COROS KINX
£179.99 ›Connected lid for safe on-the-move music
LIKE MANY SMART technology start-ups, Seattle-based Coros funded the Linx with a Kickstarter campaign, raising $319,765 from 2135 backers. The helmet works by syncing wirelessly with your phone (using Bluetooth) and free iOS or Android app. The app can connect to Strava, or you can use the inbuilt GPS to track your route or provide navigation.
The helmet straps have built-in bone conduction speakers that sit on the forward strap portion, contacting your cheekbones, to allow you to listen to music, podcasts or take calls. The beauty of bone conduction technology is that it bypasses the eardrums, leaving your ears uncovered enabling you to hear traffic while riding. The sound waves are converted into vibrations, which are delivered through your upper cheekbones and received by your cochlea.
The Linx features an emergency contact system, whereby you create a contact via the app and the inbuilt G-sensor will send a message via your phone in the event of a crash. If your riding mates have Linx lids too, you can use the walkie-talkie feature, allowing for two-way communication.
A bar-mounted remote control has buttons for volume, pause and fast-forward, plus call and walkie-talkie pick-up/hang-up. It’s powered by a CR2025 cell battery, which will run for months before needing a change. We’ve consistently got around 9.5 hours of run time between charges on the lid, and that’s running audio constantly.
The 419g helmet was styled by a team steeped in aero design, says Coros, although the Linx hasn’t been subjected to wind tunnel testing. Fit is good with a lightly rounded shape with the tri-lock straps and slick buckle adjuster making it easy to secure, with the bone conductors sitting snugly on your cheekbones.
The finish is a combination of glossy hardshell and EPS foam for toughness, but it does look a little on the cheap side. With a matt finish and cleaner graphics the Linx would look an even more premium product. When riding, the large, flat, forward-facing ports channel air well, with deep internal channels keeping airflow rapid. The plush padding wicks sweat well to complete an impressive tech-laden lid.