Here are some great ideas for the gun owner on your holiday gift-giving list.
One of the latest sets of hearing protection this year is Peltor’s Tactical Sport 500. The Tactical 500 is an electronic unit with Bluetooth capability so you can sync your mobile devices to it to listen to your music list. This unit does not have VOX capability so if you answer your phone whoever is on the other end will know you are on the range. What it does have is 26dB reduction when shooting and thanks to 3M SMART Technologies crystal clear voice reception when you are not shooting.
Peltor has done something I have not seen on other electronic hearing protection; they recess the microphones approximately a sixteenth of an inch form the surface of the muffs. When combined with the built-in wind screen there is a huge reduction in wind noise. Truth be told with the exception of being caught on the range before a couple of major storms, l did not notice that annoying rustling sound the wind causes. Note to hunters: this is one less excuse for you not to wear these while hunting. I also found this slight recess made range commands more clear when shooting USPSA matches.
Peltor designed the Tactical 500 for ease of operation as well. The one cup has all the controls at your finger tips. The on/off button is opposite of the microphone on the one cup and tells you when it is on or off. Volume buttons are the cap of this cup and the Bluetooth button is in the middle of the volume buttons. All of the buttons have raised symbols, making it easy to feel and operate them.
Batteries are in the opposite cup of the controls. The Tactical 500s operate on AA batteries ensuring you can find them virtually anywhere should a pair die. After one shooting season the original pair is still going strong.
Peltor has also used new polymers in the cup cushions and headband to make the Tactical 500 more comfortable for all day wear. The headband has a soft touch material directly molded over the bands for comfort when worn with or without a hat. The cups’ material is also new and does not get brittle in the cold. I stuck our sample set in the freezer to test the feel; while cold they still molded over my glasses and quickly softened from body heat.
You will find Peltor’s Tactical 500 priced under $120 online. With all of the features, the Tactical 500 is worth every penny. With all the advancements in sound clarity there is no reason for shooters and hunters alike not to wear electronic hearing protection.
