| Image | Product | Price |
|---|---|---|
 | WarBird Intrepid Hearing Protection | Check Price |
Hearing protection is paramount when participating in shooting sports or doing anything where the sound levels can cause hearing damage.
There are many companies that sell hearing protection products and at many price points. You can grab a set of foam earplugs for a dollar or pay north of four hundred dollars for top-of-the-line over-the-ear options.
WarBird is one of the companies vying for your business with its Intrepid line of hearing protection and was nice enough to send us both of its models to check out.
Warbird Intrepid
Warbird sells two models of the Intrepid. The base model is the RC, which is a full-featured set of electronic ear protection with a rechargeable battery. The Intrepid BT is Warbird’s flagship model, with all of the features of the RC model and then some, like Bluetooth capability. The Intrepid BT will cost around $150 or so, making it a more premium offering than what you will usually find at your local Walmart.
Features
Bluetooth
The most significant difference between the base RC and BT models is the inclusion of Bluetooth. Pairing your Intrepid BT to your phone is straightforward. It allows you to listen to your favorite music or audiobook or, if necessary, use your phone while protecting your hearing.
Maintaining situational awareness when shooting is an important aspect of being safe around firearms, but there are plenty of opportunities when at the range or somewhere with noises that require hearing pro to use the Bluetooth features without compromising your safety.
Battery Life
Warbird advertises 8 hours of use per charge for both models. Our team had mixed results with this claim, but there were no issues of them falling extremely short.
However, it can be a hard metric to measure because only some of us will ever use ear pro for eight hours straight, and starting and stopping a timer to measure your hearing protection battery life is low on most people’s priority list. Additionally, if some of us used the Bluetooth feature while others didn’t, it could have definitely skewed the battery life impressions.
Comfort
The Intrepid line comes with gel ear cups and prides itself on its comfort. They are far more comfortable than the cheaper ($60 and under) hearing protection options I own from bigger-name companies, and their low-profile design makes them sleeker and less bulky than many alternatives.
I was blessed or cursed with more prominent ears and found that over extended use, I felt like my ears inside the cups were a little mashed. I’d like to note that I also experience this issue with most of the ear protection I own. It could very well be a “me problem”! Other members of the team did not share the same “issue.”
Noise Reduction and Audio Performance
The ear muffs’ most important job is to protect your hearing, and these provide admirable service. They boast a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 23dB, which is plenty for outdoor range use, but I highly suggest you double up when shooting indoors and add a pair of foam plugs underneath.
The BT model is equipped with full-dynamic-range HD speakers (40mm drivers, 20 ohms speakers). You won’t mistake them for expensive Bose headphones, but they do the job. Just have realistic expectations for what you will get from a $160 ear pro whose primary purpose is to ensure you don’t get Tinnitus.
Where To Buy
Final Impressions
WarBird delivers quality electronic hearing protection with modern features that don’t break the bank. Compared to my most expensive ear protection, the WarBirds are more workman than premium. Compared to the less expensive ear protection I own, which was under $60, the Intrepid BTs definitely feel premium. That may be the point. Most of us don’t shoot enough to need hearing protection in the $300+ range.
The WarBird BTs strike a balance between premium $300+ options and budget-friendly hearing protection you can grab at your local big box store by delivering rich features and thoughtful design.
