How did anybody ever mow the lawn without protection? It was not long ago that this tedious task was almost overwhelmingly loud, and the only auditory element was the sound of the machine chopping up grass and the noisy mechanisms at work. Now, with hearing protection, we can finally accomplish this task with a little peace and quiet… Suddenly, mowing the lawn is not as much of a chore as it used to be. Funny how that works, hey?
However, not all hearing protection is equally suited for the task.
Some earmuffs or earplugs are built especially for blocking off the white noise in quiet places. Obviously, these will have a hard time competing with the ripping sounds of the lawnmower. Accordingly, we are looking for hearing protection that will manage to block out the sound from the machine, leaving you and you protected from the mechanical grind– other than of course a distant hum from the mower which reminds you that the machine is, indeed, still working!
So noise protection is important, but so is comfort. Mowing the lawn is already uncomfortable in its own right. Why not treat yourself with accompanying gear that doesn’t make the whole thing more uncomfortable than it already is. The build of the equipment– as in the shape as well as the materials they’re made from, as well as the way the padding is proportioned around the contraption– all of this plays a role in how they’re going to feel when cupped over (or inside of) your ears.
Just as important as the ability to block outside noise and the way they feel on your head is, of course, the length they’re going to last. You are looking for a set of muffs or buds that can handle a bit of sweat and last a while before they start falling apart. There is a lot of cheap hearing protection equipment that hardly stays together as built even in the most inactive scenarios– to some degree, you need a choice that can brave the elements and survive the sun, the sweat, and occasional moisture…
Top Options for Hearing Protection While Mowing the Lawn
Howard Leight by Honeywell Impact
Ideal for any scenario which requires some noise cancellation in order to reach a state of peace and quiet, these are slick, comfortable, and can be used for all purposes when you’re not in the yard cutting the grass. Furthermore, they use very interesting contemporary technology to amplify quieter sounds from your yard to create a serene soundscape. This way, rather than just the faded sound of your lawnmower, you can actually hear the wind or the chirping of distant birds, and enjoy the outdoors a little bit. Plus, they are built with a ventilated headband on the inside which makes sure that not too much pressure builds up to ensure your comfort.
They have also been praised by many sources, professional and customer reviewers alike, as well as many blogs, magazines, and websites. Being electronic, they do require two AAA batteries to function, and these batteries typically last about 350 hours.
Beyond the convenience of all of this, these also offer the possibility of plugging in an MP3 player and listening to your favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks while you get some work done. This is not for everyone, but they will continue to cancel up to 82 dB of outside noise while you listen to something interesting and distract yourself from the banality of your chore.
Reasonably priced, these are some of the best on the market and work very well for mowing the lawn!
3M Peltor Optime Earmuffs
These have been scientifically proven to cut out up almost 100% of background noise in incredibly loud environments such as subway stations and train, rush hour traffic in the city, busy office locations, and even airplanes while taking off.
As if this was not enough, they are extremely lightweight so that your head and neck do not get tired while you get your work done. Although they are light, they definitely are not small. On top of all of this, the sizeable cushions are well-padded with a unique filling that combines foam and liquid, which is responsible for the great sound barrier as well as the comfort.
the quality of the materials leads them to be very consistent and durable. Last (but not least) these are very comfortable– I mean, extremely cozy to wear… The pillowy leather ear cushions are designed for optimal agreeableness and will not ever start to seem uncomfortable, that is a guarantee. They are perfectly soft, with the earmuffs made with double-shell design to add extra protection.
Coming in at a far more reasonable cost than hearing protection of similar quality, these guys are completely geared toward functionality and proficiency… This is not to say that they are ugly, but they do not waste any of your valued dollar on looking overly fancy. All things being equal, there may not be a better option on the market when considering that you are looking for a tool to make a chore easier, rather than necessarily trying to be the most stylish youth on the scene.
Mpow 044
Significantly cheaper than the other two options listed here, these are also an excellent choice when it comes to hearing protection. The headband is adjustable as to fit your head flexibly and easily, the seven-layered sealing design allows for an NRR rating of 29dB (which is remarkable), and they are well-padded and comfortable to wear.
Bonus: Mack’s Earplugs
Whether you choose the silicone or the foam, Mack’s has earned a reputation for making the most consistently effective and easy earplugs on the market. For tasks like mowing the lawn, many choose to do earmuffs instead of plugs, but others may feel like adding the bulky headgear to the chore is unnecessarily uncomfortable- if the last thing you want on a hot day is to wear another article of gear, we can’t blame you. If this is the case, Mack’s earplugs are just as good (if not better) at blocking out loud noises. It should be noted that the foam plugs are typically a little more temporary and should not be re-used as often as the silicone, and the prices indicate this level of re-usability.
