Mountain Weekly News ~
Staying connected on the mountain can always be a challenge. Somedays it seems like sheer luck brings you back together at the end of the day. Between spotty cell service, trying not to lose your phone as you dig it out of your pocket and keeping track of your kids, a day on the hill can be stressful. Here comes Cardo Systems to the rescue with over 20 years of designing communication devices.
Cardo Systems offers a state-of-the-art unit called the Cardo Packtalk Outdoor to keep you connected while enjoying your outdoor pursuits! The Cardo Packtalk Outdoor is lightweight, waterproof, and a very easy to use unit that keeps you connected to others in all sorts of terrain. It also allows you to jam to your music over JBL 40 mm speakers. After using it this winter, it has become essential in my families’ outings in the mountains for safety and sanity.
Best Use
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The Cardo Packtalk Outdoor is built to handle some substantial abuse that comes with outdoor pursuits. It is a sleek and waterproof. It has Natural voice operation that allows hands free use while in motion. JBL speakers offer nice sound and uses Dynamic Mesh 2.0 and Bluetooth for the intercom. You can also pair this with Apple Airpods.
You can connect 15 users to expand the operating range from 1km/0.6miles up to 5km/3miles using the Dynamic Mesh Communication (DMC). It is quick to pair with other devices and create a new group using the Cardo App.
This unit boasts a 10-hour operating time with a full charge time of 3 hours. A quick charge of 20 minutes will give you two hours of talk time. The main unit weighs 49.5g (about two AA batteries in weight) and the speakers are 40mm with a depth of 10mm.
Setting Up the Cardo Packtalk Outdoors
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First step is to download the Cardo Connect App on either your Apple or Android device. Make sure you have Bluetooth on and follow the instructions to finish set-up and synch your Cardo Packtalk Outdoor device. You don’t need a separate phone for each device, so if you have 4 Cardo Packtalk Outdoors, you can synch them all on one device. You will be prompted to name each unit and synch under a group name (feel free to be inspired by your favorite Band or superheroes).
Installing the Cardo Packtalk Outdoor went quickly. I installed the units with the JBL speakers using the Velcro pads and the V- strap holder on the helmet strap. If you are using a full-face helmet you can attach to the side of your helmet with the glue pad instead of the V-Strap holder. You can buy an extra Cardo Packtalk Outdoor 2nd Helmet Kit if you want a kit on your Mountain Bike Helmet. The Cardo Packtalk Outdoor unit then clicks into the mount and easily can be switched to another helmet or to charge.
The beauty of the Cardo Packtalk Outdoor is that it doesn’t require a cellular signal or internet signal. When backcountry skiing you can find yourself in many areas that have no cell service and up at Grand Targhee Ski Area, it can be very spotty reception. My kids are too young for a cell phone and training them to use a walkie talkie is still a work in process. The Cardo Packtalk Outdoor is always on intercom- so no buttons to push or training needed for the kids.
Experience
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I used two Cardo Packtalk Outdoor units. I set up one on my snowboard helmet and one on the kids ski helmet. We tested the units at the local ski hill at Grand Targhee. There is spotty service on the mountain, so it has always been an issue to find each other and keep track on where everyone was at. It is also notoriously foggy, earning the name Grand Foghee. Sometimes visibility at the top is so bad you can lose sight of your partner.
Though we try to always keep in sight, there are moments when your partner disappears. Cardo has created something that we can rely on to keep us connected when we don’t have a visual of our partner. With a few inbound tree well deaths this year, I wonder if the Cardo Packtalk Outdoor could be considered an essential safety device. Just start talking if you get hurt, lost a ski, need a break or see an obstacle and your group can hear you.
Another fun perk is the intercom riding with your kids. The hoots, whoops and self-pep talks you get to listen to is priceless. The best part is that you can record these conversations for later! I was able to talk them through tough spots, ask them to wait up or give them the okay to blast down the hill. I can see this also being a great tool for Downhill training or Freestyle Competitions.
Listening to music while I ride is something I never really wanted. The Cardo Packtalk Outdoor changed my mind. Connect to your Spotify playlist and if a member of your group talks, it stops and then easily switches back to music on its own. They come with high quality JBL speakers which sound amazing and are comfortable under your helmet.
Overall Impression
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The Cardo Packtalk Outdoor ($249.99) for the single unit, should be considered the best on-hill communication device. I feel like it has a safety value for my family that is unmatched. I enjoyed getting to talk with my kids as they ski and trust it to keep us connected.
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The post Cardo Packtalk Outdoor Review appeared first on Mountain Weekly News by Ryan Ariano.