Howard Leight Impact Sport Vs. Walker Razor Electronic Earmuffs 

The most expensive ear pro is much cheaper than the least expensive hearing aid. Protect your hearing.

With Walker razor, you aren't going to tell the difference from where the sound is coming from, meaning you hear amped sound in both ears. With Howard, you can tell actually tell which direction the sound is coming from.

After 3 decades of shooting, take my head... At indoor ranges wear both plugs and muffs at the same time. If you don’t, you will damage your ears. Always go the extra mile and protect your ears and eyes, at a level that goes above and beyond.

Lol this video title is literally exactly what I wanted to find thank you so much I’ve been trying to choose all day which one to buy

Having spent hours and hours wearing the Walkers Razor I absolutely love them. They are without a doubt the best electronic ear pro I have had. And I have had many. Comfort is wonderful I don't even realize that I have them on sometimes. Sound quality and clarity are top-flight. I stood behind the 25 yds. firing line and could hear the conversation of several people standing at the target line. I have recommended the Razor to several folks and have heard no complaints.

Very good video in all aspects. You have helped me narrow the field as to which hearing protector would be best for me. You make a good public speaker. Keep up the informative videos.

Great review. I actually happened to buy a pair of Walkers before watching the video and glad I made a good choice

I finally tried active earpro in May, '19 and bought both of these from retailers. The Walker was right at $60 and the HLs were just below $50 at another store. THe HL was my first experience with electronic muffs, and I couldn't pick out the cutoff. I wasn't deafened by shots at the range, so they must have been working. Even with the power off, I wasn't satisfied with the sound reduction, so I returned them. I am extremely pleased with the Walkers, though. They reduce shot noise really well, and the sound quality through the mics is really nice. KEEPER!!

Great review. As a sound engineer, that extra dB, better audio quality & the fact that it completely covers the ears really matter to me. Thank you!

I was just looking at both of these this evening at Academy Sports, was wondering which would work better for me, now I know. I think I will get the Walker Razor. Thanks for answering a question that I did not ask yet!

GREAT VIDEO! ~ I was about to buy the Howard Leight and you changed my mind to the Walker's Razor. . .

Good review. Concise, to the point; useful info without a bunch of fluff. Well done.

Great thorough review! I've been wanting to upgrade to active hearing protection.

Thanks for the vid man, I was wanting to know how they fit when shooting a rifle and you summed it up nicely for me

I also have both pairs. My first pair were Walkers but have went with the Howards. With the simple fact the that wire connection runs at the side and not the top of the ear muffs. Yes, I do find the Walkers to be a more comfortable pair and more color selections. However my Walkers went out on me and lost all electronic fuctions due to the connection getting damaged from folding them up and having the wire connection getting damaged from being pressed into the headband when folded. My girlfriend still has her pair of Walkers and they do still work but she does not use them as much as I do. If I could find a pair of Walkers with the wires on the side and a comparable price I would switch back to the Walkers. Until then I'll just stick with my Howards. Of course there are better pairs out there but these 2 are probably the best affordable ones out there IMO.

agreed

Thanks for enforcing my initial thought. Now time to order my pair of Walkers.

I have used the walker muffs for a while now. Very happy with them.

I wish I had seen this review before I got my Howard Leight"s because I am finding a lot of the same issues you had with comfort. Also the headphone jack does not come with a dust cover. I will probably keep these as my backup and check out the Walker's as my primary. Thankyou!

I tested both of these and came to the same conclusion and preferred the Walker's as well. My only wish is they came with a foam windscreen for the mics.

I have a few of each and agree with you on all your points. I picked up a couple pair of Razors about 4 months ago at my local Sam's club (I don't remember the price). The Walkers just fit better and seal nicer with glasses. The bottoms of the HL's do tend to unseal easier from your face when shooting (letting in sound). Great review! Thanks!

I've had both as well and would pick the Walker Razors all day. The Howards started to get hard and therefore not sealing around my ears and were almost painful to wear. Comfort is key! Especially if you're wearing them all day.

Well articulated, excellent information and quality videography. Great presentation. Thanks.

get the gel ear cups for the razors. it costs just as much as the muffs itself, but worth every penny imo.

For the Howard’s you can get gel ear cups and it makes them more comfortable.

