Ditto that last remark!
After trying most of the common hearing protection on the market, I've finally settled on using a combination of comfortable rubber plugs (don't know which brand, had them for years and they are comfortable), and the Aero Peltor Collapseable Electronic Muffs. THE PERFECT combination for any shooting or working around machinary like lawn mowers and chain saws. Get a pair of the non electronic ones for the wife if she uses the vaccuum cleaner.
I'm, getting married next month and I bought a set for all of my groomsmen. EVERYONE should have one. Its a small price to pay for hearing the rest of your life. I'm not preaching to YOU or trying to sell anything. I've just realized how very wonderful it is to keep the hearing that God has given me. I already lost some of it to loud music, machines at home and the job, and to a lesser extent firearms.
The Peltors are not the best for noise reduction. Some supress more sound. Its just that the Aero Peltors are the most comfortable that I've been able to find so far. This combination of plugs/muffs seem to suppress more sound than the more expensive higher decible muffs. Because they are comfortable, I where them whenever they are needed and as long as needed. If you can find a COMFORTABLE set of in the canal plugs, this should take care of most applications where extra noise is concerned. I always wear this combination when shooting or mowing or weed eating. Light weight, easy to clean, comfortable, cheaper than a hearing aid later on.
If you hunt, one of the electronic models would be a good investment. Shop around or wait on a sale if you want a pair for around $120. They come in full size and compact. Get the compact. It is only a couple decibles less protection, but is flat enough to allow you to place your cheek on the stock of a shoulder arm. When used alone for hunting, you can crank up the volume to hear prey and can tell pretty well which direction the sounds comming from. When you fire, the volume shuts off before the sound reaches your ears. You get the benefit of enhanced hearing when you need it, noise suppression when you need it, and therefore less chance of flinch or hearing loss.
At the range, you can use plugs AND crank up the volume so you can still here range commands.
I ordered my first pair and there was a faint buzz with certain sounds and the volume wasn't as loud as I thought it should be. I sent it back to MIDWAY w/in the warantee period and they got a replacement from the company. New pair is fine; a little louder too. I think I bought 8 pairs of the regular Model 6, I think, for my friends. I hope they use them. I don' t think they would use an uncomfortable pair very long. Also, I got some replacement foam for the inserts on the electronic ones from the company, because the thicker replacements were more comfortable for my ears after long periods of time.
[This message has been edited by EQUALIZER (edited September 15, 1999).]
