Flightcom introduced the Denali series of headsets in early 2000. Current retail price for the ANR version is $499. Priced slightly more then other similar headsets makes you wonder why, well according to numerous web sites, the Denali series of aviation headsets have received numerous accolades and awards for their design and function. The headset is mostly plastic but is durable and comes with a three year manufacturers warranty. Flightcom also offers a less expensive, passive only version of this headset.

I purchased the set without ever trying them on, I was faithful I would love the Denali's and purchased them from an online store for around $200 less then retail. What peaked my interest in the Denali headset was that it is offered in two different colors, a nice "graphite" blue(since when is graphite blue?) and a cub yellow. Now it may sound silly, but this was good because I did not want a pair that looked like everyone else's, the color option almost lets you personalize your headset so that you are not stuck with black or DC green.

I have had this headset for almost a year, and flown in a few different planes - 172's, Twin Comanche, Aztec II, and a Citabria. The first time I used them I forgot to turn the ANR on, but it is important to note that the passive was impressive. The passive noise reduction on these are great, providing 21dB of reduction according to the Flightcom web site. The ANR adds an additional 19-21dB at certain key low frequencies. For those that are not familiar with active/electronic noise reduction, a small microphone inside the ear cups listen for frequencies that are not being transmitted over the wire and uses opposite wavelengths to cancel the noise. Battery life is excellent - lasting ~15 hours per battery. The "box" to turn the ANR off and on has one green and one red LED, green is on, and red blinks if the battery is low. In my opinion ANR is definitely worth the money, it makes the flights much more comfortable and easier to concentrate on the radio. Simply put, the ANR is great on the Denali's.

Ok, but what about comfort? I've used a varying range of headsets from lightspeeds to Bose X on flights, and I would say that the Denali's are among the most comfortable. I've worn these on 2 hour flights and have not had any complaints once on the ground, they hold tightly to your head but do not do so uncomfortably. The gel inserts are nice and soft and provide a cushion like comfort for your ears. An interesting note about the Denali's is that the actual ear cups swivel side to side so that they can be adjusted to fir the contours of your ears and face.

The mic is weirdly shaped but once you get the wind guard on it you can not tell, the mike is quite flexible and has a good range of movement. A carrying case is provided with the Denali's which is no surprise, just about any headset manufacturer provides a carrying case. The bag is nicely shaped, is embroidered with the Flightcom logo, has a carrying handle and comes with a shoulder strap, not that you will need or want it. On the back is a mesh pocket that closes with velcro to store items. There is also an elastic pencil holder on the side of the bag. I flew as a passenger on a flight to the keys and was able to fit everything I needed: headset, charts, flashlight, knee board, checklist, pencil in the headset carrying case.

So what is not-so-good or bad about the Denali headset you ask? Well, in my opinion, not much. The ANR does not have an auto shutoff, which has killed quite a few of my batteries, I have had to "modify" my shutdown checklist to include shutting of my ANR so I remember every time. This would be the biggest complaint among Denali owners if I had to guess.

My one other complaint is regarding the ANR also. After lots and lots of troubleshooting, it seems I've found that the ANR gets "buggy" when the battery is low. It will make pops and go in and out from the left ear to the right constantly, which is a bit annoying. If this happens mid-flight, I just simply shut the ANR off until I can get time to replace the battery. At first this worried me but recently I have noticed this only happens when the battery is low, which is not a big problem.

Overall I would have no problem recommending the Flightcom Denali headset to anyone looking to purchase an ANR headset. I hope this review was helpful, for more information you can visit Flightcom's web site, or feel free to contact me at scott@iamflying.com and i'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.