13 Best Packable Ear Protections at Walmart

Ear protections, sometimes known as ear muffs, aren’t only for protection from noise. They come in different materials, and we use them for several reasons. We purchased an ear protection at Walmart, and it worked very well. Thus, we decided to try other products and write this review to help you find the perfect ear protection for your needs. Ear protection can protect your ears from high-frequency noise. We need those especially while traveling. Other options are made of warm materials such as fleece to warm your ears in cold weather. We also have a couple of those to use for skiing, camping, and other outdoor activities.

We did a lot of research and tried many products for adults and kids. This write-up is our experience with the various products we tried. We mentioned the pros and cons of each product. After that, you’ll find a bonus how-to-choose guide to help you make an informed decision while buying.

Allegra K Fleece Earmuffs

13

Starting our list with these Allegra K Fleece Earmuffs. We bought those last spring for a skiing trip and they were so protective. The ear muffs are made of fleece. This material is so soft and warm. The weather was chill the first time we wore them. They made a great difference in protecting our ears from the cold. By the way, if you’re interested in skiing, here is what to wear for spring skiing.

Our earmuffs were large covering our ears completely. Some people think they’re too huge but for us, we needed that size for more protection. Further, the earmuffs didn’t slip off our heads no matter what movements we did. They had a metal frame to keep them fixed. At the same time, they didn’t feel tight. We wore them for a whole day and we weren’t annoyed at all. Above all, the price was suitable for what we got.

PROHEAR Earmuffs

12

PROHEAR Earmuffs are designed for shooters and hunters who need the maximum protection from gun sounds. Thus, we expected the highest level of soundproofing. Luckily, these earmuffs didn’t fail us. We got them at a very good price to wear while traveling. They don’t have a noise cancelation feature but the NRR is 26 dB. This rating is very good for reducing flight noise and this was what we needed.

The earmuffs have a couple of features that make them value for money. The headband is padded for more comfort. They weren’t adjustable and this was our only problem with these earmuffs. They won’t fit different heads. Moreover, the earpads are also padded and comfortable. What we loved the most about them was that they were replaceable. The pads have a snap-in design to remove them and insert new ones easily. We’re looking for ear pads replacement now to keep them when needed.

Alpine Muffy Headphones

11

We didn’t forget babies as they extremely need ear protection during flights and loud events. Alpine Muffy Headphones are the best ear protection we found for babies. It can protect the ears from noise and cold as well. They say it fits toddlers up to 3 years but we aren’t sure of it. The strap looks shorter than a three-year-old toddler’s head, so, you might need to check the measures first before buying. For a baby, it worked very well. We already tried it with one of our reviewers’ babies and it seemed working very well.

The velcro strap didn’t annoy the baby at all. He didn’t almost notice it. It didn’t slip off his head even though he was wearing it for hours and he woke and slept with the earmuffs on his head. Moreover, we could remove each part easily for cleaning. The product comes with a travel bag as babies’ products should be kept safe and clean. It’s also certified if you’re wondering how safe it is for babies. We highly recommend them if you have or expecting a baby or even as a gift.

Manunclaims Winter Earmuffs

10

As the name suggests, Manunclaims Winter Earmuffs are designed to protect the ears from cold. They’re plush similar to winter clothes. We love this plush design as it looks chic. We usually wear them not only for protection but also as an accessory to complete our outfits. There are different colors, our favorite is pink. The black one is also very elegant and it matches many outfits. Moreover, the material was very soft and comfortable. They look very cute on our heads and they cover our ears completely. We tried them several times while camping, hiking, and on normal outings. They were very stable and never slipped off. However, the headband wasn’t adjustable, so, they won’t fit all women. Since they come at a good price, we bought two of them to mix and match with different winter outfits.

Surefire Sonic Defender EP3

9

This was our first time to try earplugs. We were worried about the experience as earplugs seemed to block all the sounds but this wasn’t what we exactly wanted. We wanted a product that ideally blocks noise but allows normal sounds. Surefire Sonic Defender EP3 did the job perfectly just as we wanted. These earplugs have filters that block all the noise we don’t want to hear during a long flight. At the same time, we could talk and hear each other with no problems.

