3M Pro-Grade Noise-Reducing Earmuff, NRR 30 dB, Lightweight and Adjustable, Black/Red, One Size

TL;DR - great at-home earmuffs for adults with auditory sensitivity. Can be worn with earplugs but not AirPods. Disclosure: I bought these for my husband who is ASD and ADHD neurodivergent with hyperacusis. In other words, he’s mildly autistic, has severe ADHD, and is sensitive to sound. Neurodivergence in general and autism in particular are still highly misunderstood, and the stigma associated with “being autistic” is painfully alive and well. My husband is open about his own reality, so I am, too, and I use the terminology he prefers (i.e., being autistic versus having autism). Others have different preferences, though, so if you know someone on the spectrum, please be respectful and follow their lead, especially with regards to disclosure and terminology. Context: Most people seldom notice everyday background noise. My husband, however, is not most people. For him, the incessant barrage of little sounds can be intensely uncomfortable, both mentally and physically, and highly distracting. I picked these up for him to wear when working from home, and they’re now one of his can’t-live-without items. Effectiveness: These do a great job at REDUCING THE INTENSITY OF SOUND, which is what they’re designed to do. To put that in other words, THESE MUFFS ARE NOT NOISE CANCELLING, NOR ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO BE. These are simple barrier ear protection. If you’re not sure what that means, cover your ears with your hands. Yep, that’s all these do - just much more effectively than your hands. True noise cancellation requires creating a sound that negates the other sounds - hence the term “cancellation.” These muffs have no electronic components at all. They don’t need Bluetooth or a charger. You just put them on your head and voila, you’re the living embodiment of the Hear No Evil monkey figurine your grandma had on her mantle, except better because you can still use your hands. So, what effects do these muffs have on sound? -Loud noises like the neighbor’s kids shrieking are muffled enough to be bearable. That alone is enough to make them worth it. -Mid-volume sounds become ambient. If I speak at a normal volume, my husband says it sounds like a TV on in another room. He can understand me if he’s paying attention, but otherwise, it’s just background noise. [Yes, I’m aware that statement opens the door for a flood of jokes - I just don’t care. It’s the easiest way to explain the effect, so I’m rolling with it.] -Low volume ambient sounds like a lawnmower or the click of our dog’s nails on the wood floor are entirely suppressed. Because these muffs provide relief from noise without completely cutting off the outside world, they’re viable for daily use. They can also accommodate earplugs for additional noise reduction, which I’ll touch on more later. Comfort: These are surprisingly comfortable! The whole set is very light despite its bulk, and the cushions are soft and pliable. They’re not hot like over-ear headphones, nor do they put uncomfortable pressure on the head. My husband can even nap in them - sleeping on his back, of course. Size: THE SIZE CANNOT BE ADJUSTED! Not surprising for the price, but still important to note. I’m honestly not certain how to measure something like this, so I’ll try to give a frame of reference: - My husband: adult male, 5’11”, 165 lbs, wears 30x32” pants, 15.5” neck in dress shirts, and size 10.5 shoe - Me: adult female, 5’5”, 125 lbs, wears size 4/6 clothes, 8.5 shoe, 5.5/6 ring I am probably the smallest someone could be and still wear these comfortably. They don’t slip or even rest on the tops of my ears, but they do feel the tiniest bit loose. My husband is clearly in the size range these were intended for because they fit him perfectly. He can still pull one side a significant distance from his head, so they would also work for someone considerably larger than him, though I don’t know the upper limit of the range. Durability: These are industrial/construction earmuffs - the type stereotypically worn by big, sweaty dudes wielding jackhammers. They feel a little flimsy because they’re so lightweight, but I think it would actually take some real effort to break them. Appearance: These are definitely focused on function over form. They’re bulky, highly noticeable, and decidedly unfashionable. Whether that’s actually a problem is up to you. For me, the high visibility is great because I can easily see when I need to get my husband’s attention before speaking. Compatibility: These cannot be worn with AirPods or other earphones with stems. It seems like they should work, but the padding presses on the stem in a way that’s super uncomfortable. That said, they probably can be worn with earphones that sit more fully with the ear because they work with Loop Switch 2 earplugs, which are structurally similar. To sum it all up, are these the absolute best, be-all, end-all, holy grail product for every autistic adult with auditory sensitivity? Probably not. Everyone’s different. They’ve been beyond helpful for my husband, though, so if you’re in a similar boat, I highly recommend giving them a try.

Extremely disappointed.Falsely advertised as Bluetooth ear muffs.These are not Bluetooth or electronic.They are passive ear muffs.I am now out of the country or else would have sent them back for a refund.

Gostei muito, abafa bem o som. Moro na região central da minha cidade e nos dias de home office preciso de concentração maior, com o abafador tem sido muito mais fácil. Recomendo!

Bloquea el ruido exterior de acuerdo con lo especificado por el producto, son cómodos en comparación con otros productos de este tipo. Materiales de muy buena calidad, resistente y ergonómico. Sin embargo, puede llegar a cansar traerlos puestos después de varias horas. Los utilizo para estudiar y/o leer cuando el ruido de la calle es muy alto, sobre todo cuando hay muchos automoviles pasando en la calle o alguno de los vecinos pone música a muy alto volumen.

As per the title, they work wonderfully. TL;DR, they’re comfy, snug, but not too tight and they block out lower decibels, so you can still hear the wife or kids yell (higher pitches can be heard faintly). PRO’s: The clamping force is pleasant so the earmuffs stay on without digging into your head- my dome is large so big heads don’t have to worry. The padding is soft and comfy; the interior of the muffs are accommodating to many ear sizes and shapes. The exterior of the muffs and the headband are hard plastic; lightweight and somewhat durable. Caution: don’t whip them off, be gentle and use both hands to take em off. CONs: The headband is static, but the ear muffs can descend along metal brackets- note: it is hard to adjust; if sharing with others, I’d suggest buying multiple pairs. Haven’t dropped them nor do I treat them roughly, but I feel like they won’t handle abuse well. In summary, I’d definitely buy another pair. As for price, I got mine on sale(30% off).