Isotunes Sport Defy Slim- An Asset to The Generalist

(Isotunes Sport Defy Slim)


In recent times, we South Africans have become rather spoilt for choice, as far as hunting apparel goes. We may not be on the same level as the US, Canada or the UK, but it’s a lot better now than it was 5 years ago. It makes sense then, to see new players come to the table, players like Isotunes. 


A relatively young company, Isotunes was founded in 2016, with the soul purpose of protecting your ears. More your hearing than your ears, but you get my point. However they’ve only very recently come onto the local scene, so what do they have to offer? Well, their products range from the beefy, sound-stopping “Defy Tactical'', to the minute - but no less effective- “Sport Caliber”. They provide something to fit just about every hunting and shooting need- a well rounded product range.



(Range Ready)


That said, this isn’t a history lesson, so let me get on with it; let me tell you about the Sport Defy Slim. 


The name is a bit cumbersome, but I can assure you that the earmuffs are not. At a minuscule 310 grams these are lighter than light. So much so that I was slightly concerned when I removed them from their packaging- could these possibly work as advertised? The answer is “Yes”. Straight out of the box the ‘muffs give you the impression that they’re fairly well built, even if they do feel a little “spare”. This, no doubt owing to the need to keep weight to a minimum. As far as details go, the Defy Slims are 27 SNR tested and limit volume to 85dm. They take 2 AAA batteries (included) for an advertised maximum run time of 25hrs. As a side note, I used these over 2 full upland hunt days, a full day sporting clay competition and a rifle range day, all without changing batteries. Further, the product is equipped with Bluetooth- more on that later- and an auxiliary cord.


Something of interest is that these earmuffs- like the rest of the Isotunes range- don't cut out when experiencing high volume like most other electronic hearing protection. Instead, all incoming sound goes through the mic and is moderated, amplifying or reducing volume accordingly. In theory, this means one can have continuous conversations without disturbance, even in an excessively noisy environment- like a busy shooting range.



The Amateur Outdoorsman
(The Defy Slims on the range with the Mauser and Ruger No1 )


What I loved


  1. As mentioned, I used these over 4 full, loud days and with the exception of meals and similar, I never removed them. Not out of stubbornness or perseverance, but because they were so damn comfortable- there was really no need to take them off. Interestingly, they’re the first earmuffs where I haven’t had an issue with excessive sweating, even on a day that reached into the 30’s. Conversations were largely a breeze, I was never concerned about noise levels and the lack of weight really is noticeable, or should I say, not. 


  1. At first, I thought the Bluetooth thing was a bit of a gimmick- a novelty which caused more distraction than anything else. Boy, was I wrong, for 2 main reasons:

  1. The ability to take calls in the veld or at the range, without touching my phone, is fantastic. I don’t need to stop what I’m doing or potentially hold up the line, thereby annoying my fellow wingshooters and their dogs. It also means that one doesn’t miss important calls from the boss because you may or may not have left work early to head to the range… Cough cough.

  2. I get really bad target panic. I get into my own head and then it’s game over for me- I overthink even the easiest of crossing and going away birds. That is, unless I have something to distract me, something like music. It doesn’t need to be loud- just enough to occupy my mind. Bluetooth makes this a possibility and the sound quality is surprisingly good. I can’t over sell this.



(Field Testing with Man's Best Friend)


What wasn’t so groovy


If I had to look for something that isn’t 100%, for me, it’s the microphone. While these issues definitely aren’t unique to this brand or product, it was the only minor thorn in the side of something that was otherwise fantastic. Substantial winds made it difficult to have a conversation with the guy next to me, no matter what I tried. Further, while I could hear toast being buttered in the kitchen from my office- yes, I wore them around the house- or the zip of a gun bag being opened from 3 cars down, I did sometimes battle to hear more moderate sounds nearby. I do admit, however, that these issues could well be due to the individual wearing the earmuffs.



(The Isotunes Sport Defy Slim)


What’s the upshot?


Simply put, these are a fantastic offering at a competitive price- well worth your consideration and a great option for the generalist who enjoys a bit of everything. They were comfortable, durable and worked well in some pretty tough, varied and demanding conditions. As a bonus, I found the staff to be both responsive and friendly- if there’s something I value above all else, it’s client service.


**Special Offer**


Until the 31st of October 2022, Isotunes will be running an Octoberfest special-15% OFF- on select models of their awesome product range- Defy Slims, Caliber and Tactical . Just use the discount code when ordering off their website!

Discount Code: OTD22

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