Howard Leight is a worldwide leader in the passive and electronic hearing protection industry since it was 
established by Howard Leight in 1972. It has since been acquired by Honeywell International as it maintains 1 of only 3 high-level hearing testing acoustical laboratories in the US. These earmuffs use innovative technology to deliver unmatched hearing protection to prevent noise-induced hearing loss in different settings. They are designed to ensure the complete comfort of the wearer while providing maximum protection from possibly harmful levels of industrial noise that are present in a variety of working environments, including those in factory settings, surrounding machinery, and power tools being operated. These premium quality earmuffs are also ideal to protect your hearing during leisure activities such as shooting, hunting, and other outdoor sports so you can enjoy these hobbies without worrying about permanent hearing loss.
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Advantages of Howard Leight Earmuffs
These are the advantages of using high-quality Howard Leight Earmuffs:
Advanced Response Technology
The technology used in these earmuffs automatically detects and reduces the noise around you when it goes 
beyond the maximum safe level of 82dB. This provides outstanding hearing protection that you can count on when you are frequently exposed to loud noises in your workplace, or when you are engaged in activities that involve quick bursts of high volume sounds such as gunfire noise. The passive mode that kicks in when the sounds go above 82dB instantly keeps your hearing, without the need for you to do any other step to get the benefits of reliable hearing protection.
Ambient Sound Amplification
These earmuffs use advanced sound amplification technology that works to enhance the sounds from your surroundings so you will always be aware of the things happening around you while you are busy working or while you are engaged in your favorite hobby. This feature also helps improve communication with the people in your environment for safety purposes and can avoid problems that may be the result of miscommunication. Some of the earmuff models come with optimally positioned microphones that offer a directional and more natural listening experience so you can hear important sounds while keeping loud, bothersome noises significantly reduced.
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Enhanced Comfort
Howard Leight earmuffs are designed with the wearer’s complete comfort in mind, making them possible to be worn for a long time without the accompanying discomfort of a bulkier set. The earmuffs come with headbands that are padded to keep your head protected from feeling fatigued especially when used for long hours at a time. These headbands can be adjusted to allow you to get to the most comfortable fit that suits your personal preference without too much hassle involved. Meanwhile, the ear cups are also padded to muffle the loud sounds in your environment while ensuring that your ears will not be painful even with hours of use. The low-profile styles of the earmuffs will not interfere with your comfort, movements, and vision, allowing you to move in a natural way so you can get the results you want in the most efficient manner.
Types of Howard Leight Earmuffs
These are the earmuff models offered by Howard Leight to address various requirements.
Mach 1
These cost-effective earmuffs offer basic protection from permanent hearing damage and are ideal for use in short-term situations. They come in a lightweight profile with an adjustable headband that can fit any head size.
QM24+
These great value earmuffs are equipped with adjustable crown straps for three various ways of wearing to suit your comfort level. They have an ultra-lightweight design that makes them ideal for extended use while you enjoy complete comfort.
Clarity
This earmuffs series allow signal and voice frequencies to be heard more naturally and without distortion, while blocking the noise to keep your hearing protected from damage. They come in a non-deforming dielectric profile that offers maximum durability while keeping the user protected in electrical environments.
Viking
These earmuffs can be worn in multiple ways, so you can choose to wear them over the head, under the chin, or behind the head – whichever suits your comfort level and the specific situation’s requirement. They feature a dielectric construction that provides protection in electrical environments and can be used together with other PPE (personal protective equipment) including visors, face shields, hard hats, welding shields, and respirators.
Leightning
This series features earmuffs that have a durable steel wire construction that also works to provide enhanced comfort that you can use for long stretches without feeling fatigued. The earmuffs are fitted with padding on the headband and the ear cushions to ensure continuous comfort while you enjoy the superior hearing protection they offer. They also use the patented Air Flow Control technology, which provides noise reduction across all frequencies. The Hi-Visibility line offers the added benefit of improved visibility at night by incorporating bright green ear cups and a reflective headband for enhanced safety and visibility in low-light conditions.
