Two Quick Product Recommendations

Not actually Erin.

Picture by KJ Photography

& is used with permission.

I was at LibertyCon last weekend, and anyone who has attended conventions knows that they can be noisy from everyone talking, which can lead to headaches and possibly sensory overload. Conversely, some of the convention rooms can have poor sound systems -- or sometimes not even have microphones at all -- and when combined with guests who mumble or refuse to raise their voice, they can be hard to hear even for people who don't have hearing damage like I do. 

Standard Version

If you are easily overstimulated by loud noises, or wish you had a way to amplify conversations, or both, then I have a solution for you: Walker's Hearing Enhancer Earbuds. These earbuds have 29db noise reduction, making them suitable for use at the range, but like bulkier electronic earmuffs they also come with a microphone to amplify conversations. As you can see from the picture below, the controls are on the earbud "rope" itself, which makes turning them on and off or adjusting the volume easy and convenient. 

These earbuds are rechargeable via a micro-USB port and have a battery life of approximately 15 hours. I used mine nearly all day Saturday and I didn't run out of battery, nor did I experience any discomfort.  

Like nearly all amplified hearing there will be an audible "hiss" when them in their powered mode, but this is an unavoidable characteristic in all but the most expensive devices; my father had a set of prescription hearing aids by Signia and they had a similar hissing sound when active. 

Bluetooth Version

If I had one complaint, it would be that there is no way to toggle between "Amplify everything around me" and "Amplify only what is in front of me", which would be great for conversations in noisy areas, but that's asking an awful lot from a $50 piece of equipment. 

There is also a Bluetooth version which can be used to listen to music, but not make telephone calls. This version used to be much more expensive but is actually a dollar less than the non-BT version, so if you want to be able to listen to music while blocking out other noises get that one instead. 

Changing the topic completely, a few weeks ago I discussed the benefits of using UV cured liquid plastic resin for repairs. Well, my Bondic ran out of juice and instead of paying $15 for 8 grams of resin, I decided to buy in bulk and got myself a 100 gram bottle of it for $10. While I am happy with this resin, it is thicker and my usual methods of UV curing took longer. Being an impatient person, I sought to remedy this with a stronger light, preferably one that I didn't have to hold. I found that solution with this UV LED lamp. With over 15,000 ratings and priced at only $7, I thought it was worth the gamble. So far, I am very happy with its performance, and even if it breaks within a few months of use (unlikely given its reviews) it will have paid for itself in its convenience.
  

https://amzn.to/4eHixvB

One click of the power button turns it on for one minute, a second click for three minutes, and a third turns it off. Pressing and holding the button turns it on without a timer. I haven't had to use that setting; I've found that 60 seconds is enough for most resin, and 3 minutes will definitely handle the rest. 

As a bonus, if you or a family member use gel nail polish on your nails, then this can be used to cure that as well. (It won't work on traditional nail lacquer). 

Other than saying that I'm very happy with my purchases, that's all I have for now. As always, stay prepped or get wrecked.

FTC disclaimer: I bought these items with my own money and I wasn't paid for this review. Go away. 

Ear Protection

This week I'm taking an in-depth look at the types of ear protection available, the pros and cons of each, and what to look for when choosing your protection.

The three kinds of ear protection shown can be purchased below.

• Foam Plugs
• "Dumb" muffs
• Powered muffs

Lokidude

Custom Hearing Protection

Whether using firearms or operating noisy machinery or (especially if you ride motorcycles) dealing with wind noise, there are times you need hearing protection. Sometimes earmuffs, fancy or plain, may not be the best fit for the conditions, or you may need more than just muffs.

The usual fix for this is earplugs like these, or these, or these.  All of them work; however, the problem some people run into is that they won't stay in place (especially the foam plugs) when you have to talk or move around much, or they just don't fit your ears well.

This brings me to these: do-it-yourself custom earplugs.  They may not be quite as nice as those you can sometimes find being made a gun shows, but they cost a lot less, too.

How they work:

1. Make sure your ears and hands are clean.
2. The kit comes with two small tubs, each with a lump of compound in it.
3.  Take half of each, and knead that together for 30-45 seconds, no more, until the color is even.
4. Roll it between your palms into a smooth ball with no creases.
5. Put it into your ear and push it in place. (A mirror helps.) Don't try to shove it all in; it needs to go a little into the ear canal but not too far, and there should be enough, after you push and fold it in and smooth it, to fill the inner bowl of the ear.
6. Sit down for ten minutes without no chewing, drinking, or talking. 
7. After a few minutes you'll start hearing popping sounds as the mix starts to cure and harden, which will increase for a couple of minutes, then start dying down.
8. After ten minutes you should be able to get hold of the top edge and pull/roll it out.  
9. Set that one aside and do the other ear.  
10. Let them sit for a few hours to completely cure.

