Bluetooth over ear hearing protection?

[DynaGlide]

I've been using 3M Peltor X2A earmuffs in the shop and out in the yard. I really like the tension, fit, ear cup size. I was excited to try out the 3M Worktunes when they went on sale for $35 so they made it onto my Christmas list. That excitement disappeared immediately after putting them on. They hurt my head right away. Ear cups don't even fit over my ears. Does anyone have a recommendation for me? These Worktunes are going back I couldn't even stand them for 2 minutes.

 

[gunnyr]

I know you asked about over-ear hearing protection but I can't say enough good about Iso-Tunes bluetooth ear plugs.  For me I find the best hearing protection is the protection that I'll actually wear!  I keep mine around my neck and even manage to USE them on occasion [big grin]

 

[elm]

I too got the 3M Worktunes and thought there had to be something wrong as they did not fit over my ears.  I found I had to play with them a lot and then they extended nicely and fit properly.  If you hold on to the black piece that attaches to the ear cup while pulling not he silver headband part that goes into he black piece, you can extend them so they fit normal.  It takes some force...feels like more than reasonable, but it does work.  I then found them tight so I bent the silver pieces outward a bit and they fit great.  This was way more work than it should have been, but it did work.  I like them.

 

[DynaGlide]

I too got the 3M Worktunes and thought there had to be something wrong as they did not fit over my ears.  I found I had to play with them a lot and then they extended nicely and fit properly.  If you hold on to the black piece that attaches to the ear cup while pulling not he silver headband part that goes into he black piece, you can extend them so they fit normal.  It takes some force...feels like more than reasonable, but it does work.  I then found them tight so I bent the silver pieces outward a bit and they fit great.  This was way more work than it should have been, but it did work.  I like them.

I didn't know they were adjustable. I'll try your suggestions. Thank you

Edit: [member=66175]elm[/member] I'm glad I asked. They're much better now I think I'll be keeping them after all. It wasn't obvious that they were adjustable when I opened them.

 

[elm]

Glad it worked out.  I felt your 'pain'...it really should be more intuitive.  I also paired them with my phone and tested call quality.  It was good enough that with tools running I could 'shout' "I will call you back".  So that was nice.  Not sure I would use them for calls otherwise.  Good to have music playing though.

 

[kmickey]

I recently got a pair of AirPods pros, and they work really well under a pair of standard earmuffs.  The stems are much shorter than the stems on regular AirPods so between that and the tighter seal in the ear canal they never bump out like my AirPods did.

 

[elm]

kmickey...great idea.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I was tired of the "muffs". Especially with safety glasses and dust mask. Plus I turn a little and wear a air filtrated helmet for turning bowls and at times I like to weld so wanted something in the ear.

Was excited when I saw IsoTunes FREE - true wireless headphones but the volume was way too low. I then bought Powerbeats Pro and they had some noise isolation but not as much as the 21NRR of the FREE and they have a hook that goes over the ear that was annoying to me so I returned them.

Saw Amazon now offered the Isotunes FREE and only one reviewer had issues like me with too low volume. So I figured I have Prime account with free returns so I tried another pair. Glad I did the second pair has plenty of volume for me (even though they get OSHA rating by limiting volume to 85dB).

I highly recommend these. You do have to roll the ear tip like you do with the ear plugs and let them expand in you ear. Pain at first but I'm getting much better at it. The BT has been really reliable and even works up to 30 or so feet away.

Mike