Thunder
These earmuffs are built to provide superior comfort all-day-long by using a non-deforming exterior headband that works to reduce pressure on your head, and a special dial headband for more comfortable breathability and positioning. They also come with snap-in ear cushions that you can place and remove whenever needed, allowing you to maintain the earmuffs in a more convenient manner.
Vershield 100 Series
These passive earmuffs provide you with excellent hearing protection while ensuring your enhanced comfort even with long hours of use. The ear cups come with a wide opening that is suitable for people with large ears and for individuals who wear hearing aids. The earmuffs are available in a large dimension range to ensure a comfortable fit regardless of the head size of the person using them.
Impact Sport
These Howard Leight earmuffs work to keep your hearing protected from permanent damage while keeping surrounding sounds amplified so you can still be aware of the sounds of machines, voices, and warning signals in your environment. They come with 3 stereo microphones that will enable you to detect the direction from which ambient sounds come from, as well as an electrical audio input.
Features of High-Quality Howard Leight Earmuffs
The following attributes are important when choosing Howard Leight earmuffs.
Efficient Noise Reduction
The earmuffs work to instantly reduce loud impulse noise in your environment the moment they go above 82dB. This immediate and efficient noise reduction will keep you protected from permanent hearing loss especially if you are frequently at risk for exposure to such potentially harmful loud sounds. The noise reduction capabilities of these earmuffs allow you to continuously work in noisy workplaces, or in areas where loud machinery and equipment are often used while maintaining reliable protection for your sense of hearing.
Convenient Use
Howard Leight earmuffs for your complete convenience because you can easily put them on when you need them for hearing protection, and just as easily take them off when you are done. You will not need to deal with complicated systems or gadgets every time you need the earmuffs, so you can immediately benefit from their excellent attributes from the moment you place them on. The earmuffs are ideal for use in conditions when you are exposed to intermittent loud noises such as heavy machinery being operated on and off close to your work area, or when you go hunting and need your hearing to be protected from bursts of loud gunfire. However, they can also be used for extended periods when you need to ensure that you will still be protected from unexpected loud noises that you may otherwise not be prepared for.
Low-Profile Design
The earmuffs produced by Howard Leight have a low-profile build so you can enjoy superior hearing protection without suffering from the discomfort of carrying a bulky and heavy pair on your head. The sleek profiles are made to sit as close as possible to your head so vision will not be impaired by the earmuffs’ parts, making it much easier for you to keep track of your surroundings without anything blocking even your peripheral vision. The structure of the earmuffs do away with unnecessary parts that can hinder your movements, enabling you to move naturally so you can deliver maximum efficiency in the workplace or achieve the results you want with your chosen hobby.
FAQs
Q: How can Howard Leight earmuffs protect me from permanent hearing damage?
A: These earmuffs work by blocking sounds in your environment when they exceed the safe 82dB level, so the loud noise will instantly be muffled before they can damage your hearing.
Q: Can I still hear the sounds around me when I use these earmuffs?
A: Yes, the earmuffs also work to amplify the sounds around you up to the maximum safe level of 82dB. This will 
allow you to freely communicate with other people and enable you to listen to ambient sounds that are necessary for your safety.
Q: Where can I use Howard Leight earmuffs?
A: The various earmuffs models can be used in a variety of environments to suit different requirements. You can use them to keep your hearing protected in noisy working conditions while operating heavy machinery, or when engaging in leisure activities such as shooting and hunting.
Q: Will the earmuffs feel heavy on my head?
A: These earmuffs come with a lightweight construction so you will not feel burdened with a heavy weight. You can use these earmuffs comfortably even when you need to wear them for extended periods.
Top 5 Howard Leight Earmuffs Reviews in 2022
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Name | Features | Price | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
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Picture |
Name | Features | Price | Rating |
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1. Howard Leight Impact Sport Bolt Electronic Shooting Earmuff |
Noise Reduction Rating (NRR): 22 | $$ | 4.8 |
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2. Howard Leight Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuffs |
Automatic shut-off feature | $$ | 4.8 |
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3. Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Shooting Earmuffs |
.5 millisecond attack time | $$ | 4.7 |
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4. Howard Leight Leightning L0F Shooting Earmuff |
Ultralight design (40 ounces) | $$ | 4.6 |
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5. Howard Leight Leightning L2F Slim Shooting Earmuff |
Super-soft ear cushion | $$ | 4.6 |
1. Howard Leight Impact Sport Bolt Electronic Shooting Earmuff
These earmuffs are engineered specifically for shooting and come with features that are essential for safety while 
you are in the range, or while in the wild tracking your prey.
