Get These Now Before You Hurt Yourself

rlkeeney · Post by **rlkeeney** » Sat May 03, 2014 10:05 am

I buy three or four headphones a year. I like to listen to pod casts or music while I'm working in the garden or other non noise hazard activity. I will not buy head phones that are not the behind the neck style. The ones that go over the top of your head will fall off when you bend over. I would freak out if I dropped a $300 headphone. Over the head types only work for me for sitting and standing if I have to bend over I don't want them.

For hearing protection:

For general use I go to foam ear plugs. They are cheap and work well for me. I have two different types I use. E-A-R Classic are my go to ear plug.

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I wore these for years in the Air Force eight to ten hours per day. They attenuate the noise by 29db. They are reusable and washable in mild soap and water. They are very cheap when purchased in quantity. If I loose them no big deal.

For shooting quieter guns I use Peltor electronic ear muffs.

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If I'm shooting something loud like big bore rifles I use Peltor 30db muffs.

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If the gun is very loud like a Mosin-Negant carbine I wear muffs and earplugs.

I can also wear these with ear buds under them. Not exactly noise canceling but it works amazingly well.

I wasn't pleased with Peltor's customer support. Except for the pads and ear plugs they will not sell you parts except for the pads and windscreens. They will repair them but the cost of repairs plus shipping was more than new muffs costs. I don't know how this works now since it looks like 3M owns Peltor.

The Peltors both have over the head bands that I don't like. It limits the use of a hat to baseball caps and to use a baseball cap with them I have to pry off the button on top of the cap or it makes a sore spot on top of my head. They will fall off your head when you bend over. Especially if you are sweating. This is why I needed parts. When I got mine there were few options available but now there are many including behind the neck bands.

Harbor Freight sells electronic muffs that work pretty well if you can get past them being mono. I keep some of these to use for loaners when I have a guest with me at the range.

Over the past 40 years I have worn many types of ear plugs. The foam ear plugs are, for me, buy far the best. I never found any with a string on them that I could stand. I can hear the string rubbing and find this very annoying.

I had custom fitted ear plugs once and didn't like them. Fortunately I didn't pay for them. I could have bought several cases of foam plugs for what they cost.

I wish some one made a good set of electronic muffs with stereo and bluetooth so I would not have deal with the cables. Right now I route headphone/earbud cables under my clothing so they don't get caught on things.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Sat May 03, 2014 12:23 pm

db5 wrote: . . . . The ear protection without the plugs was adequate even though I have a 2000hz loss due to the USMC small arms fire.
. . .

Me too! 2200- Hz up. Fergit the cotton on qual day. Shot 219(expert - 1) with one round left after 9 rounds at 500 yds.(but that is another story!:D)

At least that is my conclusion. Acoustic trauma was the 'word'. A DI shouting in my ear could not possibly have been a contributing factor.

WmZiggy · Post by **WmZiggy** » Sat May 03, 2014 5:12 pm

Interesting conversations here and on a good safety topic.

Somewhere along the line I heard that those of us born before car air conditioning came along such that we rode with the windows down on warm days have more damage in our ears than those born after AC. This is especially true for those of us who drove them in our left ear.

I also heard that hammering - loud bangs like a gun only with a hammer in the shop or on a project - can cause hearing loss. I don't always wear Bose, and have over the ear sets at each power tool within easy reach.

Concerning tractors, I was amazed at how much quieter my John Deer 534, which I got last Spring, is to my old 335. No doubt EPA or others at work here. I still always wear hearing protection to keep what I have.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Sat May 03, 2014 6:21 pm

Chain saws, skidding cats, heel booms, helicopters, a surplus Beaver aircraft, why worry? Woodworkig tools?

Pardon me, whats that you say? Huh?

Seems I just lost hearing to my wife's voice.-- Sometimes.

terrydowning · Post by **terrydowning** » Mon May 05, 2014 1:13 pm

rlkeeney for your submission

Behind the head with MP3 Connection cabelling