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AXIL Spotlight: Quality & Affordable Hearing Protection
Personal protective equipment (PPE) falls on the less glamorous side of shooting but is paramount. Many people buy their first gun and a few boxes of ammo and rush off to the range, only to arrive and realize they either have to rent eye and ear protection or purchase some.
And while it may be tempting to grab the cheapest set of eyes and ears you can find, I highly suggest against it. It is not worth saving a few bucks to put your hearing and vision in danger.
There are several big names in the PPE game when it comes to shooting, and today we’ll be showcasing one of them. Enter AXIL.
With options so easy to carry, you don’t have an excuse not to have them on you. Source
Not many know this, but although the AXIL brand was introduced in 2012, the brains behind it have been around for over 60 years. AXIL is a combined rebranding of SportEAR (established in 2000) and the Harris Hearing Group (established in 1958).
Since its inception in 2012, AXIL has continued to grow in popularity, especially over the last couple of years. From partnering with the likes of Sig Sauer on branded products to sponsoring influencers and professional shooters, the chances are high that you’ve seen some AXIL gear in the wild.
We’ve decided to carry a wide variety of AXIL products to stay true to our goal of bringing you all the best products on the market, whether it’s magazines, ammo, or, in this case, hearing protection!
Earmuffs
Nine out of ten times, I’m using earmuffs. Why, you ask? Because they provide superior protection and have less chance of falling off while shooting. Additionally, I find them to be more comfortable, but that is a widely debated topic.
Protect those ears! Source
There are two main types of earmuffs: passive and electronic, both of which AXIL offers.
Passive Earmuffs
With passive protection, no electronics are used, and it provides continuous and stable noise reduction. This style is generally less expensive but can make it difficult to hold conversations and cannot connect to your phone.
At this price point, you really can’t go wrong. You might as well grab a couple and keep them in your range bag in case you or a friend forget your main earmuffs.
These offer a superior 25dB SNR rating while remaining compact and low-profile. You can shoot with them indoors or outdoors as they are water resistant and reduce wind noise, and are very easy to clean.
Best of all, you’ll never have to worry about changing batteries!
Electronic Earmuffs
Then there are electronic earmuffs, which include features such as microphones, speakers, and in some cases, Bluetooth technology.
They amplify ambient sounds, including conversation, but kick on instantly to muffle sounds over a certain decibel level…like gunshots! You’ll pay more for these earmuffs, but the prices are easily justified.
When you’re shooting with friends, you want to be able to have a conversation and protect your hearing simultaneously. That is where these electronic TRACKR earmuffs come in handy.
They still provide an NRR of 22db but feature two directional microphones that enhance the ambient sounds/voices. You’ll also find an audio input jack in the event you want to go old school and plug your phone in to listen to music.
Remember, with electronic protection comes batteries, so you’ll have to keep a few spare AAAs in your range bag.
This is the same set of earmuffs as the ones above, but is simply branded with the Sig Sauer logo. If your go-to firearm is a Sig, these may be the perfect pair of earmuffs for you.
Here is the model you want if you’re looking for all the features, including Bluetooth technology.
Featuring a 27dB SNR rating with an impressive 0.02-second reaction time, these are ideal for all your shooting applications. And if you want to be accessible while at the range, the 5.0 Bluetooth technology will allow you to answer your phone or simply listen to music if you’d like.
These earmuffs provide premium protection with convenient features to cater to your everyday needs as well.
And for you Sig Sauer fans, check out the branded version of these Bluetooth earmuffs below.
Earbuds
Don’t feel like lugging around a pair of earmuffs? Consider AXIL’s earbud offerings. They are more compact, can be used in a broader range of day-to-day activities, and still provide adequate protection at the range.
Big protection in a tiny package. Source
If you’re shooting indoors, using earmuffs instead of earbuds is highly recommended. Some even go as far as placing earbuds under their earmuffs. However, earbuds are unarguably better than nothing, so always having a pair in your range bag is still smart.
Despite being the most affordable earbuds from AXIL, the XCOR Digital Earbuds should still check most of your boxes.
Despite the small package, AXIL achieved an SNR of up to 29dB, depending on the ear tip style, which you get a variety of inside the package. Also included is a USB-C charging case that can keep your earbuds charged and ready for up to 15 hours of use.
You can control the settings with a simple touch of the earbuds’ exterior, which makes them ideal for use at the range, so you never have to remove them.
If you’re like me and have trouble keeping earbuds in during activities but want the minimal footprint, these are the earbuds for you. The SportFit ear hooks provide a secure fit, while the attached cord ensures they don’t drop to the floor if they fall out of your ears.
Not only do they provide a 29dB SNR rating, but they have 5.0 Bluetooth audio and an impressive battery life!
You might say we’ve saved the best earbuds for last. The XCOR PRO Bluetooth Earbuds have it all.
With superior hearing protection of up to 29dB SNR, USB-C charging, and 5.2 Bluetooth technology, these can easily be your everyday headphones. And when you demand more durability out of your headphones, these are water, dust, and wind resistant, so you’ll never have to worry!
These will get the job done from home to the office to the range and back.
Worth The Hype?
There is no debate about the fact that plenty of quality options are available regarding earbuds and earmuffs. However, some can get extremely pricey, to the point where you wonder if any feature(s) could justify the price.
If you’re looking for a dependable, attractive, and feature-rich set of ears that won’t break the bank, that’s where I believe these AXIL products shine: in their value. AXIL proves that you don’t need to spend an arm and a leg to protect your hearing.
Every range trip should have hearing protection. Source
At the end of the day, you must ensure you protect your hearing and vision with one product or another, so do your research and pick a pair of earmuffs or earbuds that best suit you.
As always, stay safe, train hard, and have fun.
