Warbird Intrepid BT – Upgraded Ear Protection for Pros

In the modern land of electronic ear protection there’s really three camps: the entry-level protection for casual shooters, the mid-level items for heavier volume shooters and the premium-priced, top-of-the line gear for professionals and those who closely guard their health. While the entry level will always be dominated by the least expensive options, the WarBird … Read more

A Visit to Axil’s Booth for a Hearing Test and Custom Fitting

I shoot quite a lot, as you might imagine. I’ve also been shooting a heck of a lot of suppressed firearms, which I typically do without hearing protection on/in my ears because I’m often reviewing the performance of the suppressors themselves. While this is usually, in theory, “hearing safe,” that isn’t the case with every … Read more

Things That Don’t Suck: ToughTested Ranger BlueTooth Earbuds

I have a lot of hearing protection options. In the ear, over the ear, custom molded, electronic, passive…if they make them, I have them or have tried them. I took the first plunge into the Bluetooth-enabled hearing protection world with a pair of Peltor Sport Tactical 500 muffs, which still top my list as best … Read more

Gear Review: Etymotic GunSport PRO Electronic Earplugs

Electronic hearing protection is the solution to hearing range commands, conversation, and ambient sounds while simultaneously protecting from loud noises. Founded in 1983, Etymotic Research has been designing hearing aids and earphones almost as long as I’ve been alive, and is one of the few U.S.-based hearing aid manufacturers. They know ears, hearing, and hearing … Read more

Gear Review: Hunter SMART Bluetooth Active Headset

Ever wanted to take phone calls and jam out to ABBA while shooting? There’s an app for that: Sweden’s Hunter Electronic Hunter SMART ear pro. It’s active electronic hearing protection with built-in Bluetooth, now available in the U.S. of A . . . Without batteries, Hunter’s cans are ~23 NRR muffs that work in the standard, “dumb” way. Turn … Read more

Friends, (Gun) Owners, Countrymen . . . Lend me Your Ears

As I’ve mentioned here before, I was a professional musician long before I was a shooter. I’m also the son, grandson, great-grandson, etc. etc. etc. of musicians. As such, I make a part of my daily bread with my ears. And just like a dancer that needs to protect their legs or a visual artist that needs to protect their eyes, I’m fairly fanatical on protecting my ears. In fact, I carry a pair of hi-tech earplugs with me just about all the time. Unfortunately, last Saturday night, I forgot them. And that was the night I attended the reunion of a local 60s band at a downtown night spot. From 9PM ’til almost 1AM, I was in a relatively small, enclosed space, getting bombarded with loud noises. And the result of my little adventure got me to thinking about shooting and ear protection.

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