I’ve been running the new Cardo Packtalk Edge for a few months now and it’s been fantastic. Coming from the Packtalk Bold, there’s not a whole heap of extra functionality that I’ve had call to use, but it’s slimmer, has a new magnetic attachment system and loses none of the performance that I like so much on the Bold.

The Edge was super easy to install into my helmet, except for the JBL speakers which took a bit of fiddling with to fit into my Shoei NXR2 lid. This is more to do with the speaker pockets in the Shoei which are quite small, and the speakers fit perfectly in my Arai road helmet and Bell adventure helmet.

I’ve used Cardo’s Packtalk Bold and Freecom 4+ in the past and in my experience Cardo kit is always an easy and painless to connect to your device. The Edge has an automatic reconnect function so even if you bugger off with your phone and leave your helmet behind, once you come back is reconnects. It’s fast too, so it has always been reconnected by the time my lid was back on my bonce.

The Edge has three small buttons and a scroll wheel to control the functions. The buttons are small but tactile and operation is easy, even with winter gloves. The scroll wheel, the same, except it can be a tad fiddly with winter gloves on until you get used to it.

You can also control functionality with voice-operated commands. This is my only issue with the Edge, and I had the same issue with my Bold. Voice commands work when answering a call or skipping a song, it’s when the unit is dormant, and you call on Cardo to play music or try to rustle up Siri in my case that it sometimes doesn’t work. On the other hand, there’s been several occasions when I’m belting out a power ballad in my helmet and Siri or the Cardo assistant pipes up.

The sound from the JBL speakers is second to none among the brands I’ve used, and the automatic volume adjustment works perfectly. I haven’t had the opportunity to try out the unit-to-unit capabilities yet, but plan to.

The Edge is proving to be every bit as good as my old Bold, and smokes it in other areas, but I love its fast connection time, sleeker design and the magnetic attachment.

Star Rating: 4.5/5
Cardo Packtalk Edge $699.95
Contact: Cassons
(02) 8882 1900
cassonsmedia.com

TEST: PETE VORST