There are no short cuts when it comes to learning a new skill, be it playing the piano or weight lifting, you are only going to get better through practice, that isn’t to say there aren’t ways that can bring your practice sessions to the next level, making sure you are well rested oh and electrocuting your brain. Ok, so it’s not quite as bad as that; the Halo Sport 2 uses neuroscience to help you learn skills more efficiently, you know how you fluff up a pillow to make it softer and then it moulds to your head better, think of it a little like that…but with your brain. In seriously basic terms, the Halo Sport 2 uses a process called plasticity, this is your brain’s ability to create and strengthen connections between neurons, the physical activity of learning.

The Halo uses a form of brain stimulation called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which sends a small electric current to the part of the brain that controls movement, activating neurons so they fire more often when you train. The theory being the more neurons that fire, together, the faster pathways are built in your brain, this means you still need to put in the effort but should receive a better return on your effort. We have some experience with the original Halo Sport and were pleased to discover the Sport 2 is much more comfortable. The Primers (spiky looking bits that sit on your head) are soft and flexible, unlike the previous model. The Halo Sport 2 should be used for a 20-minute priming session (although you can start your training after as little as 5 minutes), you are then encouraged to train for 60 mins, after the initial 20 minutes you can remove your headset or keep it on to enjoy your tunes. I would like to see some padded inserts that can be switched with the primers for a more comfortable (and discrete) fit after the session is over, allowing you to wear them as regular headphones.

You can play your tunes wirelessly thanks to the Bluetooth audio connectivity, the sound quality is reasonable, with good bass and a loud maximum volume, ideal for workouts. So, how does it feel? Well, to start with it felt odd, not painful but almost like pins and needles in your head, however as your body gets used to the sensation it feels less strange with each session. There is a companion app that can be used to set reminders and provides tracking and brain training tips. There does seem to be evidence that this kind of system works, just like you would stretch your legs before going for a run it limbers up your brain allowing you to perform better, faster. My personal experience with it was it helped me feel prepared and focused on my training sessions, whether this was a placebo or genuine effect is hard to pin down. The bottom line is the Halo Sport 2 is an easy to use, well-built product that could potentially speed up and improve your learning skills, this does come at a cost but if you have the money to spend and don’t mind the occasional curious look if you are wearing it out in public, it could be worth a go. RRP $349

Current Cheapest Price

4 out of 5

Pros

Premium build quality

Easy to use

I personally found some positive effects

Good wireless audio

Cons

Pricey

Odd feeling to begin with