PELTOR Ear Defenders Compared

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3M’s PELTOR line of ear defenders are very well-respected within industry, and for good reason. There’s a huge number of products available in their range, so it can be tough to figure out which products are right for you.

In this article, we’ll be rounding up and covering a few of the key product families across the PELTOR range to help you figure out which product is best for you.

PELTOR X Series

PELTOR’s X Series of ear defenders are specially designed to be lightweight and low-profile. They feature the latest and greatest in hearing protection technology from 3M, with a range of products suited from moderate-to-high levels of industrial noise.

Name Noise Reduction Rating (Over the Head Configuration) NRR (Hard Hat Attached)
3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X1 22 dB 21 dB
3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X2 24 dB 24 dB
3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X3 28 dB 25 dB
3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X4 27 dB 25 dB
3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X5 31 dB 31 dB

3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X1


The PELTOR X1s are an ultra slimline product designed for comfort in relatively low noise level work environments. 3M recommends these products for use in the food processing industry, though they should be more than suited to any similar noise level environment.

3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X2

For use in low-to-moderate noise level environments, the PELTOR X2 range is slightly bulkier than the X1s but offers a slightly higher noise reduction rating. Like the X1s, these earmuffs are recommended for use in the food processing industry. If you want a slightly higher level of noise reduction and don’t mind a slightly bulkier package, choose these over the X1s.

3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X3

Thanks to the use of a cleverly designed spacer, the X3 ear defenders are capable of delivering a greater level of noise reduction without a significant increase in bulk or weight. As such, these ear defenders are relatively lightweight for their performance. Like the majority of the PELTOR X Series, these earmuffs are recommended for the food processing industry by their manufacturer.

3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X4

These earmuffs utilise the same technology behind the X3 earmuffs but do so in a low-profile package. Like the X1 earmuffs, they’re designed to be extremely lightweight and comfortable whilst still offering excellent protection.

3M™ PELTOR™ X Series Earmuff X5

The X5 earmuffs are 3M’s most protective ear defenders. With a manufacturer rated NRR of 31 dB, they’re ideal for defending your ears in very noisy environments. They’re bulkier than most of the other X Series earmuffs, but it’s never wise to sacrifice your hearing for a slimmer design.

 

PELTOR Optime Series

PELTOR’s Optime Series is designed for long exposure to industrial noise, with a range of products covering a range of 8-hour TWA (Time Weighted Average) noise exposures from 95 dB (belt sander) up to 105 dB (table saw). If high-performance long-term industrial noise protection is what you’re looking for, then the Optime series might be for you.

Product Name Name Noise Reduction Rating Eight-Hour TWA Noise Exposure Rating
3M™ PELTOR™ Optime™ 95 Earmuffs 21 dB 95 dB
3M™ PELTOR™ Optime™ 98 Earmuffs 25 dB 98 dB
3M™ PELTOR™ Optime™ 101 Earmuffs 27 dB 101 dB
3M™ PELTOR™ Optime™ 105 Earmuffs 30 dB 105 dB

3M™ PELTOR™ Optime™ 95 Earmuffs

In the Optime Series, this is the least protective line of earmuffs. Though they are on the low-end, they are definitely still worth taking a look at. This product line contains three products: a traditional over-head style set of earmuffs, a behind-the-head style, and a folding set of earmuffs. The folding set is perhaps the most useful out of this product line as it can be neatly folded away for easy portable hearing protection. This is particularly useful in industries where you’re likely to be constantly moving between noisy and quiet areas.

3M™ PELTOR™ Optime™ 98 Earmuffs

This is the next step up in the Optime Series. It features a NRR of 25 dB, which is more than suitable for low-to-moderate noise environments. This line of products only features one product: a traditional over-head style of earmuffs. Like all of 3M’s products, this set of ear defenders is designed for comfort and performance.

3M™ PELTOR™ Optime™ 101 Earmuffs

The Optime 101 Earmuffs are the first in the range to feature a cap-mounted product. Cap-mounting is very useful for when hearing protection and a protective hardhat are necessary in tandem. Cap-mounting aside, this product is very effective at protecting your hearing. It’s recommended for TWA noise exposures up to 101 dB.

3M™ PELTOR™ Optime™ 105 Earmuffs

For a complete range of ear defender products, the Optime 105 earmuffs are worth taking a look at. These earmuffs can be purchased in everything from a traditional over-head style to a cap-mounted style. If you need heavy-duty earmuffs, these ear defenders are recommended for a TWA noise exposure of up to 105 dB; more than sufficient for high noise level environments.

PELTOR Speciality Series

PELTOR’s line of specialised hearing protection products are designed to be well-suited to the specific needs of a particular environment. They have products that are suited to environments from welding to the food industry. This range even includes a convenient “Push-To-Listen” line of ear defenders that’s designed for industries where occasional direct communication is required.

The PELTOR Speciality Series covers a wide range of products. The range includes:

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