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Shoot more, charge less with better battery run time
Easier to keep track of than individual earbuds
Cons
Not ideal for indoor shooting ranges
The physical tether isn’t for everyone
The Bottom Line
The AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 is better than its predecessor in three key ways: it fits better, the audio quality is better, and the battery lasts longer. This is the best version yet, and it’s further evidence that steady refinement is the way to go when it comes to product development.
The best products usually aren’t the result of catching lightning in a bottle, but consistently making small improvements over time. Just look at the new Glock Gen 6 pistols or the current Porsche 911 to see what I mean.
AXIL’s GS Extreme hearing protection is another example. The first generation introduced Bluetooth ear pro that was tethered side to side. The subsequent release made significant improvements to functionality. Now, AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 ear pro is on the scene, touting ergonomic and technological updates.
Is this shooters’ best in-ear hearing protection of the year? Here’s my take after live-fire testing at the range and a few bonus tests around the house.
Safety Rating: 26 dB SNR / 21 dB NRR (with max protect foam inserts)
Battery Run Time: 40 hrs (hearing only), 20 hrs (Bluetooth only), 15 hrs (hearing and Bluetooth)
Battery Charge Time: 2 hrs
Battery Charging: USB-C
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.3
Water Resistance: IP65
Comes With: Earbuds, three sizes of ear hooks, two sizes of silicone tips, six sizes of foam tips, alligator clamp, USB-C cable, clamshell case
Country of Origin: China
Features
Improved software and audio quality
More secure earhooks
Vastly improved battery run time
AXIL GS Extreme Backstory
AXIL’s GS line goes back several years to the original Ghost Stryke (hence the GS name). Back in 2020, early reviews praised the comfort of electronic in-ear hearing protection, but the early model wasn’t without its drawbacks.
I remember the earbuds falling out from time to time, and the electronics were susceptible to glitchy behavior. Eventually, mine kicked the bucket.
In 2023, AXIL launched the next generation. In our AXIL GS Extreme 2.0 review, Pew Pew Tactical Content Producer & Lead Review Analyst Sean Curtis praised the updated earbuds for being compact, cool, and effective. It seemed like AXIL sorted out the early teething problems often associated with new products.
Now, AXIL offers the GS Extreme 3.0 with improved ergonomics, more battery run time, and updated software.
These tethered earbuds sit alongside the totally wireless AXIL XCOR PRO, which will set you back about $80 more. I currently use the XCOR PRO for everything from range days and yardwork to virtual meetings, so I was curious to see how the new GS Extreme 3.0 compares.
At the time of writing, AXIL still offers the GS Extreme 2.0. The outgoing model is marked down to $99.99 compared to $119.99 for the GS Extreme 3.0, but its MSRP is actually higher – $199.99 compared to $184.60.
AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 Hands-On Testing
After spending some time with the AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 on and off the range, here’s what I learned.
Shooting With the AXIL GS Extreme 3.0
My live-fire testing consisted of a full range session using 5.56 NATO and 9mm ammo. For a portion of this time, I was also testing a bunch of rifle slings. This gave me a great opportunity to see how well the GS Extreme 3.0 stayed put when I was switching slings and getting in and out of my plate carrier.
In this clip, I hadn’t even bothered to wrap the cord over my ears and the earbuds still stayed in place.
I’m happy to report that this ear pro was easy to set up and use, and it didn’t get knocked out of my ears during testing. Three points of contact per earbud (the ear tip, ear hook, and moldable cable) make them very secure.
The touchpoints responded when I was wearing shooting gloves, even if they weren't touchscreen compatible. That's really handy, because it would be a nuisance to have to peel my gloves off every time I wanted to adjust ambient volume.
Right away, I also noticed improved audio quality. AXIL might have made this update for listening to music via Bluetooth, but both firearms took on a more pleasant boom than a tinny crack each time I fired.
Maybe I’m an audiophile, but that made a difference in overall enjoyment over the course of a range day.
