The new Tectal blends design elements from POC’s Octal road helmet with the company’s first half-shell mountain bike helmet, the Trabec
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While many riders enjoyed the Trabec, I was not one of them. I found the ventilation poor and I never got along with the non-adjustable visor; it always seemed to be in the way.
POC claims the Tectal is nearly as well vented as the road-going Octal. There are nine vents across the forehead, three over the crown, and five exhaust vents at the rear. My time on the trail confirms POC's claims. Air flows easily through the helmet, making it one of the better vented trail helmets I’ve tested.
In addition to being more airy than the Trabec, the Tectal is also lighter, with a very respectable weight of 340g.
The Tectal also resolves my visor complaints. The visor can easily be adjusted out of the wearer’s line of sight. The anodized pivots and setscrew that hold the visor in place give this helmet a high-end look.
Coverage is very good. The Tectal sits reassuringly low around the wearer’s head, providing protection around the temples and base of the skull.
There’s no MIPS system in this helmet, though POC does use an Aramid fiber grid for protection and incorporates the Recco reflector system, which is used by first responders to locate lost or injured riders.
While the price puts it at the high end of the spectrum, the Tectal is stylish, well vented and provides ample coverage.
