13 Best Shooting Ear Protection: Hands-On Tested

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!?"

We've got the 411 on the best shooting ear protection from affordable passive to electronic earmuffs and even in-ear options that allow you to hear talking but filters out loud & harmful gunshot sounds.

Because whether you're a beginner getting geared up for the range or a seasoned Range Officer...you want to protect your hearing.

The percussive vibrations of each gunshot actually kill vital little hairs deep in your inner ear. And that can open the door to a high pitch ringing or humming noise that can last forever. Tinnitus anyone?

How We Tested Shooting Ear Protection

These are the tried and true picks from our team with thousands of hours at the range as shooters, competitors, law enforcement, military, and range officers.

This article is the culmination of all our knowledge and what ear pro we would tell our closest friends and family to get.

We specifically chose options based on:

Protection

You'll see NRR (Noise Reduction Ratings, used in the US) and SNR (Single Number Ratings, used in Europe) in dB (decibels). These numbers are lab-tested average sound reduction values provided by a device.

Higher is better, but you make some tradeoffs with different designs. We tested against close proximity to large caliber rifles and compensated guns for a subjective test as well.

NRR and SNR aren't directly comparable, but SNR is a little higher than NRR for the same level of protection.

Comfort & Fit

If it isn't comfortable, you'll get a headache or end up adjusting them...just in time during an extra loud burst of shooting.

We've worn all of these for competitions (6+ hours) as competition Range Officers, which means we're extra close to the blasts.

And for helmet-mounted options, we've done numerous night-vision classes and shoots.

Bang-For-The-Buck

Guns and ammo are expensive already.

We keep your budget in mind for our choices and have some favorites, all the way from disposable foam earplugs to $50 affordable versions, all the way up to $500 professional-grade electronic earmuffs.

Wear Style

We segment the options based on wear style...from passive options to electronic earmuffs and now the newest in-ear electronic and helmet-mounted options.

Shooting Ear Protection Comparison Chart

Best Shooting Ear Protection

1. Peltor ComTac V - Editor's Overall Pick

Editor's Overall Pick

Peltor ComTac V

$519at OpticsPlanet

Prices accurate at time of writing

$519at OpticsPlanet

Midway USA (See Price)

Amazon (See Price)

Specs

• Protection Level: 23dB NRR
• Weight: 12 oz
• Batteries: 2 AAA

We start off with what are the best pair of shooting earmuffs in terms of sound and build quality.

I do know it's at a price point and features point that is way above average shooters.

With typical electronic ear protection, there's some degradation in sound quality, especially when talking with someone.

It just sounds compressed.

But with the ComTac V, you can barely tell that you have anything over your ears. And the omnidirectional mics really help you with telling where sounds actually come from.

There are lots of tuning options available, including an equalizer and balance settings. Plus a "earplug mode" that makes everything 6 dB louder in case you're doubling up with earplugs.

I love that function when we're shooting .30 caliber guns with big brakes. I get the extra double-up protection without losing ambient sounds.

Got comms? It comes with inputs and also its own boom mic as an extra.

Comfort is great with the included headband and standard ear cups, although in really hot weather sweat does bead up on them.

But for nearly $500, it should come with gel pads.

Luckily, you can easily upgrade them for around $20.

And if you're springing for the ComTac Vs...you're probably going to mount them on a helmet.

I'm rocking my Hard Head Veterans ATE Lite ballistic helmet, and the ComTacs were easy to add onto their pop-out adapters that "pop out" for comfort without needing to lift and turn them.

Looking at the ComTac V versus the VI? The VI comes with a mode that lets you talk with other VI units without radios. So, unless your friends already have VIs, just go with the V.

And you'll be satisfied with the best sound quality electronic shooting earmuffs out there.

2. ShellShock Protection EXO PRO - Best Bang-For-The-Buck

Best Bang-For-The-Buck

ShellShock Protection EXO PRO Electronic Earmuff

$99at ShellShock Protection

Prices accurate at time of writing

$99at ShellShock Protection

Specs

• Protection Level: 22dB NRR / 28dB SNR
• Weight: 13 oz with batteries
• Batteries: 2 AAA

The Pew Pew Tactical team brings you our own brand, ShellShock Protection, that comes from our hundreds of hours shooting each year.

We've spec-ed our earmuffs and glasses to emphasize comfort and protection at a price that gives you great value.

Gel pads come standard on all our ear pro...a feature you only find on $200+ options. These pads help us stay comfy during our hours-long competitions and testing cycles.

22dB NRR / 28dB SNR and a .5ms attack time keep your hearing intact...all the while amplifying sounds you do want to hear, such as your buddies and range commands.

Plus, we have Free Shipping on everything and tax-free in most states .

EXO PRO Electronic units are $99, but we also have a 30% special for our Premium Eyes & Ears Combo Packs.

