Customer Reviews

Surefire EP4 Sonic Defender Ear Protection, Medium

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I spend a good amount of time on weekends at the range, and one round with my .45 - not to mention the other hundred guns around - is enough to begin a serious search for the right ear protection. I tried a few other items, then came across the Surefire EP4s - and I don't believe I'll find anything better in the near future. What was once nearly an all-but-intolerable affair is now muted to little more than distant pops.

My grade weighted a few things:
1) Comfort - they are small, lightweight and low profile, excellent when they'll be in use for several hours at a time.
2) Price - quality ear protection perhaps is priceless, but finding a pair for as little $ as the EPs was a shock to me, especially once I put them to use.
3) They work. I've worn over-ear headphones, throw-away in-ear plugs and everything between. And not once has any surpassed the EP4s. You won't be disappointed.

One final comment: I was skeptical to use them with the plug pulled out, so most of the day I had the plugs in use and hardly a sound got in. But as I sat to clean my weapon I pulled the plugs to see how they'd do, and I was very surprised as to how well they still canceled much of the irritating and dangerous gunfire.

Great, versatile product. I'll be looking for more Surefire items.

I've never been a fan of foam earplugs because they're so annoying to insert. It always takes me 2-4 attempts to get them rolled up to the point where they'll go into my ears and then you have to wait for them to expand. These Surefire plugs insert very easily, quickly and are surprisingly comfortable in my ears. Noise attenuation is good, not as good as foamies but still very good. If I have these in and ear muffs on top, gunshots sound as if someone is popping bubblewrap underneath a blanket. This is with the stoppers in. I haven't been brave enough to try them with the stoppers out.

I tried riding my motorcycle with a full-face Arai helmet (known for not being quiet helmets) and they're great for that use. With the stoppers out, the wind noise is about as loud as driving in your car with the windows down. I don't feel as though I'm isolated from the rest of traffic, which is what made me uncomfortable using foam ear plugs while riding. I still get a slight sense of stereo imaging so I can "feel" where the cars are around me. I'm picking up a 2nd set specifically for riding.

They're very low profile so you can easily wear them under helmets, earmuffs or anything else that happens to go over your head. You still need to take a little extra care in donning a helmet, but there's very little drama there.

The main negative is that everyone's ear canal is shaped differently so the trial & error part of testing these out can be a turnoff, especially considering their price.

Took these to range and used them under Howard Leight electronic earmuffs most of the time, which was a nice combo - I could talk and hear conversation (with Leights turned up) while the combo very comfortably cut the noise of ARs with muzzle breaks, .45-70, .44 mag, .308, etc. When I took off the Leights, the EP4's were too loud for comfort near ARs, but they did offer protection, and I could keep them in place and not worry about being caught out without any protection if someone started shooting. (I'll try them alone another time with 9mm-type rounds.)

Spent a little while getting used to inserting them and didn't have any problems with sealing or discomfort, wearing them for about 3 hours. (I got medium size, and I'm very average in size.)

(I used them, by the way, without the tiny center plugs inserted, based on what the instructions said.)

This pair of EP4 is replacing my EP3. Very comfortable for all day wear to say the least. Noise blocking is impressive. You can really hear normal conversation, but not whispers that are not directed to you. Makes spying a little harder. Performance at the gun range is great. I shoot 357SIG, and the noise level is so high I usually wear both the plugs and the ear-cover. With EP4, I can skip the ear=cover.

I am a firearms instructor and EP4s are the best earplugs that I have ever used. I personally have never had any success in getting foam plugs to remain snug inside my ear. These suction-in like a plumber's friend toliet tool and you definitely will not hear much of anything. I prefer to to use them in combination with 30+ dec. ear muffs that will cover the noise-sensing bones behind my ears. I have found the combination to help myself and students to completely ignore loud firearm reports which greatly assists in eliminating flinching (shooters react to the noise not the recoil). You will not be able to hear others speaking if that is a concern (unless you have electronic ear muffs). I would also recommend the EP4 over the EP3 which has one less suction cup and is noticeably less efficient.

These little guys are the best thing in my range bag. They fit my ears perfectly, and thats saying alot because I have large ears and the over the ear ear muffs were always uncomfortable, so that is a huge plus for me.

I took them to the shooting range and fired 9mm, 12 gauge slugs and an AR15, and all weapons were muffled to small pops. I didnt even notice how loud the AR was (indoor range), until I got some angry looks from the next stall. These things blocked it all out, but still let enough in that I was able to speak to other people with ease. I love these and plan on buying another pair just in case, as they are small and susceptible to loss. I keep them clean and in the case they came in, so I doubt ill lose them or have them waer out anytime soon. Cant praise these enough.

I ordered a pair of EP3 and EP4 plugs to try out. I definitely get a better fit out of the EP4s. However, even outdoors I found them to not be effective enough on their own. I've started doubling up these plugs and a pair of Peltor Shotgunner muffs and they work wonders. I've always had a problem getting a good seal while wearing both ear muffs and shooting glasses, but cheap foam plugs were never good enough. While wearing these and my Peltor muffs, I can't hear any conversation, and .22LRs are almost silent. This may be a con for some people, but it makes shooting very enjoyable when you end up next to a guy shooting large calibers with a muzzle brake.

I got these earplugs (size large) because I commute by motorcycle and read an article about sustained wind noise damaging hearing. I have tried some cheaper ear plugs and found them uncomfortable. These are very comfortable, fit well in my helmet and they are not as quiet as the soft disposable kind, which I like. I can still hear what's going on around me, but its muffled enough that it is not damaging my hearing. The base sounds seem to get through better, which makes my bike sound very cool and tough. All in all, good earplugs. Now I just have to remember to put them in every time.

I work at a very well known theme park at a well known roller coaster (rhymes with Space Fountain). I use these every day since the noise levels are (believe it or not) almost unbearable without ear plugs... We are provided with foam ear plugs, and they work, but I need to be able to have conversations with people while wearing the ear plugs and the foam ones just blocked everything out too much.

With these I can block out all the screaming and yelling, as well as the normal attraction sounds while being able to ask how many there are in someones party and be able to hear them pretty clearly. Plus I can wear them whenever I'm inside the building and forget I'm even wearing them, they're that comfortable.

I recommend them to anyone that needs to wear earplugs for extended amounts of time, but also needs to be able to hear people talking to them.

I spend a lot of time with plugs in my ears. I obtained these for work, as the person in the office next door has a tendency to be a loud talker, and I am easily distracted.

I had to order two sets. My first, a small, pretty much disappeared in my ears. I decided I would give it another try and ordered the medium size. Once you get used to them, they go in easily, fit well, and can be worn for long periods of time without fatigue.

The port covers didn't seem to do much, but i haven't tried them in a high volume situation.

These are not as comfortable as those from Earpeace, which fit all the way in your ear canal and are wonderful for sleeping or concerts without looking silly. However, these do provide more isolation. A solid purchase, and I would definitely buy these again.