Rider Hiroki Matsuura and the FREERUN editorial team tried out the popular Bluetooth intercom, Cardo's PACKTALK OUTDOOR, on a snowy mountain.

Born and raised in Tohoku, he is a mountain freestyler with high skills in both freeriding and jumping. Hiroki MatsuuraSo he and the editorial staff at FREERUN tried out a Bluetooth intercom, which has been gaining attention in the winter scene this season, on a snowy mountain. How can it be used while snowboarding?

Cardo product purchase page (Amazon) Thehere

Hiroki Matsuura wearing Cardo's PACKTALK OUTDOOR
Cutting-edge Bluetooth intercom for snowboarding

Hiroki Matsuura has had the opportunity to post some great riding photos in FREERUN magazine many times. While he usually works in the mountains of the Tohoku area, this season he is based in Fukushima and is taking photos in places with great snow. We met him at a snow event and asked him to appear in a review article on a Bluetooth intercom. The item in question is the "PACKTALK OUTDOOR" by Cardo, a new communication tool that can be used in a variety of sports.

Trying out a Bluetooth intercom on an actual slope

Cardo is a brand that has released many innovative products as a pioneer in the motorcycle intercom category. The product we will introduce this time is the cutting-edge Bluetooth intercom "PackTalk Outdoor," which is attracting attention in the Japanese winter scene this season, equipped with Cardo's latest technology and realizing hands-free two-way communication, which was previously difficult. The feature of this item is that, unlike communication using walkie-talkies or smartphone radio waves, it allows communication by connecting intercom devices to each other via Bluetooth, allowing you to speak and listen. By connecting a microphone and speaker to the main unit, you can enjoy natural conversations on the snowy mountains as if you were close by, even if you are far away.

So this time, Rider Hiroki and the FREERUN editorial staff borrowed two demo machines and tried them out on the slopes.

Left) Rider Hiroki Matsuura and right) FREERUN editorial staff

The operation is very simple. First, connect the two devices via Bluetooth after charging them via USB (up to 3 hours). This time, I borrowed the snowboarding and skiing instructor set "PACKTALK OUTDOOR - Student Kit" (orange model) and "PACKTALK OUTDOOR" (white model), so as soon as I set up the two, they immediately went into hands-free conversation mode.

On the left is the "PACKTALK OUTDOOR". This time I used my own wired earphones with a microphone, but it also comes with two ear pads (top left), a speaker, and a microphone that can be attached to the strap around the mouth, so you can also attach these to your helmet. On the right is the "PACKTALK OUTDOOR - Student Kit'This is a simple model with functions limited to intercom calls. It is easy to install with the integrated mount (the intercom set that comes with the Student Kit is not currently available for sale, but will be sold separately in the future).

Cardo product purchase page (Amazon) Thehere

The great thing about this intercom is that, as mentioned above, it does not require a smartphone or an internet connection and allows two-way simultaneous conversations. Since both intercoms are always on, it is also nice that there is no need to press a button to talk like with a walkie-talkie.

Natural conversation as if you were nearby and overwhelming noise canceling performance

After setting up the intercom, we tried talking while skiing down the slopes. The first thing that surprised us was that we could hear each other clearly, even though we thought that we would have to talk while skiing amidst the strong wind noise. The audio was crystal clear. Cardo's noise canceling performance is said to be highly functional in both hardware and software, allowing you to enjoy a normal conversation even at speeds of over 100km per hour. Thanks to this, we were able to talk to each other while skiing without any stress, and communication while riding, such as "Let's go to this course next" and "I'm going to fly here," was very smooth.

 

Simply connect the devices via Bluetooth to switch to hands-free conversation mode.
You can hear conversations clearly and without noise while riding.
While skiing, we could talk about choosing the next course and the best photo spots, so the photoshoot went smoothly.
If you are not attaching the "PACKTALK OUTDOOR" (white model) to your helmet, you can make intercom calls by using the included audio conversion adapter (USB-C - 3.5mm stereo mini) and your own wired earphones with a microphone.
Doesn't get in the way while riding
You can attach it to the strap of your backpack and talk using the wired earphones with microphone (of course, you can also store the device in your pocket).
I was able to enjoy a conversation while skating without any stress.

The maximum communication distance is up to 1000m, so you don't have to worry if you get separated on a big slope. Even if you get too far and lose connection, it will automatically reconnect when you get back in range, so there's no need to bother reconnecting. Of course, you can talk while skiing, and even if you split up on a lift or gondola, you can hold strategy meetings like "Where should we go next?" This means that you can always have fun talking while enjoying a snowboarding or skiing session with your friends.

In addition, this intercom can accommodate calls from up to 15 people, and if the group using it splits into two (for example, from 2 people to 5 people + 3 people), smaller groups will be automatically formed.

Cardo product purchase page (Amazon) Thehere

The simple button layout and finger-friendly button shape make it easy to operate the intercom even when wearing gloves.
"We're going to fly on this terrain!" Hiroki said over the intercom and immediately started to take off.

After trying it out on the slopes, Hiroki shared his impressions of using it:

"First of all, it's great because there's no noise and the voice carries quite clearly. I was able to hear the voice clearly even when I used it over a long distance. When you're skiing with friends, it's easy to get separated from your friends at big ski resorts because you take the wrong route. You might say, 'Let's go left at the fork in the road in the second half,' but then you lose sight of the friend skiing behind you and go down the opposite course... But with this intercom, you can ski while talking, saying things like, 'Take the left course there!' or 'This way, this way!' You don't have to worry about getting separated. People chasing you can check with each other and ask, 'Which way did you go?', so even if you're skiing with friends, you can enjoy yourself without wasting time. I usually ski in Fukushima, but I went to Hoshino Resorts Nekoma. I once saw a parent and child using Cardo to talk on the show Mountain. With a smartphone, there is no signal, you can't answer the phone while skiing, or the child may not have a smartphone. But with two of these intercoms, you can ski with your child while talking without a phone, and you can also teach your child tips on skiing by telling them, "You should sit down like this when you're skiing."- Hiroki Matsuura

March is here and the winter season is finally in the second half! For the rest of the season, why not try Caldo's PackTalk Outdoor to make snowboarding with friends or children even more fun and fulfilling?

This time I attached it to a goggle strap or backpack, but it can also be attached to a helmet as shown in the image below.

Cardo product purchase page (Amazon) Thehere

Free installation style
Using the included mount, it can be attached to a variety of helmets, including snowboard and ski helmets, full-face mountain bike helmets, bicycle helmets, and rock climbing helmets. Even when not using a helmet, it can be secured by clipping it to a backpack strap or waist belt.

 

Easy operation with a dedicated app
The "Cardo Connect" app has a simple interface that is so intuitive that you don't even need to read the instruction manual. The large buttons make it easy to operate even with gloves on.
Strongest dust and water resistance in the industry
It has acquired the IP67 standard and is designed to be dustproof and waterproof with no blind spots. In order to withstand harsh outdoor environments such as rain, snow, and mud, we have pursued the industry's best waterproof quality, making it a tough intercom that is a precision electronic device.