Best Eyes & Ears Combo

ShellShock Premium Eyes & Ears Combo (Electronic)

$135at ShellShock Protection

Prices accurate at time of writing

$135at ShellShock Protection

These include our ANSI-rated Z87.1+ Switch ballistic glasses that come with both Smoke & Clear lenses for shooting both indoors and out.

3. AXIL TRACKR - Best $50 Value

Best $50 Value

AXIL TRACKR Electronic Earmuffs

$49at Midway USA

Prices accurate at time of writing

$49at Midway USA

Amazon (See Price)

AXIL (See Price)

Specs

• Protection Level: 27dB SNR
• Weight: 12 oz
• Batteries: 2 AAA

Looking for something around the $50 mark? Our go-to pick is the AXIL TRACKR for an affordable and performing electronic headset.

Electronic ear protection cuts out harmful shooting sounds but amplifies regular sounds like people talking.

Great for hearing important commands at the range and animal sounds if you're hunting.

Our entire team tested out the TRACKR and found the padding and strap to be a bit tight out of the box, but very comfortable once you stretched them out a little bit.

But the electronics were what really performed.

At the range, they did a great job of blocking out shots and amplifying speech. When I tested them out in my home office, I was somewhat surprised.

I was able to hear a conversation in another room, a bird tweeting outside, and my own breathing. AXIL's background in hearing aids shines through in the amplification.

NRR comes in at 25dB, which is great for thin-profile electronic earmuffs and enough for a day at the range unless you go into really big-boy caliber ranges.

Price is $64 for a single unit, which is slightly higher than other budget options, but AXIL has a great deal of buying 2 for $99.

There's also a Bluetooth version rated at 27dB where you can also enjoy tunes with a paired device. Separate volume switches allow you to dial the ambient noise or music to your listening pleasure. You'll choose it at the bottom of the page with an extra $30 per headphone.

What do you think about AXIL? Rate it below!

4. Ear Buddy Foam Earplugs - Best Foam Earplugs

Best Foam Earplugs

Ear Buddy Foam Earplugs

$21at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$21at Amazon

Specs

• Protection Level: 32dB NRR
• 50 Pairs

These are the most affordable of the bunch and are really protective at 32dB NRR (noise reduction rating).

Great for beginners starting out in shooting sports or for doubling up on ear protection under earmuffs if you're next to really loud guns.

They take up hardly any space so I always have some in my range bag in case I forgot my larger ones or I have guests.

Remember to fully compress them before sticking them into your ears.

However, it's not all roses...sometimes foam earplugs work TOO well and block out things you want to hear.

And if you have smaller or larger ear canals compared to the average perso,n it might not feel or work that great either.

There are tons of other foam options, but I would stay away from pure cylindrical ones...those are not very comfy:

• NRR 32: Individually Packaged
• NRR 32: With Connecting Cord

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5. 3M Peltor Optime 105 - Most Protective Passive

Most Protective Passive

3M Peltor Optime

$36at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$36at Amazon

Specs

• Protection Level: 30dB NRR
• Weight: 12 oz

Traditional "passive" earmuffs are worn on a headband and feature foam pads that cover and form a seal around the entire ear. 

The Optime 105 on the left is super protective with 30dB NRR, but is also quite bulky.

It's not heavy, but it will seriously cramp your cheekweld situation for rifles and shotguns because its large size will hit the stock and get in the way.

Great if you're starting out and shooting handguns...and especially if you're at an indoor range where the sound reverberates more than outdoors.

6. Axil XCOR - Best In-Ear Electronic

Best In-Ear Electronic

AXIL XCOR

$129at AXIL

Prices accurate at time of writing

$129at AXIL

Amazon (See Price)

Midway USA (See Price)

Specs

• Protection Level: 29dB SNR
• Weight: 6 oz (with case)
• Batteries: Internal Rechargeable

Say goodbye to bulky over-the-ear muffs!

These are the next generation of hearing protection, allowing you to protect your ears, enhance the things you want to hear, and still provide a great cheek weld.

Using the XCOR, I didn't miss having a cord on the back of my neck or large earmuffs in the way.

The XCOR comes with a recharging case, USB cable, and a packet of different-sized foam plugs. You'll want to spend some time finding the right size.

Too small, you won't get the protection you need; too big, they'll be uncomfortable after a while.

I've used these for a few months now, and they seem to do a good job at both protecting me from gunshots and allowing me to hear my team. I like that I can turn active hearing on or off with a touch. I also appreciate being able to listen to music and answer calls if needed.

On a recent flight, I used these to drown out the sounds of a crying baby and listen to soothing music. Thank you, 29db SNR!

7. MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X - Best For Competitions

Best For Competitions

MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X

$319at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$319at Amazon

Midway USA (See Price)

Specs

• Protection Level: 22dB NRR
• Weight: 12 oz
• Batteries: 2 AA

Most of my fellow competitors wear MSA Sordins for their comfort and sound quality.

