Best Littmann Stethoscopes

Littmann makes the most popular stethoscope on earth. There are other stethoscopes of equal quality and equal price (I have an excellent Welch-Allyn, myself) but Littmann remains the clinical fave. And, before you mention spragues... they don't count, being that they're more or less toys, for lack of a better word. Littmann's a perfectly good brand and I certainly wouldn't mind owning one, if I didn't already have the one I have. Littmann seems to come in more colors, too, so perhaps that's part of the appeal. (Although, now that I think about it, I've rarely seen colors beyond black, maroon and blue being used.) 3M/Littmann makes a whole handful of stethoscope models, and there are some very pricey products available. The ones I'm listing here are not flash, nor are they the most expensive. They're simply the industry standard, and highly affordable. That, and they just look so much better than those bulky, hideous spragues that you see so many LVN/LPNs using; spragues are awful! Switch to a Littmann; you're sure to be pleased with the results.

Generally used on adults, this would be the model most frequently seen on physicians, nurses, nursing assistants and EMS people. As I've said, it's the industry standard. This is a high quality product that stands the test of time -- and it stands head and shoulders above most of its competitors. Try it; you'll see what I mean.

If you work in cardiology, you could probably do with one of these. Even if you don't, you might still prefer it above the other models, particularly if you work in geriatrics. If you've ever worked (repeatedly) with the elderly, you'll know how whisper-soft (i.e., difficult) auscultation can be, particularly where BP is concerned. This stethoscope can make a huge difference.

This one should be pretty obvious -- a smaller stethoscope for a smaller body. The Classic II Pedi scope looks almost exactly like the adult version. In fact, I suppose it pretty much is the adult version, in Mini Me form. Kind of cute, really.

Work with babies? This is your stethoscope. The Littmann Classic II Infant has quite a small chestpiece, for obvious reasons. It comes in various colors, just like the other models, and will last you for eons and eons. Certainly the color doesn't have anything to do with functionality, but there is no reason you can't have a stethoscope that matches your style, especially if you tend to have it slung around your neck for hours on end.