Hearing protection can be so much more than protecting the hearing. Some use a simple foam for their ear canals and it fits their needs, but some users have increased needs.

With the right technology you can combine hearing protection with communication, and the 6:th generation of the 3M PELTOR ComTac™ VI NIB Headset does just that.

The NIB feature enables natural face to face communication, without the use of an external communication radio.

According to 3M Peltor you just approach the person you wish to talk to and the NIB headsets will connect, allowing for close range communication.

I remember Sony Ericsson had a similar function on some of their “heavy duty” mobile phones, which could also be used as a local Walkie-Talkie outside the normal network.

I’d love to try this function to see how it works, seems a great idea for any LE/MIL Team, boat, tank, rally car etc. but also for construction workers.

From 3M Peltor’s Press Release:

New ComTac™ VI NIB Tactical headset from the 3M PELTOR brand

ComTac 1st generation headset was a result of a project to help prevent hearing damage and at the same time use communication to help enhance the efficiency of the soldier’s mission during training as well as combat.

The 1st generation ComTac headset was introduced 20 years ago and so far over 750,000 headsets have been delivered and used in more than 40 countries worldwide.

 Now we are very proud to introduce the 6th generation ComTac

 The ComTac VI NIB has several new and improved features, such as:

• NIB – Natural interaction Behavior
• MAP- Mission Audio Profile
• MI – Magnetic induction Input
• Software driven electronics
• Voice guide menu

The NIB feature enables natural face to face communication in noisy environment, without the use of an external communication radio. Just approach the person you wish to talk to and the NIB headsets will connect, allowing for close range communication in high noise.

The ComTac VI also introduces MAP-Mission Audio Profiles: a new advance environmental listening function for auditory situational awareness.

MAP allows users to adapt and optimize the environmental listening function to four different scenarios: Observation, Patrolling, Conversation and Comfort.

-“At 3M PELTOR user performance and safety are priorities when developing new products. With the ComTac VI you can hear and maintain a high degree of auditory awareness in quiet and communicate more easily with other NIB users in close proximity when noise levels are high, all while wearing hearing protection”, says Fredrik Johansson, Global Product Marketing Manager at 3M PELTOR in Värnamo, Sweden. The technologies introduced in the ComTac VI is a game changer for military headset users. As with previous ComTacs, the ComTac VI can be connected to external radios for long range communications. The headset is also connectable to certain chemical and Co2 respirator facepiece.

Below Video: “New ComTac VI NIB Tactical headset has several new and improved features such as MAP Mission Audio Profil and NIB Natural interaction Behavior that enables natural face to face communication in noisy environment.”

I have pitched this headsets with a few fellow competitive shooters, and they all came back with the same answer – they can be used for coaching. Both during training as an aid and also – illegal to most IPSC/USPSA/PPC rules I know anyway – coaching during a match (Hey! Shoot left target array now!)

If you are visiting SHOT Show you can see the new ComTac VI demonstrated in Booth 6403.