Sightlines Gel Pads

Sightlines™ was launched on Kickstarter in November of 2017 and successfully brought to market through the generous pledges of hundreds of people from around the world. We want to thank them again for their support.

Headsets that use traditional ear pads rely on the softness of the pad to conform to the shape of the eyewear stems. However, whenever eyewear is inserted, even the softest pads unevenly distribute pressure around the ear, cause hot spots which then lead to headaches, and allow unwanted noise through the broken head seal.

By adding a recessed channel, or relief cut, at the top of the pad for eyewear to slide along, the head seal can remain intact instead of being forced open when eyewear is inserted. Sightlines is an extremely simple and inexpensive solution. Our headset pads replace your existing ones and install in seconds.

Eyewear no longer causes hot spots around the ears. In addition, the unique horseshoe ring design and use of silicone gel and memory foam softens the pad so much that compression is significantly reduced, pressure is better equalized across a larger surface area, and eyewear won't sit crookedly. It's like wearing pillows on your head. Our pads are also quite roomy, so ears won't feel cramped. You can wear them all day with or without eyewear, with no change in comfort. You won't ever want to wear normal ear pads again.

The only change you'll need to make when wearing a headset with Sightlines is to first lower your headset as much as is comfortable, slide your eyewear above the pads, and then pull the arms down into the relief cuts. The arms will rest less than one pinky finger's thickness above the location where glasses normally rest, and it will feel completely natural for eyewear to sit at this location after just a few moments. These pads are fully compatible with prescription eyewear, including multifocal lenses.

Government testing has shown a 1-10dB decrease in sound deadening when eyewear breaks the head seal on traditional ear cushions. This is a serious safety issue as a 3 dB increase represents a doubling of sound intensity. We believe Sightlines solves this completely by keeping the head seal closed when eyewear is inserted correctly.

A broken head seal permits significantly more noise into the headset, and this isn't just a hearing protection issue: it is extremely detrimental to proper monitoring of audio levels and radio traffic, which is important to pilots / soldiers and Marines / SWAT officers / etc. Again, we believe Sightlines solves this completely by keeping the head seal closed when eyewear is inserted correctly into the relief channels.

MATERIALS & DURABILITY:

Sightlines pads are manufactured with only premium components. They are designed to survive in nearly every environment on earth. As military veterans, we understand that gear dependability is crucial.

Internally, both silicone gel and sound-deadening memory foam provide the ultimate in softness. The silicone gel's flexibility is amazingly similar from -100F to +300F (-70C to 150C). The sound-deadening memory foam meets FAR 25.853 for U.S. aviation use.

Externally, an ultra-thin sheet of rugged polyurethane provides a supple outer skin. The polymer skin is resistant to UV rays, has antifungal properties, and does not absorb moisture and quickly degrade like cheaper materials.

Our product should last for several years of normal use instead of degrading quickly like faux leather or vinyl pads. Be sure to regularly clean the outer surface with soapy water as necessary, but do not submerge, as the pads have a pinhole-sized air vent on the bottom to allow proper functioning.

• Our latest design features a rim to slide under the clips on headsets like Impact® Sport and a non-permanent, pressure-sensitive adhesive for a much more secure fit and peel + stick compatibility with snap-in plastic adapter plates (available separately) to fit headsets from dozens of manufacturers.
• Best results with straight-style glasses arms, and our super-soft and flexible silicone gel produces an amazing seal with other types of glasses arms.
• Our unique horseshoe-ring shaped, grooved front face and 1/4" inch of silicone gel provide significantly better softness and sealing vs. competitors' pads. Please check out the reviews page to read more about our pads' pillow-like comfort level.
• When headset is lowered as much as possible, glasses arms can be dropped into relief cuts and will sit in a protected channel just above the ear. Using the relief cuts is completely optional. Our gel pads work like normal pads when glasses are not in use.
• Use of super-premium acoustic memory foam and allowing for a closed head seal leads to impressively better sound deadening.
• Designed by a Marine Corps combat veteran, made in the USA, and designed for use in any climate. Polyurethane outer skin is UV-resistant, waterproof, and much longer-lasting than vinyl used on cheap pads. These gel pads are tough. Plus, we warranty our pads for an entire year, regardless of what continent or climate you operated in.

