5 Best Hard Hat Earmuffs with Bluetooth in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

Earmuffs are often classified as personal protective equipment designed to completely cover your outer ear, to block out noise. People who typically work in noisy environments understand just how important it is to protect their internal ears, seeing as some of the cells don’t have the capability to regenerate.

In today’s guide, we will be looking at hard hat muffs that feature Bluetooth wireless technology. A feature that’s normally incorporated into premium-grade noise reduction devices, to allow users to not only communicate with each other but also listen to their favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks.

Let’s dive in!

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2024

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Kalence Bluetooth Hard Hat Earmuffs	Delivers an NRR of 29dB and SNR 36dB Designed with a 5.0 Bluetooth wireless technology Stays connected 80 feet away	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		BJKing Bluetooth Hard Hat Earmuffs	Adjustable Delivers an NRR of 28dB Ear cups made of 35D density sound-absorbing foam	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Honeywell Retail Sync Wireless Earmuff	Features patented technology Comes with a built-in rechargeable battery Offers a 16-hour play time	CHECK PRICE
		3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector	Designed with a noise dosimeter Has a built-in mic Comes with disposable batteries	CHECK PRICE
		3M Standard WorkTunes Connect	Features a compression-type volume limiter Has high-fidelity speakers Delivers 40-hour continuous play time	CHECK PRICE

The 5 Best Hard Hat Earmuffs with Bluetooth

1. Kalence Bluetooth Hard Hat Earmuffs – Best Overall

The Kalence Bluetooth Hard Hat Muffs were designed to cater to the needs of anyone who’s working at a construction site, in an air terminal, assembly plant, or just operating a large piece of machinery. It has a Noise Reduction Rating (NRR) of 29dB and a Signal-To-Noise Ratio (SNR) of 36dB. In other words, it’s one of the best at reducing noise and ensuring that the signals you’re receiving are clear.

The Kalence comes with a 5.0 Bluetooth wireless technology that’s compatible with an MP3 player, tablet, and laptop, as well as android and iOS phones. What’s more, you’ll be able to stay connected 80 feet away, as long as the feature is switched on.

On the right side of the muff, there are some buttons and an indicator light. The buttons are meant to help you adjust the volume of whatever you’re listening to, while the indicator makes the Bluetooth operating status known.

It only takes 4 hours max to fully charge the Kalence Bluetooth Hard Hat Muffs. And that’s pretty impressive considering its working time is 50 hours. And yes, it’s ideal for prolonged use thanks to the soft premium foam that covers the ear. You’ll also be glad to hear that it’s durable and resistant to shocks, courtesy of the ABS earcup shell.

Will it perfectly fit your regular hard hat? Definitely, seeing as it’s the international standard size. However, if you’re using a full-brim hard hat, you’ll have to invest in different muffs.

2. BJKing Bluetooth Hard Hat Earmuffs – Best Value

The BJKing Bluetooth Hard Hat Earmuff is an adjustable cap-mounted iteration with a 28dB Noise Reduction Rating. It also features the 5.0 Bluetooth technology that allows users to stream whatever they wish to stream from their smart devices, while protecting their ears in noisy environments. Like the Kalence earmuffs, it has an 80 feet wireless range.

And with the built-in mic, you can answer calls remotely, and move around freely, without having to carry your phone. The earcups are made of 35D density sound-absorbing foam. So besides preserving the human voice and reducing noise, they are also meant to prevent itchiness or general discomfort due to prolonged use.

Unfortunately for us, the BJKing Bluetooth Hard Hat Earmuffs only fit regular hard hats, and not the full brim ones. But all things considered, it’s certainly the best Bluetooth earmuff for the money.

3. Honeywell Retail Sync Wireless Earmuff – Premium Choice

It seems like whoever designed these earmuffs was invested in making sure that users are able to receive and make calls without any interruptions. Its boom microphone is of impeccable quality, as it guarantees that your voice doesn’t get lost in the noise.

The Honeywell Retail Sync Wireless Earmuff will make it easier for you to take any call while working in a 100dA noisy environment. To put it into context, that’s the same level of noise as one produced by a metal saw or lawn mower.

It comes with a built-in rechargeable lithium battery that delivers a working time of 16 hours, and 4.1 Bluetooth wireless connectivity option that allows users to stream music from their phones and tablets. The earcups and headband are both cushioned to ensure you always feel comfortable in situations of prolonged use.

This iteration’s features patented air flow and volume control technology that helps it deliver a Noise Reduction Rating of 25, while limiting the audio output to a safe 82 dB. You’ll find a 3.5 mm AUX cable in the package if at all you don’t want to utilize the Bluetooth feature.