I finally caved after I became a range officer for a couple of competitions. That meant constant blasts for hours while still needing to hear everything.

I simply asked my competition buddies, “What are the best electronic ear muffs?” and the MSA’s got the majority of votes.

They already have built-in gel caps, and there are a couple of colors. I, of course, went with the camo...

They are comfy for hours with their gel caps, have easily accessible button controls, great sound cutoff, and compression, and allow for earplugs if the decent 22db NRR doesn't cut it.

The quality of the sound is also great. There's no buzzing when things are quiet; it seems the cutoff is faster when there's a loud noise, and voices sound better.

However, one annoying thing is that one of the batteries tends to get jammed, and you'll need to carefully knock the entire unit if you want to change it.

Plus, they can attach to ballistic helmets and comms if that's your thing...however, you'll need to crack open the glued housing.

8. Safariland Liberators - Best for Helmet Mounting

Best for Helmet Mounting

Safariland Liberator HP 2.0

$359at Safariland

Prices accurate at time of writing

$359at Safariland

Specs

• Protection Level: 22dB NRR
• Run Time: 160-300 hrs
• Batteries: 2 AA or CR123

What I have on my old night vision setup before the ComTac V...

Very comfortable with gel cups and great simultaneous blocking of loud gunshots while still amplifying sounds I want to hear (eg, range commands).

These are much easier to mount onto helmets compared to the Sordins since they don't require opening anything up...you just need the Unity SARA clips and Unity Mark 2 Rail Kit, which lets you fold it back when not in use.

9. Walker's Razor Slim Muff - Also Good Electronic Earmuffs

Also Good Electronic Earmuffs

Walker’s Razor Slim Muffs

$23at Midway USA

Prices accurate at time of writing

$23at Midway USA

Amazon (See Price)

OpticsPlanet (See Price)

Specs

• Protection Level: 23db NRR
• Weight: 12 oz
• Batteries: 2 AAA

These Walker's look great, and performance is on par for their price points. A good solution for a beginner electronic ear pro if you didn't pick up the AXILs above.

They are head-to-head against the Impact Sports (with one more dB of NRR).

And keep in mind the Walkers don't have AUX-in if that's important to you. For myself...I've never had the need to use AUX-in since I'm not running music in or comms. I prefer to be fully ready to hear range commands.

And, oh yes...they also have access to Upgraded Gel Pads which make it so much comfier and creates a better seal against your shooting glasses.

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10. Howard Leight Impact Sport - Runner-Up Electronic Earmuff

Runner-Up Electronic Earmuff

Howard Leight Impact Sport

$67at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$67at Amazon

Midway USA (See Price)

Brownells (See Price)

Specs

• Protection Level: 22dB NRR
• Weight: 12 oz
• Batteries: 2 AAA

These are the OG affordable electronic ear pro.

They are super popular for a reason. They are affordable, and they work...39K reviews on Amazon with a 4.7-star average.

Tons of both beginners and advanced shooters are still rocking them.

It's the first pair of electronic earmuffs people get when they are tired of yelling "WHAT?!?" when someone speaks to them at the range.

Affordable, decent protection at 22dB NRR, slim for rifle/shotgun shooting, and reasonably comfortable. Plus, they come with AUX-in for devices.

11. 3M Shotgunner II - Best Passive Cheekweld

Best Passive Cheekweld

3M Shotgunner II

$25at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$25at Amazon

Specs

• Protection Level: 24dB NRR
• Weight: 9 oz

For going slim...I really like the 3M Shotgunner.

I painted mine over, and it served me well for years, especially when I wanted something simple and slim for pistol shooting with a little bit of rifle thrown in.

It's decent protection at the base 24dB model, but you can always double up if it gets really loud with compensated rifles. 

Comfort is average, but I found it to be fine for a few hours if I can take it off my ears when they call for a cold range to fix targets. The earcup material can get a little sticky from sweat, so I usually take the downtime to wipe them off as well.

12. SureFire EP3 Sonic Defenders - Best Reusable Earplugs

Best Reusable Earplugs

Surefire EP3 Sonic Defenders

$17at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$17at Amazon

Midway USA (See Price)

OpticsPlanet (See Price)

Specs

• Protection Level: 24dB NRR
• Weight: Very Light

Want something reusable that gives you two levels of hearing protection?

Enter Surefire EP3 Sonic Defenders, which have "filter caps" you can choose to have in or out.

Having it open gives you still decent protection against gunshots, but allows you to hear range commands and regular talking.

Having them in gives you a decent 24dB NRR of protection. They fit very wel,l but keep in mind there are sizes...I am comfy with Mediums above.

Great for outdoor ranges and "normal" calibers...but if you're shooting indoors or shooting magnums, I'd double-up with these inside and then earmuffs over.

