Best Hearing Protection for Lawn Mowing

Most people appreciate the look of a well-manicured lawn. And there really is great satisfaction to be had when you finish mowing the lawn, and take a step back to appreciate a job well done.

However, what you probably don’t enjoy is all of the noise which comes from your lawn mower and the other lawn equipment that you use. Whether this is a task you carry out daily or once a year, hearing protection should always be at the top of the list of tools that you will be using while in these conditions.

While lawn mowers vary in the amount of noise they make, most will produce a minimum of 90 decibels, which is not a healthy noise level to be exposed to and yes continuous noise exposure at these levels will lead to permanent hearing loss and also possibly tinnitus. The threshold that we want to be underneath is 85 decibels.

You may be thinking to yourself, “hey that’s only a difference of 5 decibels, do I really need to bother wearing hearing protection?” YES YOU DO!!! Sound pressure actually doubles every 3 decibels! Yes you read that correctly. So this means that damage happens very quickly in a short amount of time. Please always wear your hearing protection when using all of your lawn and garden equipment and anytime you are in noisy conditions. If you are in an environment where the decibel levels are 100 or more then you absolutely should wear double hearing protection! That means wearing the little inserts or ear plugs and also wear ear muffs over that. It may sound excessive, but then so are the prices hearing aids!!!!

Thankfully, you don’t simply have to put up with this. Here are a few of the best hearing protection options to reduce your noise exposure while mowing your lawn.

Image	Product Name	Our Rating	Price
	WorkTunes Connect + Gel Ear Cushions Hearing Protector with Bluetooth	Five Stars *****	$105.13
	3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector	Four Stars ****	$50.19
	ClearArmor 141001 Hearing Protection Ear Muffs	Three Stars ***	$16.95
	Professional Safety Ear Muffs by Decibel Defense	Four Stars ****	$24.79
	Howard Leight Sound Amplification Earmuffs	Four Stars ****	$87.62

Top 5 Best Hearing Protection for Lawn Mowing Reviews

It can be hard to decide which product is best to protect your precious hearing. But don’t worry because we’ve put together an extensive guide for you here. Featuring five of the best current options available to choose from when looking for the best hearing protection for lawn mowing. Seriously try to make sure you don’t put your hearing at risk while mowing the lawn. There is no cure for hearing loss.

1.WorkTunes Connect + Gel Ear Cushions Hearing Protector with Bluetooth

The first entry on our list, these ear muffs are the 3M brand Work Tunes Connect + Gel Ear Cushions. They are designed to reduce noise from all sorts of noisy tasks, jobs and pastimes, including industrial work, shooting, welding and airport noise, so they are ideal for turning the noise of lawn mowing into a low whisper.

3M has deliberately not aimed to cancel noise completely, as a safe level of noise can be necessary to predict any dangers or hazards in a situation. For instance, your lawn mower blades could touch an obstacle. Instead, these ear muffs reduce noise by between 28 decibels and 34 decibels.

This should reduce the noise enough so that it is similar to the sound of a conversation at home or in a restaurant. With soft gel ear cushions, and an ergonomic padded headband, along with adjustable and rotating ear cups, these ear muffs give a fit which you can personalize for extra comfort and noise reduction.

Pros

• Padded headband

• Soft Gel earmuff cups

• Significant noise reduction

• Adjustable design

• Foldable for easy transport

Cons

• Can be tight fitting

• Flimsy hinges

2. 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector

One of the key plus points of this hearing protector by 3M Safety is the fact it comes with integrated bluetooth technology. That means you can stream entertainment from your mobile phone, or any other device you have which is enabled with Bluetooth, so that you can listen to music while you mow your lawn.

That could definitely help the time to pass in a more enjoyable way if mowing the lawn isn’t your favorite garden maintenance task. You can also make and take phone calls without the need to take your hearing protection off as there is also an integrated microphone feature.

Lightweight and comfortable, these ear muffs will reduce the noise of your lawn mower by around 24 decibels, bringing the sound down to a comfortable level. Soft ear cushions make these comfortable to wear, and the headband has been deliberately designed with a low profile so that you can wear a hat along with your ear protection.

Pros

• Bluetooth technology

• High-quality hi-fi sound

• Integrated microphone

• Noise reduction of up to 24 decibels

• Cord free

Cons

• Unreliable wi-fi connection

• Low music audio levels

3. ClearArmor 141001 Hearing Protection Ear Muffs

ClearArmor’s ear protection ear muffs are cleverly designed with three layers of foam, each designed to reduce noise from different sound frequencies. This technology is coupled with a tight seal around the ears to dampen harmful sound levels. Sound should bounce off the ear cuffs as a result of their shape, rather than being absorbed by your ear.

This option also features soft ear muffs for extra comfort as well as the ability to tilt the angle of the ear protection and the headband so that you can customize the fit to the best protection for you. The headband can be altered by a width of one-and-a-half inches, so can be moved into position to fit your head, whether you need a small or a large fitting for your head.

These are ClearArmor’s most effective noise-cancelling protection, so if you do decide on an option from this brand, these ear muffs offer the greatest sound reduction to protect your hearing.

