Walker’s has taken its hearing protection down another size. The company’s new Boomies Passive Muffs are built for children aged 1 to 3, carry a certified Noise Reduction Rating of 23 dB and sell for $29.99. Nothing inside them runs on power.
Boomies sit a tier below the Razor Junior electronic muffs Walker’s pushed into retail earlier this year, and the distinction is worth understanding before buying either. Razor Junior amplifies ambient sound through microphones and speakers so a young shooter can hear range commands between shots. Boomies do one thing, which is reduce volume. Both carry the same 23 dB rating, a figure that describes attenuation alone, so a passive muff can match an electronic one on the spec sheet while offering none of the amplification.
Toddlers wobble, sprint and fall over constantly, and Walker’s shaped the muffs accordingly. Contoured cups sit low against small heads and are meant to stay put through active play rather than sliding off at the first stumble. Soft cushions handle the comfort side and impact-resistant materials cover the part where the muffs get dropped, thrown or stepped on. Weight was kept down on the theory that a child who forgets the muffs are there will leave them on longer.
“Maybe the best feature of these kid-specific muffs is the balanced level of protection,” said Ben Smith, Walker’s brand manager. “They help reduce harmful noises without isolating children from their surroundings, which allows them to remain aware of their parents’ voices while staying comfortable and protected in loud, potentially damaging environments, both indoors and out.”
Walker’s Boomies Passive Muffs are available now in multiple colorways, online and through retailers nationwide, at an MSRP of $29.99. More information is at walkersgameear.com.
