Poc Cularis Review

Poc's new Cularis features a lightweight polycarbonate shell, an EPS frame, and a 360° fit system for a secure fit. A MIPS Air Node liner keeps the helmet's internals feeling light and airy while protecting rotational motion in a crash. The helmet has an eye garage for storing your shades, a RECCO reflector, and a Fidlock buckle. It's reasonably lightweight, and our testers loved the fit and airflow, finding it comfortable for long days in the backcountry. Poc uses Aramid bridges to provide structural rigidity and puncture protection. A quick peek at Poc's website shows that helmet design is far more than just sculpting some foam for your skull and cutting holes in it. Terms like Computational Fluid Dynamics and Finite Element Modeling hint at what Poc is up to in their lab. The Cularis is their latest trail and XC helmet, and it has just about every feature you could want in a trail helmet, backed by crash-test data to help you feel secure.

Impact Test

Every helmet we review and test meets a national safety standard, so they should all be considered safe and effective. Our impact testing aims to uncover the nuances between models and show how the Cularis compares to other helmets in its category. The Cularis has an overall impact score of 9, which bests all but one of the other helmets we tested.

Slow Impact Test Results

In the slow-impact test performed at ACT labs, the Cularis scored 9.1, besting all but the Lazer Coyote Kineticore, which it tied.

Fast Impact Test Results

In the high-speed impact tests, sensor data from inside the Cularis showed it performed near the top of our test group. Four helmets scored slightly better in high-speed testing, but all had data clumped toward the top of our results, with the Cularis scoring an impressive 8.7.

These are impressive results considering the helmet's weight of just 433 grams in size Large. No crash scenario can be predicted exactly, so finding a balance between slow and fast impact performance helps us feel secure in the protection being offered. The Cularis uses the same basic design language as the Kortal and Otocon, with enhanced protection zones and aramid bridges.

Comfort

The Cularis is a set-it-and-forget-it helmet. The MIPS Air Node liner gives it a ball-cap-like feel, and ample venting creates enough airflow that you don't ever feel like taking it off would make you more comfortable. Poc used techniques that are normally employed for road helmets to optimize ventilation, and you can feel the effect of their efforts. The fit is a bit rounder than oval, and I used supplemental padding at the upper edges of the helmet to perfect it.

Even before adding additional pads, the helmet had the most comfortable fit for me and one other tester. The adjustability of the Air Node liner gives it micro-tunability that doesn't pinch the back of the head so much as tighten all around. Some of the retention systems seem to push the helmet forward on your head, whereas the Cularis uses a 360-degree tightening system that feels more like a beanie.

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Ventilation

You don't usually read about computational fluid dynamics in the marketing materials for mountain bike helmets, but Poc used computer analysis to maximize airflow through and around the Cularis. The results are pretty cool, literally. The front of the helmet has seven large intake vents that feed rear exhaust channels, providing constant airflow from front to back. The air-duct-like construction of the EPS internals breathes in cool air up front and pushes the warm, sweaty exhaust out the rear. You needn't hit 30 mph to feel the cooling effects of the ventilation; even at lower speeds, you can feel the air flow across the top of your head.

The Air Node liner is fairly minimal in terms of padding, think race car seat vs. luxury auto seat. It's still quite comfortable, but we found that squeezing out the perspiration at the top of a climb was a bit less rewarding as the minimalist liner holds less moisture than many of the pad systems used in modern helmets.

Usability

Poc says the Cularis is intended for down-country, trail, and XC riding. This seems like a way to say that if you're crushing big enduro lines, you'll want more protection. Testers appreciated some of the touches that give this lid a go-to rating, meaning it was the helmet we wanted to grab on the way out the door. The 360 fit, eye garage, and Fid-Lock buckle all combine to make it super versatile, and we never felt like it was missing something. Pulling the liner out of the helmet for washing is pretty simple, and on exceptionally muddy rides, there were no places for the mud to hide.

The helmet uses a breakaway peak, the part most of us call a visor. It's designed to pop off in a crash and not complicate the helmet's ability to absorb an impact. The visor is adjustable, which is a nice feature when you're chasing daylight or need a bit more protection from rain. With some of our eyewear stowed in the eye garage above the visor, its adjustability was limited, as the earpieces would poke us in the head if we pushed the visor up too high.

Multiple stash spots for your sunnies on the Poc Cularis.   Credit: Joshua Hutchens

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Weight

We tried the Cularis before weighing it, and it was immediately clear that it would be among the lighter helmets in our test. With a lightweight (and soft) AirNode liner, the helmet has a barely there feel. Weighing in at 433 grams in a size Large, it's not the lightest lid in our test group, but it's certainly among the most comfortable.

Poc says they prioritized comfort and ventilation in designing the Cularis, and it's their lightest trail helmet yet. On the trail, the Cularis provides full coverage without sacrificing exceptional airflow and isn't prone to jostling or crushing the tops of our glasses like some other full-coverage trail helmets. It doesn't seem like the slight difference in weight would be so apparent, but a few precious grams saved from the top of your head really does feel different after a full day in the saddle.

Should You Buy the Poc Cularis?

We collectively spent months riding the Cularis and subjecting it to our use, abuse, and critique. It emerges as the helmet our testers all wanted to keep. It's packed with features, big on ventilation, and low on weight. Add to this its impressive performance in our impact testing, and it's the kind of lid to give you peace of mind and the “forget about it” all-day comfort.

What Other Mountain Bike Helmets Should You Consider?

If you want an alternative to the Cularis, consider the Lazer Coyote Kineticore, which was the only helmet to outperform the Poc in our impact tests. Testers appreciated its ventilation and fit, and it's also priced significantly lower than most of the helmets in our test.