Howard Leight Impact Sport vs. Impact Pro

[Abraham]

I own a set of the electronic Howard Leight Impact Sport earmuffs that I find uncomfortable after a short time of wearing, so I then find myself pulling them off, forgetting I have them off to find out their off when I shoot my next shot. Ouch!

The H.L. Impact Pro models look far more comfortable while providing far greater noise reduction. I may be getting a pair, maybe...

Do you own both?

What's your comparison perspective? Or, if you only have the Pro model, how do you like them?

More comfortable than the Sport model, the same, or ...?

Thanks!

[Abraham]

superchief ,

I do use inner ear custom plugs with the muffs. By themselves, they do not provide enough protection, thus I wear muffs over them that also allow me to hear others speaking. I think a pretty good system, but the Impact Sport models don't allow me, a very long time of wear before they start feeling like a vise as padding around the ear cups is rather thin. The Impact Pro ear cup padding per photos looks far thicker and I hope softer...

However, I'm not looking for advice, I'm looking for others who may have the Impact Pro models with or without a comparison to the Impact Sport model.

[warnmar10]

... Seriously, electronic muffs are not going to give really effective protection. ...

Why is this?

[rotor]

I had the Impact Sport (-22db) and could not get a good ear fit wearing glasses and shooting glasses. I had a big run in with the parent company (Honeywell). Supposedly there is a new model Howard Leight coming out with a faster cut off but if you do not get a good seal on your ears it makes no difference. I use a combo of my molded ear plugs and cheap -30db muffs and I don't care if I can't hear people talking or if I can't listen to bluetooth.

[Charles L. Cotton]

If you find the Impact Sport muffs to be uncomfortable, I doubt you'll find any that you like. I have three pairs of Impact Sport muffs because of the design of the head band. The flat portion of the top, as opposed to the standard continuous arc type, greatly reduces the vice-effect on your head. While all muffs eventually get uncomfortable, I can wear the Impact Sport muffs at least three times as long before I have to take them off.

I know of no muffs that will give as good of a seal while wearing glasses as they do without glasses. I bought a cheap pair of earplugs that I'm going to try with my muffs, when I'm in an especially loud environment. They have a hole in the center that can be plugged or left open. I'm going to see how they work. While I have and like custom molded ear plugs, they hurt much faster than any muffs I've used.

You have me thinking about the Howard Leight Impact Pro muffs. I may give them a try.

Chas.

[rotor]

If you find the Impact Sport muffs to be uncomfortable, I doubt you'll find any that you like. I have three pairs of Impact Sport muffs because of the design of the head band. The flat portion of the top, as opposed to the standard continuous arc type, greatly reduces the vice-effect on your head. While all muffs eventually get uncomfortable, I can wear the Impact Sport muffs at least three times as long before I have to take them off.

I know of no muffs that will give as good of a seal while wearing glasses as they do without glasses. I bought a cheap pair of earplugs that I'm going to try with my muffs, when I'm in an especially loud environment. They have a hole in the center that can be plugged or left open. I'm going to see how they work. While I have and like custom molded ear plugs, they hurt much faster than any muffs I've used.

You have me thinking about the Howard Leight Impact Pro muffs. I may give them a try.

Chas.

Must be my head but I get a good seal with my $10 Winchester muffs and I wear glasses and over the glasses eye protection. I never could get a seal with my Howard Leight. The lesson to be learned is to try them on before you buy or buy from a place that will let you return. The only thing I hate about muffs is getting a good cheek placement on my rifle or shotgun.

[twomillenium]

I have been wearing Caldwell behind the neck hearing protection and they wear well, I get the needed protection and I can hear students on the line between shots. They are effective even indoors and in enclosed deer stands.

[Abraham]

I finally realized I can go to Cabelas and try the Impact Pro muffs before buying. I would like to also assess if these muffs will allow me to hook up my MP3 audio book player that will overcome whatever external or even just ambient external/environmental noise. I've tried it with my Impact Sport muffs, but it wasn't effective. Oh, I've discovered the NRR (noise reduction rating) is significantly higher with the Pro model vs. the Impact model too.

I too wear the Winchester muffs and find them vastly superior in comfort to the Impact Sport muffs, but I only use them when I mow with my zero-turn Toro mucho loud mower. The Pro model according to a utube video have a much greater comfort level head band, plus bigger and I assume softer ear cups. When I get around to Cabelas to try them, I'll give a brief review.

[bblhd672]

I bought a pair of HL Impact Sport muffs based upon recommendations from forum users. I have a lot of problems getting a good seal around my ears with them, last time at range I think I found the best arrangement. I always wear plugs in addition to muffs anyway because I'm a bit paranoid about protecting my hearing from further damage. The tinnitus I have now is annoying enough.

[Pariah3j]

I love my HL Impact Sports - bought a 2 pack on Amazon about a year or 2 ago for about the price 1 pair of them goes for. Personally I love them, they sit comfortably on my head/ears, I can/have worn them for 2-3 hours straight at the range without any issue. They safely bring the sound down better then my pair of Howard Leight slim line earmuffs I had before them (I had to double up with ear plugs with those to work properly).

I have however had my eyes on some of these 'MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X with LED Light - Electronic Shooting EarMuff'
But the price to what they offer, I've always wondered if they would be worth it.


EDIT: had to remove the link, wasn't displaying correctly - was linking to them on Amazon.

[Abraham]

Pariah3j,

Researching cost yesterday, I found the Pro model online for $55.00.

I think that a very reasonable cost, but I'm not going to plunk my money down until I see how well they fit...

[Pariah3j]

Must be my head but I get a good seal with my $10 Winchester muffs and I wear glasses and over the glasses eye protection. I never could get a seal with my Howard Leight. The lesson to be learned is to try them on before you buy or buy from a place that will let you return. The only thing I hate about muffs is getting a good cheek placement on my rifle or shotgun.

Getting a good cheek placement is really my only gripe about the Howard Leight Sports, another reason I've looked at some of the other brands of electronic earmuffs.

[Abraham]

I use my Impact model muffs for pistol shooting only and a different non-electronic muffs for rifle.