I've used a bunch:
Standard foam plugs
Special foam plugs that cost more but are still the same thing
Standard cheap-o muffs
Walker Razor Electronic muffs
Walker Razor XV neck band
In my opinion for a range day when you don't need to hear much, standard foam plugs are hard to beat. Some brands have the highest NRR of any product, they cost nothing, don't need batteries, no big deal if you lose/damage one, never interfere with your firearm, etc. I know some folks don't like the feeling but in my opinion, once they're in there, after a few minutes you don't notice them.
The one big down side is they take forever to get in. Particularly during hunting season when colder weather makes the foam re-expand more slowly I've had a bunch of times where I had to fuss them them for several minutes, putting them in more than once because the first try didn't seal properly. If you bump a buck you're not going to bother.
I like the muffs but they're big, bulky, and give me headaches over time. I also feel like no matter what muff I've tried (even borrowing a few not on the list above) there's always some firearm interference. It may not always be while shouldering - it could be while slinging/unslinging a rifle or shotgun, or just messing with your hat. Either way, muffs seem to work best for the range but not for hunting.
That took me to earbud style options. So far I'm liking the Walker Razor neck band, though it has its pros and cons. On the plus side you get hearing protection + ambient amplification + bluetooth (if you want that model) in a single product and the cost is actually super reasonable considering what they are - less than $120. They're also very light and don't interfere with hats or other stuff around your head.
But it's not all honey and roses. The battery life is NOT what I hoped for - it lasts "most of a day" but not sunup-to-sundown which is really disappointing. I carry a cell phone charger so I just hook them up when I eat lunch and that makes them work - but if you're going to make a big-form-factor product, why not add the 5 millimeters to give it an all-day battery? I do not understand this.
The second problem is I find the neck band and short earbud-wires do still get in the way in some situations. If you aren't careful it's easy to let the neck band hang down in your shoulder pocket, so when you go to shoulder your gun it can end up between your gun and shoulder, messing you up. This doesn't seem to be a problem for me when I'm using my rifle, but it happens a lot with my shotgun. (I'm a disciple of the Orvis Wing-Shooting Handbook method, where you bring the gun to your sight picture and let your shoulder "roll in" behind it naturally, and maybe this neck band isn't well suited to this motion.)
That doesn't mean I've given up on the product, though. I still think it's the best option FOR ME (and this is a very subjective thing). I believe I can fix how it hangs with a short cord between the two halves, making sure they stay hanging together. One thing I do love is it's comfortable to wear for an all day hunt and with the amplification, I can actually do that. That means I'm much more likely to actually HAVE my hearing protection on. For me, that's the key.
Your mileage may vary.
