hearing protection in really cold weather?

Status
Not open for further replies.

SunnySlopes

Member
Joined
Nov 3, 2011
Messages
1,209
I wear Leights electronic muffs when I hunt. They allow me to hear surrounding noises while muffling anything above 82 dB (?).

But in extremely cold weather, say you're wearing something like this.

60270.02-2.jpg.jpg


You can't wear the muffs underneath. And you can't wear them on top of.

How do you hunt in extremely cold weather?
 
You still need to wear full hearing protection. I used to just use an ear plug in my muzzle ear (the ear that faces the muzzle when shooting).

I learned the hard way when hunting in extreme cold. The colder the air temperature, the more dense the air is. This causes sound waves to be more pronounced and it is easier to sustain ear injuries.
 
The same thing I do in really hot weather. Ball cap, earmuffs, and possibly ear plugs underneath the earmuffs.

If it's something where I can get away with ear plugs only (pistols, .22lr, basically) I will do that, and wear a balaclava/warm hat as well.
 
I use Surefire Sonic Defender ear plugs serve the same purpose as electronic muffs, but utilize a mechanical filter / valve to cut off the higher dB sounds. Here's a link to the Surefires and a couple others:

http://www.surefire.com/tactical-equipment/hearing-protection.html

http://www.earinc.com/p1-filtered.php

http://www.healthenterprises.com/shooting-hearing-protection
These look pretty cool and I am not familiar with them. Do they sound pretty good or do they make everything kind of muffled? I was thinking of a pair of these under my hat and then my Howards over the top of the hat.
 
Not sure why you think can't you wear electronic muffs over the ski mask?
I must have sensitive ears. My winter hats seem to create enough of a gap that it lets too much noise through. I am too cheap to buy electronic in-ear models so this might just be a solution.

Thanks agaarguy. I just ordered a pair... for $10 and free shipping on amazon, it is worth the gamble.
 
Not sure why you think can't you wear electronic muffs over the ski mask?

I thought the whole purpose of muffs was to create a "seal" and stop injurious noise levels from reaching the ear drum.

You can't "seal" with that thick cloth in between. At least, I can't.

I've got a couple of days. I think I'll play around w/cap, muffs and scarf combo. I had thought about the expensive plugs oneounce alluded to earlier, but that's just too much money.

Anyway, thanks for the responses. If this hunting trip is like my last couple hunts, it's a moot point. I didn't get a shot anyway.
 
Check out a Seirus ski mask. Google it, they're available at REI, Amazon, and probably a lot of other places. If it doesn't leave your ears uncovered enough to allow your muffs to fit, you can trim the material any way you see fit. We wore these (or another brand, I don't remember exactly) working outside on the flightline in North Dakota, in -40 degree windchills, and never had a problem. Pair it with a wool beanie and you should be all set.
 
I was thinking along the same lines as cologuy.

Between a wool watch cap, a proper scarf, and a ski mask that isn't constructed of material that will fray and unravel if you've got to trim material around the ears, there's no reason why muffs won't work.

After the shot, put the muffs away and use the layers to cover exposed skin. Or pull another one out of your pack that isn't trimmed clear around the ears.
 
These look pretty cool and I am not familiar with them. Do they sound pretty good or do they make everything kind of muffled? I was thinking of a pair of these under my hat and then my Howards over the top of the hat.
They slightly muffle or attenuate low volume sounds. I think with the Howard Leight muffs over the top giving a bit of amplification you'd be fine though. You can get the Surefire plugs for about $13 from Amazon, so if you end up not liking them they wont break the bank.
 
Simple, the muffs go over plugs and then you adapt around the muffs.

You can work out how to stay warm, but there's only one way to keep your hearing and that's to limit your exposure to noise.
 
I'll second / third Cologuy's suggestion on the Seirus face mask. I was also in the USAF, and used the Seirus mask - wool watch cap combo in similar conditions in the mountain west.
 
I don't get the fascination of the Sonic Ears. Without the tiny filter plugs in, they are poor hearing protection and with the tiny plugs in, they are like low quality plugs.

For example, the EP3s only off NRR of 11 without the tiny filter plugs out and offer NRR of 24 with the tiny plugs in.

http://www.surefire.com/media/wysiwyg/main_site_pdfs/EP3_Sonic_Defenders.pdf

The Surefire stuff?

They are somewhat popular because they are very comfortable, very easy to put in/take out, and offer additional protection that can make all the difference when stacked underneath earmuffs.

An NRR of 24 is plenty for shooting .22lr or pistols outdoors (not under a roof), and is more than plenty when worn underneath slimline muffs. I wear mine under MSA Sordins, which only have an NRR of 18. So for shooting indoors, for centerfire rifles that are under a roof or have muzzle brakes, etc, I put the comfortable and easy on/off Surefire plugs underneath and make up for it by simply turning the volume of the Sordin's up so that I can still hear people talking
 
Just put your muffs over your hat, if your hunting do you really shoot enough to worry about EarPro???
If your going to the range you really should double up with foam plugs under your Leights and hat.

I also have sensitive ears and I have found the Leights alone dont cut it when shooting more than a few rounds of anything louder than my 22 pistols, by the way i use mine while hunting to.
 
Can't say I've ever worn a wool hat like that hunting regardless of the weather. If it was critical to wear such due to extreme cold, I wouldn't be out hunting.

I use ear plugs and keep electronic muffs available. Basically I rotate them, but I usually do not keep the plugs inserted until I suspect I have have a shot. I dislike not being able to hear and I get tired of the accenutated hearing with the electronic muffs.
 
I've bee using North Sonic II earplugs for years hunting and other noisy activities. This year I needed a new pair and got them

Here: http://usarmorment.com/ear-protecti...alves-new-updated-version-18db-nrr-p-655.html

They are great under your hat and mask. And allow you to hear conversation and game. Had them in last friday when I shot a doe from inside my condo. If I didn't have them in my ears would still be ringing from the 30-06!

good luck hunting!


v-fib
 
I've done the muffs over the mask, under the sealskin hat. Works OK in the pretty darn cold (-30 not counting wind) but this year I'm going to try some surefire sonic defenders instead.

Should be a bit more comfortable.
 
I got some tripple stage in ear plugs from walmart and those are the best plugs ive bought so far.

IMO foam is faulse protection. All the foam ones have some of the highest NRR ratings but thats ONLY if its installed perfectly and i seldom get them to fit better then the 3 stage 24NRR ones from walmart.

They can be a little painful to install because the fit so tight that you can feel air pressure pushing on your ear drum so i insert them slow and remove them slow but WOW these things i swear work better then a et of foam pllugs AND muffs over the top.

Ive found the same results the OP found that wearing any kind of stocking cap with muffs over the cap there is WAY to much sound leakage.

Im not a big fan of putting stuff in my ears but i shoot so much im not risking damage because i dont want to poke a rubber plug into my ear. Its worth it to me

My dad had this atitude that he wanted to hear the full crack of his guns and now you have to yell everything to him because of years of sound damage.

Dont let the NRR numbers fool you use what works and double up if you can.
 
My dad had this atitude that he wanted to hear the full crack of his guns and now you have to yell everything to him because of years of sound damage.

I remember reading something by an old timer (now deceased) named Skeeter Skelton. Or maybe it was Bill Jordan.

Anyway, he was talking about shooting before hearing protection. And the old timers would get together and everybody wondered why they yelled at each other.
 
I just use plugs under the headgear. None of my cold weather head gear is compatible with electronic earpro.

I will say however one thing that is most annoying is dangling the plugs on a cord around your neck in cold weather. It's like sticking Ice cubes in your ears.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top