In terms of sound quality, the Honeywell Retail Sync Wireless Earmuff isn’t exactly our top choice. When listening to music, we noted that the highs were very detailed, but it lacked any bass. It just didn’t bother us that much because we were excited to finally work with muffs that were lightweight and suitable for overhead projects.

4. 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector

Speaking of sound quality, the people who worked on the 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector definitely understood the assignment. They gave it transparent highs, full-bodied vocals, and a bass that is to die for. And it will deliver the same sound experience whether you’re listening to music via a wired audio source, radio, or Bluetooth.

Normally, we’re used to working with earmuffs that limit the maximum permissible volume. But this iteration has a noise dosimeter that’s preprogrammed to allow the user to listen to music or audio books at a louder volume—its maximum permissible volume is 98 dB.

The 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector’s predecessor didn’t feature a microphone. But this model does, even though it’s not of premium quality. Unlike other mics, this one doesn’t have the ability to separate noise from speech. So, for you to make or receive any calls, you’ll have to excuse yourself from work.

Ironically, it works just fine when you try to communicate with a colleague who’s wearing the same headset. Even if the noise is at 100 dBA.

The other good thing about this model is the fact that it has two disposable AA alkaline batteries that support up to 40 hours of continuous listening. If they run out of juice, you’ll have the option of charging it via a micro-USB port. And just so you know, it’s an adjustable headset that practically fits any head and hard hat.

5. 3M Standard WorkTunes Connect

Unlike the 3M WorkTunes Connect Hearing Protector, this variant doesn’t feature a radio. But it’s one of the most economical iterations and has a very sleek design. As expected, it also comes with Bluetooth technology that’s compatible with most Bluetooth enabled devices, and high-fidelity speakers to deliver the best sound quality.

The Noise Reduction Rating here is 24dB—not bad, but not too impressive either. They gave it an integrated microphone to allow users receive or make calls without feeling the need to remove the hearing protection.

This WorkTune earmuff comes with an built-in lithium battery that’s rechargeable and able to deliver close to 40 hours of continuous play time. You’ll know it’s time to juice it up once the indicator lights up. Also, to conserve the battery, it’s designed to automatically shut off when not in use.

The 3M Standard WorkTunes Connect’s volume limiter is the compression-type. Meaning, this model has been pre-programmed to automatically regulate the volume of whatever you’re listening to, with respect to the noise being produced at the background. If the noise is too loud, your audiobooks, podcast, or music will be louder.

To facilitate comfortability, they made the headband flexible. Its interface only has a single button, to make it easier for workers to readjust their settings even with gloves on. It doesn’t have any volume control button, though. If you want to make that adjustment, you’ll have to use your Bluetooth enabled device. The other issue that we had with the design was how shallow the earcups were. It’s not too shallow, but we felt limited regardless.

Buyers Guide: Choosing the Best Hard Hat Earmuffs with Bluetooth

When looking for hard hat earmuffs, the main thing to look out for is adequate protection. While having great sound quality is certainly a priority too, the most important factor is protecting your hearing. The other factors to consider are battery life, range, and of course, comfort.

What Are the Main Disadvantages of Earmuffs?

For starters, they are a lot heavier than ear plugs. Come to think of it, that weight is probably the reason why people who often work in hot environments avoid them. They also happen to be more expensive compared to most hearing protection devices and not ideal for eyeglass wearers. If you’ve ever worn one with a pair of eyeglasses before, you know how terrible the seal is.

Earmuffs vs Earplugs

First off, it’s important to note that both of them are classified as hearing protection devices (HPDs). That means that they’ll protect your ears against any form of noise that would cause substantial damage. That being said, we cannot ignore the fact that plugs are designed to directly fit into our ear canals. And once that canal gets blocked, there’s no sound/noise passing through.

How Many Types of Hearing Protection Devices Do We Have on The Market?

We’d say five in total. There’s the earmuff, expandable foam plug, pre-molded/reusable plug, canal caps, and miscellaneous devices. Anything that falls under the “miscellaneous” category is a custom-made device that’s also considered a hybrid of the conventional HPDs.

Conclusion

As always, we’ll sign off by reminding you what our top three picks are. The Kalence Bluetooth Hard Hat Muffs took home the prize because it checked all our boxes, including the ones that weren’t a priority. The BJKing Bluetooth Hard Hat Earmuff offered value for money, while the Honeywell Retail Sync Wireless Earmuff was our premium choice.

We hope our reviews have helped you find the best hard hat earmuffs with Bluetooth for your needs.

Featured Image Credit: Virrage Images, Shutterstock