Protecting your hearing during live fire should be at the top of your priority list, which means wearing good quality hearing protection, otherwise known as ear pro. Many types of ear pro are available, all with varying degrees of effectiveness. From the classic ear muff to foamies, which we’re all familiar with as throw-aways for when you forget your good stuff, the options are endless. Then there are the electronic ears, and that’s where a company like Walker’s excels. Their Razor 3.0 Headset is an excellent option for target shooters, hunters, and just working around loud noises, and we’re going to tell you why.
Walker’s Razor 3.0 Headset — Details and Specifications
The Razor 3.0 is a set of electronic earbuds attached by an insulated wire to a durable band meant to be worn around your neck. This way you get the best of both worlds: Earbuds for comfort and an attachment point so they don’t get lost. This ear pro isn’t just hearing protection, though, it’s an entire experience of features.
A rugged, flexible polymer blend is used in the manufacturing of the neckpiece. Although you certainly don’t want to intentionally drop these or hit them on objects, accidents do happen, and these are tough enough to withstand a few scrapes and bumps. Part of their durability is undoubtedly owed to their flex. Walker’s doesn’t list the exact design and manufacturing process, but the neckband has rigid plastic at either end and a rubbery connecting band with a lot of give. That means aside from withstanding use and being dropped, this ear pro will comfortably fit a variety of sizes of users. This isn’t an unforgiving solid piece of plastic, it’s a system carefully designed for the perfect blend of performance and functionality.
The earbuds themselves have solid plastic bases with soft yet thick pads over the part that inserts into the ear. Each headset ships with three sets of black foam tips—small, medium, and large—so the user can select the ideal fit for them. Earbuds are connected to the neckpiece by a slim cord. Drawing the earbuds away from the body of the headset is as easy as pulling on the buds; retracting requires pushing a small rectangular button on either side of the neckpiece.
Volume level and frequency mode selection are controlled with padded buttons placed on the front of the lower portion of either side of the neckpiece. The independent volume control allows for a rather wide range of decibel levels. As for the frequency modes, the Razor 3.0 has four possible settings: Universal, Speech Clarity, Hi-Frequency, and Power Boost.
Finally, the headset is charged via a covered port located on the user’s right-hand side on the inside edge of the neckpiece. The Razor 3.0 Headpiece has a rechargeable internal lithium battery, and it can be easily charged with a micro USB cord. Once it’s fully charged, the battery lasts for quite a while.
Bluetooth and the Walker’s LINK App
Yes, the Razor 3.0 is Bluetooth-capable. There’s an option to order them as standard digital as well, but who wouldn’t want Bluetooth? Having the headset connected to your phone via Bluetooth is a great way to take phone calls or listen to music. When and where you choose to take advantage of those features is up to you.
Getting the most out of the ear pro with Bluetooth requires downloading the Walkers LINK app to your phone. It’s available for both iPhone and Android and can be found on Google Play or the App Store. Through the app, users can control the various settings on their phone and also get access to features like ambient mute, auto shutoff, and quickly adapt the mode to the environment. The auto-shutoff feature allows the user to choose between shutting off at two, four, or six hours, for the purpose of preserving battery life. It’s a cool addition to the usual electric ear-pro experience.
To summarize, features include:
- Retractable cord for digital earbuds to prevent breakage or tangling when not in use.
- Bluetooth connectivity capable which is controlled through the Walkers LINK app on your smartphone.
- Internal rechargeable lithium battery can be charged using a micro USB.
- Hi-gain omnidirectional microphones are designed to enhance sound quality.
- Earbuds are positioned at an angle to not interfere with or tangle the cord.
- HD Walker’s sounds for superior audio quality and clarity.
- Ships with a trio of foam earbud covers in sizes small, medium, and large.
- Has four frequency modes for greater versatility including Universal, Speech Clarity, Hi-Frequency, and Power Boost.
- Volume control is independent of other buttons and features.
- Supported by Walkers LINK app to access the full array of capabilities.
Use During Live Fire
This headset is stellar for its main expected use, which is wearing it during live fire. It does an excellent job of reducing decibels as shots are fired both during extensive range time and while hunting. The earbuds fit comfortably without the irritation or excessive pressure created by some brands, which is a huge plus. Cords are designed at an angle to reduce the risk of tangling.
If you have long hair like I do, it might be a good idea to have it pulled back or braided so it doesn’t get caught in the headset. Of course, when it’s freezing outside, you want your hair down. In that case, just remember the neckpiece and cords are there so you don’t inadvertently rip one out of your ear flipping your hair back.
Not-Gun-Related Use
As it turns out, this ear pro is awesome for use in other loud environments like an active diesel shop or monster truck rally. Sometimes we forget the need to protect our hearing when we’re doing activities that don’t involve shooting, but you might be surprised how much damage can be done by failing to protect your ears in extremely noisy places. Hearing loss is cumulative, and once you destroy it, it doesn’t come back. If you work in a noisy mechanic shop or attend a lot of loud concerts, the Razor 3.0 could be your new best friend.
Why Electronic Ear Pro?
The bottom line is that you do need to protect your ears. Using good quality electronic ear pro like the Walkers Razor 3.0 Headset is a great way to keep your hearing intact while also being able to connect to calls and music. Electronic ears also give the user far more options for hearing conversations without doing things like moving hearing protection aside. Those few moments you pull an ear muff or foamie away can cost you some hearing, which you can’t get back.
Walker’s Razor 3.0 Headset is a well-made product that outperforms its price point. It’s well worth the investment to get a greater level of protection and versatility. Competition shooters, hunters, and those training at the range can all benefit from the use of high-quality ear pro such as these. Don’t let your ability to hear be damaged—and if it’s already damaged, work to save what’s left—by wearing something like the Razor 3.0.
