I have a whole drawer full of hearing protectors, but I never wear anything except my Peltor earmuffs. While most earmuffs reduce noise by 20 to 25 decibels, my Peltors cut noise by 30 dB. That extra noise reduction muffles even the loudest tools (like routers and hammer drills) to a tolerable hum.

But the best thing about my Peltor muffs is the comfort. With their springy yoke and spongy padding, I barely notice I’m wearing them. My one complaint is that they’re much bulkier than most muffs. And in tight spaces, it feels like I’m wearing Mickey Mouse ears and they can get in my way. Peltor H10A earmuffs cost about $20 at amazon.com.

Peltor, (800) 444-4774. peltor.com

--Gary Wentz, senior editor