Last March, I reviewed the PlugFones Liberate, which are wireless headphones that also provide 25db reduction in noise. They worked well, but the charger stopped working and the foam tips get dirty quickly, so I started looking for a new option. Eventually, I reviewed the ISOtunes and ISOtunes PRO models for comparison. Then a few months ago, Honeywell sent me its Sync Wireless over-the-ear Bluetooth hearing protection; this model has a microphone so you can use your phone to make calls as well.
Honeywell Sync Wireless. I don’t use over-the-ear hearing protection very often. It is mandatory at our company to wear hearing protection, and my preferred product is Howard Leight Laser Lite (by Honeywell) foam ear plugs (I buy them 200 pair at a time and they have a 32db rating and are very comfortable). But when Honeywell offered to send me the Sync wireless, I figured it was time to try a pair of earmuffs--I like to listen to music or podcasts while I’m running a chain saw or backpack blower.
This model has a 25 db NRR and is adjustable. So it is very similar to all the other earmuffs. I can connect by Bluetooth to my phone so I can stream music. On the right side of the unit are the controls, and under the right side is a dial to adjust the volume. I love that feature. When someone is waving at me, I don’t have to get my phone out or try to feel which button to hit pause.
What I especially love about this model, though, is that it has a boom mic that I can adjust so I can take and make phone calls. This is a great feature because when I’m operating a forklift to lift in a beam or raise a wall and can’t see hand signals, my co-worker and I can each just put on a set of these and communicate over the phone. This means we don’t need to keep walkie-talkies in the van.
If you need a pair of earmuffs, I have zero reservation recommending these. They claim a 16-hour battery life; I have no idea if that is true, but they never died on me during a day’s use. They are $96 on Amazon and come with a USB charger with wall adapter and an aux cable.
This article originally appeared in Tools of the Trade