If you’re wondering how these earplugs can allow some sounds and block others, the answer is filter caps. They come with these caps that we could insert when we want maximum sound blocking. The NRR is 24 dB if you’re asking. When we removed the filter caps, we could hear some noise and ambient sounds. You need to remove and insert the caps several times to get used to them. Overall, these earplugs are perfect for flights and shooting. We will keep them for sure.

ImpecGear Ear Muffs

8

Looking for a practical option for travel? ImpecGear Ear Muffs are our choice for several reasons. These earmuffs are foldable and packable inside any bag. We could place them in a small pocket in our hiking bag, they didn’t take up any space. Moreover, they’re made of cloth, so, they’re also lightweight. We didn’t believe such a compact lightweight thing could protect our ears from cold. However, the fleece material did a great job of warming up our ears.

Additionally, they’re sold at a very good price. We bought a pack of five at less than $25. They come in different colors but you can choose a pack of the same color. To see the colors and material description, check their official website here. Speaking of the material, these earmuffs are easy to clean. We wash them under running water or even using the washing machine. Then, we hang them to dry. See how practical they are?

Girls with Guns Passive Safety Earmuffs

7

Girls with Guns Passive Safety Earmuffs aren’t only for shooting. We found many uses for these earmuffs and are nearly using them daily. First, the NRR of these headphones is 23. This rating is good compared to similar products. They’re flexible and the earpads can be adjusted to fit different heads. However, we felt they were a bit tight. Maybe they need more adjustability to fit different heads. If you don’t consider yourself a person with a large head, these headphones will fit you perfectly. We have used them while shooting, flying, and even when we were obliged to attend a loud event that we didn’t love. They worked very well in all conditions. Plus, they were very lightweight and foldable to pack easily. The material looks sturdy and we think they’ll stay with us for years. We’re also fans of the simple design of these earmuffs.

C.C Soft Winter Earmuffs

6

We’re still searching for the best ear protection at Walmart for our next camping trip. We found the C.C Soft Winter Earmuffs and we decided to try them as they look cute. The earmuffs are more lovely in reality than in pictures. We love the designs and colors. They do add an elegant touch to our outfit. With a similar pair of gloves, we effortlessly looked classy. Apart from the design, the earmuffs are very protective against cold and wind. They have 50% acrylic in the material construction which makes them softer than any other winter earmuffs. Moreover, they’re large covering all our ears. They didn’t press on our ears as the pads were wide. They have a degree of adjustability but we don’t think they’ll fit everyone. Hence, check the measures before buying. If they fit you, lucky you then. They’re part of our essential winter camping gear now.

ZOHAN EM030

5

Best for children. We had an option for babies and here is another option for kids. ZOHAN EM030 is a nice option for boys and girls and it fits some adults as well. If you have a small head, this will probably fit you. We received them in the same yellow bag shown in the image below. They’re considered the best option for kids for several reasons. The main one is that it’s made of plastic and foam with no metal or small parts that can be choking hazards. This feature made them very lightweight to suit their small heads.

On the other side, they aren’t as durable as other earmuffs made of metal or sturdier materials. Yet, we still consider them a good option as kids aren’t supposed to wear them all day. We love the funky design of the earmuffs. There are three choices for boys and girls. Also, the thick foam pads were so comfortable when we tried them. The NRR is 22 dB which is very suitable for kids. They shouldn’t block all sounds, only some noise.

Hyper Tough Earmuffs

4

Most flexible. The Hyper Tough Earmuffs are the best bargain we have made in a while. We got those at a very good price from Walmart and they exceeded our expectations. We used them to protect our ears while doing some yard work. They blocked much noise and we barely heard the machines. Further, we used them on a flight and they blocked the plane’s noise and other people babbling around. Next time, we’ll use them while shooting as we’re sure they’ll block unneeded noise. This YouTube video from HUSTLERS is a good review to see the earmuffs in reality.

Apart from this, we were so comfortable wearing them. They’re lightweight but very durable. They fold up into a small compact thing to be placed in our small handbag. Moreover, they can be worn like headphones or behind the head. We wore them both ways and they were very stable. The headband is adjustable, so, we could position our earmuffs as we wanted.

