Advice & opinions on Walker Game Ear Hearing aid/protection

Vince Pagliaroli

Vince Pagliaroli

Well-known member

All members of Duck Boats.

Your input on this subject would be greatly appreciated, and taken into consideration. As a wealth of knowledge and experience resides here.

Hearing aids for non hunting, and cataract surgery of my "Shootin' Eye" are current Geezer upgrades. Hopefully to help keep me doing what I so much love doing, and enjoying life. (The hearing aids will make my wife very happy...)


The Game Ear, is something I have been told is well worth it. If so, I'm ready for them.

Thank you in advance.


Best regards
Vince
 
Vince,

I currently do not have hearing issues (selective hearing isn't an "issue" I am told). However, my audiologist I see every year for work strongly suggested I use hearing protection when I hunt. I hemmed and hawed for a few years but after seeing just how deaf some of my friends became over the years I bit the bullet and got me a pair. I can't recall right now the brand, but not walkers. I got the ones that were molded for my ears. My experience with them was eh.

Yes it blunted loud noises like gun fire and lawn mowers. However, the wind was aggravating to listen to, it sounded like my friends were yelling at me (even on the lowest volumes), turkeys sounded like they should have been in my lap they seemed so close. So, if you have hearing challenges to start with, they may be of great benefit. I never could figure out the wind issue though. Typical of all hearing aids. Steve actually wore tmine to give them a try and he liked them a lot (except for the turkey gobbling seeming so close part). They were more of a hinderance for me than a benefit so I quit wearing them and am back to no protection while hunting and double protection at work. By far, I shoot waaaaaaay more at work than I do hunting. Not the best idea but ah well.

What I have been told is that you get what you pay for in hearing aid technology and quality. Many folk I know have said that. So get the best you can afford and you will likely be a lot happier with your hearing aids than the bargain basement hearing aids. Many audiologists over the years have told me that, folk in the military or exmilitary especially and at my carving clubs....everyone all seems to agree on that. You get what you pay for in hearing aid quality.
 
I have been using the walkers electronic muffs for two hunting seasons and am quite happy with them. Still allow for conversation on the duck blind, calling, and can hear well. My only annoyance is how they get in the way with facemasks, hats and beanies in colder weather. I keep an extra set of batteries in my blind bag just in case they run out of juice. I would like to explore in ear electronic hearing protection a bit more when this pair of ear muffs bites the dust, but for now I am very happy with them.

I've also committed to hearing protection on the lawn tractor and when running saws around the house. Our hunt club meetings don't run too smoothly as 3/4 of the guys can't hear each other, kind of turned me on to wearing hearing protection more often.
 
I'm looking forward to the responses here - I too am on the lookout for what hearing protection to invest in.

I know one person that has the Tetra Waterfowl CustomShield and really likes them - great protection and good sound amplification for fellow hunters talking softly.

Another has the Walker's over-ear muffs. These seem to have good protection but seem to make all other noises like they are coming through a microphone.
 
For stationary hunting (deer, ducks, turkey and at the range), I use and highly recommend the Howard Leight impact sport muffs. I own 6 pairs and my oldest pair is over 10 years old. I've used them in light rain, around saltwater, etc... and they have served me well. Of the 6 pairs, I've had only one pair die, given the cost and use, I'd say that is a great record. They work great in wind and you seldom have problems with the sound quality. They will amplify over background and if you want excellent sound quality, you need to turn them down a tiny bit from max. At max you get a little distortion and background noises are a little too amplified.

I have found that when close to a cellphone there can be some interference, they will make a click now and again, but just keep the phone away and it isn't a problem.
 
I tried the muffs a buddy had... wind noise is terrible and sounds like you're on a radio. Also they are bulky.
I spent the money and bought the custom fit Wildear Electronics fit in ear... have a nice warranty and you can hear well and communicate with your group...
Your hearing is priceless you only get 1 set of ears. I regret not wearing hearing protection from the start. I have constant tinnitus and some days it gets so bad I want to off myself.
Soundgear is another good brand guys are using and there is a promo code thru the midwest flyways or HP outdoors podcast have to find it for you if you're serious about spending the money.
 


Just some added info.

While shooting and in the workplace, etc. I have always used ear protection of some kind.

My high range hearing loss is the result of being a remote control, and regular railroad engineer while working at the steel mill. Hearing protection could not be used, as all orders were given over radio.

Years ago, my mentor and another close friend that never worked in noisy work places warned me. "The tinnitus when you get older is torture." They are correct.


90% of my hunting is done alone, involves lots of walking, still hunting, no tree stands, etc. Waterfowl and some turkey hunting are stationary.


I would prefer not to wear muffs, due to the cold, my wearing glasses and things already mentioned. That's why I'm exploring other options. Yet if they are the best, then that is the way I'll go.


Thank you so much for the info so far provided. It is much appreciated. I'm honored to be a member here.

Keep the info coming, please.


Best regards
Vince
 
I had some of the Walker in the ear and they were ok but wind noise was very annoying batteries dying also a pain.
Recently purchased some Otto noize barrier rechargeable have only worn them twice one day for 6 hours
at a dog training event very comfortable good noise reduction no annoying wind interfernce.

https://www.otto-comm.com/NoizeBarrierMicro




 
I have tried muffs, in ear cheaper stuff, and now the walkers product you put on your neck and the ear plugs have wires. I have tinnitus in my left ear. I'm 36 and have had it in that ear a few years. Anything is better then nothing but the NRR on most products is only 22 decibels. I am trying to go to a higher end in ear product as I am not satisfied with anything I have tried. Muffs get in the way and I constantly take them on and off. The in ear type I tried took tiny hearing aid batteries that died mid hunt. The last type around my neck are the best but battery life leaves some to be desired in the cold and the wind noise was loud.
 
