Gateway Safety
Cleveland's above-the-shoulders PPE maker, family-owned since 1944 — and an unintentional lesson in why a standard number on an about page is worth less than the same number on a product page.
Howard Leight
Earplugs and earmuffs for work and recreation, with protection that depends on proper fit.
Howard Leight earplugs, passive earmuffs, and electronic hearing protection. Compare model-specific ratings, fit, compatibility, and maintenance.
- NRR is per modelA lab-derived rating — real protection depends on fit and selection
What we'd reach for
- Max foam earplugsA bell-shaped disposable foam plug. Check the exact variant’s rating and fitting instructions.
- Laser LiteThe two-tone plug, chosen as much for being visible in a supervisor's spot check as for comfort.
- Leightning earmuffsThe passive muff range, for people who take protection on and off repeatedly rather than wearing it all shift.
- Impact SportElectronic muffs that amplify quiet sound and cut loud — the range and hunting side of the brand.
- QuietBandThe banded plug, for intermittent noise where a muff is too much.
- Fit-testing and hygiene kitsThe unglamorous half. Replacement pads and verified fit are what turn a rating into actual protection.
Howard Leight makes earplugs and earmuffs for work and recreation. Its range includes disposable foam plugs, banded protection, passive earmuffs, and electronic models. Choosing among them is about fit, the noise environment, and the other equipment you wear.
Compare the protection format
MAX and Laser Lite are examples of foam-plug lines. Leightning provides passive earmuff options, while Impact Sport serves the electronic-earmuff side of the range. QuietBand is a banded option. Consult the Howard Leight hearing conservation guide for product choices and fitting information.
Electronic features and convenience do not replace protection ratings or correct fit. Compare the exact model, including compatibility with eyewear, headwear, and other PPE.
Read the rating with the instructions
A package’s noise reduction rating describes that model’s laboratory rating. It is not a promise of the protection every wearer will achieve. Selection, correct fitting, training, and maintenance matter; use the product instructions and your workplace’s hearing-conservation process.
Plan for maintenance
Check replacement cushions, hygiene kits, disposable supplies, and storage requirements as part of the purchase. Protection that is uncomfortable or difficult to maintain is less likely to be used consistently.
Current brand support
Howard Leight was included in PIP’s acquisition of Honeywell’s PPE business in 2025. Older Honeywell-branded documents may still be encountered. Use the current support channel and the instructions for the precise model rather than judging the product by the transaction.
More in Work at height
All brands →The nearest neighbors on the shelf — same categories first, same department after that.
Radians
Memphis PPE house with its own eyewear, hearing and glove lines sitting beside licensed DEWALT and Ducks Unlimited shelves — and two of its own about pages giving two different ages and no founding year.
Sellstrom
Illinois eye, face and welding protection dating to 1923 — now a SureWerx brand filed under Jackson Safety, with its own century-old domain redirecting to a sibling's site.
Beal
Climbing and working ropes, with construction and compatibility matched to the task.