Eye Wear

[6BRinNZ]

JRS - PM Sent.

Thanks

 

[TheSnake]

Good foam plugs are always better than muffs due to the fit. Sometimes it takes a while to get use to them, but, it's a choice each individual has to make.

I know this post is about the eye wear but this comments on the fit when hearing protection is applied. I see a lot of people wearing the plugs but I don't believe they can provide the hearing protection that a good pair of muffs provide. Sound resonates through the bones around the ears and muffs cover much more area than plugs. I have Tinnitus in both ears for 34 years caused from shooting a 44 mag in a semi enclosed area and I have used muffs since then. I have had 3 hearing doctors and they all told me that muffs provide more protection than plugs. With 40% loss in my left ear and 60% in my right, I can't afford to loose any more.

I know many persons on this forum shoot a hundred times more than I do so what is your opinion on this?

The muffs clamp down in the glasses around my ears and hold them in place pretty well.

 

[JRS]

The plugs are far better for "hearing protection" period. Without getting into the test results, one has only to look at the fit between the two. It is physically impossible to get the muff to seal against the face the way a plug seals in the ear canal. I too have a bilateral hearing loss. To the extent I have no hearing in my left ear. I work in areas where ONLY plugs are allowed. Testing in this particular area of the plant has shown 35% less protection using the high dollar muffs they have available at the plants. It is usually an issue with discomfort for people not liking the plugs.

 

[DaveWhite]

I work in the EHS department of a drilling contractor, our personel operate manufacturing equipment in our factories and operating heavy equipment in the field.

Plugs definitely provide superior protection than do any muffs, IF they are inserted correctly and optimize fit; this requires most employees to try several different brands and styles of plugs. The Noise Reduction Rating is a guide only, and if one obtains half of the NRR attenuation with off-the-shelf plugs on the first try, they are lucky.

For high impact workplace noise we require doubling of protection (plugs plus muffs), which most workers really dislike, especially in hot weather.

We are moving toward custom molded silicone plugs, as these provide the best single layer noise attenuation. I wear them with muffs for the majority of my shooting.

 

[270guy]

Awesome feed back - thank you, funnily enough I had been reading up on the ESS brand at the time of the post - I will have a good look at the Uvex now as well.

Its off season over here (F-Class) so I have a bit of time to play around and get something that works for me.

6BRinNZ,
try a local engineering supplies or "Industrial Footwear and Safety" type shop, here in NZ. Someone like Bay Engineers, for the Uvex.
cheers

 

[6BRinNZ]

Thanks Guys- I picked up some Uvex today, they are a much better fit (I think the ear muffs are less likely to push them off) and the frames can extend as well as tilt up and down slightly. I have yet to give them a go optically and like all things after having read the forum bosses article I now wonder if trivex lenses is the way to go...it seems to me to be a good point - expensive scope (NF) but cheap glass lenses ???

Also the feed back on plugs vs earmuffs has been useful - keep it coming as its all tied together.

 

[FergusBailey]

I used to hate shooting with safety glasses on and did not wear them. However I have needed prescription lenses for the last 10 years, so have had to wear them. It is funny how quickly you adapt to wearing glasses when you have no choice.

I have tried several different types, but have used Decot Hy-Wyd for the last 8 or so years. I have no problems with ear muffs or with lens fogging. I have worn these at major shoots where I wear them for 5-7 days straight and have no significant issues with comfort.

Indecently, about 3 or 4 years after I started wearing glasses, I had a case failure in a bench gun which sprayed one side of my face with "shrapnel" from the bolt raceways. I had a very small amount of debits blow past the lens, but otherwise no problems.

 

[243Mendoza]

I have a bad problem with fogging. I've tried almost everything, lens coatings, special glasses as the Decots and Uvex, sweat bands, not wearing a hat, etc. The only thing that worked is a battery operated fan blowing on my face to prevent the fogging in high humidity no wind days. Also the Champion/Knoblock types of glasses also prevent fogging.

 

[ollie]

I like many never wore shooting glasses untill a friend was shooting his 6ppc and had a round blowup in his face. I trip to the er and to a eye dr. and he is fine,lucky, but fine. I tried several kinds of glasses and found the cheap walmart shooting glasses to be my favorites. They are $5 a pair and come in 3 or 4 tints. I bought them all so nomatter what its like that day im prepared.