Huh? What did you say? What was that? I found myself repeating these and similar phrases way too often while at the gun range and hunting with my friends.
My buddies didn’t like repeating themselves, and I didn’t like yelling at them to hear myself through my old earplugs. I was ecstatic when given the chance to upgrade to the SoundGear Shield, electronic hearing protection, and enhancement earplugs.
I’ve popped these electronic earplugs in at the gun range, dove field, and while mowing to see how well they perform in various environments. SoundGear claims these small, light, and ready-to-take-anywhere earplugs deliver digital hearing protection of up to 26 dB of noise reduction.
When dangerous loud noises occur, these earplugs instantly limit noise outputs to safe listening levels without hindering your ability to hear meaningful conversations. I’ve used them to protect my hearing around firearms and loud lawn equipment. They’re also designed for use in construction and manufacturing. I wish I’d had these when I operated heavy equipment for a living.
In short: The SoundGear Shield ($399) electronic earplugs are comfortable and ready to wear out of the box. They stay in my ears, no matter the activity. They quickly became my top choice for hearing protection. However, I haven’t been able to use them as much as I’d like because of the short battery life.
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Ready to wear out of the box -
Comfortable -
Reduces loud noise to safe levels -
Can still hear what’s happening around you
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Expensive -
No on/off button -
Sounds are a little electronic
SoundGear Shield Review: Small, Lightweight, and Comfortable
The Shield earplugs come with a hard case, lanyard, spare tri-flange buds, and batteries. The small hard case holds four spare batteries, the lanyard, and the Shield earplugs, fitting easily in your pocket. But that’s not why we’re here. We’re here to learn how they feel and perform in the wild. So, let’s find out.
Fit & Comfort
It took me a little bit to get them placed properly in my ears, the first time I used them. However, the user manual was invaluable in explaining and showing how they should be inserted. Once they were inserted correctly, they felt good. They’re in the Goldilocks zone: not too hard, not too soft, just right. I can wear them for hours at a time and nearly forget I’m wearing them.
I’m also happy to report that I haven’t had these try to work their way out of my ears as I move my head searching for birds or turning to talk to a buddy. They also don’t make me sweat, unlike my electronic ear muffs, which I didn’t like. Overall, I’ve found them to be very comfortable and a great fit.
In the Field Performance
The first time I used these earplugs was at my gun range, shooting my pistol. I could still hear everything happening around me, including the bugs and neighbors’ cows in the distance. Yet, when I pulled the trigger, the boom was drastically dampened. I was very impressed after my first outing and couldn’t wait for dove season to open up in a few short days.
On the opening morning of dove season, I realized the most significant problems with my new earplugs. The morning started well; I was able to talk with my daughter, who was wearing my old electronic earmuffs, without yelling.
I could also tell the general direction the sounds were coming from, which was very helpful. The sounds are a little distorted, but don’t sound completely unnatural. I would find it a little frustrating for waterfowl hunters who are blowing calls and trying to hit specific notes.
The batteries died about halfway through our dove hunt.
Luckily, I had a couple of spares with me and I was quickly hearing again. We finished the hunt that morning with a few doves and headed home. When I got home, I removed the batteries, hoping that would save them for my next hunt. This is a hassle because they’re tiny, but it would be an easy fix if the earplugs had an on/off button.
A couple of buddies came out to my property for an epic dove hunt about a week later, and when I popped the batteries back into my Shield earplugs for the hunt, they quickly died. I was pretty frustrated by this because this means I’ll have to buy a lot of batteries for them during the rest of dove, duck, and rifle season. Luckily, size 10 batteries aren’t crazy expensive.
What I Love About Them
While testing these over the last few months, I’ve found many benefits over traditional earplugs and the electronic earmuffs that I own.
The first is just how comfortable these Shield earplugs are because they don’t make me sweat, my ears don’t get itchy, and they stay in place. The cheap foam earplugs I used to use would make my ears hurt, itch, or work their way out within minutes. That’s no longer the case with the Shield earplugs.
When I upgraded to electronic muffs, I noticed that my ears sweat much more on warm and hot days, making me more uncomfortable. Again, that doesn’t happen with the Shield earplugs. My ears stay much drier while wearing them.
I also like that these earplugs are ready to wear out of the box. Even if you don’t put the batteries in them, they will still block out dangerous noise levels, keeping your hearing protected. When the batteries are installed, they open up your ears to the world around you, without risking hearing damage.
I no longer yell at my buddies at the range or on hunts. More importantly, while hunting, I can hear sounds like birds in the distance or a deer walking through the woods. (Or squirrels … it’s usually squirrels.)
Where I See Room for Improvement
As fond as I’ve become of the SoundGear Shield earplugs, they definitely have some downsides.
The most obvious out of the gate is the price. At $400, the average hunter and shooter will (and probably should) opt for a less expensive option. At this price, I also expected them to sound as if I weren’t wearing them, but that’s not the case. The sounds are a little distorted and electronic-sounding, but I quickly got used to them.
Lastly, I would love to see an on/off button or switch on these earbuds to save the batteries. The tiny batteries don’t last long, and it’s a bit of a hassle replacing them.
Who Are They For?
Everyone should be protecting their hearing while hunting and shooting, but not every outdoorsman or woman needs the SoundGear Shield earplugs.
They’re best suited for someone who hunts and shoots most days, like a guide or range instructor. These earplugs would also work great for people who work in loud environments, such as operating heavy equipment or in a factory.
Final Thoughts: SoundGear Shield Review
I’ll continue to wear my SoundGear Shield earplugs because they’re comfortable, allow me to hear my surroundings, and most importantly, protect my hearing from dangerously loud noises. I’m excited to use them while waterfowl and rifle hunting this year.
I genuinely wish I had had them many years ago. My hearing would have been better protected.
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