended them, about how long do they last before needing to be replaced?

Thanks.

 

[Chucky]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: FL_Tactical</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The SureFire EarPros state a product life of "3 to 6+ months, depending on usage and care". Since so many here recommended them, about how long do they last before needing to be replaced?

Thanks. </div></div>

A lot longer than that. I have heard my military customers tell me they have been running them as long as 3 years. Once they start getting grungy leave them in your pants pocket when you do laundry and just make sure to take them out before you dry your clothes and they will be nice and clean again.

 

[ctressler]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I wore the EP3's at the last AZPRC match, when it was all over I couldn't hear out of my right ear for the next 12 hours.

Anybody have anything like this happen to them with these?

 

[SRSDriver]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ctressler</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wore the EP3's at the last AZPRC match, when it was all over I couldn't hear out of my right ear for the next 12 hours.

Anybody have anything like this happen to them with these? </div></div>

Closed or open? I usually shoot with them closed, and suppressed, and it is very nice. If I'm shooting with someone who has a brake, and I'm going to be spotting for them, I'll throw some electronic muffs on over them.

To answer your question, I have not had problems shooting normal AR's and pistols with the surefires, but I'm sure it's pretty particular to the individual and the guns involved.

 

[RingSteel]

Re: Ear protection other than little orange foam plugs

I can see a set of SureFire's in my near future.