Eye Protection Interfering with Ear Protection?

[Grayling14]

I generally use ear plugs for my hearing protection, but want to move to a muff style unit. The few times that I have used muff/cup style protectors the temple blades on my glasses have kept the cups from fully sealing around my ears. Most of the shooters that I have talked to also experience this problem. What do you think is(are) the best solution(s)?

[orionz06]

I use plugs and muffs, and have chosen shooting glasses that lift the cups less.

[jvencius]

What type of glasses are you referring to–ballistic eyepro/Rx glasses/etc…?

[militarymoron]

ESS ICE eyeshields have the thinnest temples i’ve come across. they work very well with my sordins.
http://www.esseyepro.com/ICE-2X_146_detail.html

[JSantoro]

Invest in gel-cups on whatever ear-pro you end up going with, and as MM suggested, go for eye pro with reasonably flat-profile or cable temple pieces.

[JackOSU]

Surefire EP3’s and Oakley Flak Jackets do the trick just right!

[tiger_seven]

I had this exact problem with Oakley Half Jackets and my Peltor muffs. Switched to Flak Jackets (much flatter temples) and the problem is gone. Better looking glasses too!

Derek

[Grayling14]

@jvencius

What type of glasses are you referring to–ballistic eyepro/Rx glasses/etc…?

Ballistic protection. (No need to accommodate Rx, yet.)

[kcmo83]

As others have said, anything with a flat(ter) stem seems to work better for most people. For me personally, I noticed a huge difference when going from Gen I Oakley M-Frame to the M-Frame 2.0. It’s the same difference between the Half-Jackets going to the Flak Jackets.

From a work related standpoint, especially when the temperatures soared overseas, I went to Bolle tactical goggles, which allowed the individual to quickly remove the eyewear to remove sweat from the eyes, keep from fogging the lenses, etc… This also had the added benefit of making it a little more comfortable when wearing Peltors/MSAs and the like, especially with a helmet putting the squeeze on.

Bottom line, from my experience, for pure range work, the Oakley M-Frame 2.0 or Flak Jackets come recommended. Also, I work with an individual wearing the new(er) ESS Crossbows that don’t fog for anything and seem to have a nice low profile, and he has no complaints about the comfort after extended time in over-the-ear ear pro. Also take a look at Smith Optics for a more ‘low-profile’ type eye pro. Kyle Defoor makes a good case for them on his blog.

[G_M]

I used to wear Surfire EP3’s plus my Peltor muffs when shooting with Oakley’s. I recently got a pair of ESS and wow what a difference. Don’t have the bother of putting them in and taking them out anymore.

Best solution I’d recommend is getting a pair of low profile shooting glasses to go with your muffs. And if you are getting new ones I’d recommend getting one you can swap the lenses out or get two. One for day time and one for night/indoor shoots.

[kwrangln]

I posted this on another board a while back, still haven’t got to shoot rifle since then, pesky oil spills keeping me from the range.

@kwrangln

REVIEW FINALLY ADDED!

I recently found what I hope to be the answer to my hearing protection needs, time will tell.

I’ve tried muffs, have to wear them all the time at work depending on where I’m stationed, working in enginerooms while underway pretty much demands them. For shooting though, I hate em. Always seem to be in the way, bumping the stock, and I usually end up with a headache since I wear prescription glasses when I shoot and the earpiece without fail ends up pinching under the pressure of the muffs.

Foamie earplugs have been what I’ve been using for the last few years and they work ok, but have their drawbacks. They take too long to take out and put in between courses of fire, have to be inserted just right to get a proper seal, and being disposable, getting to the range only to realise that you forgot to refill your bag kinda sucks.

Enter the Sensgard setup. They wear like plugs that are mounted on a band, but don’t actually go into your ear canal. Plenty of clearance for glasses, or to go over a hat, and are supposed to transfer speech pretty well in comparison to other types of hearing protection on the market. The top of the line has a NRR of 31, better than most muffs which have a NRR of 29, and about equal with the highest quality foamies which have a NRR of 32.

Here’s the webpage.
http://www.sensgard.com/

I just got two sets in the mail today, hope to make it to the range this weekend to try them out, my review will follow. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that I didn’t just waste $60 + shipping.

Anyone tried these yet? Heard anything about them?

edit: Tried them out around the house for a little while, and can still hear the wife talking in a normal tone of voice pretty clearly, so they are no good for toning her out. So, they live up to their advertising about being able to hear normal sounds, we’ll just have to see how they do with gunfire.

Review time.

Finally I made it to the range. Just pistol this time at the indoor range.

Got the targets set up, loaded some mags, 1911 ready to go, put on the Sensgard thingys and glasses, time to go.

First round “damn that was loud”. Maybe these things were a waste afterall. Finished the mag, still thinking it was pretty durn loud.

Squeezed them into my ears a bit more while rocking them forwards and backwards, try it again.

Much mo bettah, just about equal with the 32NRR plugs I’m used to using. Guess you have to be pretty careful how you put these things on, after all they aint like normal ear mufs.

I proceeded to go through 100 rds of .45 and 200 rds of 9mm, couple other folks wandered in while I was shooting to add to the noise, one shooting a .357 revolver, and one shooting a .40. Nothing was uncomfortable noise wise for the duration of the range trip. Voices are much clearer than with plugs. For doing their job I give them 4 :flipoff2: out of 5 :flipoff2: with the only deduction being for their pickyness about being put on properly.

Comfort was a bit of a different story, and after all that’s why I got these things. They are more comfortable than mufs are for me just because of the earpieces of my glasses not getting pinched. That aside, they take some getting used to as they are putting pressure on the inside of your ear where pressure isn’t normally applied. I think if the foam cups were softer they would work better and be more comfortable. No way are they as comfortable as wearing plugs, but plugs can’t be removed and put on as easily, and don’t allow speach like these do. For comfort, I’ll give them a 4 :flipoff2: out of 5 :flipoff2:. This may change as I get used to them, but for an initial impression, it is what it is.

Am I glad I purchased them? I’ll say yes for the time being. Next test will be outdoor with rifles. Have to see how they handle a muzzle braked AR and a Mosin.

[altramagnus]

I know people’s heads and ears are all different but I use Oakley Radars with my Peltors and I get a good seal. Also get a good seal on my Oakley Jawbones.

It really depends I guess. I do like the electric muffs over plugs and if I would have had to I would have looked for new glasses.

My 2 cents

Shawn

[SWATcop556]

I wear the Surefire EP3’s quite a bit but when I do wear muffs I have had very good luck with the M-Frame 2.0 from Oakley. They run a much more flat temple piece and I get a good seal with them.