540 Q1 Snowboard Helmet w/ audio
In my recent snowboard escapades, I decided to pick up an affordable helmet as well as consider an audio kit such as the Skullcandy single-shot by smith; retailing for $50.00. Much to my delight, the local ski shop offered a helmet by FiveForty with a built in audio kit for $60.00. While I regret not testing the speakers before I bought it, I probably would have made a decision without actually considering the situation.
When I first plugged in my Zune HD at the lodge, I turned it up decently loud to see what I had invested in, I was disappointed to find that with too much bass, both cans rattle quite a bit. As I was up on the mountain with Credible, I didn’t really need the headphones drowning out all sound (which is a bad idea anyways). With how loud I had them turned up, I could easily hear both the music and anyone who talked to me, as well as a distinct lack of rattling. For actual downhill riding, I really didn’t pay enough attention to be driven mad by the rattling, and the natural airflow of riding downhill canceled out any problems there may have been.
As for the actual helmet, it’s a good build with an adjustable airflow vents and headsize. As this is my first snowboard helmet, I can’t attest to compared comfort, but I was happy all day and didn’t sustain any head injuries, so it gets the job done. The only problem with the helmet build is the plastic strap in back is too small for my goggles, and the strap had to be scrunched up.
While I would understand exploring different options, if you have to bail on a snowboard it’s nice to not worry about earbuds being ripped out or over-the-heads flying off in a random direction. If you’re going to be wearing a helmet and want music, it’s a good deal with a decent quality.
Pros:
-Audio system comes built in
-Headphones loose enough to hear over music
-Fabric housing keep ears warm
-Headphones won’t be ripped out when bailing
-Adjustable air vents and head size
Cons:
-Cans rattle with too much bass
-plastic strap too small for goggle band (mine at least)
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