Review: Slipstreamz
I like to bike and I like to listen to music. On public streets these things do not mix well, as you could easily find yourself humping the grill of grandma’s Lincoln if you can’t hear her bearing down on you.
Slipstreamz allows you to hear your music and your environment all at the same time by moving your in-canal ear buds to about an inch or so away from your ear. You just stick your buds into the Slipstreamz and stick them on your helmet, and you’re good to go. Or so they say. Let see how they really work in the real world:
Form:**** (out of 5)
These actually look OK. They pretty much get an extra star gratis since when you’re checking out how they look in the mirror, you’re already wearing a bike helmet. I mean, it’s like asking someone if putting their hand in boiling water will hurt when they’re already fully engulfed in flame. The answer: not really.
These things fit to the sides of your head nicely. My wife had seen me wrestling to get them attached to my helmet (more on this later) and had laughed in anticipation of an upcoming dumbo impression, but when I walked into the room a few minutes later wearing my helmet with the Slipstreamz on, she was surprised at how low-key they are.
On a side note not worth any points starz, what’s with the “Z”? Are they extreme? I’m guessing this is a copyright or domain name issue or something.
Function: ***
The good - They do what they are advertised to do. I could hear ambient noises well right along with Kissing the Lipless and, if the music is off, they even act as a sort of wind buffer allowing you to hear the ambience around you at speed better than without them. They stay in place VERY well, which is nice considering how small the amount of fiddling is that you’re able to do while piloting a bike on a public street.
The bad - Umm… They do their job well, but getting them set up is a pain. Enough of a pain to lose them a star. I installed a bike computer on my wife’s bicycle last week, and it was less stressful than this. It took me 34 minutes from the time I laid the folded instructions down in front of me to the time I snapped my chin strap.
I consider myself a pretty sharp fellow, as well as being rather dextrous. After all, I can kill an Ultra Honor Guard Elite in Legendary without breaking (much) of a sweat. I’ve also built office furniture with Asian-language only directions, and I even used to be pretty handy at small scale manufacturing Gundam models, as well as models of cars and other things, but those Slipstreamz, watch out…
OK, I’m making it worse than it was, but 34 minutes is the truth. It is a one-time process, though. I can pretty much just pick up my helmet and go now, but what a process. It’s also not super-easy to get my buds out of the Slipstreamz now, should I want to use them by themselves or use the helmet sans soundtrack. It would definitely take a few minutes of fiddling.
Like I said, once you get them on, though, you’re good to go and they stay where they are supposed to surprisingly well, doing exactly what they’re supposed to.
Value: *****
At the moment, a pair of these will set you back £7.49 (about $13) in the U.K. I was sent no pricing info with my Slipstreamz, but, assuming they’ll be similarly priced when they come out here later on this month, I say they’re a steal, if music + biking is truly your thing.
Overall: ****
If you MUST have music while you ride, and you MUST be safe while doing it, Slipstreamz are the way to go. These would also be handy for snowboarding or any other helmet-on adventure that could benefit from rythm and melody.
FYI:
This is officially your last last chance to enter to get your very own set of these shipped to you by yours truly. Just go to the original thread and post a comment and you’re entered to win.
I’ll hold off on the drawing ’till the end of the workday so we can get a few more entries.
Technorati Tags: Slipstreamz, review, gadget, gear, bicycle, iPod, music, giveaway, free
Related Stories
POSTED IN: Cycling, Gear, Misc., Review, Technology
1 opinion for Review: Slipstreamz
gutenmter
Mar 26, 2008 at 1:03 pm
If you’re an avid PS3 gamer, then you know the importance of saving your progress for future game play.
Pls, help me!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: