We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-10-03 · 6 min read · Independent comparison
If you want the slimmest, most gun-stock-friendly folding earmuff with a lighter build and cushioned headband comfort, choose Howard Leight Honeywell Leightning L0F; if you need a higher published noise reduction rating plus certified ANSI and CE compliance, choose PROHEAR 016.
• Howard Leight Honeywell Leightning L0F — biggest strength: An ultraslim, folding design that collapses to roughly four inches and stays out of the way of a gunstock, backed by patented Air Flow Control tech and a padded foam, steel-wire headband.
• Howard Leight Honeywell Leightning L0F — biggest trade-off: Its NRR of 23 is lower than the PROHEAR 016's 26, so for very loud indoor or magnum shooting it leaves less margin.
• PROHEAR 016 — biggest strength: A higher NRR of 26 with certification to ANSI S3.19-1974 and CE EN 352-1, plus replaceable snap-in ear pads for easy long-term maintenance.
• PROHEAR 016 — biggest trade-off: Its low-profile earcups are built for stock clearance, but the published spec sheet leans on the rating and materials rather than a slim folding footprint the way the L0F does; the color option listed is Pink, which won't suit everyone.
• Who each pick is for: Choose the L0F if compact storage and a slim, unobtrusive cup matter most; choose the PROHEAR 016 if you want the higher noise reduction number and formal certification.
The Leightning L0F is built around one idea: get the earmuff out of your way. The earcup is ultraslim, and the whole thing folds down to about four inches, which makes it genuinely easy to stash in a range bag or a jacket pocket between strings. If you shoot with a rifle and find that bulky cups bump your stock, that slim profile is the whole point of this model.
The comfort story is the other half of the pitch. The headband uses a steel wire frame — meant to survive demanding use — wrapped in padded foam to reduce pressure on your head, and the super-soft cushions are designed to kill that "squeezing" sensation. The cushions are also snap-in, so replacing them doesn't require fighting with the whole assembly. Patented Air Flow Control is claimed to cut sound across all frequencies without making the cup bigger or heavier, and it's listed with three sound reduction levels to match different shooting environments. The published Noise Reduction Rating is 23.
Who should buy it: hunters and range shooters who value a low-profile cup, easy folding, and light-on-the-head comfort, and who shoot in environments where an NRR of 23 is enough. Who should skip it: anyone chasing the maximum published reduction number, or shooters who spend a lot of time in very loud indoor bays and want the extra margin a higher rating provides.
The PROHEAR 016 leads with its rating. It's a passive earmuff with a published NRR of 26, and it's backed by certification to ANSI S3.19-1974 and CE EN 352-1 — two standards that tell you the reduction claim has been tested against a recognized protocol. If you want a number you can point to and a formal certification behind it, that's the headline here.
The design is aimed at the same low-profile niche. The earcups are cut low to clear a firearm stock, and the housing uses a sound-dampening composite to keep noise from reaching your ears — described less as total silence and more as turning the volume down to a safe level. The shell is durable ABS, with soft foam ear pads, a padded headband, and a rubberized coating for a soft-but-tough feel. It folds compactly for storage in a suitcase, backpack, or range bag, and the ear pads are snap-in and replaceable, which matters if you use it often.
Who should buy it: shooters and hunters who want a higher published NRR plus ANSI and CE certification, and anyone who wants replaceable cushions for the long haul. It's also positioned for general loud tasks like mowing, sawing, and power tools. Who should skip it: anyone who specifically wants the slimmest folding footprint, since the L0F's ultraslim, four-inch-fold design is the more compact of the two on paper — and if the color listed doesn't suit you, factor that in.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best formal certification → PROHEAR 016 (ANSI S3.19-1974 and CE EN 352-1).
• Most compact folded storage → Howard Leight Leightning L0F (collapses to roughly four inches).
• Slimmest, least stock-interfering cup design → Howard Leight Leightning L0F (ultraslim earcup with Air Flow Control).
• Lightest carry feel → Howard Leight Leightning L0F, whose listing emphasizes an ultralight build; the PROHEAR's stated weight is 7.36 ounces.
• Best headband comfort engineering → Howard Leight Leightning L0F (steel-wire frame with padded foam to cut head pressure).
• Best for mixed loud chores beyond shooting → PROHEAR 016, which is explicitly recommended for mowing, sawing, and power tools.
• Best for easy long-term upkeep → a tie, since both use snap-in, replaceable ear cushions.
• Best all-round pick if you want the higher rating → PROHEAR 016; best if compactness wins → Howard Leight Leightning L0F.
In my opinion, the PROHEAR 016 is the one I'd buy for most shooters. The higher published NRR of 26 plus ANSI and CE certification gives you the most defensible protection claim, and the low-profile cups and replaceable pads make it a practical long-term choice. I'd only switch to the Howard Leight Leightning L0F if compact storage and the slimmest possible cup are your top priorities — its four-inch fold and ultraslim design are genuinely better for that. Decide which matters more to you, then check the current price on Amazon.
FAQ
A higher NRR means more reduction on paper, so the PROHEAR 016's 26 rating indicates greater attenuation than the L0F's 23. Real-world results still depend on how well each seals around your ears, so a proper fit matters as much as the number.
Yes — both are designed with low-profile earcups to clear a firearm stock. The L0F leans into a slim, foldable build, while the PROHEAR 016 leans into its higher rating and certification. Either fits hunting and range use.
The Howard Leight Leightning L0F, in my opinion, is the more packable of the two because it collapses to roughly four inches and emphasizes an ultralight build. The PROHEAR 016 also folds compactly for a range bag, but its focus is the higher NRR rather than minimum size.
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