Customer Reviews

Peltor H6A/V Optime Noise Reduction Earmuff

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I work as an aircraft mechanic in a high-operations tempo environment... meaning I do a lot of running around, a lot of tumbling around, and get a lot of jets fixed to do a lot of flying. I've used numerous other forms of hearing protection: Peltor Shotgunners, Peltor H10 Optime, Bilsom Thunder, from what I can recall.

I'll go over the various qualities of this product:

-Slim design
Not quite as slim as the Shotgunners, but definitely not as obstructive as the H10 Optime or Bilsom Thunder. For my line of work this is very nice, as we often work in tight spaces in or around the jets. Also, when running/tumbling around they aren't as prone to wriggle off your head.

-Comfort
These offer a decent amount of comfort. They only started to get painful to wear after about three hours. They don't get to being uncomfortable/annoying until about an hour. The H10 Optime and Thunder has slightly more padding, but because they are bigger and heavier it makes them less comfortable overall to wear and gets irritating to wear very quickly... a general consensus among my workmates who vary by height, build, headshapes, earshapes etc. The Shotgunners have minimal padding... which is a key part of their slim design. Needless to say they aren't very comfortable either.

-Affordable
Less pricey compared to the Shotgunners, H10 Optime or Thunder. Yet this doesn't sacrifice much (if at all) in build quality or protection.

-Protection
These offer slightly more protection than the Shotgunners, but not as much as the H10 Optime or Thunder. The difference is noticeable, but for an industrial area where jet engines reach over 100 dB, the protection is good. For this type of environment the Shotgunners provide an acceptable amount of protection.

-Rugged
I typically see Shotgunners last 6-12 months (they're not meant for this type of work environment anyway). The H10 Optime and Thunder are fairly rugged, but I think they last as long as they do because most of my people try not to wear them unless they really need to. My H6 Optime has lasted me four years, and was a hand-me-down. While they aren't meant to be tossed about or otherwise abused, I'm pleasantly surprised they lasted in my work environment. For folks who work as car mechanics, in woodshops, or otherwise low-operations tempo environments (where you aren't running around like a madman trying to get things done) these will last you at least twice as long.

I bought these for my 7 year old daughter who is very sensitive to loud noises for a trip to Disney World. The fireworks, shows, and some rides are very loud at the various parks. My daughter had a much more enjoyable trip and the ear muffs gave her the confidence to try things that she would otherwise not have done. The muffs are adjustable where the ear muff connects to the head band and can fit anyone from an infant to a small adult. The Disney trip alone made this purchase worthwhile, but we will continue to use these for a variety of activities for a long time to come.

First, contrary to what some have said in their reviews, these ARE ADJUSTABLE. You have to grab the black piece that attaches the earpiece to the band, and with you other hand pull the wire attached to the black piece. Now as for noise blocking these things are awesome for the price. They work really well, and I would highly recommend them if you are looking for inexpensive hearing protection.

These ear muffs are fairly comfortable to sleep in, and have a noise reduction rating of 21. I use these ear muffs with the Hearos soft foam ear plugs (nrr of 32). I recommend using both for noisy apts like mine.

We have a pair of these and a pair of the similar yellow 98's and are pleased with both. These are less thick than the 98's but don't offer quite as much sound protection, although there is not a huge difference. My husband prefers the yellow 98's but I like these better, mainly because they are thinner, are a less noticeable color, and therefore aren't quite as unattractive to wear. These are also a couple of dollars cheaper than the 98's. Both are similarly constructed except for the ear piece thickness, and fit well. For target shooting, they reduce a loud bang to a muffled pop. They also greatly reduce background noise, but speech can be heard softly if the person is facing you and speaking in a fairly loud voice. They would probably be good for use with power tools and lawn mowers. These are better muffs than some that are available locally for about the same price. They are lightweight and comfortable and the headband can be adjusted up or down for fit. No complaints so far. They are cream colored, not white.

I purchased these as a back-up for my daughter who is 8 years old and has sensory issues. She said these are similar to the ones she uses at school and she likes them a lot. She said they are very comfortable. I also tried them on and they fit me comfortably when I adjusted them to be a little larger.

I highly recommend these for the price, and I respectfully disagree with another reviewer who implied that these wouldn't last long. They are very nice quality.

**Update**
I just purchased another pair! My daughter liked these so much that she now has one pair for school and one for home. These are much better than others I have seen at three or four times the price. They are comfortable, slim-not bulky and I am so glad Amazon sells these!

Earmuffs are tight to the head, and they don't look anything like the photo. I thought they were white, with a small Peltor logo. Instead, they are an awful beige color, with a giant 3M logo. Very disappointing.

We tested several and these were definitely the most comfortable. They have more space around the ear and depth for the ear. The cushion around the ear seems a little better padded than some of the other Peltor products too. They are not all that sexy, but they do block out sound well and are comfortable both on the ears and on the head. You can still hear people talking, they simply reduce the volume of sound

Length:: 1:39 Mins

I will be using these earmuffs for shooting. I haven't shot with them yet, but the noise protection is equivalent to my typical earplugs that I use when I go to the range. I don't foresee any issue with their use. I am very happy with my purchase choice.

Good muffs period but very good muffs for the price. Very comfortable. Decent quality build. I've had them for two years and I use them at least once a week and they are holding up great.




Experience level regarding item: moderate