This Sightlines gel ear pad model is fully compatible with many Howard Leight®, Peltor™, and Ops-Core™ headsets without any adapter plates. The adhesive is non-permanent and pads can be removed dozens of times, or even swapped between headsets, without degrading the bonding strength. With our adapter plates, you can use these same pads on an even wider selection of headsets. We use the same type of adhesive that is used on military headsets to hold pads in place. There is an outer lip on this pad that slides under the Howard Leight® headset retaining clips and provides a secondary method to secure the pads. 

The following headsets DO NOT require plastic snap-in adapters to utilize the Sightlines Gel Pads, they can be directly connected with no additional items:

• 3M™ WorkTunes™ Wireless / Bluetooth model (please purchase our Peltor™ HY79+ HY80 cloned adapter plates if you own the old-style WorkTunes™ headset that only has an AM/FM radio)
• 3M™ Peltor™ RangeGuard™
• 3M™ Peltor™ Sport Tactical 100 / 300 / 500
• 3M™ Peltor™ Sport Ultimate Hearing Protector
• Awesafe® GF01
• Axil® / Sportear® Trackr™ (Including BLU)
• Caldwell® E-Max (standard and low-profile)
• GLORYFIRE™ M8056T
• Howard Leight® Impact® Sport (including Bolt® version)
• Howard Leight® Impact® Pro
• Howard Leight® Leightning®
• Howard Leight® Sync®
• Howard Leight® Verishield
• Howard Leight® Viking®
• Kask® SC1 / SC2 / SC3
• Mpow® Noise Reduction Safety Ear Muffs
• NoiseBuster® PA4000, PA4100, and PA4200
• Ops-Core® AMP® (note: outer lip may overlap and can be removed with knife / scissors, but this is only an aesthetic issue)
• Otto® NoizeBarrier® Range SA and TAC
• Peltor™ RangeGuard™, Sport Tactical™ 100 / 300 / 500
• Pro Ears® - multiple models compatible; customer must verify that their original pads can be peeled off and our oval 3 x 4" pads can be glued on
• Radians® - multiple models compatible; customer must verify that their original pads can be peeled off and our oval 3 x 4" pads can be glued on
• TR Industrial® Forestry Safety Helmet and Hearing Protection System
• Winchester® Passive Folding Earmuffs / Low Pro Passive Folding Earmuffs

Snap-in Plastic adapters will be necessary to mount the Sightlines Gel Pads to the below headsets (sold separately):

• Walker's Game Ear® Razor™ Series (including SLIM and COMM BT and PATRIOT model but excluding the COMPACT version of the series)
• Walker's Game Ear® Ultimate Power Muff (including Alpha and Quad version)
• Walker's Game Ear® Ultimate Quad Connect
• Walker's Game Ear® Ultimate Digital Quad Connect
• Walker's Game Ear® Ultimate Digital Quad 4x4
• Walker's Game Ear® XCEL™
• ACTFIRE™ Safety Earmuffs (clone of Razor™ headset)
• Invisio® T5™ (please transfer o-ring from original snap-in plates onto our plates if applicable)
• Sordin® Supreme™ including all variants like Pro X (please transfer o-ring from original snap-in plates onto our plates if applicable)
• TCI® Liberator™ / DEHP™ / HP™ (please transfer o-ring from original snap-in plates onto our plates if applicable)
• 3M™ Worktunes™ AM / FM (original model only, not Wireless / Bluetooth model; please read warning above and instead just order our Standard / Universal Mount pads with adhesive backing if you have the Wireless / Bluetooth model)
• 3M™ Peltor™ ComTac™ II / III / V / VI / XP / XPI
• 3M™ Peltor™ ProTac™
• 3M™ Peltor™ Shotgunner™
• 3M™ Peltor™ Sound-Trap™
• 3M™ Peltor™ Sport™
• 3M™ Peltor™ SportTac™
• 3M™ Peltor™ SWAT-Tac™ II / III
• 3M™ Peltor™ Tactical 6-S
• 3M™ Peltor™ TacticalPro™
• 3M™ Peltor™ Tactical Sport™
• Racing Electronics® Platinum Plus headsets
• 3M™ Peltor™ X1A
• 3M™ Peltor™ X2A
• 3M™ Peltor™ X3A
• 3M™ Peltor™ X4A
• 3M™ Peltor™ X5A
• 3M™ Peltor™ 95 / 98 / 101 / 105 / III and Professional Model

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Howard Leight Impact Sport and similar headsets:
  
  
• remove the original pads by pulling them straight outward. Then, take the Noisefighters ear pads and slide the flexible outer lip underneath the headset's tabs. We recommend prioritizing the sides of the pad first, then the top and bottom. See the following picture to confirm that our universal, rounded design does fit perfectly, even though it does not follow the original rectangular shape.
• Use moderate pressure, with the entire palm of your hand, while pressing the ear pads against the adapter plates to create a firm adhesive bond. There is no need to use excessive pressure, as the adhesive is quite strong.
  