The Good: I really like these because, unlike any other earplug I've used, they don't start working back out after a few minutes. They'll fit under a motorcycle helmet, they're washable, and can be had in several colors (my last set was pink, which is very easy to find if I drop one).  They'll also last a long time; one of my sets is almost two years old.

The not really Bad, but keep in mind: the package shows a Noise Reduction Rating(NRR) of 26, which is the same as a lot of low-profile earmuffs, less than some of the foam-type.  Shooting outside, or around loud equipment or power tools they work well; for an indoor range I'd want them and muffs, especially around rifles and shotguns.

For what they are, I give them a five-star rating.

Hearing Aids after SHTF

While checking on another social medium, I saw someone ask about what to do about hearing aids in an emergency. He was worried because most hearing aids (the in-the-ear type) use tiny batteries which have a short life (3-7 days of use).  Being basically deaf without his hearing aids, he was looking for options or advice on how to stay alive without being able to hear much.

There were several tongue-in-cheek answers that suggested finding an “ear trumpet,” one of the old metal funnels that gather sound when you stick the small end in your ear. A few other people chimed in to suggest stockpiling batteries since the type used are not rechargeable and have a moderate shelf-life (2-4 years). I sent him a link to a cheap on-body style hearing aid like those used 50 years ago and which uses more common rechargeable AAA batteries, then I started researching hearing aids. I’ve been careful with my hearing, using ear plugs or muffs when around loud noises, but I have friends and family that weren’t as prudent.

Importance

Hearing is one of the more important senses for maintaining Situational Awareness, especially after dark. As we’ve mentioned in the past, knowing what is going on around you is a big part of being able to avoid trouble. Being able to hear someone or something approaching will give you an opportunity to avoid unwanted interactions that can vary from wildlife entering your camp, to muggers/thugs following you in the street, to approaching bad weather.

 

Hearing is also important for Operational Security. You’ve probably been around people who are hard of hearing who have their TV/radio/phone turned up to max volume; they’re mildly annoying under normal circumstances, but will be easy to find in a SHTF situation. When you can’t hear how much noise you’re making, it’s hard to move quietly. And that can spell death in a dangerous situation.

Options
Modern in-ear hearing aids use zinc/air cells as a power supply; a good overview of hearing aid batteries can be found here. Zinc/air cells use the oxygen in air reacting with zinc to produce electricity and are a primary cell. I believe I’ve covered the differences between primary and secondary cells in one of my posts about batteries; to summarize, primary cells consume a material to produce electricity and can’t easily be recharged, while secondary cells use a reversible chemical reaction to produce electricity, and can be charged. Primary cells tend to produce more power per ounce than secondary cells, so they’re a good choice for something as small as a hearing aid, but they are disposable.

The fairly short shelf-life comes from the fact that the batteries are designed to react with air. Unless you have some way of storing them in an oxygen-free container, they’re only going to last about 4 years from the date of manufacture. Typical “alkaline” AA or AAA batteries will sit around for up to 10 years and still provide power.

The largest common zinc/air cell provides 845 milli-Watt-hour (mWh) of power. Compare that to a standard AAA at 1850 mWh or a standard AA at 4200 mWh, both of which can be found in rechargeable forms, and you'll see it's time to start looking for a solution that uses a more common battery.

https://amzn.to/2LeGlgC

A quick search on Amazon found this pocket amplifier. At less than $30, it fits in a pocket, uses AAA batteries, and boosts sound by 110dB (enough to be painful). This would be worth looking into if you need a backup for your in-the-ear hearing aids. There are several others like it on Amazon; just search for “pocket hearing aid.” If your hearing is poor in both ears, look for one that has stereo microphones and ear plugs to help with your ability to locate the source of a noise.

An alternative that isn’t as comfortable for long-term use would be a pair of sound-amplifying ear muffs. Commonly found in hunting supply stores, they usually have moderate amplifying ability with an electronic cut-off if the incoming sound is too loud (like a gunshot). I have a couple of pairs of shooting muffs for hearing protection; one of them does have decent amplification, but it uses up batteries pretty fast. I’d guesstimate that the $50 pair I own would suck a pair of AAA batteries dry in about two days of constant use.

Your hearing is an important survival tool. Take care of it, and if it's diminished, make the most of it.