Beyond that, AXIL did a great job of knocking down harmful volume spikes to a claimed maximum of 85 decibels while boosting more subtle sounds. When I loaded magazines, rummaged around in my range bag, and even adjusted settings on my camera, I was able to hear little clicks and scrapes that kept me in tune with what I was doing.
One common bugaboo with shooting ear pro is that certain stocks have a habit of knocking them out of place with recoil. For some reason, my hunting rifle seems to do that. The GS Extreme 3.0 leaves the entire cheek area below and forward of the ear exposed, making room for the stock to move around without dislodging the earbuds.
Non-Shooting Impressions
In addition to using the AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 as shooting hearing protection, I also wore this ear pro around the house to attend remote meetings, listen to music and podcasts, and work with power tools.
Here are some of the things I noticed:
While sitting at my desk, I could actually hear birds moving around in the tree outside my window.
With ambient sound activated, human voices came through very naturally. Small sounds, like typing on my keyboard or clicking my mouse, seemed louder than usual.
When everything was quiet, I did hear a noticeable hiss from the ambient sound. It went away when I turned the pass-through volume all the way down and isolated the Bluetooth volume.
When playing music, I noticed slightly fuller bass compared to the XCOR PRO. Trebles, particularly acoustic guitars, had some tinny buzz to them in the GS Extreme 3.0.
My circular saw sounded surprisingly mild with the GS Extreme 3.0; it still sounded like a saw, but not nearly as shrill as I expected.
Ergonomics: Fit & Feel
When it comes to active hearing protection, ergonomics breaks down into two categories: how comfortable they are, and how easy the controls are to use.
Comfort
One thing I noticed about previous generations of GS hearing protection is that the weight of the tether tugged on the earbuds enough that they’d make my ear canals sore over the span of a training session.
AXIL solved that problem by adding soft, rubber hooks that hold the earbud in place using the antihelix (the prominent ridge in your outer ear) for support. There are three sizes to choose from, so you should be able to find something that works for you.
There are also two types of ear tips: silicone and foam. I found the silicone tips easier to put in and take out of my ears, but they didn’t offer as much protection. For shooting, I recommend taking an extra second to squish down the foam inserts and get a better seal inside the ear canal.
Between the hooks and the dense foam plugs, I had more than enough support to make the GS Extreme 3.0 feel weightless for the duration of lengthy shooting sessions.
Controls
I love the simplicity of standalone earbuds like the AXIL XCOR PRO, but I have to admit I get confused by the controls from time to time. When every function requires a sequence of taps and holds, it’s easy to get lost in the invisible controls.
The GS Extreme 3.0 simplifies things with physical buttons on the control stick for power, pairing, and Bluetooth volume. There’s also a light that indicates when the unit is pairing, low on power, or charging.
Ambient hearing and volume is still accessed with touchpads on the earbuds. I love being able to control Bluetooth and ambient volume separately, especially with dedicated controls for each.
Improvements I’d Like to See
As a piece of personal protective equipment, the AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 earned a thumbs-up during my testing.
My critiques are centered around audio quality, which admittedly isn’t AXIL’s primary focus. The improved bass is much appreciated, but trebles lack definition and that constant ambient hiss is a little distracting.
I think the XCOR PRO has more refined audio quality. If AXIL can close that gap, I might reach for the GS Extreme 3.0 for travel and gym duty instead.
Who is it For?
The AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 earbuds are good for most types of shooting, but I think they’re particularly useful for shooting outdoors. They’re pretty handy for home improvement projects and yardwork, too.
When I shoot certain rifles in certain positions (my hunting rifle, in particular), there are times when earmuffs get knocked off my ears just in time to subject me to painful ringing. In-ear hearing protection typically solves that problem as long as I’ve chosen the right inserts.
The problem with most earbuds is that they’re very easy to lose. If I’m shooting with a group or hunting, it’s nice to be able to pop my ear pro in and out without worrying about dropping it or having the foam tips fall off in my pocket. Between the tether and the more tactile controls on the GS Extreme 3.0, this hearing protection is much more field-friendly than a lot of in-ear hearing protection.
