Protect your hearing
Ear protection for shooting, explained from the NRR up
Gunfire is loud enough to damage hearing in a single shot. Here's what the number on the box means, which type to buy first, and when to wear two kinds at once.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026 · 13 pages in this hub
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Start here
Best Hearing Protection
Top pick: Howard Leight Impact Sport. The easiest first electronic muff: NRR 22, a slim cup Howard Leight says clears a firearm stock, and a 4-hour auto shut-off so a forgotten switch doesn't drain the AAAs.
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Ranked picks
Our top picks
Ranked picks
Best Hearing Protection
Six ear pro picks for new shooters, from the NRR 22 Impact Sport electronic muff to NRR 33 foam plugs, with the NRR on the box explained in plain English.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Top pick: Howard Leight Impact Sport · 6 ranked
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Ranked picks
Best Electronic Ear Muffs
Six electronic ear muffs ranked for beginners, from the NRR 22 Howard Leight Impact Sport to the NRR 30 Impact Pro, with batteries, auto shut-off and cup profile compared.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Top pick: Howard Leight Impact Sport · 6 ranked
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Ranked picks
Best Earplugs for Shooting
Seven shooting earplugs ranked for beginners, led by NRR 33 Howard Leight MAX-1 foam plugs, with reusable and electronic earbud options and their NRRs explained.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Top pick: Howard Leight MAX-1 · 7 ranked
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Ranked picks
Best Ear Protection for Indoor Ranges
High-NRR muffs and foam plugs to wear together at an indoor range, led by the NRR 30 Impact Pro over NRR 33 MAX-1 plugs, with the OSHA doubling-up rule explained.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Top pick: Howard Leight Impact Pro · 6 ranked
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Ranked picks
Best Kids' Ear Protection
Seven kids' and youth ear muffs with published NRRs, from Walker's baby muff (6 months to 8 years) to electronic youth muffs, with the fit check to do before the range.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Top pick: Allen ULTRX Children's Passive Earmuff · 7 ranked
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Side by side
Comparisons
Head to head
Walker's Razor vs Impact Sport
The Impact Sport publishes its battery life, auto shut-off and amplification cutoff; the Walker's Razor Slim Electronic gives you NRR 23 and a low-profile cup. Which one fits a beginner.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Featured pick: Howard Leight Impact Sport
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Head to head
Impact Sport vs Impact Pro
The Impact Pro is rated NRR 30 and built for loud indoor pistol bays; the Impact Sport is NRR 22 with a slim cup for rifle stocks. Everything else, from batteries to shut-off, is the same.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Featured pick: Howard Leight Impact Sport
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Head to head
Electronic vs Passive Muffs
Electronic muffs protect through the same cups and cushions as passive ones, then add microphones so you can hear range commands. Here's when that's worth having, and when a plain muff wins.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Featured pick: Howard Leight Impact Sport
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Head to head
Earplugs vs Earmuffs
Foam earplugs top the NRR charts but only if you insert them right; earmuffs are simpler to fit and can amplify range commands, but glasses can break their seal. Indoors, wear both.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Featured pick: Howard Leight Impact Sport
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Know-how
Guides
Guide
What NRR Do I Need?
NRR is an EPA-mandated lab rating of roughly 0 to 30. The EPA's own label rule warns it may not indicate protection from gunfire, so here is how to read it and what to buy.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Featured pick: Howard Leight MAX-1
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Guide
How Loud Is a Gunshot?
Gunshots peak at roughly 140 to 175 dB at the shooter's ear, well past the 140 dB impulse limit OSHA and NIOSH use. The published numbers by firearm type, and why indoor ranges are worse.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Featured pick: Howard Leight MAX-1
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Guide
Double Hearing Protection
Wearing earplugs under earmuffs gave far more peak reduction than either alone in NIOSH's gunfire measurements, yet OSHA credits the second layer with only 5 dB on paper. When to double up, and how.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Featured pick: Howard Leight MAX-1
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Guide
Ear Protection With Glasses
Glasses temples under ear muff cushions let sound leak in: NIOSH measured 18 dB of peak reduction for muffs worn with safety glasses, against 26 dB without. Thin temples, a strap and foam plugs fix it.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Featured pick: Howard Leight Impact Sport
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From other hubs
Keep going
Range Basics
Best Ear & Eye Combos
Seven eye and ear protection kits ranked on the muff's published NRR and the glasses' stated impact rating, with the fit problem nobody mentions: glasses arms under muff cushions.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Top pick: Howard Leight Shooting Sports Safety Combo Kit · 7 ranked
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Range Basics
Indoor vs Outdoor Range
What changes between indoor and outdoor ranges for a beginner: louder indoor bays (double up your ear pro), sun and tinted Z87+ lenses outdoors, target rules and lead hygiene.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Featured pick: Howard Leight Impact Pro
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Eye Protection
Best OTG Shooting Glasses
Six over-the-glasses pairs that clear the high-impact gate, led by the Pyramex OTS, and the one measurement to take off your own glasses before you buy anything.
By Mike M. · Updated September 2026
Top pick: Pyramex OTS · 6 ranked
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