Before the 2012-2013 sledding season began, I received the SMH10 Snowmobile Bluetooth Headset & Intercom dual pack from Sena Technologies for testing. The package came with a pair of Bluetooth 3.0 stereo headsets, which offer long-range intercom capabilities for sledders.
When the snow arrived in November 2012, my sledding partner and I headed out, eager to try our new toys. Three months later, we are ready to publish our findings.
Initially, the headsets require 2½ hours to charge; once they are fully charged, they will last the entire trip—even if you’re a chatterbox. According to Sena Technologies, the battery will allow for up to 12 hours of talk time. In standby mode, it will last for up to 10 days.
The headsets are already factory-paired when you buy them and easy to install on your helmets. We wear motocross-style helmets and the headsets fit nicely on them. We attached the speakers underneath the lining of our helmets and they sit so comfortably in there that we usually forget about them. The SMH10 dual pack comes with a boom microphone and a wired microphone for each headset. I chose the wired microphone for my helmet; again, it is so comfortable I barely notice it’s there.
Features and limitations
Using state-of-the-art Bluetooth technology, the SMH10 headsets allow two riders to communicate in full duplex, even when they’re 980 yards apart. The headsets can also be used in a four-way conference intercom situation, and they can be paired with other Bluetooth devices, such as an MP3 player, an iPod, a smartphone or a GPS device. Sledders can listen to tunes while they’re cruising, make and receive phone calls or listen to GPS voice instructions—all wirelessly. Each headset features playback control, an audio booster and individual volume control.
As a headset designed for snowmobilers, the SMH10 was made to handle harsh environments. And we’ve put our headsets through the paces, too. We’re not the kind of sledders who wait for a sunny day to go riding. Snowstorms, wind, hail—bring it on. We’ve been out there in all kinds of inclement weather this season and our headsets have not failed us yet. We’ve even set our helmets in the snow while helping each other get unstuck. The people at Sena are probably shaking their heads at us, but we know that the company is being truthful about its claim that this product is snow and water resistant.
The SMH10 works well when we’re cruising the trails; where it comes up short, however, is off-trail in the trees. With the SMH10, my partner and I can generally communicate with each other as long as we have a clear line of sight. In this situation, the headset definitely offers up to 980 yards of communication range; but when my partner decides to duck off the trail to chase a line through the trees, our conversation usually breaks up before we’re 100 yards apart. Sometimes, the intercom will pick up again once he’s back in sight, and other times, I will hear a beep that indicates the Bluetooth has failed.
Sena is not misleading about the headset’s capabilities though. The company indicates on its website that the SMH10 works within a range of up to 980 yards in open terrain.
Product overview
So it’s kind of a love-and-hate relationship with a Bluetooth headset—but don’t get me wrong. After riding with the SMH10, I could not go back to yelling and making hand signals to get the attention of my partner. And if either of us gets stuck or winds up in a sketchy situation—which we both have—we can let each other know that we need help as well as reassure the other one of our safety.