That said, there are people who should look elsewhere.
If you primarily shoot indoors, I recommend doubling up with old-school foamies and a pair of active earmuffs. Gunshots are drastically more harmful to your hearing in a concrete box than they are in an open landscape, and most hearing protection is going to struggle on a busy indoor firing line.
That’s not a knock against AXIL or anyone else, it’s just the reality of shooting in an echo chamber.
By the Numbers
Reliability: 5/5
I experienced no reliability issues during testing.
Ergonomics: 5/5
The addition of ear hooks is a small but very significant update. I remain a fan of separate control interfaces for ambient and Bluetooth volume.
Audio Quality: 3.5/5
Gunshots and Bluetooth audio sounded great. I still don’t like the constant hiss from the ambient audio signal.
Customization: 5/5
AXIL provides three sizes of ear hooks, silicone tips, and six sizes of foam tips. This should create enough combinations for everyone to get a perfect fit.
Value: 5/5
The GS Extreme 3.0 is a great do-it-all option. Use it for shooting, chores, and listening to music while traveling.
Overall: 4/5
This is a great option for people who shoot outdoors and want active, Bluetooth-equipped hearing protection.
I typically recommend foam earplugs and active earmuffs for shooting indoors, but I suppose you could reverse that recipe. If you love the AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 for everything else, you could also pair them with inexpensive, passive earmuffs for occasional indoor use.
Electronic ear pro only works if the battery is charged, and I’d be lying if I said I’ve never had a battery tap out in the middle of a training session. If you find yourself doing a lot of all-day shooting events, having a power bank in your range bag will let you top off your battery over lunch or during a few minutes of downtime.
How I Tested the AXIL GS Extreme 3.0
To get a feel for everything this ear pro offers, I tested the AXIL GS Extreme in a variety of settings. This gave it a chance to shine and expose any shortcomings.
Live Fire Hearing Protection
This is, first and foremost, shooting hearing protection for you and me. I took the AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 to the range for some training with a 9mm pistol and an AR-15 chambered for 5.56 NATO – no suppressors allowed, this time.
General Hearing Protection
In addition to shooting, I used the GS Extreme 3.0 around the house. There’s always some kind of project going on around here, so I used this hearing protection while using a circular saw, impact driver, and lawnmower.
Bluetooth Connectivity
Last but not least, I paired the GS Extreme 3.0 with my phone to listen to podcasts, crank up tunes in the gym, and make phone calls.
Meet the Experts
This article comes to you from editor and senior review analyst Scott Murdock. In addition to his military and civilian shooting experience, Scott has extensive experience testing and reviewing hearing protection. That includes active, passive, over-ear, and in-ear products in a wide range of testing environments. While most of Scott’s shooting is solo and outdoors, he also brings ear pro to indoor shooting ranges and group settings to evaluate its performance.
Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers and edited this review. She is an NRA-certified Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.
Final Verdict on the AXIL GS Extreme 3.0
The AXIL GS Extreme 2.0 was good, but the GS Extreme 3.0 is better. AXIL is making steady progress where it counts, and the fact that they’re doing it without a spike in price is very encouraging.
This is a great option for people who want one set of earbuds for everything – shooting, chores, working out, and just listening to music on the go.
What’s your current go-to hearing protection? Let us know in the comments. Looking for more great protective gear? Check out our guide to the Best Shooting Glasses!
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Scott shooting the Springfield Echelon 4.5F Comp.
AXIL XCOR.
AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 unboxing.
AXIL GS Extreme 2.0.
Various AXIL earbuds playing music.
The AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 works well with power tools, too.
Human ear anatomy. (Photo: Happy Ears Hearing Center)
AXIL GS Extreme 3.0 charging via USB-C.
Scott wearing the AXIL GS Extreme 3.0.
Indoor shooting ranges are notoriously bad for your hearing.
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