Cardo Packtalk Neo Motorcycle Helmet Communication Intercom System, Waterproof, 2nd Generation Mesh - Connect Up to 15 Riders, Natural Voice Operation, 40mm High Definition Speakers - Single Pack

Why it's worth it

The Packtalk Neo does mesh intercom, JBL-tuned speakers and hands-free voice control, and it's fully waterproof rather than water-resistant. It's the easier of the two big intercoms to live with, and it usually costs less, which makes it a low-risk present.

Cardo built the Neo around never touching it. You say "hey Cardo" and it changes the track, places a call or joins the group — no hunting for a button with a winter glove on. For someone new to helmet electronics, that matters more than any spec. Owners consistently describe the setup and grouping as painless, which is not a phrase people use about this category very often.

Waterproof is the word Cardo uses, and it earns it. Rain, dust, mud, road salt, a pressure washer pointed somewhere it shouldn't be. If your rider commutes year-round or takes an adventure bike down wet forest roads, that's not a marketing bullet — it's the difference between a unit that lasts and one that quits during the first bad stretch of weather.

From our review of 8 gifts for motorcyclists

What we like

• +Cardo built the Neo around never touching it
• +Waterproof is the word Cardo uses, and it earns it
• +Dynamic Mesh Communication links up to fifteen riders at a range of about a mile, which covers essentially every group ride that…

What to know

• –The same install caveat applies as with any intercom
• –A handful of owners report occasional connection hiccups that a restart clears