Walker's Razor Slim Ultra Low Profile Compact Design Adjustable Range Shooting Hunting Hearing Protection Electronic Earmuffs

I bought these hearing protection earmuffs for shooting at the range, and in that environment, they work really well. Gunshots are muffled effectively, and the sound dampening is just right. You can still hear range commands clearly without any ringing in your ears afterward. For that purpose, they’re a solid win.However, I made the mistake of bringing them to a NASCAR race... and wow, not the right choice. While they do reduce engine noise a bit, I could still hear every single side conversation, beer can opening, and person coughing like they were right next to me. It felt like the mics were actually amplifying the crowd noise rather than protecting me from the roar of the cars.So, if you're looking for hearing protection for shooting sports or controlled environments, these are great. But for loud, chaotic events like races or concerts? Look elsewhere. You’ll end up hearing more people than engines.

To start I would like to say that I have paid full price for every piece of digital hearing protection that I possess, and am not receiving anything for this/any review! I have been rather obsessed with finding the best protection over the years because I care about my hearing, will never stop shooting guns, and want to be comfortable while enjoying guns :) . I own every single one of the hearing pro sets that I discuss. If you don't want to/have time to read the whole review, I'm putting my conclusion at the top. Feel free to read the rest to figure out why I answered this way.But here is the quick bottom line:Do not buy a knock off brand. I do not own any of them, but have tried them. Not worth saving a few dollars. Of the more affordable name brands: Walker, 3M, or Howard Leight... The Walkers are by far the best and most comfortable. But if you have a tiny bit more $ to spend, search for the "AKT1 Sport". Are they worth the extra money? Yes, absolutely - buy the AKT1's if you can afford them. If you already own some 3M's, Howard Leight's or Walker's and are looking for a major upgrade without breaking the bank, go for the AKT1's. I have not noticed a difference in sound or comfort (just design) between different Walker models, but I did notice the difference in sound and comfort when I got the AKT1's! Should you just save your money and buy the "Gucci" of ear pro, ComTacs or MSA Sordins? Probably not, but maybe depending on need.The details:In the $50 - $100ish range I own 5 models: Walker's Razor Slim & XCell, Howard Leight's Impact Sport, 3M's Peltor Sport Tacs, and the AKT1 Sport's.The best hearing protection does two things. 1 - it protects your hearing, 2 - it should not be a burden or painful to wear. Walker's, Howard Leight's, and 3M's are not very comfortable for shooting after about an hour, and on my wife (smaller head) they are actually painful to wear for more than about 10 minutes. Each of them also make you sweat because of the material of the cup pads.Howard Leight - I put HL in 5th place because the sound quality is quite "electronic-y", and they are just downright uncomfortable for any period of time. The sound amplification of quiet sounds is quite substantial and impressive at times, however the quality of the sound itself is lacking. I don't need to hear a whisper from across the room if I can't determine whether the whisper came from a robot or a human. (Robots, although friendly looking, are usually evil, so it's important to know the difference)3M's Peltor Sport Tacs - are in 4th place because their price point was a little higher, they are still uncomfortable for long periods of time, and they are also a bit bulky for shooting rifles. The cheek plate on a rifle is almost guaranteed to nudge these muffs and cause your shooting ear to have decreased protection. They still have a bit of an artificial electronic sound, but seem to have the best overall hearing protection in this price range when shooting larger calibers or indoors (as long as you can avoid the cheek plate nudge).Walker's - The XCEL and Razor models are tied with each-other for 3rd and 2nd place. They beat out HL's & 3M's just because they are a bit more comfortable. But they are tied with each-other because they don't really have a noticeable difference in sound quality or protection. I think they are both the same Walker tech, just different designs and price points. They are both a little more comfortable, and noticeably less "electronic-y" sounding than the Howard's or 3M's. The sound amplification of quiet sounds is pretty impressive. But in order to make them comfortable for extended shooting times you'll have to spend $ on upgraded gel pads.The AKT1's - take first place. I found these on Amazon and never heard of them prior to that. But I am very happy to have found them! There are only 2 little negatives: 1- they are still a bit bulky (although light weight) so the cheek plate of a rifle does nudge them, and 2 - the amplification of quiet sounds is not quite as dramatic as the other brands. However they take first place because the fit is incredibly better on the AKT1 than any of the models mentioned previously. This is true for both large and small heads actually. I think this simply because the band seems to have had a lot of thought/development put into it, and the pads on the ear cups are either real leather or really nice fake leather. Unlike the other models listed above, these are comfortable out of the box. You don't have to upgrade the pads because they are super soft and that alone is quite impressive. The sound quality is also remarkable. They may lack in magnitude of amplification, but the microphone & speakers work together to provide the least artificial sounds of any other headset I have worn (including ComTacs and Sordins). It is sometimes hard to tell if they are even turned on when someone is talking to you, because the sound quality is so good it sounds like their real life voice.Lastly the $200-$400 range:Peltor ComTac's and MSA Sordin Supreme Pro-X's are pretty equivalent to eachother - I cannot decide which of these are actually better. I can say that I like the sound quality of the the speakers in the AKT1's better than both of these high dollar headsets. However they both feel more durable than the AKT1's, and the sound dampening tech in the ComTacs and Sordins are noticeably more advanced than any of the lower priced sets. If you can afford the $200-400 price, then go for them. If you need to use coms while wearing ear protection, buy them. They are the only brands that have a substantial amount of radio/mic/helmet mounting accessories readily available - and the only two that I would trust for coms reliability. The major benefit is the platform they provide. Most (if not all) come with the gel padded cups and I would buy a set with the genuine leather band cover if you use the top headband style. I prefer the Sordins, as they just seem to fit my head better than any other brand, and I am a fan of the brand name. I have not tried the newest Sordin model yet though... so I may have to update this. Are they that much better than the cheaper models? For very specific reasons yes... but if you are not actually needing the coms platform, then buy the AKT1's. Yeah, I think the AKT1's are that good!

These muffs offer a 23 dB Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) with sound-activated compression that kicks in within 0.02 seconds to block gunfire noise while amplifying safe sounds via two hi-gain omnidirectional microphones. You’ll hear range commands or wildlife clearly, crucial for Norway’s remote settings. The low-profile ear cups and padded headband ensure comfort, even for extended wear, and the pink color adds flair. Amazon users love the clarity, with one saying, “I hear whispers 25 yards away, but shots are blocked instantly.” At $50-$70, it’s a great value, especially on sale (some colors drop below $30). The compact, foldable design stores easily in your Solid Tactical Ammo Can.

I had a pair of electronic ear muffs before, of a different brand, and they worked very well by shutting off the microphones as soon as a relatively high dB noise was detected. Unfortunately, I stored them without removing the batteries and one of the batteries leaked, damaging the wiring.However, these work EVEN BETTER! When these ear muffs detect a high dB noise, they only silence the high dB, not all sound. That's really impressive! And the price is definitely worth it!

This is great, my husband has really gotten into shooting lately and he bought himself a pair. I went out with him and had to use ear plugs and was not having a good time with the ear plugs. My husband told me to try his headphones, and I realized they were really great and purchased one for myself. We love that we can talk to each other and hear everything while still having the protection to save our ears. Mine are a little tight on my head so I switch with my husband, and we are both happy. If you are thinking about buying these, you should do it!