Walker’s ear muffs combine excellent passive and active noise cancellation at the cost of some weight. You can also head online and discover the plethora of independent brands offering quirky designs – places like Not On The High Street and Wolf and Badger are perfect for discovering fresh talent. What to look for in the best earmuffs? Earmuffs are a stylish and fun accessory that can be practical in many different situations: They keep your ears warm whether you’re outside in the snow or walking through a chilly wind, or simply make a cute addition to your winter wardrobe instead of a typical winter hat.

Bluetooth technology lets you wirelessly stream music, plus it has a rechargeable battery for longer wear-time, and gel-filled ear cups for added comfort. Powered vs. Passive: As we mentioned earlier, the noise-reduction ear muffs work passively, which means their sound-dampening properties are a function of the materials they’re made out of. They're large enough to really make a statement, while the thin band sits high on the head, so as to not mess up your 'do. The electronics required for active noise cancellation contributes to the ear muffs weight: 0.77 pounds, which is 0.2 pounds heavier than the lightest pair we recommend. You’ll notice the difference on your head, but the trade-off is worth it given the big difference between its active and passive noise cancellation settings. The only downside is that these ear muffs require a non-rechargeable battery to work, so you’ll always have to keep some around.Designers pairs will cost considerably higher, of course, but generally speaking, we don't think you have to pay over the odds for a good pair. Where to buy the best earmuffs? For reference, many popular earplugs have an NRR rating of 32dB, and can be worn under your noise-reduction ear muffs for an extra layer of protection. Although these headphones are powered, they only provide passive noise cancellation, and earn the same 23dB NRR rating as our other recommendations. Instead, 3M decided to build a pair of speakers and a Bluetooth chip into its ear muffs, turning them into a pair of wireless headphones.

According to the CDC, extended exposure to noises over 70dB (decibels) can lead to permanent hearing damage. This includes activities like using a gas-powered lawn mower, or riding on a motorcycle. Noise-reduction ear muffs look like over-ear noise-cancelling headphones, but their ear pads are made out of materials that dampen (the technical word for reduce) the volume of loud sounds before they reach your ears. The noise dampening is built into the headphones, so it doesn’t require a power source to work. With that in mind, we've selected some of this season's most stylish earmuffs available to shop now; from designer splurges to bargains on the high street. There's something for everyone too: we've made sure to include some kid-friendly options, as well as sportier unisex designs that fit behind the head. Zara's faux fur earmuffs look irresistibly soft and come in a choice of chocolate brown as well as ecru. The upside is that at just 8.8 ounces these are one of the the lightest noise-reduction ear muffs on our guide. You’ll definitely feel that difference if you need to wear a pair of ear muffs for longer than a half hour.Even better, they're part of the brand's Green to Wear 2.0 standard which ensures they've been made with the aim 'to minimise the environmental impact of textile manufacturing.' How much are the best earmuffs? prioritized comfort and audio technology over weight and active noise cancellation in its WorkTunes noise-reduction ear muffs.