POC's new road and MTB helmets have been ranked as the safest Virginia Tech's Helmet Lab has ever tested.
The Cytal road helmet and Cularis MTB helmet are rated number one in their respective classes by Virginia Tech.
POC says safety performance and ventilation were its priorities when developing the new helmets.
“We know how to develop highly ventilated, comfortable, aerodynamic and highly protective helmets; with the Cytal and Cularis, we wanted to challenge ourselves to take another step forward," says POC's chief product officer, Oscar Huss.
"In particular, we wanted to integrate more of our real-world testing and research knowledge to refine details and enhance helmet performance. And the Cytal and Cularis are a true embodiment of this approach.”
POC Cytal
Building on the success of the POC Cytal Carbon, released in the summer of 2024 and worn by EF Pro Cycling, the new Cytal road and gravel helmet is optimised for hot-weather riding.
According to POC, the Cytal uses the Venturi effect to channel air into the helmet and compress it, which improves both the cooling effect and aerodynamics.
The Cytal uses the same design as the Cytal Carbon, although without the carbon fibre used in the wing, the pricing becomes more accessible.
While the existing Cytal Carbon retails at £360 / $400 / €400, the new Cytal is priced at £290 / $330 / €320 / AU$500.
Alongside Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling, the Cytal has also been tested thoroughly in the wind tunnel and in real-world scenarios to inform the development process.
Besides integrating the MIPS Air Node system to limit the impact of rotational forces on the brain, the Cytal's safety features have also been developed using Finite Element Method (FEM) modelling.
The results are impressive, with the POC Cytal ranking as the best road helmet ever tested by Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings and number three overall, including all MTB helmets.
You can choose from nine colourways, including multiple monochrome options alongside 'deep green', navy, red and orange.
POC Cularis
A new model in POC's line-up, the Cularis is a trail mountain bike helmet that's designed to combine optimal safety with maximum ventilation.
POC's product development team have been working with CFD modelling to make sure the Cularis provides a "super cool" fit.
Most notably, the Cularis ranks #1 out of 264 helmets tested at Virginia Tech since 2011, making it the safest MTB helmet it has ever tested.
The helmet features a 'breakaway peak', which is designed to detach in the event of a crash, as well as the MIPS Air Node system, for enhanced protection from angular impacts.
The POC Cularis retails at £200 / $240 / €230 / AU$350, and is available in three sizes and a choice of nine colourways.