Pros

• Sonic seal to block sound leakage

• Shell designed to reflect sound

• 3 layers of sound reducing foam

• Adjustable headband

• Foam ear cushions for comfort

Cons

• Tight for large heads

• Ear cups can slide

4. Professional Safety Ear Muffs by Decibel Defense

A big draw for this safety ear muffs by Decibel Defense is the amount they can reduce noise by. Offering a reduction of 37 decibels, Decibel Defense makes a promise that these muffs cut down noise by more than any other safety earmuffs.

That should take the 90 decibels of your lawn mower down to a much more comfortable level for your hearing. Plus, these earmuffs could be considered a risk-free purchase as there is a money-back guarantee if you aren’t happy with them.

Pros

• Foldable and compact for travel

• Extra large sizes available for large heads

• Comfortable headband with padded design

• Sturdy construction

• Money-back guarantee

Cons

• Slightly heavier than some models

• Can be tight

5. Howard Leight Sound Amplification Earmuffs

Okay, this may sound like these earmuffs do the opposite of what you would expect as they are described as a sound amplification device. However bear with us for the final ear protection option on our list. These Howard Leight earmuffs are indeed designed to amplify sound.

However, they only enhance sound which is below a safe level for your hearing. Any sound over 82 decibels should be blocked out. That means you should be able to have a conversation, and retain full situational awareness while you are mowing the lawn, but if the noise does get up to dangerous levels for your hearing, the earmuffs will automatically shut off any loud, sudden sounds to make sure that your ears are protected.

There’s also a stereo jack, so if you do want to use these as normal headphones when your tasks in the garden are completed, you can simply connect them to your audio source.

Pros

• Amplifies lower level noise such as conversation

• Automatically offers protection when sound levels reach 82 decibels or above

• Can reduce noise by around 22 decibels

• Low profile earmuffs which fit snuggly to your face

• External audio jack to use as normal headphones

Cons

• Best only for outdoor activities

• Seal not always tight around earmuffs

Things to consider before buying hearing protection for lawn mowing

While you may not be standing close to a jumbo jet on take-off or landing, or experiencing the sort of volume your ears would be exposed to at a rock concert, you do need to be aware that mowing the lawn can still produce decibel levels which aren’t healthy for your hearing, particularly if you are exposed to this noise for lengthy periods of time.

Here is what we considered when selecting the best options for ear protection for you while you are mowing the lawn:

• Decibel reduction: Did the ear protection muffs in question lower the decibel enough to be in a healthy range for your hearing?

• Comfort: Depending on the size and condition of the lawns you are mowing, the task may take some time. Were the earmuffs comfortable to wear while completing the job?

• Value: While your hearing is clearly more valuable than anything monetary, it is still important to consider whether you are getting value for money. Are the ear muffs a good price for the level of protection they are offering?

Features to look for in lawn mowing protection

There are a wide range of options available to protect your ears from all sorts of noises, including while you are at work, carrying out DIY, attending a music concert, shooting, or mowing your lawn.

As such, the choice can be bewildering. So, how do you ensure you choose the right option to provide you with the features and the protection that you need? Here are the factors you should consider:

• Noise reduction. As a typical lawn mower creates noise around the 90 decibel level, you will want to lower that to a noise range  which is much more comfortable for your hearing. The level of noise reduction you choose may also depend on how sensitive your hearing is.

• Comfort. You’ll be wearing your ear protectors for a fairly long period of time while you mow your lawn, so you’ll want to make sure they are comfortable. Look for ear protection which has cushioned ear muffs.

• Adjustability. Obviously, not everyone has a head the same shape and size. Check if the option you are looking at allows you to make adjustments to the headband and the angle of the ear muffs.

• Extra features. Is it important to you to be able to listen to the radio, or music while you work? Do you want to be able to make phone calls while you carry on with your task? If so, you’ll want to choose a pair which have bluetooth.

• Situational awareness. It’s important, for safety reasons, that you can still hear some noise, so look at reducing the sound rather than eliminating it completely with your ear protection. Also, if you need to be able to carry on with conversations while reducing the noise of your lawn mower, opt for a pair of ear protectors which amplify conversation but dampen louder noise.

Conclusion

We hope you are well informed after reading our guide, and that you are ready to take the important step of buying ear protection to safeguard your hearing.

From our point of view, the Professional Safety Ear Muffs by Decibel Defence are the best option as they reduce the decibel level you are exposed to by the highest amount for the cheapest price. That’s not to say it’s the very best available option, but for the price, it’s hard to beat.

However, the other options on this list are also a great buy and, depending on your needs, you may find one of the other choices is actually a better option for you.

For instance, if you like to listen to music to make the time pass more quickly while you work, you may decide on the 3M WorkTunes protector. Or, if you need to be able to converse with colleagues, you could opt for the Howard Leigh Sound Amplification Earmuffs.

Have you found the right earmuffs for lawn mowing here? What are your priorities when looking for the best hearing protection for lawn mowing? Let us know in the comments below.

And, if you have found this article helpful, don’t forget to share it with your friends and family, particularly if any of them are often exposed to noise at work or home. It might help them to find the best ear protection for them too. Hopefully now you have a better understanding of what exactly is the Best Hearing Protection for Lawn Mowing and other outdoor activities.