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POC Omne Air Bike Helmet - Whether cycling to work, exploring gravel tracks or on the local trails, the helmet gives trusted protection

£27.5£55.00Clearance
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About this deal

Any helmet on our list will work with any kind of bike you want to use. That said, most riders prefer to match the gear they have with the type of riding they are doing. Some of that is about specific features but it's okay that some of it is just about style. POC is obviously not ashamed to embrace that style element, and the POC Omne Ultra MIPS is unabashedly styled for gravel cycling.

This leaves you free to decide on your helmet based on the type of riding you actually do. It has to be comfortable, but for some that will mean light and airy while others will prefer to aero optimise. Whatever makes sense to you, I've tried to include a standout item and maybe even two. There are options at different price points and features that cater to different types of riders. Despite the low-volume design, weight does seem to have added up a bit. The size small Prevail 3 I tested came in at about 10 grams over my copy of the Giro Aries. 10 grams is, admittedly, not much but the Giro is a larger size as well.The shape is the same as the basic Omne Air MIPS but the Omne Ultra MIPS has a couple of new appendages. On the right side, there's a bungee cord with enough room for, I guess, tyre levers as shown in one of the POC marketing images. On the other side, you'll find a POC logo on a fabric patch attached to the helmet. There's no practical purpose to this and even swapping it your own patch won't be super easy. The answer was a resounding no, and we found that there's no performance or comfort benefit. Just like in bikes, there's as much scope for difference between two people of the same gender as there is across different genders. When we put together a buyer's guide we test as many products as possible. The point is not to include every single thing but rather to find the best. Sometimes that means there are excellent products that just didn't quite make the final cut. In this case, there were a number of options that fit that criteria. POC seems to have used more material to create a larger, more aerodynamic surface area which may account for the added weight in comparison to its competitors. The helmet has a claimed weight of 330g for a size medium, weighing in at 324g on our scales.

The Omne family of helmets performs impressively when it comes to performance, fit and ventilation and the helmet here isn't any different. At the 321g (300g helmet, 21g visor) it doesn't feel particularly heavy and the 360-degree retention system ensures a personalized and comfortable fit. channels and a low weight inspired by our award-winning road cycling helmets Octal and Ventral deliver optimum The other thing you get is an understated style that perfectly captures a smart commuter look. Pair it with something from our list of the best commuter bikes and you will feel right at home. What you don't get, unfortunately, is a score from Virginia Tech, and you will have to dig out one of your old micro USB cords if you need something longer than what comes in the box.Rotational motion is a common cause of concussions in oblique hits to the head. In a crash, the Mips system is designed to move slightly inside the helmet to help redirect forces away from the head. Unlike most of its rivals who deploy the popular MIPS technology, POC has created their very own protective system known as SPIN, a patent-pending rotational impact protection system that reduces the effects of an oblique fall by limiting the amount of force transmitted to the head and brain. Using an innovative and unique pad technology to keep you safe you’ll be protected from unexpected falls and install a new level of confidence as you ride. Easy Adjustment and Comfort The vertical adjustment requires an internal plastic ratchet to be rotated 90° and slid along a channel to change, which can’t be done while wearing the helmet. Even after several attempts, I found this function difficult to use as the plastic pieces are so small. It’s not an ideal system but this isn’t an adjustment you’re going to be making frequently. The Omne Air Mips is made from a standard polycarbonate shell with an EPS – expanded polystyrene – liner with Mips Integra crash protection. There is no Virginia Tech rating for this helmet, though others from the brand scored 4 out of 5. The POC Ventral MIPS has big open vents in the front of the helmet. It's almost more reminiscent of a climber's helmet until you compare it. You do lose some of the ability to evacuate heat through the central part of the helmet but it feels like a reasonable compromise. You also get a choice of a ton of colours and special pads to manage your glasses during the hottest climbs.

The other piece to consider when it comes to MIPS is that it is so completely dominant in the industry. That leaves a brand to decide if a helmet coming to market should pay the license fee to MIPS and in return get a technology most other helmets have. For some brands the equation makes sense because consumers have come to understand that MIPS adds safety. Some people will not buy a helmet without MIPS and there may be good reasons to make that choice. In reality, the issue is not about MIPS. The bottom line is that no one is sure what it takes to reduce traumatic brain injuries as a result of head trauma. The first challenge the industry identified was keeping your skull intact when you hit a hard object. That is what the CPSC impact attenuation certification tests and everyone makes the grade at this point. MIPS came to market because the brand believes that an impact at an angle has different requirements. You can read more details in our guide to MIPS but for the purpose of this article, it's worth understanding that there are different solutions to the same problem. Lazer has Kineticore, Bontrager and Trek have Wavecel, and even MIPS has a variety of different configurations. All the technologies do the same thing in different ways and there's no way to be sure that one is better. What does the Virginia Tech score mean? Venting is pretty good, too, with noticeable airflow in particular on the forehead. It’s certainly not as airy as something like my Octal or a Giro Synthe road racing helmet (the two road helmets I wear most often), but I think it’s good enough for hard riding on a hot day. The helmet is, true to POC’s intention, also lower-profile and, in terms of aesthetics, probably more universally appealing than the Octal—I even got a compliment on it, and the comment, “Wow, that’s a POC?” It’d look natural worn with casual clothes, and for riding around town I’d much prefer it to the hot, heavy, skateboard-style lids often billed as commuter helmets. The latest technology from brain protection specialists MIPS enhances rotational impact protection. PC ShellProbably the first thing that comes to mind for most people is safety. That's why we wear helmets so it makes sense to consider it. Thankfully though, every helmet sold will meet the standards required for the place it's sold. We have a list dedicated to the best cheap bike helmets and we also have something for the best aero helmets, which tend to be on the expensive end, but no matter the price point your helmet will have the protection you need. Even without the ANGi certification, you get a great helmet. For one thing, this is one of the few helmets on this list that carry a five-star Virginia Tech test result. It's great to know that even a budget helmet lets you choose something that's scored as high as some of the most expensive helmets on the market. You can also count on a comfortable strap system that is easy to adjust and should you need room for a ponytail, Specialized leaves room in the rear cradle.

Inspired by their award-winning Octal and Ventral, the Omne Air MIPS Helmet offers the ideal balance of comfort, ventilation, low weight and protection but at a more accessible price point. The slim profile provides streamlined performance while large vents and inner channels provide turbo-charged ventilation to keep you cool and comfortable. What I haven't done, and you shouldn't either, is to cut corners. Any helmet available will have passed government-mandated test procedures. You have a guarantee of a minimum amount of safety but there's more to a great bike helmet. When you start looking for the best budget bike helmets you want something from a reputable brand. The helmet has 10 ventilation holes and five internal channels, which run uninterrupted in an attempt to allow maximum airflow. On the outside, the POC Omne Air features an optimised-density EPS liner for "ideal impact force absorption". The exterior aesthetic is quite minimalist, with a relatively low profile, meaning it sits neatly on your head without looking bulbous in any way. The one thing I do wish this helmet had was a Virginia Tech score. This doesn't mean anything on its own, but helmets that have a test score from the independent testing facility allow consumers to compare their level of protection in an unbiased way. It's a nice added feature even when it just confirms what we already know.You don't lose out on anything with the POC Omne Ultra MIPS. The weight penalty is an additional 10 grams but you do get the Recco reflector in exchange. Otherwise, there's the same longer coverage in the rear as other POC helmets and the same large vents are the Omni Air. There's also the same fit and 360-degree tightening system. There's very little to take umbrage with.

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