Thanks for the review I was looking to get a pair of these for my son for Xmas and couldn’t decide on which one but now I have thanks to your video. Keep up the good work.

These were literally the 2 i was debating on when i got my first gun but i ended up going with the walkers cus i found a color i wanted on sale. Glad i did, they are a solid set of protection. I was using just earplugs i get at work but it wasnt enough at our local indoor range so now i do both and its still comfortable with the walkers over my 3m plugs

Thanks for the review and pros n cons aspect. Should prove a good resource to viewers. 👍

This is exactly what I was looking for.

Great evaluation/comparison. Thanks.

The Walker's are really comfortable, I wear them for 2-3 hours every week and they don't bother me at all, even with prescription eyeglass frames they go over. But definitely use foam plugs underneath for indoor ranges, just not enough with all the high powered rifles.

I love my walker razors especially with the noise fighter gel pads makes a world of a difference.

I've had a pair of howard leight for over 10 years which are still working. I purchased a walker razor and it crapped out after 6 months of use.

Been waiting for this video. Great video by the way

@6:05 "𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘧𝘦, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳, 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳..." After trying out my Impact Sports, my brother-in-law wanted a set. One day while at my local fun store I called and informed him they had them on sale so he asked me to pick him up a pair. I got him the pink ones 🤣

In my experience the HL have a much more directional sound and the WR are much more omni sound. Which means the it is more difficult to tell the direction of sound around you so in my opinion I would pick the HL.

I have 3 walkers and definitely recommend them

I've used the HL for years. They fit under a helmet pretty nicely and when I started wearing them there weren't many choices and being able to plug my phone in was a big plus at the time... I think if I were looking to purchase a new set I may try the WR because of the cut at the bottom for a better fit when shouldering a rifle.

Thinking about getting the Walker's, thanks.

thanks for addressing the issue where shouldering a rifle with the Howard Leight's breaks the noise seal. biggest downside for them, by far.

Glad to hear the walkers have better cups then the impact sports I had a pair of those and they were terrible if you moved your head at all they wouldn't seal your ears off I'm thinking about switching to the razor because of the snap on walkie talkie they have came out with

Can you do a review on the Walker's Razor Walkie Talkies?

Love my Howard Leight’s... If I had to complain, it would be the volume control. Seems I have to turn it to max then back down slowly to get the amplification just right.

I got the Howard Leights because everyone else was saying they were so great, I Use them but do not love them, so I will certainly have to check out the Razors Thanks for the heads up on this product.

Great insight. Thank you for shareing this video along with your experience and insight with these products. Been in the market for the electronic protection. Ive used foam plugs with cheap 20 dollar ears for years now. Think Im starting to go deaf. 😞😄

Midway has the Razor on sale this month so I picked up two of them. Much nicer than the Caldwells I used to use. No led indicator to show they are on though, which is a minor downside.

Just got my Walker razor Patriot series absolutely love them

I got the howard leights for Christmas this year

I have owned both, and the walker razor's speakers died and quit working in the first month of owning. But my impact sports have lasted me over three to four years now, amd they have been thrown, rained on, dropped in snow, hit on rocks, amd worn for double digits hours; and they have not even come near to breaking yet. Also the impact's batteries last super long.

I have both Howard Leight and Walker. Walker's are omni-directional, meaning you can't tell from where the amplified sound is coming, whereas the Howard Leight are directional. I like to know where the ambient sound is coming from. Plus, replacement ear cups are available. As far as the microphone jack being uncovered, neither pair will survive immersion in water. Place a dime-sized piece of duct tape over the jack if it bothers you. Between the two, I would go for Howard leight.

Good analysis TDC. My wife has the Howard Leights, and I have to hide my Razors from her or she’ll run down my batteries.

Excellent job. Just wondering about the differences of the two.

I have the Howard's there wind noise reduction is great. No problems carrying on a conversation while tearing around on a side by side chasing hogs. And your able to pick out the direction of sounds. Only complaint is with the ear cups while wearing eye protection that has thick frames over the ears, but I have that issue with any over the ear protection no fault of the howards

My Walker Razors arrive today.

Just bought the Howard Leight to use at an outdoor range for my CCL qual and not sure I like them. The cups don't really form a seal around my ears especially at the bottom and slightly behind my ears. I've adjusted several times but couldn't get a tight enough seal and some sound seems to sneak in. Kind of disappointed. Too late to return them now...