Design & Size
The earmuffs come in a low-profile design that will not interfere with your eyesight and movements so you can concentrate on the goals that you need to achieve while hunting.
They have a rifle cutaway design that enables a snug gunstock cheek weld without disrupting the ear cushion’s seal so sighted and the unsighted fire is made more intuitive.
The recessed controls are also positioned as such so they stay out of the way and prevent interference with your movements.
The earmuffs come in a foldable design for portability and convenient storage when they are not being used. They also come with a belt clip so you can easily carry them around while they are not being used yet.
They are equipped with an AUX input and a 3.5mm connection cord that you can connect to an audio device such as an MP3 player or a scanner.
Materials & Comfort
These earmuffs come with a padded headband that works to protect your head from feeling discomfort especially when you need to use them for extended periods.
This headband is adjustable so you can easily get to the most comfortable fit that will allow you to move more efficiently while protecting you from pain.
The ear cushions are padded as well to ensure a tight seal over your ears while ensuring that you will enjoy enhanced comfort.
Sound Amplification & Hearing Protection
These earmuffs come with recessed microphones that amplify soft sounds, such as animal noises, up to 5x so you can be aware of the presence of prey. The microphones also work to reduce wind noise so you can focus on only the sounds that matter.
These multi-directional microphones help you monitor where ambient sound is coming from, which will work to your advantage for safety purposes and will help you track your prey more efficiently.
The earmuffs offer a 0.5 millisecond attack time, which is the time interval between a shot being fired and the earmuff react with the reduction of sound to below the 82dB level. This speed is 250x quicker compared to the brand’s original Impact Sport model.
The extremely fast attack time also works to eliminate sound clipping so ambient sounds will not be blocked after the gunshot. This allows you to continue being aware of your surroundings and hear conversations right after a shot is fired.
Durability & Warranty
These earmuffs come with a 1-year warranty.
The 2 AAA batteries included can give you roughly 150 hours of usage for reliable hearing protection throughout several days without the need to replace the batteries. When necessary, batteries can easily be replaced by accessing them through the snap-on lid.
The earmuffs are designed to automatically shut off after 4 hours to prevent unnecessary draining.
Highlights
- Offers an extremely fast attack time to deliver immediate hearing protection that you can count on
- Eliminates sound clipping so you can still hear the sounds around you right after a shot is fired
- Features recessed multi-directional microphones that amplify soft sounds while letting you know the direction sound is coming from
- Provides enhanced comfort with a padded headband and ear cushions that will prevent pain even with long hours of use
2. Howard Leight Impact Sport Sound Amplification Electronic Shooting Earmuffs
These Howard Leight earmuffs instantly block loud sounds when they go beyond the safe level to ensure that you 
will always have superior hearing protection to rely on in various conditions.
Design & Size
These earmuffs come with snap-in ear cushions that allow you to enjoy a comfortable and protective fit while making replacement a breeze to deal with when necessary.
They feature a low-profile design that will not get in the way of your aiming and shooting, allowing you to more naturally especially in situations when you need to react with quick reflexes.
They are equipped with an external audio jack that you can connect to an audio source such as an MP3 player, allowing you to use the earmuffs as stereo headphones.
The folding design of these earmuffs offers great portability and convenient storage after being used.
Materials & Comfort
The earmuffs come with a padded headband that prevents fatigue from setting in on your head even when you need to keep the earmuffs on for extended periods.
The telescoping headband can easily be adjusted to the fit that brings you the most comfort, allowing you to have a pain-free experience while you benefit from the outstanding hearing protection.
Sound Amplification & Hearing Protection
These earmuffs deliver sound amplification without distortions up to the maximum safe level of 82dB, so you have full awareness of low-level sounds in your surroundings, such as conversations with other people.
They offer excellent protection against permanent hearing damage by immediately blocking any noise that goes beyond 82dB before those sounds can bring harm to your ears.
