Disclaimer: This page contains affiliate links, meaning we receive commissions for any purchases made through the links on this page.

The two fundamental gear items all gun owners need are eye and hearing protection. If you shoot even a few times a year, I strongly suggest investing in quality ballistic-rated glasses and shooting decibel-rated hearing protection that goes beyond foam inserts. You only have one set of eyes to protect. Similarly, once you lose your hearing, it’s gone forever. Hearing protection is not equal, and one size does not fit all. So what is the best electronic in-ear protection for shooting? I’m glad you asked. 

This blog covers electronic in-ear hearing protection that allows you to hear range commands without removing plugs from your ears. Removing your hearing protection to hear range commands or listen to a shooting buddy talk is unsafe, as others around you may still be firing shots. Shooting ear muffs are great for double-plugging with in-ear protection for the ultimate hearing safeguard. 

There are also endless options for electronic muffs that amplify voices while suppressing shot noise and protecting your hearing. While muffs are fantastic for shooting pistols, they can get in the way of having a proper cheek weld on rifles and shotguns. If you move your head just right with muffs on behind a long gun, you can lose the seal on the muff, defeating the purpose of wearing hearing protection.

Best Electronic In-Ear Protection For Shooting

• Best Features: Walker’s Disrupter
• Best Battery Life: ISOTunes Caliber BT
• Best Price: Caldwell E-Max Shadows Pro
• Best Build Quality: Grizzly Ears GE Predator Pro+

Let’s dive into choosing the right electronic in-ear hearing protection for you. Here are some factors to consider:

1. Decibel Rating

The most essential thing I always check is the decibel rating of the in-ear protection. I want to ensure I can get a high decibel rating or know the limitations of the in-ear protection when it comes to attending certain range events or shooting specific loud caliber guns. 

If I plan to shoot a PRS match with 200 competitors firing .308, 6.5 Creedmoor, and other caliber bolt guns with loud muzzle brakes, I will probably wear in-ear and muffs when near the firing lines no matter how good the in-ear protection is. If you know you plan to shoot .22LR or shoot suppressed, you might not need the maximum level decibel rating regarding hearing protection. It’s all about knowing what you plan to shoot, how often, and what rating you can expect.

2. Semi-Custom Fit

Every human being’s ears are different sizes, and that means that one size is just not going to fit everyone, especially when it comes to the fit of in-ear hearing protection. If you want to invest in a custom pair of hearing protectors fitted to your ear, I’m all about that. I currently wear PremEar hearing protection that was injection molded to my ears almost a decade ago, and I absolutely love this set. 

They aren’t electronic, although they make electronic versions now, and other brands also offer custom fit in-ear protection. Because I need electronic options when I’m a Range Officer, instructing, or at events, the hearing protection I choose must have different tip sizes to get as close to a custom fit as possible. Typically, your options include small, medium, and large foam and silicone tips to get your desired fit and protection.

3. Bluetooth Connection

I’m guilty of occasionally having to take work calls from the range. As a competitive shooter, a business owner, and a writer in the industry, I never know where I’ll be when I need to take a phone call. Electronic in-ear hearing protection that Bluetooth connects to my phone and allows me to hear and talk on calls is extremely valuable. It has become a necessity when choosing the best hearing protection.

4. Battery Life

While not all electronic hearing protection includes Bluetooth connections, they are operated by a rechargeable internal battery or small replaceable batteries with a set battery life when using their technology to muffle or amplify sounds. The battery life is a personal preference that entirely depends on how long your range trips typically last. 

I’d call myself a super user. I’ve had range days as long as 12 hours, shooting 3 Gun stages all day. I’d hate for my battery life to be only 4-5 hours and then struggle to hear range commands, target hit calls, or conversations with teammates for the rest of the day. Finding the correct battery life to fit your shooting lifestyle is essential.

With these considerations in mind, I tried four of the top in-ear hearing protection options from major manufacturers of hearing protection. Two companies only make these types of products, and two have been around for years, making all sorts of range gear for gun enthusiasts.

Walker’s Disrupter Bluetooth Earbuds

Walker’s has been making hearing protection for the avid shooter for years. They produce quality ear muffs, earbuds, ear plugs, hearing enhancers, and more. The latest and absolute greatest has been their new Disrupters. This in-ear hearing protection most closely resembles Apple Airpods among all the ones I’ve seen. They come with foam and silicone ear tips in different sizes to get the perfect fit for any ear size. These earbuds will cancel out dangerous noises like gunshots but amplify environmental sounds, a noteworthy benefit for hunters. Bluetooth connects them to cell phones, laptops, or other devices.

There’s a lot more to these than meets the eye. The Disrupters feature a forward focus mode that helps emphasize sounds directly in front of you and minimize peripheral noise. 360° Directional Sound lets you identify where a sound is coming from. Rapid Impulse Cancellation provides lightning-fast reaction time to harmful noise levels to ensure optimum hearing protection. The USB-C case these earbuds sit in is rechargeable. You don’t have to download the Walker’s Link 4.0 app to use this hearing protection, but you can take full advantage of the settings when you do. The app has five programmed sound settings, and you can adjust the volume, monitor your battery life, and adjust the auto shut-off time. You can also control the Disrupters straight from your wrist if you have an Apple Watch.

Features of Walker’s Disrupter Bluetooth Earbuds

• 24db rating.
• The battery charge lasts up to 6 hours when Bluetooth is streaming or 11 hours in ambient mode.
• Three sizes of noise-reducing foam ear tips and everyday silicone tips. 
• Five ambient sound settings: universal, clear voice, hi-frequency boost, power boost, and custom.
• USB-C charging storage case
• MSRP $249.99.

