Earplugs Every Gun Owner Needs in Their Range Bag

By Old4Sportsmen | August 28, 2025

Thanks to the Marine Corps, I’ve got natural hearing protection…lol (moderate to severe hearing loss). So these days, I rely on solid in-ear foam earplugs when I hit the range.

I’ve grown to prefer this style of hearing protection for its minimalist footprint. Yeah, there are some slick electronic in-ear options on the market—and they work great—but they also tend to be pretty damn expensive.

For the record, I keep a set of electronic over-the-ear muffs in my range bag in case someone decides to mag dump with a comp on their SBR. But for regular range sessions, these in-ear options work just fine.

Let’s break down a few options I tested before landing on the one that’s now my go-to.

TL;DR: Best Earplugs for Shooting

Top Pick: Walker’s Corded Earplugs — Best fit, reliable noise reduction, and they stay put all day.
Runner-Up: Surefire EP5 Sonic Defenders — Durable, reusable, and comfortable, but less effective at blocking sound.
Best Feature-Rich: Safariland Impulse Foam Earplugs — Dual-mode protection without batteries, but not as quiet as Walkers.
Budget/Military Issue: USGI Earplugs — Do the job, but fit and noise blocking are inconsistent.

Bottom Line: For shooting range use, Walker’s Corded Earplugs offer the best combo of comfort, fit, and noise suppression.

Surefire EP5 Sonic Defenders

NRR: 26 dB
Design: Low-profile with triple-flanged stems
Comfort: Hypoallergenic polymer for all-day wear
Fit: Stays locked in with masks, helmets, or muffs

These are reusable, durable, and offer a snug fit. They’re great if you want maximum protection and plan to keep them in for hours. That said, while they’re solid, the sound suppression didn’t seem quite as noticeable as others in real-world use.

Walker’s Corded Earplugs

NRR: 25 dB
Material: All-rubber construction
Cord: 24″ tether
Fit: Flexible flanged design conforms to your ear canal
Value: Comes in a 2-pack

Protect your ears while out on the range with Walker’s In-the-Ear Rubber Corded Hearing Protection. These aren’t foam plugs—they’re made entirely of rubber with a flanged design that flexes to conform to your ear canal.

The 24-inch rubber tether makes them easy to hang around your neck between strings, and with a Noise Reduction Rating of 25 dB, they effectively handle gunfire and concussion.

These are what I run 99% of the time. They fit the best, reduce the most noise (at least to my ears), and—most importantly—they stay in all day long. Bonus points for coming in a 2-pack.

Safariland Impulse Foam Earplugs

Impulse Mode: 38 dB peak + 13 dB continuous
Full-Block Mode: 20 dB continuous
Fit: Memory foam tips
Extras: Removable neck cord, no batteries

Cool design and concept. They allow for ambient sound when needed but switch modes on the fly. Still, the Walkers outperformed them in both noise reduction and long-term comfort in my ears.

US Government-Issued Earplugs

NRR: 26 dB
Case: Military-grade polymer with chain
Fit: Basic, effective, but unremarkable

You’ve probably seen or used these if you’ve served in the military. They do the job, but I found them a bit inconsistent in terms of fit and not quite as effective as others.

So, Which One Do I Recommend?

All four earplugs work as advertised, but for me, the key is fit and staying power, especially during long training days.

My top recommendation for the best earplugs for shooting? Walker’s Corded Earplugs.

They deliver the best fit, reliable noise reduction, and stay in place once they’re in. The difference in sound suppression is immediately noticeable compared to the others. And yeah—the two-pack doesn’t hurt either.

The Safariland and USGI plugs just didn’t cut it in terms of blocking out sound, and while the Surefire EP5s feel like they’re doing a good job, the Walkers just edge them out in real-world results.

That’s just my 2 cents. Your mileage may vary.

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About Scott Witner

Scott Witner is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines. He completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Mountain Warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, the South Korean Mountain Warfare School in Pohang, and the Jungle Warfare school in the jungles of Okinawa, Japan. He now enjoys recreational shooting, trail running, hiking, functional fitness, and working on his truck. Scott resides in Northeastern Ohio.