Not all hearing loss occurs naturally over time as your body ages.
In fact, a noise-induced hearing loss can happen in a single instant based on one extremely loud sound.
How would it feel to struggle to hear your child’s voice each morning simply because of a single gunshot?
Any extreme noise above 85 decibels has the potential to rupture your eardrum or damage bones within the ear.
Unlike a concert that may result in hearing loss for a few hours, this type of noise-induced hearing loss is likely to be permanent and extensive.
You can prevent this with just one simple step: wearing a quality pair of ear protectors or earmuffs when listening to hazardous sounds. Whenever you do something that you know will be loud, such as shooting guns at the range or working with industrial equipment, you need to buy some type of hearing protection.
There are a wide variety of noise-canceling headphones on today’s market. In fact, you should be sure to check out our review of the best earmuffs for construction Best Hearing Protection for Construction.
However, we are going to take a closer look at one of the top name brands that consumers often try to buy. The Howard Leight Impact Pro earmuffs are said to be some of the highest rated options available, but is that really true?
Compared to other top models like the Howard Leight EN352, our Howard Leight Impact Pro review should mention that they are definitely pro ears. They offer a high noise reduction rating alongside a very comfortable fit.
Howard Leight Impact Pro Review
They should adjust to any head size with their padded adjustable headband cover and well-padded ear cups. The covering should prevent the headband from slipping off at inopportune moments, a serious risk when you’re working with firearms at the shooting range. Losing your earmuffs in the middle of a shot or even for a minute while the sound is active could result in serious long-term consequences.
The gray and black ear parts also have rubberized pressure points to prevent aesthetic damage from your gunstock.
The overall look and feel of these headphones is extremely sleek and not at all overly noticeable. The ear cups are relatively thin to allow you plenty of room to comfortably maneuver your firearms at the range or while hunting. Overall, this is an excellent model that can be conveniently worn for any number of projects.
This model is compatible with your mp3 player to make your shooting or work more enjoyable. It runs on two AAA batteries for 350 hours before you need a battery change.
You can purchase these pro hearing protectors from any major store, including Cabela’s, Bass Pro, and Walmart.
However, the lowest prices are typically found on Amazon along with free shipping. You can view their warranty and manual from the Amazon sales page.
Howard Leight Impact Pro Testimonials:
Excellent electronic earmuffs, a big improvement from sport model! The “Impact Sport” model is great if you are alone, but it never fails that at the range you end up next to someone with a loud firearm and that model just can’t keep it out. Now the Impact Pro model is a different story. This model will definitely keep out the sound of the loudest firearm. Note that the electronic sound doesn’t seem to go as high as the other model, but it’s still loud enough to have a conversation. Awesome purchase.
Click Here To Find The Original Review From Unexploded Minds
Amazing headphones! My first purchase of electronic ear protection and they haven’t let me down. Although I purchased them based on the positive comments concerning both outdoor and indoor ranges, I’ve used them for a ton of other things! For example…. While using my chainsaw I couldn’t hear a thing, but as soon as I turned the saw off, I could hear birds and my neighbor chatting! Good job Honeywell!
Click Here To See The Original Review From Android Power User
Are These Good For Shooting?
These electronic headphones are great for sports that involve shooting, whether that means a handgun or a shotgun. That’s one of the prominent features that need to be mentioned in our Howard Leight Impact Pro review.
Many consumers will want to know that this earmuff can help with the amplification of range commands while still offering professional protection from the sound. They also have a built-in microphone to help you communicate better.
In many ways, these headphones could be considered “prosound” because they allow you to participate in everyday life.
Some consumers wonder whether they should go with electronic earmuffs vs regular. Electronic earmuffs do have one major difference that makes them useful for performing tactical operations and other activities. They can actively listen and only institute more advanced hearing protection when the sounds exceed 82 dB.
Why is this beneficial? Well, it allows you to participate in a normal conversation with the people around you. Your ear covers can protect you in the event of a loud sound, but they shelter your ears from intense noises that could lead to hearing loss.
What Is The Noise Reduction Rating?
The Howard Leight R-01902 Impact Pro headphones from Honeywell (under the larger company of Sperian) have a noise reduction rating (NRR) of 30 dB. With their NRR 30, these headsets do have one of the top-rated options for those who need clear hearing protection.
Of course, you could potentially increase to an NRR 40 with the addition of ear plugs with these headphones. While this isn’t a necessity, you may want to consider it if you are very concerned with needing a hearing aid in the coming years.
The headphones are specifically designed to help you filter out louder sounds with automatic noise-blocking.
You could compare them to other leading brands like the Clear Armor 141001 that has a slightly higher decibel protection with an NRR 31.
You can see our full review of this pair here.
However, it should be noted that the Clear Armor version does lack the electronic benefits of these headphones as well as the mp3 compatibility. This is one area where the Howard Leight Impact Pro review shines in comparison to competitors.
Howard Leight Pro vs Sport?
These headphones have a much higher noise reduction rating than the Howard Leight Pro Sport. Many individuals will try to decide between the Howard Leight Impact Sport vs Pro, but it really depends on what you want.
