Recommendations for noise-reduction earmuffs/headphones?
By(This is in the "hunting" category because I’m looking at products used at shooting ranges)
THE SITUATION: I’m a college student living in a dorm on an urban campus. In addition to dealing with the noises typical of living in a dorm and living in a busy downtown area, there is construction work going on about 50 yards from my window from early morning into the late evening. It is so loud that I can’t talk on the phone in my room, because people on the other line think that I am actually at the construction site due to all the noise. As you can imagine, this amount of noise makes studying nearly impossible. I wear earplugs while sleeping, and by the time I wake up my ears ache too much to continue to wear them throughout the day.
THE QUESTION: I’m looking for a good pair of noise-reduction earmuffs to block out some of the louder construction noise- preferably something with an adjustable headband that will be comfortable to wear for extended periods of time, that will reduce hearing by around 28 dB (no less than 25 dB).
ADDITIONAL DETAILS: I’ve looked at several products in the Peltor line so far- the "97010 Ultimate Hearing Protector", the H10A and the H9A. Do you have any experience with these? Do you think they would be what I am looking for?
Thanks in advance!
None of them is comfortable. There are in ear types and the muffs. The muffs that fit snug will cause fatigue in a hour or less and cause sweat inside. The ear plugs if fitted correctly will be the best and allow conversations. You can look at the different plugs from foam to soft rubber type at Cabela’s and Walmart and try the cheaper ones to see what fits. Everyone is different. I hate wearing them. I have had to wear them for years for a entire shift at work and in the military. All of them suck that I have found. A ear Doctor may have some that feel better. I would say the muffs are not a good choice.
Go with some good plugs.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0037460227874a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&sort=all&Ntk=Products&_D%3AhasJS=+&Go.y=0&selectedPerPage=72&Nty=1&hasJS=true&Ntt=ear+protection&_requestid=237668&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&Go.x=0
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0059522227677a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&sort=all&Ntk=Products&_D%3AhasJS=+&Go.y=0&selectedPerPage=72&Nty=1&hasJS=true&Ntt=ear+protection&_requestid=237668&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&Go.x=0
4 Comments
December 17th, 2009 at 3:27 am
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=671923
References :
December 17th, 2009 at 4:02 am
Each change in sound pressure of 3db is a doubling of the level. So, 23db is twice as loud as 20db.
28db may seem like the best - but - I believe it will be too much. You will never hear the phone ring, people knocking on your door, the smoke detector going off, etc etc.
For extended wear - comfort is more important than a few db from one product to another. Compact models are the least comfortable. Full size models that do not collapse are best. The models you mention are inexpensive - around $20 - and may not be as comfortable as a more expensive model.
You should visit a safety supply store, or, a gun shop and ask to try them on before you decide. Specifically, you want to make sure your hair is not caught in the mechanics and it does not squeeze your mellon too hard.
Hope this helps
References :
December 17th, 2009 at 4:48 am
Try starting out with a $7.99 pair from Wal-Mart. You can remove the foam inserts in the ear cups if they reduce the noise too much. You can also buy protectors that have FM radios installed. I wear them while mowing the lawn so I can listen to the radio, but not hear the mower much.
Peltor is great, but since you’re not shooting, you don’t need to spend that much money.
References :
December 17th, 2009 at 5:34 am
None of them is comfortable. There are in ear types and the muffs. The muffs that fit snug will cause fatigue in a hour or less and cause sweat inside. The ear plugs if fitted correctly will be the best and allow conversations. You can look at the different plugs from foam to soft rubber type at Cabela’s and Walmart and try the cheaper ones to see what fits. Everyone is different. I hate wearing them. I have had to wear them for years for a entire shift at work and in the military. All of them suck that I have found. A ear Doctor may have some that feel better. I would say the muffs are not a good choice.
Go with some good plugs.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0037460227874a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&sort=all&Ntk=Products&_D%3AhasJS=+&Go.y=0&selectedPerPage=72&Nty=1&hasJS=true&Ntt=ear+protection&_requestid=237668&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&Go.x=0
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0059522227677a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH_all&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&sort=all&Ntk=Products&_D%3AhasJS=+&Go.y=0&selectedPerPage=72&Nty=1&hasJS=true&Ntt=ear+protection&_requestid=237668&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&Go.x=0
References :
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/common/search/search-results1.jsp?sort=all&Ntk=Products&_D%3AhasJS=+&Go.y=0&selectedPerPage=72&Nty=1&hasJS=true&Ntt=ear+protection&_requestid=237668&N=0&_D%3Asort=+&_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&Go.x=0&_DARGS=%2Fcabelas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jsp.form1
z