The Definitive Guide to Retractable Hearing Protection
Written by readymaxFebruary 11, 2026 If you have ever left your ear plugs in the truck, fished around in your pockets for a pair that ended up covered in sawdust, or just gone without hearing protection because it was not worth the hassle, ReadyMax built its entire product line around solving that problem.
Every ReadyMax product uses the same core idea: attach hearing protection directly to the safety gear you are already wearing, so it is always within reach when noise levels spike. No searching, no forgetting, no excuses.
But ReadyMax makes five different products, and they are not interchangeable. Each one is designed for a specific type of gear and a specific work situation. This guide breaks down what each product does, how it works, and which one makes sense for you.
The Quick Comparison
Before we get into the details, here is the overview:
SoundShield Safety Glasses – Safety glasses with built-in retractable ear plugs stored in the temples. Best for anyone who needs both eye and ear protection and does not wear a hard hat.
RipCord Retractors – Compact retractable ear plugs that peel-and-stick to hard hats or safety vests. Push-button retraction, 15-inch tether. Best for hard hat workers who want a low-profile setup.
PlugsPockets – Retractable ear plugs housed inside reflective protective pockets. Peel-and-stick to safety vests or hard hats. 15-inch tether. Best for vest-wearing workers who want their plugs protected from dust and debris.
Zip-Outs – The most compact option. A thin adhesive strip that mounts inside your hard hat with ear plugs that zip in and out of a vinyl cover. Best for workers who want hearing protection that adds zero bulk to their helmet.
PermaPlug Ear Plugs – The reusable silicone ear plugs used across every ReadyMax product. Sold separately as replacements.
All ReadyMax hearing protection products are rated NRR 27 dB (SNR 34). They all use the same PermaPlug ear plugs, and those plugs are washable, reusable, and replaceable across every product in the lineup.
SoundShield Safety Glasses: Eye and Ear Protection in One
Attaches to: Nothing; they are the gear
Best for: Construction, woodworking, shooting, lawn care, manufacturing, DIY projects
SoundShield glasses are the flagship ReadyMax product and the only option that combines eye protection with hearing protection in a single piece of equipment. The ear plugs retract into the temples of the glasses when you do not need them. When noise picks up, pull them out, insert them, and keep working. When things quiet down, they retract back into the frame.
The lenses are polycarbonate, anti-fog, and scratch resistant. They block 99% of UVA and UVB rays and carry ANSI Z87.1-2020, CSA Z94.3-07, and CE impact certifications, which means they meet or exceed the safety standards required on most job sites in the United States, Canada, and Europe.
The ear plugs are tethered to the glasses with a 22 lb. test nylon cord. If an ear plug comes loose while you are working, it stays attached to the frame instead of falling onto a dirty shop floor or disappearing into the grass.
SoundShield Styles
ReadyMax offers several SoundShield models to fit different face shapes, work environments, and needs:
- Classic: Wrap-around half-frame design with extensive side shield protection. Available in clear and grey lenses. The most popular model and the best all-around choice for construction and outdoor work.
- Pro Series 1: Full-frame design for maximum coverage. Compatible with an optional EVA foam gasket for a sealed fit that blocks dust and fine particles. Best for dusty or debris-heavy environments.
- Fit Over: Designed to fit over prescription eyeglasses. If you wear corrective lenses and need safety-rated eye and ear protection, this is the only option that does not require prescription safety lenses.
- Men’s Sport and Women’s Sport: Streamlined styling for recreational use. Good for shooting ranges, yard work, and outdoor activities where you want protection without looking like you just walked off a job site.
- Bi-Focal 2.0: Pro Series frame with a +2.0 magnification zone in the lower portion of the lens. For workers who need reading magnification to see gauges, labels, or small parts up close.
Who Should Choose SoundShield
Pick SoundShield if you need both eye and hearing protection and you do not wear a hard hat. They are the simplest solution: one piece of gear covers two OSHA requirements. They are also the best choice for recreational use (shooting, woodworking, lawn care) because they do not require any other equipment to function.
If you already wear a hard hat with a face shield, SoundShield may not be the best fit since you already have eye protection covered. In that case, look at the hard hat options below.
RipCord Retractors: Retractable Ear Plugs for Hard Hats and Vests
Attaches to: Hard hats, bump caps, safety vests
Best for: Construction, manufacturing, forestry, any job where you wear a hard hat
RipCord Retractors are compact, spring-loaded retractable ear plug units that mount to your hard hat or safety vest with 3M peel-and-stick adhesive and Velcro. Each retractor spools out up to 15 inches of tether, which is enough slack to comfortably reach your ears and move your head freely. A push-button mechanism locks the cord when the plugs are extended, and the spring retracts them when you are done.
The key difference between RipCord Retractors and PlugsPockets is that RipCord Retractors do not have protective pockets. This makes them more compact and lower-profile, which is an advantage when mounting on hard hats where space is limited. The retractors sit flat against the surface and do not interfere with other gear.
Who Should Choose RipCord Retractors
Pick RipCord Retractors if you wear a hard hat and want the most compact retractable option. They are slightly better suited for hard hat mounting than PlugsPockets because of their smaller profile. If keeping your helmet setup streamlined matters to you, these are the way to go.
PlugsPockets: Retractable Ear Plugs with Protective Pockets
Attaches to: Safety vests, hard hats, bump caps
Best for: Road work, construction, utility work, demolition, any vest-wearing job
PlugsPockets are essentially RipCord Retractors housed inside reflective protective pockets. They use the same push-button retractor mechanism with a 15-inch tether, the same 3M adhesive mounting, and the same PermaPlug ear plugs. The difference is the pocket itself: a durable reflective cover that protects the retractor and ear plugs from dust, debris, and moisture when not in use.
