I’m all about electronic ear protection. I see the electronic features the same way I see new handguns and red dots. If the gun isn’t dot ready, I probably don’t want it. Luckily, we live in an era where electronic hearing protection is everywhere and at every price point. The Walker’s brand made its name on affordable electronic hearing protection, and I recently got to try out the Walker’s Recon headphones.
I used them for the majority of the day, and the bottom line up front is I swapped back to another brand for day two of my class. I ultimately found the Walker’s Recon to be uncomfortable to wear for long periods, but other than that, they were solid performers. If you want a little more in-depth breakdown, let’s dig into it.
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The Walker’s Recon
At around 70 dollars, the Walker’s Recon doesn’t fall into the world of cheap electronic ear pro like the Razor lineup. They reach a bit of a midpoint of affordability. It’s worth mentioning that the Recon lineup has a standard pair and a Bluetooth-enabled pair. The Bluetooth option is a bit more expensive and gets into the higher end of price points.
The benefit of Bluetooth, other than being able to listen to Bring Da Ruckus while shooting, is the ability to use the Bluetooth comms system Walker produces. Other than that, the two provide the same degree of hearing protection and general overall design.
The noise reduction rating is NRR 26, which significantly reduces overall noise. I certainly never felt the need to double up when shooting. The Recon series are IPX4 rated, so they resist splashes but isn’t waterproof. I take this to mean they can withstand a little rain, which is ultimately perfect for 99% of us.
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Two AAA batteries power the muffs, and the system has an adjustable auto-off setting. Users can swap between 2, 4, or 6 hours. This is great for me because I suck at remembering to turn my muffs off after shooting. Keep in mind this isn’t a shake-awake; it will just auto-shut off once it reaches that time.
The Recon does everything you expect from a pair of modern electronic earmuffs. It has an audio jack, they fold away nicely, and they offer split-second sound-activated compression.
The Good
The Walker’s Recon earmuffs do provide excellent audio clarity. It’s crisp and clear, and the mics are stereophonic, so you have a good idea of where the sound is coming from. It’s not perfect, but you know if the person talking to you is on the right or left for the most part. Conversations are easy to have, as long as no shooting is taking place.
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The sound-activated compression is quick, instantly killing all noise around, but also instantly clicking back to normal mode when the noise is over. On the line at a class, it’s noticeable just how fast it cuts sound and how fast it allows the muffs to transmit once again.
The muffs are comfortable. They are plastic rather than gel, but they don’t pinch or bite. Even in the heat, I barely noticed them. The muffs seal nicely, and the built-in tension ensures they don’t slip or slide when you move and shoot.
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The muffs are comfortable. They are plastic rather than gel, but they don’t pinch or bite. Even in the heat, I barely noticed them. The muffs seal nicely, and the built-in tension ensures they don’t slip or slide when you move and shoot.
The controls are really simple. I never needed to remember where any buttons were. It’s just a dial that doubles as a button. Press the dial inward for a couple of seconds, and they come on or shut off. Rotate the dial to adjust the volume. It’s simple and effective.
The Bad
What turned me away from the Recon was the headband. It’s sturdy, well-made, and likely strong, but it’s also incredibly uncomfortable. It rubbed and ground into my big head. The hard plastic certainly isn’t comfortable, and a couple of hours into the class, I took them off at every opportunity I had to rub my head.
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I’m not a big hat guy, so maybe if they were worn with a hat, they wouldn’t be an issue. However, I just couldn’t wait to get them off. If I had to use the Recon ear protection, I would, but we live in a world of options, and I can simply pick something more comfortable.
The Recon
The Recon Earmuffs aren’t a bad pick, but they aren’t for me. They have a lot going for them, but the headband can be a killer to comfort. With that said, they are fairly affordable in the grand scheme of electronic earmuffs and offer a lot of strengths. If you’re a hat wearer or you have a head smaller than a watermelon, they might work a little better for you.
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