I use air pods a good bit and like them, but they are not waterproof and don't offer a ton of noise canceling, definitely not what is needed for shooting (though I use them for that some and its better than nothing). I am looking to get a set of bluetooth ear buds that also offer hearing protection. Kind of looking for a do it all type of ear bud, but I definitely need them to be waterproof.

Looking at the axil XCOR or GS extreme, does anyone have any firsthand experience with these or any others? Are they as good (or close) to air pods sound quality? Are there any others that are better? I'm fine if the 2 are wired together, instead of 2 individual ear buds.

Sordin Supreme Pro-X is what I have used for several years and I really like them. Not ear buds but really good protection for your hearing.

https://www.sordin.com/supreme

TETRA

Something like THIS . They make an earplug that fits on your ear pods, as well as custom fitted, noise cancelling, enhanced hearing model. Lets you have enhanced hearing until you shoot. Know some duck hunters that use something like the custom set and are well pleased. They are not cheap, though.

I'm thinking something more like the AXIL type of ear pods. Those and the tetras are probably amazing, but I doubt I'm gonna spend more than a couple hundred bucks on it.

Your hearing is worth MORE than a couple hundred dollars, know from experience !

Well, what do you want out of them? Do you want extra power for listening to or just ear protection?

Ideally, I want to use them like I do my air pods (for listening to music, catching calls, etc) especially when mowing the grass and on the tractor. But, if they are in the same ballpark as air pods, I would like a pair that would double as hearing protection, especially if they could be set to amplify sounds but still provide perception.

I have several pairs of earmuffs that I use when shooting, a few of them have sound amplification and I have tried to use them when dove hunting but there is no perception to the sound so I can't tell where its coming from and I end up taking them off.

I work in a lot of industrial plants and my hearing is starting to fall off some, its noticeable when I hunt with my son, and he can hear things I cannot. Amplified ear buds would be nice for turkey hunting.

It looks like the AXIL will do what you want, with bluetooth, at about the same cost as the custom fit slip-on that goes on your existing ear pods. I didn't drill down to see the decibel suppression of the AXIL, but can't be too far from the slip-on at 32db.