If you’re looking for a way to communicate with riding buddies, it’s likely a Cardo Packtalk is on your radar. And now, there’s a new version to consider - the Packtalk Pro.
Replacing the Packtalk Edge at the top of Cardo’s product tree, the Pro adds several new features, headlined by a crash detection system. Developed through rigorous crash testing, it uses an internal measurement unit in the device that picks up an incident and sends an SMS message to whichever emergency contact you’ve designated in the Cardo app.
In case of a false alarm, which from what we understand would be pretty unlikely anyway (it’s smart enough to know the difference between a crash and you simply dropping your helmet or the Packtalk itself on the floor, for instance), you get 30 seconds to cancel the message sending after first hearing through the Packtalk’s speakers about a detected incident.
If you’ve had an accident somewhere remote, this tech could be a potential lifesaver. It isn’t yet smart enough to stop itself from triggering when you’re going off-road, though this may come in time, so for now you will need to switch it off if peeling off the black stuff.
The second big improvement concerns the speakers, which are 45mm in diameter, compared to 40mm on other Packtalk systems. These are the same JBL units previously bundled with the discontinued Packtalk Black, and available as a standalone accessory.
Finally, there’s a new auto on/off system, which does what it says on the tin - it knows when you’re taking off your lid, powers down accordingly, and switches back on when you don the helmet once more. If you’ve ever accidentally left one of these going for hours on end after a ride (like me), this is good news. In terms of battery life, that’ll vary depending on how often it’s used in the ride and what for, but as a general guide, you should get about 13 hours.
We had a hands-on introduction to the Packtalk Pro at a media preview for the device, including a group ride to showcase its communication abilities. Initial impressions were very good, and we’ll come back with a full review when we’ve spent some more time using the sample Pro we’re now testing.
The RRP is £405.95, which is a very acceptable £51 premium over a Packtalk Edge. That being said, there are plenty of deals around currently to snag an Edge for under £300, so it’s worth weighing up how much you value those new features before picking a device. If it’s the Pro, you’ll be able to buy one from the end of June.
