Cardo PackTalk Custom Review: Premium Flexibility without the Price Tag
Evan Rally
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The Cardo PackTalk Custom has generated controversy for a really dumb reason.
Why?
Subscriptions. Riders are angry, thinking this subscription model is just a sneaky attempt to wring extra cash out of riders.
But what Cardo really offers with the Custom is more flexibility, which should be hailed as a great thing.
Instead of buying a cheaper Cardo Spirit or Freecom and being out of luck when wanting to connect to bigger groups over a mesh network, or buying a pricey Packtalk Edge just to rarely use the premium features, Cardo is offering something in the middle with the option to pay for those premium features only when you need them.
The Cardo Packtalk Custom is a fantastic choice for the right type of rider – the only question is: Are you the right type of rider for the Cardo Packtalk Custom?
I’ll cut to the chase first, and you can read on if you want the full rundown and “why” behind my thoughts:
The Cardo Packtalk Custom is a fantastic choice for these types of riders:
- Cardo Maximalists: All your riding buddies are using Cardo DMC Mesh units.
- Occasional Group Riders: You only go on a handful of group rides a year
- Seasonal Riders: Your riding season is only 3-4 months a year, and you don’t use your Bluetooth unit outside of that season.
If that’s you and you’re satisfied, you can pick up the Cardo Packtalk Custom below. Keep reading for my why.
- 15+ rider intercom over Mesh
- 10+ hour battery life
- Half the price of similar units
- Connects to phone for music, GPS
- Upgrade required for Bluetooth intercom (only when connecting to old units or Senas)
What it Does and Doesn’t Do
The Cardo Packtalk custom is a very powerful unit right out of the box. No subscription needed. You get everything you’d expect from a basic helmet unit for solo riding: speakers and mic that connect wirelessly to your phone for music, GPS, calls and FM radio.
You also get Cardo’s DMC Mesh intercom protocol, completely unlocked, ready to roll without any subscription payments. So if your whole crew is rocking Cardo units that run their DMC Mesh protocol, you’re set, no subscription necessary.
Side note: This is why the Custom is the workhorse of our tour company, Ride of Passage. Every rider gets kitted out with a Custom, so we can all stay connected throughout the ride. No hassles connecting everyone together, and we carry all the spare parts to fix any problem on the road.
Cardo’s DMC is incredible, but I’ll get into that later.
Subscription Gated Features
The subscription controls a bunch of premium features, but three stand out to me:
- Bluetooth Intercom: Allowing you to set up an intercom with communicators that don’t use Cardo’s DMC Mesh protocol: Cardo Spirit or Freecoms, or other brands like Sena.
- Voice Commands: Personally I find being able to use Siri and mute/unmute my mic or change the song with just my voice is a super nice capability.
- Second Bluetooth Connection: Allowing you to connect another device to your Custom other than your phone: for example your bike’s entertainment system, or a GPS unit.
Here are all the features gated by the subscription, at each tier. Silver is $2.99/month, Gold $4.99, Platinum $6.99.
And subscriptions are month to month at those prices. You can also pay annually for a slight discount.
I’ve played with the other features like Audio Profiles and Eco Mode. I’d be fine without them.
Highlights
Mesh Connectivity Standard
Cardo’s DMC Mesh comes standard on the Custom, without any subscription package necessary.
Mesh allows you to connect up to 15 units together for seamless communication – there is no “group leader” and there is no riding order, riders can move around and even drop out of range to seamlessly reconnect when back in range.
We use the Cardo Custom as the standard comms device for our tour company because there is nothing else on the market quite as easy to use, durable, and affordable. It takes literally 30 seconds to connect every unit together: turn them all on and hold down one button on each for 5 seconds, and they’re instantly connected.
Then every morning we all power up and boom, we’re able to communicate. When everyone is quiet we enjoy our music and the scenery. When there’s something to talk about, just speak and the audio comes through clearly.
These units have a range of 1 mile (1.6 km) between each rider, and that’s fairly accurate in my experience using these on tours. We’re often all out of line of sight, carving tight mountain roads with thick earth between us, and the lead is always in communication with the tail.
