Identical to the all-new Cularis MTB helmet earlier at the moment, POC has a brand new aero street Cytal helmet too, balancing vented aerodynamic efficiency with unparalleled security. This one isn’t fairly as all-new, sharing the identical total form as POC’s professional street group racing Cytal Carbon that debuted final summer season. However whereas this new Cytal drops the carbon to decrease prices at only a 10g weight penalty, the massive innovation is a cautious multi-density EPS foam building that makes this the most secure street biking helmet that POC produces.
New POC Cytal claims to be the Most secure Street Bike Helmet
In truth, the brand new POC Cytal earns the title of most secure street bike helmet within the unbiased Virginia Tech Helmet Score lab’s exams. Its security is ranked so extremely, that solely 2 helmets sit larger throughout all classes – the current Fox Speedframe RS mountain bike helmet, and POC’s personal new Cularis MTB helmet launched at the moment as nicely.
On the identical time, this isn’t a helmet that clearly appears to be like like it will be the most secure available on the market. It appears to be like fairly much like the development for angular aero-shaped street biking helmets. Though it’s a bit boxy in form, suggesting some further materials which will assist soak up crash influence vitality.
However curiously, within the VT exams, the brand new Cytal scores a lot safer than the earlier Cytal Carbon which seems to be extremely related.
So how did POC make it safer?
POC says they began with the important thing aerodynamic, air flow, and even steadiness traits of the Cytal Carbon, after which type of re-engineered how they might make it safer.
“Our security mission is crystal clear, and it evokes us to enhance and consistently query the established order. We all know the best way to develop extremely ventilated, snug, aerodynamic and extremely protecting helmets; with the Cytal and Cularis, we wished to problem ourselves to take one other step ahead. Particularly, we wished to combine extra of our real-world testing and analysis data to refine particulars and improve helmet efficiency. And the Cytal and Cularis are a real embodiment of this strategy.”
– Oscar Huss, POC Cheif Product Officer
The key security ingredient appears to be a variable-density EPS foam crumble zone building that was developed based mostly on POC’s in-house warmth map that research the place impacts happen in real-world biking crashes. There, FEM modeling (Finite Component Technique) let POC engineers enhance vitality absorption the place it issues probably the most. Whereas additionally retaining top-tier air flow and aerodynamic efficiency.
How does it really feel out on the street?
Once more, we are able to’t actually communicate to the protection till I land on my head (fortunately not but.) however the independence and credibility of Virginia Tech go a protracted approach to assist the claims of this because the most secure street helmet available on the market.
What I can communicate to is how the Cytal feels.
The design is kind of tall and angular within the entrance, which really ends in a extra even front-to-back steadiness than many different helmets. The Cytal merely sits very comfortably atop my head, in all probability feeling even lighter than it really is.
It’s also tremendous ventilated. The ahead edge and wing-shaped prime do an excellent job of leveraging the Venturi-effect to attract air into the inver channels and pace it up over your head.
That is definitely one of the vital ventilated helmets I’ve ever ridden. To the purpose that using in cool climate after sweating on the climbs was higher with a factor biking cap on beneath.
Tech Particulars
#1 ranked for street biking security by unbiased Virginia Tech Helmet Rankings (March 2025)
5-star Virginia Tech security score, and ranked #3 throughout all biking helmet classes
CFD-optimized aerodynamic design, whereas nonetheless prioritizing most air flow
totally ventilated aero street design, using Venturi-effect airflow
5 bigger vertical entrance consumption vents, 5 smaller air scoop prime consumption vents behind the wing & two facet scoop consumption vents
airflow excessive of the pinnacle and behind the occipital space with deep inside channels to compress & exit by means of 5 rear exhaust vents
MIPS Air Node skinny rotational influence safety resolution
variable density EPS foam co-molded in multi-part polycarbonate shell
Eye Storage grippers to securely maintain sun shades
360° dial match adjustment with extra vertical place adjustment
light-weight plastic buckle
3 separate US/CPSC, CE/EN & AS/NZS licensed fashions to optimize weight
light-weight claimed at CPSC: S 300g, M 320g, L 340g; CE: S 250g, M 270g (271g precise), L 300g; AS/NZS: S 260g, M 280g, L 300g
3 wider-range sizes obtainable: S(50-56cm), M (54-59cm) & Massive (56-61cm)
POC Cytal street – Pricing, choices & availability
The brand new POC Cytal aero street biking helmet is out there now straight from POC and their accomplice retailers by the top of subsequent week for $330 / 320€. Consumers can even decide from 9 matte colour choices: AVIP-style fluorescent orange/black, navy blue/black, black/white, white/black, darkish inexperienced/white, purple/black, all again, all grey with grey foam, or all white with white foam. And naturally, all colours in 3 sizes and every market getting their acceptable certification.
POC.com