The earmuffs come with directionally positioned stereo microphones that allow you to determine which directions the sounds are coming from.
Durability & Warranty
The earmuffs will automatically shut off after 4 hours to prevent unnecessary battery draining.
The 2 AAA batteries offer around 350 hours of battery life that let you use the earmuffs for a long before needing to replace the batteries.
These earmuffs come with a 1-year warranty.
Highlights
- Efficiently amplifies low-level sounds so you can clearly hear the sounds in your environment up to a safe level
- Instantly blocks loud noise when they breach the safe 82dB level to keep your hearing fully protected from being permanently damaged
- Equipped with an AUX input and cord that allows connection to audio devices so you can use the earmuffs as stereo headphones
- The padded headband is adjustable to let you achieve the most comfortable fit
- Fitted with directional microphones that will help you determine which direction the sounds are coming from
3. Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Shooting Earmuffs
These earmuffs by Howard Leight are engineered specifically for use in the shooting range or for hunting in the 
field, allowing you to keep track of your prey while providing reliable protection from hearing damage.
Design & Size
These Howard Leight Impact Sport Electronic Shooting Earmuffs have slender ear cups fitted with cutouts that allow your check to be pressed flush to the stock without interfering with your sight and the tight, protective seal over your ears.
They are designed to be foldable for maximum portability that you can easily carry wherever you need to go. The earmuffs can quickly transform into a small bundle that you can conveniently store when not being used.
The earmuffs come with an external audio jack that allows you to use the product as stereo headphones once the are connected to an audio device such as an MP3 player.
The snap in ear cushions allow for quick replacements when necessary.
Materials & Comfort
The headband is adjustable so you can achieve a personalized fit that will provide you with the highest level of comfort even with long hours of use.
These earmuffs have cushioned ear cups that form a tight seal over your ears to protect your hearing while ensuring that you will not experience discomfort with every use.
Sound Amplification & Hearing Protection
The earmuffs offer superior sound amplification to enable you to hear soft sounds without any distortions in your environment up to the maximum safe level, making it easier for you to keep track of animal sounds of quiet conversations.
Loud sounds that can harm your hearing are instantly blocked when they go beyond the safe 82dB level so that your hearing can efficiently be protected from permanent damage.
Durability & Warranty
These earmuffs are designed to automatically shut off after 4 hours of continuous use to ensure that you do not use up the batteries needlessly.
The snap in ear cushions enable easy replacement that contributes to the long-term performance of these earmuffs.
They come with a 1-year warranty.
Highlights
- Comes in a slim design that will not interfere with your sight and movements when used for hunting or in a shooting range
- Equipped with an adjustable headband that allows you to enjoy customized comfort with every use
- Offers superb sound amplification to let you clearly hear soft sounds around you until the maximum safe level is reached
- Immediately blocks loud sounds when they reach 82dB to keep your hearing protected against permanent damage
- Includes an external audio jack that allows the earmuffs to be used as stereo headphones when connected to an audio device
4. Howard Leight Leightning L0F Shooting Earmuff
These earmuffs come in an ultra-lightweight style that is guaranteed to provide you with the hearing protection 
you need while hunting prey or when in the shooting range, without interfering with your natural movements.
Design & Size
The Howard Leight Leightning L0F Shooting Earmuffs are equipped with super-slim ear cups that do not have bulky padding that might get in the way of our movements.
They come in a folding design that offers superior portability so you can conveniently carry them wherever you need to go without needing to deal with a bulky package. Once folded, they turn into a compact bundle that can easily be stored to keep them protected from damage.
The earmuffs have snap-on cushions that enable you to deal with the quick replacements when necessary, such as when the cushions start to show visible signs of damage.
Materials & Comfort
These earmuffs come with a telescoping headband that can easily be adjusted to your most comfortable fit, so you can use them continuously without feeling any pain.
This headband is padded to protect your head from feeling the pain that comes when a too-hard surface is pressed on it for a long time.
They are fitted with ultra-soft ear cushions that prevent pressure from building up in your ears and on your head, allowing you to use the earmuffs for extended periods without discomfort.
Sound Amplification & Hearing Protection
These earmuffs use the patented Air Flow Control technology that decreases sound levels throughout all frequencies to provide you with outstanding protection against permanent hearing damage.
