Custom Ear Plugs

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I am looking to get better ear plugs. I use howard leight impact sport electronic muffs and they work well. I usually double up muffs and disposable plugs.

shooting matches recently i have noticed the plugs don't stay put for hours at a time, and it is nice to take the muffs off occasionally, between the sweat and the shooting glasses the muffs become uncomfortable after a few hours, but I don't want to compromise my hear protection. I can get away with taking the muffs off in between stages and runs, but it would be nice to have better ear plugs as well

I am looking at radians ($11) and decibulls ($27). does anyone use these and are there other/better options out there? I don't want to waste $27, I don't want to go deaf, and my current system works, but it could be more comfortable and offer better protection.

AR15's with muzzle breaks pretty much require double ear pro.
 
I have a great pair custom made to fit perfectly, from a company called "EARinc.com" I see them occasionally at gun shows, motorcycle events and machinist trade shows. Made from some kind of soft rubber, they mix the two parts together (kind of like Bondo) squirt it in your ears and it forms to the exact shape of your ear.

It takes about a half hour to set and you are good to go. The cost is about $60-70 but worth the money. Mine are over 10 years old and still in great shape. I wear them every day at work and shooting and firewood cutting and mowing. Very comfortable.
They are a franchise so many different vendors to choose from.
Instamold, from EARinc.com, if you are lucky you will find a seller close by.

I have no affiliation with them, just a satisfied customer.
Regards
 
I got custom from a local franchisee of a product called Instamold.

They work really well. One of the things I really like, as compared to the foam plugs, is that you can wear them for a long time and they don't bug me like the expanding foam plugs do....because the custom ones don't push out on the ear canal.

Once I was at the range and I was the only person there. I was walking down range and checking targets and I realized I hadn't taken out my plugs. They were that comfortable, I forgot they were in.

They cost $65 with a lanyard. Did it while I waited. I saw the guy at a gun show and there was a line about 5 people deep. He was busier than all get out.

http://www.instamold.com/consumer-products/custom-molded-ear-plugs/
 
NRR Ratings
The highest NRR rating for earplugs is 33, and the highest available NRR rating for earmuffs is 31. These values reflect the level of noise protection available for each device when worn alone. Combining earplugs with earmuffs can offer a NRR protection level of 36. Manufacturers produce different types of earplugs and earmuffs to reach these ratings. Generally, higher-quality devices that cost more receive a higher NRR rating.
Click to expand...
https://www.protectear.com/nrr-rating/

As long as they are rated 32, Whats the difference?

I bought these to wear under my muffs. Walkers (yellow) https://www.midwayusa.com/s?targetLocation=/_/N-10578?Np=2&Nr=AND%28p_visible%3A1%2Ccustomertypeid%3A1%29&Nrpp=24&Ns=p_price%7C0%7C%7Cp_metric_sales_velocity%7C1&Ntpc=1&Ntpr=1&userItemsPerPage=48&persistedItemsPerPage=0&sortBy=p_price|0||p_metric_sales_velocity|1

Combining earplugs with earmuffs doesn't seem to double the protecton.
 
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I have a set from an outfit called DBblocker. They are quite nice. I dont know what they cost though. A guy came out to my work, made a casting of my ear, and a week or two later I had some custom ear plugs.
 
243winxb said:
Combining earplugs with earmuffs doesn't seem to double the protecton
Click to expand...

It doesn't. Plugs and muffs attenuate at different efficiencies over different frequencies so they don't "add up" as you might think just by looking at the NRR. Also, dB is a logarithmic measure of sound pressure level so you don't double a number for adding them together.
 
I have a custom molded set from clear silicone and been using it for about 6 years - it is great for long range sessions, even in a hot and humid summer! Sadly, I don't remember the exact company's product that was used, but they did mix a two part siliconish substance that is used to make an imprint of your ear canal and then the casting is used to make a mold for the real earplugs. I have seen similar offerings in the US for about $80-100. It's expensive, but I believe they are worth it. Pair that with a good set of earmuffs and you can stand right next to the muzzle end of a shooting M2 MG (.50 BMG) without any problem. Tested and confirmed by yours truly. The only downsize to that combo is that one is practically deaf with it.
 
I have used Walker's during hunting season and they work well for the cheeck/stock contact. They are the type of electronic suppression that shut off at the shot instead of dampening like the bigearinc. I didn't buy the Walker's, they were a friends. We only put them on for the shot and not worn all day.

Look at bigearinc also, they have a variety of quality earplugs. The bigearinc suppress the sound as opposed to shutting off. I just find that shut off and recovery to be annoying. You can visit here to find a perfect one for you.
 
Just plugs, like the silly-putty type molded ones or custom plugs as in the electronic in-the-ear ones? (The latter will run several hundred dollars)

In any event, $27 isn't a waste of it saves your hearing. I have bad tinnitus, not all from shooting, and it can NEVER be reversed. If you're young, protect your eyes and ears or you will regret it when you get old like me......
 
I bought a set of the Radians ones on clearance at Walmart for $7; They work well for Trap; I only wear them on the line, and switch to electronic muffs off the line, so I can hear conversation. I put both in/on when shooting Mosin Nagants.
 
Since my last post in the Radians brand, I have also bought the Decibullz. I believe I like them a little better. I like that you can boil them again to refit them if needed.
 
I had two pairs of molded-in-place plugs. Neither was quiet or comfortable.
I THINK what happened was that the vendor rammed the mix in too hard and distorted my ears. So they didn't really fit. Foam is too cheap for me to try molded again.
 
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