I have an old Howard Leight Earmuff, it still works but the rubber on the on/off/volume control knob is sticky to the touch and so is the black rubber part just above the microphone is sticky to the touch as well. I will buy the Walker Razor due to the fact it is cheaper, and the ability to attach a walkie-talkie to it.

What about volume? Is walker loud enough with plugs to hear others like the Howard?

O please get your hands on a set of 3M and compare them with the howards and the other ones.

The first electronic ear muffs that I bought were the Howard Leight. I recently bought the Walker Razors Patriot edition because a friend told me that they were better than the HL, and I got them for $29.99. After a visit to an indoor range, I have to say that I definitely prefer the HL. Like it was mentioned in this review, the ambient noise is more perceivable with the Razors. I even noticed that when someone was shooting, although the sound was definitely reduced, I could still hear it thru the speakers. Kind of as if it was being blocked but at the same time it was being picked by the microphones as a sound that should’ve been amplified (kind of what it does with voices if that makes sense). With the HL, the microphones are “disabled/muted” when a high DB sound is detected, and for me the overall sound quality is clearer and better. Just my humble opinion. Have anyone else experienced something similar?

They are great ear protection walker razor really comfortable to use all they long

I bought the Walkers today.......Thank you

I bought the walker's razor (all black) but I heard about counterfeits with the green ones where the battery input should not have springs. As I just purchased mine today from TSC (a small shop in Belleville Ontario), I put in the batteries and of course they had the spring loaded battery. I am not sure if the razors have this or if they should be flat and not spring. I have a 60 days to return them so not that worried but need help in finding out if they are real or fake. I bought them for noise reduction because I live 10 feet from highway 2. Literally going insane with the amount of noise after a few hours. Since I can not move and am not about to go through hell again I bought these today. I have a head the size of a pea yet they are so tight I can not see myself wearing without a headache for longer than an hour. I have tinnitus due to the extreme, constant noise from the highway so I had no choice but to buy them. To be honest I can still hear the highway pretty loud still with them on. Not sure if that is because they might be a knock-off or what not. I watched your video and they look identical on the outside but I was really hoping you would show the battery inputs. I would appreciate any help as to if they are knock-offs or if you have a better option for me. I can not put in ear plugs because my canals are too small (tried all kinds). And I would have to wear these for about 8-12 hours so comfort is mandatory. I have noise cancelling headphones but they do not work. I also get annoyed with music playing all the time. I am highly sensitive to sound and light by nature so I am really stuck at what to do for now till I can move to another house. Any help would be appreciated, thank you so much. Thank you for the video.

I have HL and they are ok, but I wished that I had purchased the 3M Peltor brand. The HL don’t fold up like other pairs, and they are a little long and sometimes hit the rifle stock. My recommendation like others is to save up for the Peltor brand.

Thank you kindly for this video

I also own both, I have the Howard and I bought the Walkers for my dad because I wanted to see which was better. The walkers were 29.99 on Amazon (black with American Flag) whereas the Howard were $32 (OD green). For my ears, the howard fits fine, but in my opinion the microphones on the howard is better, has more of a multi directional sound vs. more of a one dimensional sound you get from the Walker's. Both are great though, I think the walkers are better looking.

I just bought a Patriot edition walkers and they are amazing.

One dB is quite a bit. 3 dB is either doubling or halving of power, so one third of that is significant. Stereo is my desire, but I'm not sure either has it.

Do either make a metallic clang noise when you shoot? Of does either just muff the sound? I used a pair once that made a “clang” sound when you fired.

I honestly just want them for the style . And like most people say to do, I will be using plugs underneath. That or even my Samsung earbuds for music .

Fellow California hear behind enemy lines. I too have the same problem with the Howard ear muffs it is real loose on the bottom of the muff, and sound gets in there.

Ordered a pair, thanks.

Just ordered a pair based off your review. 40 bucks for the FDE color. I broke my personal rule of never buying FDE anything and I just bought a cz p10c in FDE and now these ear pros. What have I become?!

Thanks for the content brother.

It depends on the user, but as a result of using the two for 3 years, I want to raise the hand of HL in terms of quality. If you want to use it for a long time with good sound, HL. If design matters, WR.