Radians Youth Ear Muff

3

The Radians Youth Ear Muff is designed for younger adults. They’re widely adjustable, so, we could try them ourselves to see how good they are. The NRR is 21 dB. Kids and youth earmuffs tend to have lower NRR but these could have had a slightly higher NRR. They blocked noise while we were shooting. If you want ear protection for noisy outdoor games, these will do perfectly. Speaking of it, did you check our list of the best airsoft helmets with ear protection?

Back to our earmuffs, they were very lightweight. We barely felt them on our heads. Moreover, they have a nice low-profile design, so, they don’t look bulky on small heads. The headband is padded for more comfort. Above that, we wore it for hours and hours and they didn’t get wet. The material of this headband wicks moisture away. These earmuffs come in a single black design to suit all people and all outfits.

JLab JBuddies Protect Earmuffs

2

Best design. The first thing we noticed about JLab JBuddies Protect Earmuffs is how elegant the design is. We chose the navy headphones and they looked beyond beautiful. There is another option in lilac color which looks elegant too. We didn’t buy them for the color only. We read many reviews on the official website before buying and all agreed on how functional they are. They offer effective noise blocking with 23 dB NRR.

The other thing we loved about our new headphones was the adjustability. They didn’t make us feel uncomfortable. The headband was cushioned and the ear pads were made of cloud foam. This reduced the pressure on our ears. In addition, they’re foldable to easily pack while traveling. Be it yard work, a flight, or some needed quiet moments. The results are satisfactory in all cases.

Wetene Ear Plugs

1

Best noise reduction. Wetene Ear Plugs have the highest NRR of all ear protection products we tried. These earplugs are rated 27 dB, their noise reduction level was very noticeable. The best thing about this product is that it’s suitable for sleep, flights, and any other loud events. We sleep with them every night and the difference is really worth it. The silicone material makes them very soft and gentle, so, they never hurt us while sleeping.

“We didn’t only use these ear plugs for sleep and flights but also while swimming to block water. They’re great! We never expected such functions from one product.”

WOW Travel

Additionally, there are other selling points here. For example, these earplugs are very easy to clean. We put them under running water and that’s it. Moreover, they come with additional silicone parts in different sizes to suit different ears. We also received them in a portable case smaller than our Airpods case. At such a price point, we’re so happy with the purchase.

Our Verdict!

To cut a long story short, here are our top four choices. These ear protections have something special, so, we recommend them as a start.

• Best noise reduction: Wetene Ear Plugs
• Best design: JLab JBuddies Protect Earmuffs
• Most flexible: Hyper Tough Earmuffs
• Best for children: ZOHAN EM030

How To Choose The Best Ear Protections at Walmart?

As promised, here is our guide on how to choose suitable ear protections for different purposes. To make sure you have the right product, here are a few things you should take care of.

Type

As you can see on the list above, there are different types of ear protection. We can divide them into headphones (also sometimes called earmuffs) and fabric earmuffs. Headphones protect the ears from loud noise like in workplaces and airplanes. They do little regarding cold weather. On the other side, earmuffs do reduce noise but they work for protecting the ears from cold. There are also earplugs that fit directly into the ears but they do nothing in cold weather. You need to decide first what type of protection you need the most.

Packability

All the items on the list above are packable. However, earmuffs take up no space in our handbags. They’re also easier to fold and stuff inside any bag. On the other side, foldable headphones are suitable for travelers but they need a bag or a case to protect them while packing. Sometimes, we hang our headphones around our necks to save space in our carry-on and use them when needed.

Size

Ear protections come in different sizes. There are products for kids and others for adults. Before buying, we check the size to make sure they’ll perfectly fit our heads. Further, the ear pads should be larger than the ears so as not to apply pressure on the ears. Tight ear protections can cause a lot of discomfort and you won’t be able to wear them for a long time. Thus, make sure you purchase the right size.

What is NRR and what is the best NRR?

NRR refers to Noise Reduction Rating. This is the amount of noise the headphones or earmuffs can block out. The highest the better and the more effective the ear protection is. Some ear protections can reach 33 NRR.

Which has higher NRR, ear muffs or ear plugs?

Since ear plugs fit directly into the ear, they block more noise than ear muffs. Some people prefer to use both for more noise blocking.

What are the disadvantages of ear muffs?

Ear muffs that are made of fleece or other fabrics aren’t suitable for hot weather. Ear muffs that look like headphones can be a bit warm but they’re okay to use in summer.