Howard Leight Airsoft 100Pr Corded Earplugs Review

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Reviewed by Steven Eaton, WC Safety Editorial

The Howard Leight AirSoft Corded Earplugs — NRR 27 is a ear plugs from Howard Leight by Honeywell, listed on Amazon. This review restates what the product page documents, places it in its hearing protection lane, and points to the ranked guides for the head-to-head field.

What the Product Page Documents

Published July 16, 2026 · Last updated July 27, 2026

Best For: corded reusable flanged hearing protection at NRR 27 dB with a retention cord.

Not For: non-noise hazards, or noise that earplugs alone can't bring under ~85 dBA (add earmuffs).

Bottom Line: a solid corded reusable flanged plug at NRR 27 dB — the cord earns its keep on jobs where dropped plugs get lost.

Where It Earns Its Slot

The AirSoft sits in the middle of Howard Leight's corded reusable line at NRR 27 dB, and the 100-pair contractor pack is what actually sets this listing apart: it is the family's bulk option for crews rather than a single-user purchase. Where a site issues corded reusable plugs to a rotating workforce, per-pair cost and a common insertion routine matter more than chasing the last decibel, and that is the slot the AirSoft fills.

Within the family, the same NRR 27 rating is available in the FUS30S Fusion, and quieter-rated stablemates run from NRR 25 (R-01520) to NRR 26 (R-01522). If the job needs the highest label rating in this line, the single-use foam LT-30 carries NRR 32 — but trades away reusability.

Honest Limits

Treat NRR 27 as a laboratory ceiling, not a field guarantee: for enforcement estimates OSHA subtracts 7 dB and halves the remainder, so a written program should plan from the derated figure, not the box. Reusable plugs also only keep their rating while the flanges stay supple and clean — wash and inspect them, and replace pairs that have stiffened.

Pros and Cons

Alternatives in the Same Lane

• Howard Leight Laser Lite LL-1 Cordless Earplugs — NRR 32
• Howard Leight Maximum Max-1 Cordless Earplugs — NRR 33
• Howard Leight Quiet QD1 Cordless Earplugs, NRR 26 (Reusable
• Howard Leight Maximum Lite Cordless Earplugs, LPF-1 NRR 30 (
• Howard Leight X-TREME XTR-1 NRR 32 ear plugs (Uncorded, Disp
• Howard Leight TrustFit Pod Earplugs, NRR 28 Cordless Push-In
• Howard Leight FirmFit FF-1 Earplugs, NRR 30 Cordless Foam (F
• Howard Leight Multi Max MM-1 Cordless Earplugs — NRR 31
• 3M PELTOR Optime 105 H10A Ear Muffs - NRR 30 Over-the-Head H

Hearing Protection Guides

• Best Ear Plugs for Construction
• Best Ear Muffs for Construction
• When Do You Need Hearing Protection?
• Best Noise-Canceling Headsets
• Construction Site PPE Guide

Browse by Category

• Hearing Protection
• Ear Muffs
• Foam Ear Plugs
• Corded Ear Plugs
• Shooting Hearing Protection
• PPE Care & Accessories

Frequently Asked Questions

General questions about ratings, OSHA limits and fit are answered in the Best Ear Plugs for Construction guide.

The Bottom Line

For crews that lose plugs faster than they wear them out, the 100-pair AirSoft box is the pragmatic buy in this family: NRR 27, washable, corded, and cheap enough per pair to replace without ceremony. Solo users who want the same rating in a single pair are better served by the FUS30S Fusion; foam-plug jobs that need NRR 32 belong to the LT-30.

Common questions

What field number should a written program plan on?

Plan on roughly 10 dB: OSHA's enforcement estimate subtracts 7 dB from the NRR 27 label and halves the remainder. Compare that figure against your measured 8-hour average — and where the result still exceeds 85 dBA, dual protection (plugs under muffs) takes over, not a higher label.

Does the cord affect protection?

It saves plugs, not decibels. Between noise exposures the pair hangs at the collar instead of getting pocketed or dropped — the reason corded versions dominate clean-environment sites. Where the cord itself could snag, choose the uncorded twin.

How long does a reusable pair last?

Wash, dry, inspect, reuse — and retire the pair once the material stiffens, discolors, or the seal feels inconsistent. A reusable plug holds its rating only while it still conforms to the canal; under daily industrial use that is weeks, not months.

What does the Howard Leight AirSoft Corded Earplugs listing actually document?

A corded reusable earplug rated NRR 27 dB. This review restates the documented configuration, positions the AirSoft inside the Howard Leight corded family, and does not add specifications the listing does not carry.

Is the AirSoft's NRR 27 enough for power-tool noise?

Plan from the derated number, not the label. OSHA's enforcement estimate subtracts 7 dB from the NRR and halves the remainder, so treat the AirSoft as roughly a 10 dB field reduction and verify against your measured exposure — around typical ~95 dBA power-tool noise that generally lands under the action level, but your survey governs.

Can AirSoft earplugs be washed and reused?

Yes — they are reusable and washable across shifts. Retire a pair when the material stiffens, discolors, or no longer seals; a reusable plug only holds its rating while it still conforms to the ear canal.

Why buy the corded version at all?

The cord is a retention device, not hearing protection: it keeps plugs from hitting the floor between noise exposures and makes them harder to lose on a ladder or lift. In food, pharma, or spotless-floor environments it is usually the difference between reusing a pair and binning it.

When is a sibling model the better pick?

Pick the FUS30S Fusion for the same NRR 27 as a personal pair, the R-01520 if a lower NRR 25 profile is more comfortable for long shifts, or the LT-30 foam plug when the job calls for the family's highest rating (NRR 32) in a single-use format.

Related reference

Related on this site: 3m 1110 foam earplugs nrr 30 200 pairs, moldex pura-fit vs howard leight max-1: which nrr 33 ear plug?, what is nrr noise reduction rating explained, highest nrr ear plugs (2026): 7 best nrr 33 picks ranked, 3m ear push ins 318 1001 corded earplugs nrr 28, and 3m ultrafit 340-4002 corded earplugs, reusable - nrr 27 (50 pairs).

Why trust WC Safety

WC Safety is an independent, affiliate-supported review site. It is not a retailer: it holds no inventory, takes no orders, and earns only from qualifying purchases through clearly marked links — which never changes what a product is rated to do. Standards language is taken from the regulation text directly, and ratings are reported as the manufacturer publishes them. We run no laboratory and perform no testing of our own. Where published sources disagree, we say so and plan on the conservative figure rather than the flattering one.

Our methodology

Figures come from the regulation and the published specification, in that order. Derated numbers are calculated, not estimated. Nothing here is presented as a measured result, because we measure nothing.

Researched and written by Steven Eaton, editor of WC Safety. Steven holds no safety certification and does not test products; this page compares what manufacturers and regulators publish, with the gaps in that record marked. Last reviewed August 2026.