Smith x Aleck 006 - Universal Wireless Helmet Audio & Communication

I was pretty excited when I saw the Smith x Aleck 006 wireless headset on their website. The idea that I could have a good wireless solution, outside of wired or wireless earbuds, with the added group comms capability is very appealing. I initially bought three of these and have had the chance to test them out on various mountains under various conditions. I read the reviews before my purchase, and I want to give you my assessment and some helpful hints that I learned along the way that will hopefully help you decide on your purchase. I will break the review down into several parts.

These are an excellent alternative to earbuds. Before buying these, I would place my AirPods in my ear to listen to music, but I was always worried about losing one, even with my balaclava pulled over my head. Additionally, I could not easily use the controls on the earbud to change songs, pause music, or make or answer phone calls. I have also used wired earbuds, and trying to use the controls available on the wire are great while off the slopes; they do not work well with bulky gloves. This wireless headset is the answer to all of those issues.

The headset easily tucks in between the foam earpad and the exterior side of the earpad pocket. ***Remember to remove the perforated circle in your foam earpad to allow the speaker to play unobstructed in your ear. The headset is unobtrusive and it does not significantly change the comfort or feel of the helmet. The speaker and music quality are very good and will let you crank it up, but only so far. It is probably loud enough to spare my hearing, but don't expect to push your eardrums to their limits. Likewise, the mic, while tucked away in your helmet does a great job and does not muffle your voice. The headset's right large, glove-friendly, control button makes it very easy to control your phone through the standard button presses or by voice commands (a beneficial feature when asking your phone about the current time or weather conditions). The left side controls the headset's overall volume and communications through the Aleck app. The headset's battery life is outstanding. After listening to music, making phone calls, and communicating on the app all day, in temperatures below 20 degrees Fahrenheit, I used about 25%.

The Aleck app and the comms feature are designed for the more technically savvy. This is where I feel there is some area for improvement. The app has a few nice features like setting up your private group through scanning QR codes, adjusting EQ, and tracking the location of people in your group on a general topographical Google map. However, if you want to see details, like the name of the exact piste they are showing off on, you need to buy and download the detailed resort map through the app. They are not much; usually no more than a couple of bucks depending on the resort, but expect to pay if you want to use that feature in full detail. Getting the Aleck communication feature to work as intended is frustrating at first, and I think if more detailed instructions were included, it would bump up the ratings on some of the more negative reviews. Below are my tips to avoid frustrations with the app and get the most appreciation for the product. Remember, the tips are for everyone in your group that wants to communicate as part of the group. I am not sure if the manufacturer designed the app to work using the tips that I describe below, but through trial and error, I have found these tips are key.

1- You have to turn your auto-lock feature off on your phone.
2- The Aleck app must be active on the screen (turning it to concealed mode on the app dims the screen and prevents inadvertent screen pushes).
3- Do not lock your phone or put it to sleep before placing it in your pocket.
4- A single left-sided button press of the headset keys the mic and leaves it open. Press it again to unkey.
a. There are tones associated with keying and unkeying the mic. If someone is not paying attention, they will have an open mic, and no one else is able to key up to tell them to turn it off. If this happens, someone will have to make a phone call to unkey their mic or wait for it to time out. The comm feature does not act as a party-line where everyone can talk simultaneously.
5- After you pair the Bluetooth on the phone, make sure that your headset id is actively selected within the app's settings.
6- If you have comms issues, look at your phone and make sure steps 1 – 5 are still true. I know this sounds like a lot, but once you figure it out, it is easy.
7- In general, batteries and cold weather do not mix. I do not feel the app drains your battery any more than listening to music will. Your phone battery's performance will take a hit if you do not insulate your phone or keep it warmer somehow. I have had excellent luck with my phone battery's performance when I remember this piece.
8- If you want special features that the Aleck app does not have, use voice commands to access your phone's vast array of functions.

You must have phone reception for the app to work as intended, which has not been a problem at the resorts that I have skied. In all honesty, if it is only you and one other person, it is probably easier to use the headset to make a phone call. The Aleck comms feature is very helpful in a group of three or more people.

In the end, I have zero regrets about buying these headsets. In fact, I bought more to lend to people that I ski with after figuring out how to use the app without frustration. However, the overall usefulness of the headsets, beyond the app, makes it worth every penny.