The best thing about this helmet is how light it is--at just 205 gm for the medium and comfortable to wear. I ride about 100 miles a week. The screw to tighten the inner cuff that customizes the fit on your head is small and sits above the neck and is difficult to access when riding. I had another road helmet where the screw was much easier to access on the top I have to fix it on the POC every time I ride and sometimes mid-ride. I also wish this strap fit better but it constantly slips loose and is made of a flimsy material that twists easily. I have a small head but this helmet makes it look big--it has a boxy profile--however it has excellent vents and the color is good and bright for visibility. I wound up ordering another brand for my warm season helmet, which is smaller, has a (preferred) MIPS interior and a slimmer profile that I will use for the warm 6 mos of the year-- and reserve the POC for winter training.
I�ve had an Octal for a couple of years and love it. Light and airy and you forget you have it on. The fit system is easy and works great. Bought this orange version for my son and he loves it. The bright orange color looks good and is highly visible. I can now easily spot him when mountain biking in the woods!
This is a well-designed helmet. It's light, really comfortable, and extremely well ventilated. The downside for me despite POC is a Swedish company, this helmet is made in China (as most products today). I wonder if besides all safety standards this product pass environmental and labor minimum requirements.
The helmet has great adjustability and ventilation. I have no problem adjusting between riding with a hat or not. Looks are a love-hate type thing but I happen to love the look. Incredibly light compared to a Lazer helmet I was using before.
I got this helmet as a replacement for an aging Giro Atmos helmet. I had my eye on POC products for a while because I like the aesthetic.
This helmet is light weight and very breathable. It does have larger material sections at the brow and temples for added impact protection which I had to get used to at first but I appreciate.
In high speed yaw angle winds (20mph) I have noticed that the larger vents can tend to catch the wind and can jostle my head a little bit as I descend. This had never happened to me with other helmets I have owned. I am willing to live with it because I like to climb and I need the venting more so than aero features.
I wear a size large for my big melon - wearing a buff or cycling cap underneath has not been an issue.
Light, well ventilated, great coverage...comfortable. What's not to love? My only gripe is that due to its design, Velominati Rule 37, sunglasses must be worn over helmet straps, is impossible to comply with. I'll make an exception for this great lid.
This helmet fits exceptionally well, is extremely lightweight, and has plenty of vents.
I've used Gyro and Specialized helmets for years but really like the fit of this helmet.
The space to hold glasses is convenient and it is really light on my head and the large ports allow great cooling for me on hot rides.
I bought this to replace a faded Catlike Mixino helmet that I bought in fluorescent pink. When I received the POC Octal helmet in fluorescent pink, there was a disclaimer from the manufacturer stating that the color could fade. Great...we shall see how stable the color is. However, I have ridden over 1000 miles over the past 2 months with the helmet, and the color seems stable. My only complaint is that I have difficulty putting my ponytail through the back because the port where my ponytail goes is narrower than in most helmets.
Extremely comfortable, great protection (my other POC helmet probably saved my life at least prevented certain sever injury).
My only negative is that the white webbing has yellowed quickly so appears to be dirty in comparison to the white helmet..
I rarely review products, but I was involved in a bad cycling accident in which my head struck the pavement very hard, and thanks to the POC Octal Helmet I did not even have a concussion. The helmet sustained a lot of damage and cracked, but it saved my head. My body was not so lucky as I had a pelvic fracture, but that will heal and head injuries can be fatal so I am grateful to the quality of this POC helmet.
I decided it was time to switch and try something else instead of my Catlike Mixino. I had heard good things about the POC Octal and I noticed the sizing might fit me better. I was a large in the Catlike and the POC helmet looked like a medium would be a better fit. The POC medium is a perfect fit while the Catlike was a little awkward. On longer rides I used to get pressure on my forehead from the Catlike and with the POC helmet it's like I'm not wearing anything. It's comfortable, highly adjustable and works well with my sunglasses. I've been using to for about 6 weeks now and I have no complaints.
Great helmet , looks good, lots of ventilation, comfortable, and safe. I really like the extra coverage around the back of the head.
I do find it runs a bit large: I have approximately a 58-59cm head and the medium (54-60) fits but is snug.
Overall great helmet. The fit is true to the size, and comfortable. My only complaint is the sunglasses are a little less secure when parked in the helmet than I'm used to. Nothing major though.
This helmet is well constructed, well ventilated, light and comfortable. I haven't crash tested it, and hope not to, but it feels like it'll do the job better than lot of helmets I've had over the years. It's going to take a lot to get me to go with any other brand ever again.
Why I like this helmet:
1 - more impact protection than others
2 - large logically placed vents
3 - easy strap tightening
4 - secure place on helmet to place glasses when not wearing
5 - contemporary design
6 - straps fit easily around my ears with out fusing
Don't like:
1 - Sizing slightly off - large
2 - expensive
Just rode with it for the second time and it fits great aerates great. Feels very aerodynamic. My wife tried it on and now i just ordered one for her. Been along time since I ordered a helmet but after seeing the TDF riders wearing them decided sight unseen to go with it. Bought the Zinc Orange to match the color of my Bike.
I got this helmet for my husband, after having used one myself for a season. It is one of the most comfortable bike helmet I have ever owned (The only other helmet that rivals the POC is my Troy Lee A1 that I use for mountain biking). I have no pressure points in the POC, and the ventilation is incredible.
With a fit this nice and snug in the summer months, I was a little worried that wearing a winter hat under it would be uncomfortable. Turns out it's not a problem at all. When it's cold and really windy, I usually use a windproof low profile hat, and I don't even notice that. If it's raining or snowing, I fit a headband plus a cycling hat (for the visor) under it just fine. I sometimes get a little bit of a pressure point on my forehead with that combo, but seriously, who can complain with that much stuff crammed in there?
If you're worried about fitting your sunglasses under it, because of the increased coverage in the back, I wouldn't sweat it. At least try it out. I have the worst case scenario combo (long arms on glasses designed to do most of the gripping in the back), and at first I thought I would have to get new glasses. But after a few wears, I got it figured out and it's just fine.
This helmet ticks all the boxes: light weight, super comfortable, nice venting, looks good,
If I can add anything else to the heaps of praise this helmet earns from me its that of the nearly TEN helmets (Bell, Specialized, Kask, Giro, etc.) I've bought over the past decade+ of enthusiastic pedaling, this is easily the best of the bunch.
Good job, POC!
Having clunked my head on concrete andor pavement on at least two occasions amid crashes, nobody needs to sell me on the importance of a good helmet. So, I don't mind spending on a decent quality lid and have in my time bought at least ten of them.
This one, the POC Octal might just be the best one I've ever had. It checks all the boxes light weight, (very) comfortable, aero, great ventilation. The icing on the cake is that it (in my opinion) looks good. Different from the rest of the herd, but good.
I highly recommend it.
