Elgin USA Hearing Protection

There is a ton of hearing protection on the market. You can get everything from the foam ones to active styles that even connect to a two-way radio. Elgin USA has something that fits in the middle, which is where most of us fit in anyhow. Their hearing protection is mainly passive with Bluetooth connectivity, so one can listen while they do work. Whatever that “work” may be.

Elgin's main market is industrial hearing protection. Which is why most of them are passive style. This means that they just block noise, instead of being the active style that cuts off when a loud noise is heard. One main advantage to this style is that they always work and they tend to block more noise than the active style type. I like passive style hearing protection when it is just me at the range. It lets me focus more on what I am training.

Elgin USA sent me a bunch of different styles of hearing protection. They sent their “Rebel” and “Discord” in ear along with their “Fury Dual Defense” over the ear. Also in the package was their "Thumper", which is a tiny clip on Bluetooth speaker. As well as an Elgin sign. I've only used the Rebel and the Thumper. I will add in a little on the Fury and Discord since they basically work the same.

I am starting with the Elgin Thumper. This is not hearing protection, but it is something you could use at the range. As mentioned, the Thumper is a little bluetooth speaker that you can stand up, magnet onto, or clip to various objects, like a range bag. At the range, one could play music, or maybe their favorite podcast, which hopefully is the Gun & Gear Review podcast. That way everyone around can enjoy it. The Thumper is 2.5 inches tall and has way better sound than I expected. It also has an impact resistant weatherproof case. Probably because Elgin knows that industrial equipment needs to be strong. I really thought the Thumper was a cool little item.

The Elgin Rebels were what I was really wanting to try out. They did not disappoint. The Rebel did take a bit to get used to. When I say that, it is because they are passive earbud style hearing protection, with the ability to use bluetooth. The earbuds themselves come with an assortment of foam and rubber tips, even regular earbud style for when not needing the protection aspect. I found the Rebels to be very comfortable. What I love about the Rebels is that they block sound great. Of all the in-ear plugs I have tried, they do the best job at reducing the sound level. The Rebels also have really good sound. You can answer phone calls by double pressing the button on either ear. You can play music, pause it, or go forward or backward a track, by using the buttons on the earbuds. If you hold down the button, it brings up your phone's virtual assistant. This is how you have to adjust the bluetooth volume, which I do not care for. I would like to just use the buttons, but they are hearing protection, not dedicated earbuds. The Rebel lets you do everything you want to while really dampening the outside noise. I really enjoy these ear plugs/earbuds.

If you don’t care for the earbud style, Elgin has the Discord. The Discord is essentially a corded version of the Rebel. It still has the same hearing protection and ear tips, plus bluetooth. It just comes on a permanent strap. You also get the volume up/down that the Rebel does not have. This kind of wireless hearing protection works really well if you are going to and from noisy areas. The strap allows you to pull the plugs out and then just hang them around your neck, thus not losing them.

Now if you want the ultimate in hearing protection, this is where the Fury Dual Defense comes in. The Fury is an over the ear style bluetooth headset. The cool thing about the Fury Dual Defense is that it also has removable earplugs built into the ear pieces. So if you use both the built in plugs and the muffs, you get an outstanding noise reduction. They also have a built-in light. So if you are looking for the best noise reduction, the Fury is it. They would probably work great if you were working a big shooting event all day.

If you are looking into getting some new passive hearing protection, Elgin might have something for you. Their products really cut the noise to your ear. I was pleasantly surprised at how much noise they cancelled out. Having Bluetooth is a nice addition also. Plus the sound quality is better than expected for hearing protection. If you work somewhere that earplugs are needed, or you are like me at the range, the Elgin USA product line is worth checking out.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Hearing protection with Bluetooth

Target Market:

Shooters, Industrial professionals, and anyone that needs hearing protection and wants to listen to music

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

Rebel:

Type: In-Ear wireless
Noise Reduction Rating: 31dB NRR ANSI Certified (Comfort tips excluded)
Noise-Cancelling Type: Passive
Play Time: 12 Hours + 50 Hours in the case
Charging Time: 2 Hours
Quick Charge: 10 min = 2.5 hour play time
Charging: Via charging case with USB-C connector
Earbud Dimensions: 20W x 15D x 25H mm
Weight: 6g (without tips)
Charging Case Dimensions: 50W x 35D x 70H mm
Weight: 57g (without earbuds)
LED flashlight integrated into the charging case
Wireless Range: 30 Meters
Bluetooth Version: 5.3

Discord:

Type: In-Ear wireless with neck strap
Noise Reduction Rating: 31dB NRR ANSI Certified
Noise-Cancelling Type: Passive
Playback Time: 14 Hours
Charging Time: 2.8 Hours
Quick Charge Time: 5 min = 40 min
Headphones Dimensions: Ø30W x 38D x 900L mm
Battery and Controller Cases: 14W x 8.5D x 55H mm
Weight: 20g (without tips)
Storage Case Dimensions: 80W x 39D x 120H mm
Wireless Range: 30 Meters
Bluetooth Version: 5.3

Fury Dual Defense:

3 wear modes: Run over-ear muffs alone (27dB NRR), in-ear plugs alone (31dB NRR), or both together for maximum protection when the decibels spike (40dB NRR)
Built-in task lighting with 100-lumen LED
IP65 rated
Style: Over-Ear & In-Ear
Noise Reduction Rating: 40dB NNR ANSI Certified
Noise-Cancelling Type: Passive
Playback Time: 70 Hours
Charging Time: 3 Hours
Quick-charge: 10 min = 2.5 hours of playback
Headphones: 215W x 146D x 95H mm (Unfolded)
Weight: 355g
Storage Case : H193 x W148 x D99 mm
Wireless Range: 30 Meters, 100 ft.
Bluetooth Version: 5.3