POC Cytal Carbon Road Bike Helmet

POC's designers claim to have been inspired by sports cars in terms of material choice and design. Using new simulation and manufacturing techniques, they translated this inspiration into practice and integrated a particularly striking carbon wing into the EPS structure of the bike helmet to further enhance protection and aero performance.
Another special feature of the carbon fin, handcrafted in Italy, is the innovative combination of Coridion, rubber, and carbon.

• Coridion core: A viscoelastic material that is shaped by heating. This process allows for uniform distribution without air pockets or overlapping layers, which increases stability and avoids unnecessary weight.
• Rubber shell: A rubber layer encases the Coridion core and prevents the material from splintering in the event of a crash.
• Carbon outer shell: A continuous carbon structure in the upper part of the helmet, which, unlike a carbon coating, is fully load-bearing and increases resilience.

The combination of these materials with the reinforced EPS inner shell, which provides additional reserves in the relevant areas, ensures higher stiffness, better aerodynamics, and maximum safety - without dramatically increasing the weight.
The high level of protection, even without MIPS, is confirmed by the five-star safety rating from Virginia Tech*. The final score (5 out of 5 stars) corresponds to the highest safety category.

* The Virginia Tech testing procedure is considered one of the most recognized in the industry. The helmets are evaluated for their protective performance in realistic test scenarios. A drop test with various impact angles and speeds simulates typical crash situations, while a specialized measurement method records the rotational forces transmitted to the brain. The final score is based on a combination of impact absorption and reduction of rotational energy - factors that are crucial for lowering the risk of concussions.

The Cytal Carbon was developed not only for maximum safety but also for efficient cooling with the highest possible aerodynamics. For this purpose, it underwent extensive tests in the wind tunnel and with CFD software (Source: "Trust me, bro"), followed by field tests with the Education First - Easypost team.

Large openings at the front, sides, and rear ensure effective ventilation. The integration of the carbon fin improves airflow by minimizing friction points and optimizing air circulation from front to back. The size and angle of each ventilation opening have been designed to guide air through the helmet rather than letting it flow around it. This significantly reduces pressure on the front of the helmet. The proven chimney principle (based on the Venturi effect) reduces turbulence and ensures a linear airflow through the helmet - an effect that enhances both aerodynamics and cooling performance.

The lightweight size adjustment system for adapting the head circumference extends from temple to temple around the back of the head, leaving the large front helmet openings completely free for better ventilation. At the same time, a secure fit is ensured.
However, a disadvantage is the lack of a brow pad, which allows sweat to run into the eyes more easily.

Alternatively, the package of our helmet included an additional forehead pad with a continuous, horizontal pad that could be securely and stably attached to the adjustment system and, if needed, could replace the two individual, minimalist vertical forehead pads.

Especially clever: what POC calls the Eye Garage - not for the eye, but for the glasses. Two small, soft pads at the front ventilation openings ensure that the stored glasses don’t slip, even during the hardest flat-out efforts or final sprints. Whether the glasses really stay stable in practice depends on the width, shape, and material of the glasses' temples - a quick dry test certainly doesn’t hurt.

First introduced in the summer of 2013 for the 2014 model year, the Octal (see photo above: left, in white) was considered one of the safest road bike helmets on the market, thanks to its monocoque structure and an EPS plastic core reinforced at strategically important points. It featured the typical POC design, with sparsely chosen openings that were nonetheless quite large and provided excellent ventilation. Weighing less than 200 grams, the helmet was relatively lightweight, available in three sizes, and came in white, orange, or blue.

What has changed in the ten years since the Octal was released? One might cynically say: The color palette has been reduced to a single black model, the weight has increased by about 50 grams, and the inflation-adjusted list price has doubled by 200 euros. Each additional gram of carbon now costs 4 euros.

Old" vs. "New

But money and weight are, of course, not everything in life. After all, the new helmet has been aerodynamically optimized using CFD and in the wind tunnel, offers improved protection in crashes (see the 5-star safety rating from Virginia Tech), excels with its Venturi cooling performance, and makes a clear visual statement.

However, the most important change concerns compatibility with Velominati Rule #37. The straps are attached further inside on the front of the helmet shell, which significantly facilitates wearing the glasses temples over the straps – with most glasses.

We received our test helmet in size Medium shortly before Christmas. Winter, Waldviertel - meaning: fog, cold, wind, and rain. At least it quickly became clear that the ventilation works more than excellently - or, to put it negatively, that the helmet is not necessarily suitable for frosty adventures. Because the carbon wing construction directs the airflow impressively efficiently around the head, which may make sense aerodynamically but is a bit much for relaxed winter tours.
At least you won't have to fear insects or small songbirds in the summer, as they are guaranteed to find their way through the Venturi chimney unobstructed.

The fit is well-chosen, as the helmet fits perfectly on my strongly elongated oval head even in medium size, without leaving too much "air" on the sides. The wearing comfort? Sporty-minimalistic, but okay. The padding is deliberately sparse – this prevents sweat accumulation but can also cause localized pressure points depending on the shape of the head.
The adjustment system does without a continuous "head ring" and starts only at the temples on the sides. Nevertheless, it manages to ensure a secure and comfortable wearing experience with the rear dial and height adjustment.

Minimalism aside, aerodynamics considered – after a few rides, the alternative forehead pad (included in the package) came into use. The few extra grams of weight were worth it, as the fit noticeably improved.