13. Axil GS Extreme 2.0 - Runner-Up In-Ear

Runner-Up In-Ear

AXIL GS Extreme 2.0 Electronic Ear Bud

$99at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$99at Amazon

Midway USA (See Price)

AXIL (See Price)

OpticsPlanet (See Price)

Specs

• Protection Level: 29dB SNR
• Weight: 1 oz
• Batteries: Internal Rechargeable
• Battery Life: 25 hrs active or 120 hrs standby

We tried the first generation of GS Extremes and were not impressed. But...the newest generation is great.

However, we must note that you have to really fit the ear with the foam plugs.

They come in a variety of sizes, and so far, the three of us who tested them could find a size that worked.

Another note is that the smaller silicone plugs are just for music...not for blasting guns.

Now you'll have no excuse to have a good cheekweld...but make sure to put some sunblock on your ears (we learned the hard way).

As for price, they are decent at $129 for one pair, but Axil currently has a great deal of 2 pairs for $199.

How Sound Damages Your Ears

Everyone always talks about the middle ear. That’s mainly the eardrum and those three little bones with cool names: the hammer, anvil, and stirrup.

But what really causes hearing damage, though, is what happens in the inner ear.

Inside, picture a spiral staircase. Only this passage is just 2 millimeters wide and maybe 30 millimeters long, all coiled up.

Sound races along the outside of the staircase, but in the middle are the organ of Corti (yup, sounds ominous) and the basilar membrane.

Both are long and thin, with the organ resting on the membrane. All along this little assembly are tiny hairs. They register sound and transmit it through the auditory nerve to your brain.

But — and here’s the kicker — exposure to an intense sound that’s 140 dB or more can make segments of the organ of Corti separate from the basilar membrane. Portions of it actually tear away and float around.

So you end up with an inflamed lesion that causes an accompanying chemical reaction. Hairs die. Scar tissue forms, and even with rest, the tiny hairs typically continue to degenerate. A cascade effect takes over, and the entire auditory central nervous system goes deaf.

Researchers suspect that tinnitus — that high-pitched noise inside your head that won’t go away — “begins as a result of the brain trying to regain the ability to hear the sound frequencies it has lost by turning up the signals of neighboring frequencies.”

One more thing: noise exposure is cumulative. Each loud sound is killing ear hairs, so you need to be thinking about total exposure over the course of days, weeks, and years.

Ready for some hearing protection yet?

Pregnant Women, Take Note

If you're looking to go to the range while you're pregnant, there are some special considerations that you should know before going.

Check out our complete article Shooting While Pregnant for more details!

Proper Hearing Protection

First of all, forget cotton balls, tissue, packing peanuts, or my personal old-shooter favorite, cigarette filters. 

While they are better than nothing, they are also next to nothing. At best, you’ll get a reduction of maybe 7dB.

Effective choices for hearing protection come down to

• earplugs
• earmuffs
• combinations of the two and
• some techy alternatives with sound-circuit technology.

There are so many options, there’s no reason not to protect your ear hairs. From neon foam-on-strings to high-tech headphones, there’s something for everyone. 

What you should be looking for is a minimum noise reduction of 15dB, but 30dB is preferable. Pair a good set of plugs with muffs, and you might shut out another 10 to 15dB or so.

You know the load you like to shoot, but a conservative 140dB is a common figure for an average muzzle blast. A .22 will be less, a magnum more. 

With quality protection, you can start approaching a range that’s still loud — as in chainsaw or sandblast loud — but may be up to 1,000 times quieter.

Meet the Experts

Pew Pew Tactical Founder and CEO, Eric Hung, led the research, testing, and evaluation for this article. Eric has extensive experience as an NRA-certified pistol instructor and 3-Gun, USPSA, and NRL22 competitor. He's also taken courses in pistol, carbine, CCW, shotgun, & precision shooting. All of this adds up to lots of time with ear pro on while at the range and in class. This gives him a unique insight into how shooting ear protection should fit, comfort level over long periods of time, and also the safety aspects behind them.

Final Thoughts

To sum it all up...

• Editor's Overall Pick: Peltor ComTac V
• Best Bang-For-The-Buck: ShellShock Protection EXO PRO
• Best Foam Earplugs: Ear Buddy
• Best Competition Model: MSA Supreme Pro X
• Best In-Ear: AXIL XCOR

Let me know if there's any that we missed. And if you're looking for Best Shooting Glasses or Best Shooting Gloves, click those links to see our other hands-on reviews.

Latest Updates

• December 2025 - Added additional media and information after more testing
• November 2024 - Added Peltor Comtac V.
• March 2024 - Added ShellShock Protection and Safariland options. Removed Gold Ears and Impact Pros. Added information to Sordins.
• November 2023 - Updated list, added additional information, and fact-checked by Editor-in-Chief.