If you want extra ear padding and a way to stream music while you work, 3M’s WorkTunes noise reduction ear muffs are the right choice. Zara's faux fur earmuffs look irresistibly soft and come in a choice of chocolate brown as well as ecru. The electronics required for active noise cancellation contributes to the ear muffs weight: 0.77 pounds, which is 0.2 pounds heavier than the lightest pair we recommend. You’ll notice the difference on your head, but the trade-off is worth it given the big difference between its active and passive noise cancellation settings. The only downside is that these ear muffs require a non-rechargeable battery to work, so you’ll always have to keep some around.

Earmuffs are all about comfort, so first of all it's best to try before you buy to ensure that headbands are not too tight (or loose). The earmuffs should sit comfortably over your ears without digging in: for this reason, anything with padding will ensure extra support and comfort. From glam faux fur and chic plush designs to novelty animal earmuffs for kids, there are all sorts of choices out there depending on your style. And if you thought that cosy ear accessories were just the reserve of women and seven-year-olds, Louis Vuitton's SS22 menswear runway at Paris Fashion Week proved that men in overtly fluffy earmuffs is very much a thing. Its response time is 0.02 seconds, so you’ll barely hear the loud noise before the ear muffs start working. Vanderfields’ ear muffs work using passive noise reduction, which means sound is absorbed in its large, spongy earcups. Although these headphones are powered, they only provide passive noise cancellation, and earn the same 23dB NRR rating as our other recommendations. Instead, 3M decided to build a pair of speakers and a Bluetooth chip into its ear muffs, turning them into a pair of wireless headphones.With that in mind, we've selected some of this season's most stylish earmuffs available to shop now; from designer splurges to bargains on the high street. There's something for everyone too: we've made sure to include some kid-friendly options, as well as sportier unisex designs that fit behind the head. Noise-Reduction Rating: Every pair of noise-reduction ear muffs is assigned an NRR (Noise-Reduction Rating), which approximates how much sound it can keep from reaching your ears. All of our recommendations have an NRR value of 23dB.

Even better, they're part of the brand's Green to Wear 2.0 standard which ensures they've been made with the aim 'to minimise the environmental impact of textile manufacturing.' How much are the best earmuffs?

Peacocks Womens Pink Lurex Earmuffs: £6, Peacocks

Powered vs. Passive: As we mentioned earlier, the noise-reduction ear muffs work passively, which means their sound-dampening properties are a function of the materials they’re made out of. Some of our recommendations also have active noise cancellation, which use microphones to cancel out noises at certain frequencies. Active noise cancellation adds a significant amount of weight to the ear muffs, and requires them to be charged.