The UK's bestEar Defenders2022 Review

The 3M Peltor Optime III earmuffs are probably the best ear defenders for the UK market because they offer unbeatable noise cancelling, they’re comfortable to wear and easy to keep clean. 3M are one of the biggest names in personal protective equipment, and the Peltor range of hearing protection leads the way for worker health and safety.

These are serious ear defenders- the sort of thing you should use if you need to block out extreme noise levels. Thanks to twin cups with double casing, you can safely run drills, saws and other power tools for long periods of time without causing lasting damage to your hearing. Average noise reduction is down to 35 dB.

The ear rings are soft and comfortable and the headband is nicely padded as well. Available in Hi-Viz green, these are the best overhead ear defenders for builders as well as DIYers who value comfort and protection above all else.

Another stellar set of ear defenders from 3M, the Peltor X5P3 helmet mounted earmuffs are ideal for wearing with extra safety gear. If you’re on a building site or working in an environment that requires a helmet, these earmuffs are ideal.

Designed to fit on safety helmets with the correct adapter, these are high performance ear defenders that block out extreme noise levels when working with loud machinery on building sites or in the forestry industry. You can lock them firmly onto your ears and then flip them up when not in use.

Weighing in at just 480 g, they don’t add too much extra weight to your safety gear, and the large cup design is better at keeping the sound away from your ears and should stop them from overheating as well. Average noise reduction is down to 37 dB.

California based SureFire have been making lasers, lights and ear defenders for the US military since they were founded back in 1979. They know a thing or two about making the best high performance ear defenders for the most demanding combat situations, and the slimline EP4 Sonic Defenders Plus don’t disappoint.

A more slimline type of in-ear protection, these are ideal when you need excellent noise cancelling without the bulk of an over ear defender. SureFire’s patented triple flanged stem effectively insulates sound passing into your ear canal and has a noise reduction rating of 24 dB.

The patented Ear-Lock retention rings help to keep them wedged firmly but comfortably in your ears no matter what you’re doing, and they’re even colour coded for quick recognition. And if you remove the filter caps you can plug in a communications system to keep in touch.

Zohan’s motto is simple- Protect Your Ears. The 042 ear defenders I got my hands on do just that- they knock down excessive noise to a manageable 30 dB but don’t leave you in silence when you’re working on a project or the garden. These ear defenders feature an inbuilt AM/FM radio to keep you company when you’re hard at work.

You can dial in a specific frequency or scan for your favourite tunes, then set up to 20 pre-set channels to keep your favourite stations in your ear. The LED screen displays the wavelength, and you can control volume and other settings with one hand without taking off the ear defenders. And if you don’t like what’s on the radio, you can plug in your own music with the included 5.5 mm audio jack.

The headband is comfortable and fully adjustable, and at 380 g without the two AA batteries required to run the radio, they’re reasonably light on the head. If you want to listen to music, podcasts or the news when you work, these are the best ear defenders you can get.

Another entry from the safety experts at 3M, these X4A earmuffs are some of the best slimline ear defenders you can get hold of. They’re not designed to block out extreme noise levels like their Optime III cousins, but they offer 33 dB sound reduction in high noise environments.

The double headband is another benefit of these ear defenders- they help to keep them tight on your head no matter what you’re doing at the time. The lime green colour isn’t just for good looks as well, they’re easy to spot and should help prevent them getting lost.

What makes the X4A one of the best ear defenders you can get is the weight- at just 245 g, they offer excellent noise reduction without adding too much extra weight, which is especially welcome when you need to wear them for long periods of time.