These are among the most expensive electronic in-ear hearing protection in this round-up and the most feature-rich. 

My overall rating of the Walker’s Disruptor in-ear pro: 4.5/5

ISOtunes Caliber BT

ISOtunes makes some of the best hearing protection available on the market. Their lineup includes earmuffs and earbuds for shooting, construction, hunting, and more! The Caliber BT is just one of their many options, but it has been my favorite product since cordless, Bluetooth in-ear protection is the most comfortable and best-suited for my needs. Many of my friends wear these for shooting, home improvement projects, and construction. These earbuds are entirely dust, sweat, and waterproof, and they have lived up to that promise time and time again. I’ve killed earbuds with too much sweat or from wearing them in the rain, and so far, these haven’t failed any of these challenges.

The Tactical Sound Control technology amplifies the natural sounds in your environment while reducing loud gunshot noises. This technology also enhances hearing 8x while protecting you from high-impact noises in under two milliseconds. These Bluetooth buds connect with devices up to 30 feet away. You can listen to music on the go or communicate clearly with a built-in background noise-reducing microphone. They automatically power off after two hours without a Bluetooth connection for battery conservation. 

Features of the ISOtunes Caliber BT

• 25db rating.
• IP67 waterproof and dust-tight.
• Up to 13 hours of Bluetooth battery life or 16 hours of Tactical Sound Control battery life with two additional charges stored in the rechargeable case.
• Comes with three pairs of ISOtunes TRILOGY Short Eartips (S, M, & L), three pairs of ISOtunes TRILOGY Tall Eartips (S, M, & L), and one pair of silicone ear tips.
• USB-C charging storage case
• MSRP $199.99

These are among the least expensive electronic in-ear hearing protection in this round-up and are good performers. 

My overall rating of the ISOtunes Caliber BT in-ear pro: 4.5/5

Caldwell E-Max Shadows Pro

Caldwell is another brand that has been manufacturing eyewear, hearing protection, steel targets, shooting rests, and more for years. The E-Max Shadows Pro is just one of the many products they make to support avid shooters. These are their newest-release hearing protection product, with slight upgrades since the last edition. These connect via Bluetooth, allowing you to stream music or take phone calls on the range. The redesigned Pro version has push-button controls to make it easy to adjust ambient noise, change volume, answer phone calls, and even control your voice assistant app like Siri. These controls are on the earbuds themselves for easy adjustments.

The rechargeable storage case has an LED battery level indicator for each earbud, so you know how much battery life you have left before recharging. Caldwell includes multiple-size earplug options to swap foam tips until you find the perfect ones for your ears. I’ve been impressed with the fit and function, especially at a bit of a price break compared to other electronic in-ear hearing protection.

Features of the Caldwell E-Max Shadows Pro

• 25db rating
• Six hours of battery life
• Multiple size earplug/foam tip options for a custom fit
• USB-C charging storage case
• MSRP $169.99

These are among the best-looking electronic in-ear hearing protection in this round-up and have easy-to-use features. 

My overall rating of the Caldwell E-Max Shadows Pro in-ear pro: 4/5

Grizzly Ears GE Predator Pro+

True to nature, Grizzly Ears is only in the business of making hearing protection for shooters, hunters, and everyday use. The GE Predator Pro+ is their only set of wireless in-ear hearing protection. An exciting feature of the PP+ model hearing protection is its wind activator sensitivity. Most electronic in-ear hearing protection will amplify environmental sounds, occasionally including wind, making it extremely challenging to focus on shooting or other sounds. 

These buds have sound amplification to enhance low-level exterior sounds. The PP+ Bluetooth also connects to take phone calls or listen to music. There is stereo sound in both the right and left ear. They also feature a directional microphone with a mic sensitivity of sound compression.

The earbuds are waterproof and can be stored in their charging box, which holds up to three total charges. It takes about 1.5 hours to charge fully. They also come with extra small to large foam earbuds to create a more custom fit for the user.

Features of the Grizzly Ears GE Predator Pro+

• 26db rating. 
• Waterproof, not rated
• Battery Bluetooth: up to 4 hours. 
• Battery Amplify Shot Compression: Up to 7 hours. 
• Memory foam earbud tips (Sizes XS, S, M, L). 
• USB-C charging storage case
• MSRP $249.00.

These are also the pricier side for in-ear hearing protection options with a shorter battery life than most.

My overall rating of the Grizzley Ears Predator Pro+ in-ear pro: 4.5/5

Can You Hear Me Now?

The best electronic in-ear protection for shooting must be comfortable for long uses, or you will be discouraged from wanting to use them. If any friends or family members have these options at home, consider asking to try them on and test them out. If you need a quick reminder of which models in the article have the features you’re looking for, take a look at the table below. 

Ear Pro Model	Decibel Rating	Battery Life	Bluetooth	Weather Proof	Storage Case	MSRP
Walker’s Disrupter	24db	6-11 Hours	Yes	No	Yes, USB-C	$249.99
ISOtunes Caliber	25db	13-16 Hours	Yes	Yes, IP67 Rated	Yes, USB-C	$199.99
Caldwell E-Max Shadows Pro	25db	6 Hours	Yes	No	Yes, USB-C	$169.99
Grizzly Ears GE Predator Pro+	26db	4-7 Hours	Yes	Yes, No Rating	Yes, USB-C	$249.00

 

Make sure you always customize the fit to your ears. Most issues with in-ear protection stem from people not changing the tips to find what works best for them. Ensure you get a good seal by squishing the foam tips before inserting them. Let them expand in your ear to form a good seal before firing any shots at the range. Always wear eye and ear protection when shooting a firearm, and learn more about gun safety rules before hitting the range!