Bonx Grip: Bluetooth communication for cyclists

Bonx Grip, a Bluetooth connected earpiece driven by a custom smart phone app and aimed at outdoor sports people like cyclists, is available for pre-order on Indiegogo. 

Bonx originally ran a crowd funding campaign late last year and went on to become the best-funded campaign ever in Japan. The new Indiegogo campaign is aimed at the rest of the world with shipping expected in the final quarter of 2016.

So, what exactly is Bonx Grip?

It’s a Bluetooth earpiece that connects to a smartphone app to allow group conversation. It only transmits when a user speaks. 

“Dual microphones with multilayer wind and noise reduction technology ensure crystal-clear speech, and there is no distance limit, thanks to data transmission over standard cellular networks,” according to Bonx.

It’s aimed at a variety of outdoor sports, but in cycling it could be useful in communicating between riders who can’t si alongside one another for some reason. Of course, you can shout, but that's sometimes not feasible, especially if you're hanging on a tough climb.

There are other similar Bluetooth communication systems out there but the Bonx Grip looks interesting in that it’s a one-piece unit that’s said to be water resistant and shock resistant, and you can choose between three different earbud sizes.

It comes in four colours – black, white, pink, and green – and sells for US$139.99 (about £106), although you can buy cheaper via Indigogo, particularly if you get in there early.

Check out the Bonx Grip Indigogo page here.