Without these units, making sure everyone is staying together on a tour of this size (let alone bigger) would ruin the fun of riding these roads. If you’ve ever had to rely on a less robust intercom, you’ll know the frustration of losing contact as soon as the road takes a twist or a hill rises between riders. The PackTalk Custom eliminates that headache.
Rider-Centric Design
Cardo knocks it out of the park on the small details with this unit (and all their units, to be honest). The controls and operation are simple; another reason I use these on my tours. Just power them on, they connect up immediately and music+GPS will automatically play through them. Simple scroll wheel for volume.
And speaking of volume, this unit has adaptive volume that not only lowers music volume for GPS directions or intercom conversation, it raises and lowers the volume depending on external noise. Hit the onramp and accelerate to cruising speed? Your music will rise to the occasion. Pull off and hit a stoplight? Your music will lower to a comfortable volume.
For group rides or when navigating through dense environments, this makes a noticeable difference in maintaining clear communication and just enjoying the ride without the constant need for manual volume adjustment.
And of course the Packtalk Custom is IP67 waterproof rated, meaning the unit can handle a beating from the elements. Plus, if it does suffer water damage, Cardo will replace it within their 2-year warranty period for the Custom.
Stellar Battery Life
Cardo advertises the Custom’s battery life as 13 hours.
That’s actually accurate.
I own 7 of these units and regularly use them on tours in all kinds of conditions, with intercom, music, and GPS going at once. With 3-4 hours of riding a day, they will last 2-3 days.
Solid endurance on that battery.
Crisp Sound
Clear communication is the backbone of any good intercom system, and the PackTalk Custom delivers. Whether you’re having a quick chat with a fellow rider or taking an important call, the sound quality is crisp and clear over the 40mm “HD” speakers Cardo includes in the box.
But the microphones are the real star of this setup: the noise cancelling in the microphones is so good I’ve had callers surprised to hear that I’m talking to them while riding a motorcycle.
Speaking of wind noise, the PackTalk Custom (and other Cardo units) has a trick up its sleeve. The speaker connector for the unit is a standard 3.5mm audio jack, meaning you can swap in your own earbuds or helmet speakers. When I’m riding in a loud helmet (like my Nexx X.Wed3 Adventure helmet) I often ride with a $10 pair of in-ear headphones from 7-11, which reduces wind noise massively.
Seamless Integration with Any Helmet
No matter what kind of helmet you ride with, the PackTalk Custom will fit it. It’s compatible with full-face helmets, half-helmets, and everything in between, with clamp and sticky mounts so you can find the right fit.
The inclusion of both boom and button microphones in the box also gives you flexibility depending on your riding style or helmet setup. And, the option to run one unit in two helmets without too much trouble switching the unit!
I can run the Cardo Packtalk Custom on two helmets with just the kit included with one unit.
Things to Consider: Subscription and Beyond
Subscription Model – Right for You?
I’ll be honest, I’ve found myself frustrated with the Custom’s subscription model at times. It’s not a great feeling when you’re all geared up and go to twist the throttle, only to find you need to claw your phone out of a bag and put in your card details so you can connect to your buddies over Bluetooth.
That said, if you understand what you’re getting, the Cardo Packtalk Custom can be a great value.
For instance, let’s say you ride seasonally, just three months in the summer. You could buy a Packtalk Edge for $400, or you could buy the Custom for $270 and spend $7 per month – $21 for your year – to get very similar features from the Custom.
It would take over 6 years for the Custom plus its subscription payments to push you past the $400 up front cost for the Edge, and by that time you’d probably want a new unit anyway!
Of course if there are “premium” features you’re going to need often, like Bluetooth intercom (for say, connecting to a buddy’s Sena) or connecting to a second Bluetooth accessory like a GPS unit or your bike’s entertainment system, the Custom may not be right for you.
The subscription costs range from $3 to $7 per month depending on the tier, and it’s a month-to-month model, which gives you flexibility. That said, if you don’t mind spending a bit more upfront for a more feature-packed unit, the PackTalk Edge could be a more straightforward alternative. With the Edge, you won’t need to worry about paying for upgrades as all the premium features are included right out of the box.