I did not see the in the ear part of the request. I have no solution there. When I've researched in the ear options, I've never found a good option that I was willing to pay for (I won't spend several hundred dollars for something that is so easily lost or dropped overboard).
 
Vince-

i have had hearing issues on one side since I was a kid - and like most of us - not improving with age -

I remember an old saying - you can tell an old skeet shooter, but you can't tell him much

a few years ago, running my setter for grouse my friend was hearing grouse flushes that I missed completely - and directional hearing (knowing where the dogs bell was was) was impossible

so -a few years ago, at one of the big sporting clays events I got tested and fitted for a set of shooting ear plugs - adjustable for sound and they shut off load noises like gun fire-
they were expensive and worked really well - but less than two years later I lost them - batteries had gone dead on the clays course and I put them in a pocket and put in foam plugs and never saw them again

when thinking about replacing them, i saw the Walker Silencers - had a cabela's gift card from the kids so I got them - a lot less expensive - work really well - the only difference I notice is maybe a little more wind noise - but not enough to be annoying - going into my third season with them - I wear them in the duck blind, in the uplands for grouse and woodcock and on the clays course - i can hear ducks coming, the dog's bell in the woods and conversations with the group on the clays course

and they recharge when put in their little hard case - no batteries to die when I am out wearing them
 
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I have some compression silicone fitted ones from the audiologist and the walkers silencer game ear 2.0. I like the walkers, but they mess with my brain when I wear them inside the car- which I prefer to do because they're just one more thing to have to futz with at 4:30am. Also, they are dark and don't float, which I learned because I lost a single one. Now I usually just wear the bright orange compression plugs (not the cheaply foam things), and sometimes I'll switch out the right ear with my walkers (since I lost the left). It's not perfect, but it works well enough.

I've debated getting the fancy ones, but they should be made to float for people like me, or have a croakie style strap. I always drop my sunglasses as well so the string around my head helps a lot.

For the range I have the aforementioned cheapish muffs that tod mentioned. I even have pairs for my kids. They're amazing, and even the light ones, which are smaller, still cramp my style for scatter guns.
 
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Thanks to all.

Some good info so far for consideration from folks with experience.

I will check out the in ear rehchargeable products.

In the past loosing things has not been much of a problem, but that could change... [;)]

The 3:30am days are over. Hunting & Fishing - I have become a Geezer of Leisure. Go when I want, and stay as late as possible. First days not that important, the rest of the seasons very much so. We still have experiences and memories to make.



Rick L.

Your info about the Walker Silencers has got me leaning in that direction of purchase. Anything that enhances the outdoor experience is priceless the older one gets.


VP
 
I wear hearing protection 100% of the time while waterfowling. I tried various models such as different Walkers and the like. I settled on Sordin Supreme Pro X muffs. Unlike the Walkers I do not get background noise, they do not amplify the wind, and I can run a call with ease. They're comfortable and do not get in the way of the gun. The batteries last me most or all of a season. I've put quite a few seasons on them and they've had no problems at all. They're spendy, although they seem to have dropped in cost since I purchased mine. It looks like they're around $270 now.

For comparison's sake, my hunting partner recently purchased the top of the line Walkers and I gave them a try. In comparison, the Walkers are pretty terrible. Still, something is far better than nothing. Even a cheap pair of Walkers will help, although in my case at least they would bother me by amplifying the wind on a windy day and then I'd take them off, making it pointless having them.

View attachment Sordin.JPG
 
I tried a pair of Walkers and returned them as soon as I got home. I had issues with wind as others have mentioned but my biggest gripe was how they amplified the sound of flies and mosquitoes to 747 sound levels. I mean the sound of mosquitoes buzzing around my head is already bad but amplifying that sound 1000 fold really really sucks. And not only do you hear mosquitoes that are close by, you also hear the bastards that are 10 miles away. Every last one of them. For ever and ever.
 
Mark W said:
I tried a pair of Walkers and returned them as soon as I got home. I had issues with wind as others have mentioned but my biggest gripe was how they amplified the sound of flies and mosquitoes to 747 sound levels. I mean the sound of mosquitoes buzzing around my head is already bad but amplifying that sound 1000 fold really really sucks. And not only do you hear mosquitoes that are close by, you also hear the bastards that are 10 miles away. Every last one of them. For ever and ever.
Click to expand...

This made me laugh. They certainly do that. Thankfully bugs are gone when I wear my single one.
 
I am glad you bring this up.I am once again in the market for hearing protection of some form.It seems I am not happy with anything in the duck blind once it gets cold.
My dad is 91 and I asked him why we never wore hearing protection.He said I never thought about it.He hears just fine by the way me not so much.
 
Nick Zito said:
Mark W said:
I tried a pair of Walkers and returned them as soon as I got home. I had issues with wind as others have mentioned but my biggest gripe was how they amplified the sound of flies and mosquitoes to 747 sound levels. I mean the sound of mosquitoes buzzing around my head is already bad but amplifying that sound 1000 fold really really sucks. And not only do you hear mosquitoes that are close by, you also hear the bastards that are 10 miles away. Every last one of them. For ever and ever.
Click to expand...

This made me laugh. They certainly do that. Thankfully bugs are gone when I wear my single one.
Click to expand...



That is funny.

Thankfully there are very few skeeters here during hunting seasons.

Midges we got plenty of. If they can amplify those little SOB's, now that IS doing something.


I'm learning much about "hearing protection". Seems it mean different things to different folks.

What kind of use, and the region one lives in are factors. Not to mention how bad a persons hearing is in the first place.



VP
 
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