Muted Designer Hearing Protection for Infants & Kids - Adjustable Children's Ear Muffs from Toddler to Teen

Product Information

Although these headphones are powered, they only provide passive noise cancellation, and earn the same 23dB NRR rating as our other recommendations. Instead, 3M decided to build a pair of speakers and a Bluetooth chip into its ear muffs, turning them into a pair of wireless headphones. Its response time is 0.02 seconds, so you’ll barely hear the loud noise before the ear muffs start working. Some of our recommendations also have active noise cancellation, which use microphones to cancel out noises at certain frequencies. Active noise cancellation adds a significant amount of weight to the ear muffs, and requires them to be charged. Even better, they're part of the brand's Green to Wear 2.0 standard which ensures they've been made with the aim 'to minimise the environmental impact of textile manufacturing.' How much are the best earmuffs? According to the CDC, extended exposure to noises over 70dB (decibels) can lead to permanent hearing damage. This includes activities like using a gas-powered lawn mower, or riding on a motorcycle. Noise-reduction ear muffs look like over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, but their ear pads are made out of materials that dampen (the technical word for reduce) the volume of loud sounds before they reach your ears. The noise dampening is built into the headphones, so it doesn’t require a power source to work.

You can also head online and discover the plethora of independent brands offering quirky designs – places like Not On The High Street and Wolf and Badger are perfect for discovering fresh talent. What to look for in the best earmuffs? The electronics required for active noise cancellation contributes to the ear muffs weight: 0.77 pounds, which is 0.2 pounds heavier than the lightest pair we recommend. You’ll notice the difference on your head, but the trade-off is worth it given the big difference between its active and passive noise cancellation settings. The only downside is that these ear muffs require a non-rechargeable battery to work, so you’ll always have to keep some around. Zara's faux fur earmuffs look irresistibly soft and come in a choice of chocolate brown as well as ecru.

totes Ladies Ceramic Travel Mug & Earmuff Set: £16, totes

For reference, many popular earplugs have an NRR rating of 32dB, and can be worn under your noise-reduction ear muffs for an extra layer of protection. prioritized comfort and audio technology over weight and active noise cancellation in its WorkTunes noise-reduction ear muffs. Vanderfields’ ear muffs work using passive noise reduction, which means sound is absorbed in its large, spongy earcups. Noise-Reduction Rating: Every pair of noise-reduction ear muffs is assigned an NRR (Noise-Reduction Rating), which approximates how much sound it can keep from reaching your ears. All of our recommendations have an NRR value of 23dB.

If you want extra ear padding and a way to stream music while you work, 3M’s WorkTunes noise reduction ear muffs are the right choice. The upside is that at just 8.8 ounces these are one of the the lightest noise-reduction ear muffs on our guide. You’ll definitely feel that difference if you need to wear a pair of ear muffs for longer than a half hour.

Designers pairs will cost considerably higher, of course, but generally speaking, we don't think you have to pay over the odds for a good pair. Where to buy the best earmuffs? Bluetooth technology lets you wirelessly stream music, plus it has a rechargeable battery for longer wear-time, and gel-filled ear cups for added comfort.