• Our adhesive is not permanent, and removal of the pads does not degrade the adhesive if one takes care to avoid contaminating it. We have removed and reinstalled a single pair of pads more than 50 times and did not detect a measurable change in bonding strength. Use light pressure to activate adhesive.
  
  

• Peltor Rangeguard, Sport Tactical 100/300/500 and similar headsets:
  
  

• While there is an existing plastic snap-in plate on the that can be removed, the factory-provided ear pads can be easily peeled off their underlying plastic plates and replaced with our upgraded pads. It does take some effort to peel the original pads off.
  
• The key to proper mounting is cleaning. After peeling off the original pads, use a degreaser or similar cleaning product to remove any remaining residue on the underlying plastic mounting plate.
  
• Use moderate pressure, with the entire palm of your hand, while pressing the ear pads against the adapter plates to create a firm adhesive bond. There is no need to use excessive pressure, as the adhesive is quite strong.
  
• Our adhesive is not permanent, and removal of the pads does not degrade the adhesive if one takes care to avoid contaminating it. We have removed and reinstalled a single pair of pads more than 50 times and did not detect a measurable change in bonding strength. Pressure must be applied during application to activate this adhesive.
  
• Installation Video
  
  

• Walkers Game Ear Mount:
  
  

• The best tool for removing the original mounting plates is a coin like a U.S. penny or quarter. As shown in the video, make sure to line up the headband clip with the side of the headset in order to expose the (mostly hidden) groove where a tool can be inserted to pry / pop off the mounting plate.
• Our ear pads come separate from the adapter plates at this time. Use moderate pressure, with the entire palm of your hand, while pressing the ear pads against the adapter plates to create a firm adhesive bond. There is no need to use excessive pressure, as the adhesive is quite strong.
• Our adhesive is not permanent, and removal of the pads does not degrade the adhesive if one takes care to avoid contaminating it. We have removed and reinstalled a single pair of pads more than 50 times and did not detect a measurable change in bonding strength. Pressure must be applied during application to activate this adhesive.
  
• Installation Video
  
  

• Invisio T5 / MSA Sordin / TCI Liberator / 3M Peltor ComTac Mount:
  
  

• You may need to transfer an o-ring from your original plastic adapter to the new plastic adapter plate.
• If your original fabric-covered foam pieces that cover the speakers inside your T5 / Sordin / Liberator / Peltor / etc headset have worn out, please contact us before ordering and we will include a free pair of generic foam inserts. They will protect the speakers from detritus and prevent your ears from affecting the emitted sounds.
• Our ear pads come separate from the adapter plates at this time. Use moderate pressure, with the entire palm of your hand, while pressing the ear pads against the adapter plates to create a firm adhesive bond. There is no need to use excessive pressure, as the adhesive is quite strong.
• Our adhesive is not permanent, and removal of the pads does not degrade the adhesive if one takes care to avoid contaminating it. We have removed and reinstalled a single pair of pads more than 50 times and did not detect a measurable change in bonding strength. Pressure must be applied during application to activate this adhesive.
• Installation Video
  
  

• 3M Peltor X-Series Mount:
  
  

• Our ear pads come separate from the adapter plates at this time. Use moderate pressure, with the entire palm of your hand, while pressing the ear pads against the adapter plates to create a firm adhesive bond. There is no need to use excessive pressure, as the adhesive is quite strong.
• Our adhesive is not permanent, and removal of the pads does not degrade the adhesive if one takes care to avoid contaminating it. We have removed and reinstalled a single pair of pads more than 50 times and did not detect a measurable change in bonding strength. Pressure must be applied during application to activate this adhesive.
  
• Installation Video
  
  

• 3M Peltor Optime Mount:
  
  

• Our ear pads come separate from the adapter plates at this time. Use moderate pressure, with the entire palm of your hand, while pressing the ear pads against the adapter plates to create a firm adhesive bond. There is no need to use excessive pressure, as the adhesive is quite strong.
• Our adhesive is not permanent, and removal of the pads does not degrade the adhesive if one takes care to avoid contaminating it. We have removed and reinstalled a single pair of pads more than 50 times and did not detect a measurable change in bonding strength. Pressure must be applied during application to activate this adhesive.
• Installation Video