Comparing the Howard Leight Impact Pro vs Impact Sport can be challenging because they have many of the same features.
If you would like more in-depth knowledge, we will soon write a comparing between those closely related products
When it comes to purchasing high-quality hearing protection, you can never be too careful. Our Howard Leight Impact Pro review should give you all the key details you need to make a wise decision about your next pair of earmuffs. You owe it to yourself to purchase a pair of these hearing protectors today.
Clear Armor vs Howard Leight

Do you hate the idea of losing your hearing in the future to a completely preventable cause?
No one relishes the idea of having friends and family members yell at them simply to get a point across.
Unfortunately…..
This could be you if you don’t take action to protect your hearing right now.
Whenever you’re exposed to sounds louder than 85 decibels for an extended period of time, you could experience noise-induced hearing loss.
Sometimes….
The loss is only temporary but it could become a more long-term issue if you don’t take preventative measures now.
So…..
What can you do to create a more soundproof environment and put some of the best ear protection in place for yourself?
Lucky for you….
We’re going to show you just what it takes. We’re going to teach you:
- How to choose the right pair of earmuffs
- How to compare the noise reduction rating on earmuffs
- Why they are worth the investment
If you’re ready to get started, let’s dive right into our first comparison on protective earmuffs: The Cleararmor 141001 and The Howard Leight by Honeywell.
Why did we choose these two noise-canceling headphones to compare?
They have some of the highest-rated reviews among all of the safety ear mufflers on the market.
You can check out our ranking Of The Other Best Hearing Protection For Construction Here.
Noise Reduction Rating Winner: Cleararmor
Are you ready for new earphones that have the potential to protect your ears?
Looking for the highest NRR rating is a great way to find out which model offers the best hearing protection for shooting, construction work, concerts, and even snoring.
The most protective versions only have an NRR of 31 dB, while earplugs (in-ear hearing protection) might have a slightly higher rating of 33 dB.
You won’t find any products listed with an NRR 40 or higher.
When it comes to Clear Armor vs Howard Leight, the Cleararmor 141001 is a clear winner.
These black headsets have the maximum rating on today’s market with an NRR 31.
In comparison…..
The Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Pro Sound Amplification Electronic Earmuff (R-01902) only has an NRR 30.
Granted…..
These are relatively close but it might make a big difference to shooters who prefer an indoor shooting range or another extremely loud sound.
You want the strongest form of protection you can purchase.
Best Features: Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Pro
Are you ready to see how the features on these two over the head ear protectors compare with the Clear Armor vs Howard Leight?
Most people want headsets that are comfortable and functional, so it makes sense that you want some fancy bells and whistles.
Rest assured that you will want the Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Pro for all of your needs: blocking out the sound of industrial work, protecting your hearing while mowing, and even making the perfect environment for studying.
The Clear Armor protection can’t hold a candle to the electronic headphones made by Honeywell.
People who are interested in blocking the noise from shooting and hunting will want to look for electronic headphones.
These types of ear protectors are ideal because they can dampen the sound of a gun firing without blocking regular conversation.
You can also listen to your own beats with these headphones, whether you’re at the shooting range or trying to rest.
Music can be played through an auxiliary cord with the Howard Leight earmuffs (but not with the Cleararmor).
They aren’t as convenient as Bluetooth headphones, but they are still pretty nice.
It does not allow you to listen to the AM/FM radio though.
Best Price: Cleararmor 141001
Do you want to know how to make ear muffs cheap? You have to know which features are most important to you before you can figure out if you’re getting a great price. The Clear Armor vs Howard Leight earmuffs has a huge difference in their active price.
The Cleararmor headphones are less than $20 while the Howard Leight Impact Pros are almost $55.
Clearly, the Cleararmor name brand wins if you only wanted the least expensive pair you could find. It doesn’t have any of the fancier features, but it does have great sound protection and a low price tag.
Where can I buy ear muffs? You should probably ask yourself this question before you head out to Target or Walmart in search of a new pair of adult ear protectors. Amazon typically has the lowest price with great shipping rates that bring them straight to your door.
When in doubt, be sure to check on Amazon for the best deals on headphones.
Which Pair is Best?
Choosing the right pair of ear protectors can be a challenge if you don’t know what you want. Do you want them for sleeping? Do you need to be able to wear them under a hard hat at work?
Once you know what you’re looking for, it’s easy to figure out where to buy ear muffs. Both the Cleararmor 141001 and the Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact Pro are great choices, but the Cleararmor offers better hearing protection at a lower price.
On the other hand, it doesn’t allow you to listen to music or have electronic capabilities for when you’re playing sports or practicing tactical operations at the range.
Both are great pairs of ear protectors, but you can read our full review of the Cleararmor 141001 and the Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact pro. This should give you a better idea of what features each one has that truly set it apart.
In short, you can’t go wrong with either the Clear Armor vs Howard Leight when you want high NRRs and a decent price.
The other features will be up to you to consider what’s most important.