The new Cardo Venture helmet is based on the Leatt 8.5 helmet and is fully integrated to bring communication into your ride. Built specifically for off-road riding, the Venture helmet takes the same technology as Cardo’s PackTalk Edge and combines it into a ready-to-use application. A JBL speaker system and voice-activated commands allow for hands-free use while riding. No more stringing wires, speakers and a microphone through your helmet padding. The Venture helmet is already assembled right off the shelf and charges via a USB port located on the back of the helmet. Cardo aims to enhance the overall riding experience with real-time communication between users as they navigate the demands of off-road riding.
Lowdown | Cardo Venture Helmet
Standout Feature: Cardo integrated its PackTalk Edge technology into a Leatt 8.5 helmet for an all-in-one helmet communication system.
Easily communicate with other Cardo users
Listen to music while riding
Ability to take or make calls
Hear directions during the ride
Removes the “solo experience” of riding
Can’t be removed and put on another helmet
Another thing to charge
List Price: $799
Website: www.cardosystems.com
Rider Analysis | Cardo Venture Helmet
At its core, the Venture helmet is a Leatt 8.5 with Cardo technology packed inside. The 8.5 is one step below the full-carbon 9.5 model, which means you’ll get a more budget-friendly composite shell, but it still features the 9.5’s multi-density impact foam and Leatt’s 360-degree turbines to help mitigate concussion forces—all while meeting ECE 22.06 and DOT certification standards. This helmet fits and feels the same as any of the other Leatt 8.5 helmets I’ve worn, and the added weight of the Cardo system is hardly noticeable, especially while riding.
The helmet offers several major advantages over a standard lid, the main one being communication. With the Cardo system already mounted inside, you can easily connect to other riders in your group who have the same helmet or riders with Cardo products. The comms use a mesh-style system that is different from traditional Bluetooth connections and allows up to 15 people to be on the same channel at once. This means if one rider’s connection drops off, the rest of the group will continue to stay together, not dropping the connection entirely. Connecting the devices is easy, and they can be controlled via voice commands once out on the trail. This system is not like an old-school walkie-talkie, and there’s no need to press buttons in order to activate the comms. Simply saying, “Cardo, volume up,” or “Cardo, volume down,” is all that’s required while riding. The system, which is slimmed down and mounted on the side of the helmet, still has up, down, and side-to-side buttons for navigating the system when stopped.
Communicating with a group is a vastly different experience from riding alone. It allows users to talk about obstacles on the trail, provide directions, or simply poke fun at each other during the ride. Helmet-to-helmet communication is much easier than having to stop and wait at each trail crossing to make sure your group is still intact.
Another benefit is the ability to make or take phone calls. This is a longtime plus for street commuters using the Cardo system, and now off-road riders get to enjoy it, too. The Cardo connects to your phone via Bluetooth for hands-free calling or getting directions. Thanks to JBL speakers near your ears, the sound inside the helmet is crystal clear, and so is the reception for the person on the other end. I took a call from my wife while riding the moto track, and she had no idea I was riding at the time. Once the call is over, the Cardo automatically picks back up with whatever song or directions you were following along with.
Lastly is the ability to listen to music. This totally changes the riding experience, as you can rock out to your favorite songs while motoring along the track or trail. Before the Venture helmet, I’d never listened to music while riding and I found that it was a fun way to enjoy the ride instead of humming along to the song in my head. Again, the JBL speakers make it feel like a real-life concert inside your lid.
The only drawback with this Cardo helmet is the limited communication range. A good rule of thumb is to stay within a mile of the group or stay within line of sight, meaning if you can see them, you can hear them. Obstacles like mountains, being on the other side of a big hill, or flat-out mileage can interrupt the Cardo or create technical difficulties. Our tight-knit trail ride had no issues, but we experienced some drops on our more spread-out street rides.
The Cardo Venture helmet definitely adds another layer to your ride. Laughing with friends, talking about dangers on the trail, or simply listening to music as you cruise along were all new experiences for me. The helmet looks and feels like a Leatt helmet, so you know safety won’t be a problem. Plus, they did a great job slimming down the side unit and integrating the speakers and mic inside the lid for a fuss-free fit right out of the box.CN
Click here to read the Cardo Venture Helmet Product Review in the Cycle News Digital Edition Magazine.
