I have had these for eight seasons with around 20-30 days of hunting per season. They have been ABUSED. Lots of use in sub zero temps, blizzards and heavy rain. I dropped them in the water on a hunt a couple of years back. They were fully submerged for a moment but didn't skip a beat. Oh, and I only have to change batteries (2x alkaline AAAs) every other season or so. The headset has a self-shut down function built in, so you don't have to worry about leaving them on by accident.
When the headset gets completely soaked, you can sometimes hear a slight ringing/buzzing noise from the speaker. It goes away when they get less wet. I've replaced the foam inserts and cushions once, that's all. Remember to store them in an "open" position, so the foam gets a chance to air out after a hunt.
Good on you for protecting your hearing, I wish more hunters did.
Edit: Forgot to mention I did own a couple of cheaper headsets before getting these. One pair stopped playing sound from the right speaker, the other drained batteries like there was no tomorrow. Both had vastly inferior sound quality.
With all that said, there may well be a better option out there. These are the only earmuffs I've had in this price range and I'm happy with them.
I got these and added aftermarket gel ear pads: https://www.amazon.com/3M-MT16H210F-Tactical-Electronic-Headset/dp/B004QXQQ4G/ref=pd_aw_ic_dpcp_m_1_m_1?pd_rd_w=CBlMI&pf_rd_p=76ca361a-bf6a-4646-9a1c-ec5c5eafbb6b&pf_rd_r=HYKYW93STVT3MYGTSEFP&pd_rd_r=a40021b4-9f53-4c9e-b665-73af4648277... they’re also 3M but a fair bit cheaper than comtacs, they are compatible with mics and ptts that will work with comtac if you want to use it as a communication headset at some point in the future.
Also, FWIW, I use 3m Peltors, but they're pricey. Walkers/HL with gels seem to work pretty well (the gel improves NRR), and if I were to spend more, I'd probably look for custom in-ears. The Peltors I only ever feel like they're not enough when someone's dumping 308 out of a fat muzzle brake at the indoor range.
Haven't tried something super high-end like Tetra but I've used these for years. I've had a couple of cheaper ones (both sub $60) and the sound quality, and battery life on those units was noticeably worse. The Peltors have surprisingly decent sound quality and never seem to run out of batteries. A pair of AAAs last me for years and I hunt most weekends from September to January.
You have to remove the pads after a wet/sweaty hunt to let them air out. I would probably go with in-ear protection if I lived in a hotter climate. Other than that, they are virtually maintenance free. One time, I accidentally submerged them for a second and they continue to soldier on.
I enjoy hunting with them because I know I'm protecting my hearing and I can usually tell where a sound is coming from. Do the sounds of nature sound better without them? Yes, but the difference isn't that noticeable except on very windy days.
Boy am I glad I caught your thread. Rarely have I ever felt as compelled to write a recommendation.
I have had these for seven seasons with at least 30 days of hunting per season. They have been ABUSED. Lots of use in sub zero temps, blizzards and heavy rain. I dropped them in the water early last year and they performed well on the same hunt. Dried them out when I got home and they kept on doing their job the entire winter. Here's the best part: I only have to change batteries (2x alkaline AAAs) every other season. It has a self-shut down function built in, so you don't have to worry about leaving them on by accident.
When the headset gets completely soaked, you can sometimes hear a slight ringing/buzzing noise from the speaker. It goes away when they get less wet. I've replaced the foam inserts and cushions once, that's all. Remember to store them in an "open" position, so the foam gets a chance to air out after a hunt.
Good on you for protecting your hearing, I wish more hunters did.
Edit: Forgot to mention I did own a couple of cheaper headsets before getting these. One pair stopped playing sound from the right speaker, the other drained batteries like there was no tomorrow. Both had inferior sound quality.