Got a good selection of Walker Razors at my store.. bass pro shops

Good review, I just changed my order at Brownell's!

I paid $40 for my Howards on Amazon over a year ago and they’re $40 at my local Rural King.

Excellent work on the video once again hey man what I do is I wear a plug on the inner ear and I wear the same headphones on the outer ear you got to protect folks I learned this from Jerry Miculek if he says do it you do it be safe bless

Are the walkers safe to use at indoor ranges by itself or do you recommend to double up indoors?

I feel the Howard light picks up on floor creek's further away then any other headset I've owned Check it out

What's the tactical monthly subscription box that gives a walker razor?

Curious how they both do with stocks. Do they rub up or interfere?

We have both at our house. The razor is far superior IMO. The Howard Leight often gets a high pitch feedback which is very annoying

I use the Walker razors and they are comfortable enough that I can can wear them for several hours.

I have the HL Impact Sports. I really enjoyed them. With COVID-19 my range was harder to get into for a while because they had to reduce capacity. So I hadn't been in several months. I was going to go this weekend and I went through my range bag. The rubber on the battery cover and on the switch has started to break down and has become super sticky. While still functional, it's very annoying. I think I might try the Walker Razor as they appear to have less rubber on those areas.

Would all those problems with the earcups on the howard leights be negated if someone were to buy aftermarket gel variants?

Awesome review, I just bought a pair at walmart for $40...plus TAX! HA

I've bought Walker Razor but after about 1 hour at the range, They start to compress my ear so much that it hurts just having them on, Is there any good gel I could put on to help with it? Otherwise I might just save money and buy MSA and call it a day.

Anyone looking to buy these, there's several versions of the Walker Razor ranging from around $45-99. The biggest difference is the most expensive walkers are quad-mic.

Can you separate them from the head band to run them on a helmet set up? If so I have found my budget option! Thanks for the awesome content as always!

I only have the Walker, so I can't compare to the HL's. They are decent, but no where near enough for a day of shooting. I always have to double up, whether I'm at the outdoor or the indoor range. Outdoors, if my buddy fires his Shield next to me, that thing just makes my ears ring even with the muffs on if I'm not doubled up. I go shooting fairly regularly and always have ear pro, but I don't always have soft plugs to double up with and now I have a permanent ring. On their own, the Walkers simply are not enough!!!!!!!!! What's my point? FOAM SUCKS! Whatever you do, get something with gel cups or replace the foam with gel. The better seal makes a huge difference and the gel cups are leaps and bounds more comfortable.

I guess everyone has their own opinions.. I have owned Howard muffs for a couple years with no complaints.. recently saw walkers on sale fir the purple, so I got them..I do t really care about the color.. I got different results from the reviewer.. the Howard’s are lighter and more comfortable to me.. the walkers are tighter and just fit differently.. the real difference for me was ambient sound.. the Howard are definitely stereo, and the walkers are not.. the walkers almost sound muffled when walking around the house turning door knobs and such.. the Howard’s are very clear.. IDK, maybe something is wrong with my walkers, but I like Howard’s much better.. get both and make your own decision

Are they good for working? I am looking for earmuffs for working, but I would like to still be able to hear so those interested me, but I would like to know if they are good for that, I would be wearing them for close to 8 hours. Or do you reccomend another type?

I picked up a couple sets of the Walkers at the NRA convention. You know how they do at the NRAC. They always run specials on early releases and such. I gave $30 a set. I keep a set in my range bag, and some extras in my truck, just in case. They're pretty good. Hey bro, check out Guns N Gadgets (11/16/2018 post) and see what's coming down the pike for Kentucky gun control.

Can't emphasis this enough protect your hearing. You'll thank yourself in the future!

My Walker's broke within a month. I call them to get them replaced and after 35 min on hold they finally answered and said I could send them back at MY OWN EXPENSE to get the replaced. Pretty crappy both in product and service.

Do the walker razrs fit under a helmet? Unfortunately, I still wear the ACH/MICH 2000 without rails. Thanks.

Thanks. Helpful 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Which would be best for factory work and safety glasses

Walkers don’t have directional or stereo audio. That was a deal breaker for me. That’s why I went with the Howard Leight. Both NRRs suck so I would recommend using earplugs underneath especially when shooting indoors. When combined with earplugs those are almost as good as earplugs with impact pro.