They come with 3 levels of sound reduction that correspond to various shooting environments. These levels allow you to customize your experience to suit the specific situation you will be faced with, so you can enjoy superior comfort without compromising the remarkable hearing protection.
Durability & Warranty
The earmuffs have a 1-year warranty.
The headband comes with a steel wire construction that enhances the earmuffs’ durability, enabling you to take full advantage of the high-quality features for a long time.
Highlights
- Features the patented Air Flow Control technology to decrease sound levels across all frequencies to provide you with excellent hearing protection
- Comes in an ultra-slender design that will not interfere with your eyesight or with your natural mobility
- Equipped with 3 levels of sound reduction that can be adjusted to suit the specific environment that you need to work with
- Fitted with a telescoping headband that can be adjusted to achieve the fit that feels most comfortable for you
- Includes a steel wire construction that is designed to keep up with demanding use for enhanced product durability
5. Howard Leight Leightning L2F Slim Shooting Earmuff
These Howard Leight earmuffs have a foldable design that makes them ultra-portable, providing you with the 
convenience of having a small package to bring with you when you are on your way to the firing range or when you are on the road to the field for hunting.
Design & Size
These earmuffs come with a slim profile that is guaranteed to provide no interference to your sight or to natural movements.
They have sleek ear cups that provide an elegant aesthetic that will not look out of place when worn with your outfit of the day.
They come with snap in ear cushions that can quickly be removed so you can more easily keep the earmuffs well maintained. This feature also enables fast replacement when needed, such as when you see that the ear cushions are already damaged.
The earmuffs easily fold and transform into a small bundle that you can conveniently carry while you are on the go. This foldable profile allows easy storage so the earmuffs can be protected from damage and from being exposed to dust when not being used.
Materials & Comfort
These earmuffs have a padded headband that gently sits on your head to keep it protected from the painful squeezing sensation that comes with wearing headbands that have a too-rigid structure.
The padded headband comes with telescopic adjustment so you can easily achieve a personalized and comfortable fit that will allow you to use the earmuffs without discomfort for extended periods.
The ear cushions are designed to be supremely soft so they will gently fit over your ears while preventing heat and pressure buildup that can lead to a great deal of discomfort especially when the earmuffs are used for hours at a time.
Sound Amplification & Hearing Protection
The earmuffs are equipped with the proprietary Air Flow Control technology that works by managing the airflow inside the ear cups to deliver incredible hearing protection for shooting purposes.
This technology also works with the reduction of sound throughout all frequencies to keep your hearing protected from permanent damage.
Durability & Warranty
These earmuffs come with a 1-year warranty.
They are built with a steel wire construction that gives strength and durability to the entire product to ensure that you can enjoy long-term use without worrying about premature damage.
Highlights
- Equipped with the proprietary Air Flow Control technology that works to reduce noise in all frequencies for superior hearing protection
- Comes with a padded headband that can be adjusted to achieve a personalized and comfortable fit
- Fitted snap in ear cushions that make maintenance and replacement easy to manage whenever necessary
- Features a slim design that will not interfere with your natural movements or eyesight while you are hunting prey in the field or while inside the shooting range
- Includes super-soft ear cushions that prevent pressure buildup so you can be protected from the discomfort
Maintenance Tips for Howard Leight Earmuffs
- Make sure that no obstructions get in the way of properly wearing your earmuffs so you can be sure that you will get the full benefits of their hearing protection attributes.
- If applicable, clean the ear cushions and ear cups regularly with water and mild soap to remove dirt buildup.
- Make sure the ear cushions are completely dry before placing them back on the earmuffs.
- Avoid getting the sound attenuating components inside the earmuffs wet to keep them protected from damage.
- The ear cushions can also be cleaned of accumulated dirt by using a soft brush.
- Inspect the ear cups regularly to check for damage. If you see cracks and other visible signs of damage, you will need to replace them immediately so you can still enjoy excellent hearing protection.
- Keep the earmuffs stored properly when they are not being used so they can be protected from damage and dirt.
- Check the manufacturer’s instructions so you can determine the best and safest way to maintain your specific earmuffs model.