Cable Connector Issues
The only gripe I have with the Cardo Custom is the cable connection mechanism. That little USB-C port on the back means 1) you can’t charge while the unit is in use and 2) water getting in there might screw up your music or intercom (temporarily).
I had this issue on a tour, and while I’m not certain it was water, I’m confident. On the second day of this tour we hit a lot of rain, and identified that one unit was causing some very irritating feedback that everyone could hear in the intercom group. Everyone’s units were soaked, and my suspicion is that water caused the issue. We never experienced it again on the ride after that day. It could very well have been a one-off situation or an issue with a faulty cable.
The Packtalk Edge Air Mount is a much better design.
Comparisons
VS Packtalk Edge
The Packtalk Edge has everything you could ask for from a Bluetooth comms unit aside from the Crash Detection available on the Packtalk Pro!
No subscription required, you can set up intercom over Bluetooth or Cardo’s DMC Mesh, you get voice commands, a super convenient magnetic Air Mount, dual-channel Bluetooth accessory connection, and more.
But of course you pay much more for this unit, around $400 vs $270 for the Packtalk Custom.
If you’re more budget conscious and don’t think you’ll use Bluetooth intercom, the second Bluetooth accessory channel or other “premium” features all that much, get the Custom. Put the money you saved towards a better helmet!
If you’re going to need those premium features more than half the time, the Edge might be worth it. I’ve loved the voice commands on it even when riding along (which are part of the Custom’s subscription).
The Gold Standard in motorcycle communication units. Simple to use, rugged and reliable, with premium sound and long battery life.
VS Cardo Spirit
The Spirit is Cardo’s entry-level model, and I love it – I took this unit on a solo ride across the USA, putting it through Southern rains in May and Nevada deserts in July.
The Spirit does all the basics of music, GPS and calls super well, and allows for connection to one other rider over Bluetooth, albeit with a short range of 0.4 miles (600 meters). That said, it doesn’t perform well when your buddy is out of line of sight (lots of dropped connections).
If you’re absolutely never going to want to do a group ride where you’d be connected with other riders in an intercom group, the Spirit is a good option.
But if maybe, just maybe, you’ll do that group ride: get the Custom. Then you won’t have to buy a completely new unit just to join up with a larger intercom group.
- Affordable
- Waterproof
- Music, Intercom, GPS work flawlessly
- Max 2 Intercom Participants
- Short range (600m)
VS Sena Spider ST1 & RT1
The Sena Spider ST1 and RT1 are essentially Sena’s version of the Packtalk Custom, but without the upgradability that Cardo offers with their subscription models. The ST1 has a jog dial and removes from its mount, whereas the RT1 has three buttons and velcros right to the helmet (annoying to remove).
The Spider units are mesh only, meaning no ability to connect to other intercoms over Bluetooth – only other Sena units over Sena’s proprietary Mesh protocol.
Additionally, the Spider units have a lower IP65 rating for water and dust protection, which means these units are only water resistant, not waterproof – so Sena is not obligated to replace them for water damage under warranty. Cardo, on the other hand, does have to replace the Custom due to its IP67 waterproof rating if the unit suffers water damage.
The proprietary speaker connector means no 3.5mm jack that you can put any set of helmet speakers or earbuds into. The Spiders do have voice commands but they’re very limited: just speed dial and asking the battery level.
I would say go for these only if your riding crew is already all using Senas. Otherwise, set the standard for your crew with the more flexible Cardo Packtalk Custom or another in that series, like the Edge or Neo.
Jog Dial 
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Buttons 
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- Jog dial and two button layout
- Mesh-only (no Bluetooth comms)
- Removable from helmet to charge and update
- Simplified layout with 3 buttons
- Mesh-only (no Bluetooth comms)
- Fastened to the helmet - can't remove to charge
Flexibility
The Cardo Packtalk Custom should be loved by riders for its flexibility.
I think it’s just misunderstood, and that’s why I wanted to lay out all the details in this article and my video below, so you don’t accidentally buy the wrong unit for you.
If you know what you’re getting into, the Custom can save you a lot of dough!
- 15+ rider intercom over Mesh
- 10+ hour battery life
- Half the price of similar units
- Connects to phone for music, GPS
- Upgrade required for Bluetooth intercom (only when connecting to old units or Senas)