The reflective material is designed to match the reflective strips already on your safety vest, so they blend in with your existing gear. This matters in work environments where vest compliance is strict and anything that looks non-standard gets questioned.
Who Should Choose PlugsPockets
Pick PlugsPockets if you primarily wear a safety vest on the job and work in dusty or dirty conditions. The protective pocket keeps the ear plugs cleaner between uses, which matters when you are working around concrete dust, wood shavings, or road debris. They are also the better choice if visibility is a concern, since the reflective pocket material adds to your vest’s reflective coverage.
Zip-Outs: The Most Compact Hard Hat Option
Attaches to: Inside of hard hats and bump caps
Best for: Utility work, mining, any hard hat environment where you want zero external bulk
Zip-Outs take a different approach from the retractor products. Instead of mounting on the outside of your hard hat, they install on the inside. A thin adhesive strip sticks to the interior of your helmet so that the tethered ear plugs just barely protrude from the back. When you need them, unzip the vinyl cover, pull them out, and insert. When you are done, zip them back into the cover.
Zip-Outs are the smallest and lightest option in the ReadyMax lineup. They add almost no bulk to your helmet and do not interfere with face shields, earmuffs, headlamps, or any other equipment mounted on the outside of your hard hat.
The tether uses a 22 lb. test nylon retractable cord (the same as SoundShield glasses) with a long-life nylon zipper. The entire unit is dielectric (non-conductive), making it safe for electrical work.
Who Should Choose Zip-Outs
Pick Zip-Outs if you want hearing protection that is completely hidden inside your hard hat. They are the best choice when you need your helmet exterior free for other attachments, or when you just want the simplest, most compact option. They are also the most affordable ReadyMax product .
The trade-off: Zip-Outs do not have a spring-loaded retraction mechanism like RipCord Retractors or PlugsPockets. You manually zip the plugs back into the cover. It is a few extra seconds compared to the push-button retraction of the other products.
PermaPlug Ear Plugs: The Universal Replacement
Fits: All ReadyMax products
Every ReadyMax product ships with PermaPlug ear plugs pre-installed, but they do wear out over time. PermaPlug replacement ear plugs are a direct swap across the entire lineup: SoundShield glasses, RipCord Retractors, PlugsPockets, and Zip-Outs all use the same plug.
The plugs themselves are a two-piece co-molded design. The outer layer is soft TPR (thermoplastic rubber) for a comfortable seal, while the stiffer inner core makes insertion easy and consistent. The triple-flange shape fits a range of ear canal sizes without the rolling-and-squeezing routine that foam plugs require.
They are washable with soap and water, reusable for weeks or months depending on how often you use them, and recyclable when they finally wear out. When it is time to replace them, they twist off and on with a simple screw-post connection.
Head-to-Head: How to Decide
Here is a decision framework based on what gear you wear and where you work:
“I do not wear a hard hat.”
Go with SoundShield safety glasses. Pick the Classic for general use, Fit Over if you wear prescription glasses, or Pro Series 1 if you work in dusty conditions and want the gasket option.
“I wear a hard hat and want retractable ear plugs.”
Choose between RipCord Retractors (more compact, no pocket) or PlugsPockets (protective pocket, reflective material). If your job is dusty or dirty, go with PlugsPockets. If you want the lowest-profile hard hat setup, go with RipCord.
“I wear a hard hat and want the simplest, most affordable option.”
Go with Zip-Outs. They install inside the helmet, and stay completely out of the way.
“I wear a safety vest but not always a hard hat.”
PlugsPockets are designed for this. They mount directly to your vest with 3M adhesive.
“I already have ReadyMax gear and need fresh ear plugs.”
PermaPlug replacement ear plugs. One product fits everything.
What They All Have in Common
Regardless of which product you choose, every ReadyMax hearing protection product shares these features:
- NRR 27 dB noise reduction (SNR 34 international rating): Enough protection for power tools, heavy equipment, chainsaws, firearms, and most industrial noise.
- PermaPlug reusable ear plugs: Washable, replaceable, and interchangeable across all products.
- Tethered design: Ear plugs stay attached to your gear. They cannot fall on the ground, get lost, or end up in a pocket full of screws.
- 3M adhesive mounting (on hard hat/vest products): Installs in seconds, holds for the life of the equipment.
- Dielectric construction (on hard hat/vest products): Safe for use around electrical hazards.
- Patented designs: ReadyMax holds utility patents on these products.
Frequently Asked Questions
How loud is “too loud” for these ear plugs?
NRR 27 dB means these plugs reduce noise by approximately 27 decibels. As a general rule, they bring a 100 dB environment (chainsaw, table saw) down to about 73 dB, which is roughly the volume of a normal conversation. OSHA requires hearing protection when noise exposure exceeds 85 dB over an 8-hour shift. For extremely loud environments above 110 dB, you may need additional protection such as over-ear muffs on top of the plugs.
Can I use PermaPlug ear plugs from one product in another?
Yes. All ReadyMax products use the same PermaPlug ear plug. A replacement set works in your SoundShield glasses, RipCord Retractors, PlugsPockets, and Zip-Outs.
How long do the ear plugs last?
With regular cleaning (soap and water), PermaPlug ear plugs last weeks to months depending on frequency of use and working conditions. Replace them when the flanges lose their softness or no longer create a snug seal.
Are these OSHA compliant?
Yes. All ReadyMax hearing protection is NRR 27 dB rated, which meets OSHA hearing conservation requirements for most workplace noise exposures. SoundShield glasses also meet ANSI Z87.1-2020 for eye protection.
Can I mount RipCord Retractors or PlugsPockets on a hard hat AND a vest?
Yes. Both products use 3M adhesive and can attach to either surface. Some workers use one pair on their hard hat and a separate pair on their vest for redundancy.
