[Closed] POC Trabec helmet- not impressed

I looked at one last year and wasn't impressed by it for the price they wanted.

I tried one on in the shop and it was the best fitting helmet I've ever tried. I just couldn't justify the price though.

After using a quite a few 'premium' helmets over the years I can honestly say my Trabec MIPS is my favourite. I don't see where the issue is TBH...

Will this be the second helmet you're sending back in a week then?

Hora's helmets - the new Hora's 'not working properly' forks 😆

I heard they were only for 'fashion bikers'...

I settle/change helmets every 4yrs.

Sale price + free collect+ = no brainer

Unless you know of a lbs with shedloads of cheap high end helmets down your road?

Apparently if you polish hora's helmet exceedingly well he'll take your speeding points.

If you're a British cycling member you could do worse than visiting halfords at manchester fort. They've got the Catlike Leaf in there for £55 and they had 20% off when I was in PLUS BC 10% discount. I picked up a catlike whisper roadie lid there last week and it worked out at £56!

They haven't got them at O.T before you ask.

Surely helmets and shoes are the two least advisable things to do by mail order? Some things you just have to try on. Especially those of us with heads like bowling balls, or oversized king Edwards? 😉

The only flats shoes nearby are 5 10's **** affording them!

The Poc fits as any correctly diameter measured head/size chosen should. Its just the quality of the product. Trading on style/look IMK

Trading on style/look IMK

What about crash protection? I understand that's what you're paying for with POC stuff.

POC is for fashion bikers. I'm surprised a man like you would even consider one.

whats the venting like in the warm? Quite like the look of them

a man like you

There are others? 😯

I got one a couple of weeks ago from CRC - last year's model so half-price. Had tried it on previously in one of the chains so I knew it fitted better than the other options I was looking at e.g. Bell.
The build quality on mine is good so maybe Hora got a dodgy one. The fitting system is really robust and secure. The helmet is ridiculously light and the ventilation is much better than it looks, once you're on the move you can feel the air going over your head (I'm finding it cooler than my old Giro despite that having lots more holes).

I've 2 Trabecs, and my lad has a Macaskill receptor he's 9, fit and quality is very good, my ony issue is the pads, they fall to bits when you wash em, apart from that, they're mint.

I crashed 2 years ago in a Met, hit a tree and was knocked out, the helmet smashed so it went in the bin,& that was £85.00...what price do you pay for safety ?..

Cost wise is they're dear cos they're the best imoa !,you've only got one head, so why cut corners ?.

The best helmet is the one that fits comfortably. They're one of those items that choose you, like ski boots and broom sticks.

POC helmets were the most uncomfortable for my head shape, which I was thankful for because they're ridiculously overpriced.

I've just bought an IXS Trail and it fits me perfectly.

I like mine, wear it where I think I need a little more protection (I've been knocked out in a crash by hitting the back of my head behind the ear...). It is a bit hot for me so mostly wear my road specialised helmet which is brilliant during summer.

Quelle surprise...........

Like any helmet it'll be safe. If POC are making big claims then they need to back the claims up withcrash tests v Flux etc.

Im not arguing fit or safety. Underneath those apple-esque holes its a standard/nowt special helmet. I tried the TLD A1- STUNNINGLY made by comparison. The Poc reminds me of a bogstandard entry-Met

OK it's very expensive but I bought a Trabec because it fits my tiny head superbly. I didn't get it because the blue matches my Piglet. No sir.

Like any helmet it'll be safe.

...safe if you have an accident that fits within the rather meagre requirements official safety testing.

Four things matter with a helmet - crash protection, fit, venting and how it looks superficially so you don't look like an idiot. If you want something with classy fit and finish, buy a Rolex. Do you actually ride your bike?!

Got a Trabec from Cycle Surgery when they had a sale on them a year or so ago, and ended up paying about £60 for it, nice as it is (and it fits very well), it's no better than any other £60 helmet, and I don't think I could ever justify paying full retail for one.

No crash replacement discount isn't good either.

Did you get a pink one to match your pedals and head set spacers?

Pink helmet and brown bike would look stunning

I sent mine straight back, I paid £50 and still wasn't that impressed- it did feel cheaply made, was surprised by the bulk and weight and it seemed like they'd forgotten most of the padding. OTOH it was PURPLE which was awesome. I got a boring red Striker instead 🙁

It might well protect better than most- POC seem to take it seriously, their hard armour frinstance is genuinely superb, makes everything else I've ever seen look badly designed. The coverage is good and MIPS is sound logic too.

But on the other hand, heavy helmets increase dwell time and spinal stress, and while MIPS should reduce rotational forces bulky helmets increase them. So without real testing, who knows?

I think it was the lack of padding and the quality of it that I really wasn't impressed with.

Crash protection- I'd love to see a indie Lab test. A sort of NCAP. Btw the one I ordered at 69 from crc hadnt come yet. I saw a £120 one in cyclesurgery- tried it on and hated it.

Why would you want loads do padding, all it does is soak up sweat?
At the end of the day they are all made of plastic and polystyrene, there's not a lot of scope for fancy materials. I've had mine 3 years and it's stood up really well to being worn, sweated in, dropped and kicked around the boot of the car. No peeling or separation of the shell, unlike some helmets I've had. Helmets are one product I think its difficult to tell differences in from looking at. From the outside it's just a lump of polystyrene but there's a lot more to the design than that. Whether it's worth the price I don't know, but I'd rather crash in an expensive helmet than a cheap one.

I so nearly bought a trabec but the "super Mario look" put me off in the end thankfully !!! Bought an ixs trail helmet.. Very very well made and super comfy 🙂

I like mine. It matches my bike.

clubby - Member

Why would you want loads do padding

I don't want loads of padding. Enough would do. It felt like they'd forgotten to put the back bits in

It fits well but is tatty as ****. Nothing special AT ALL to justify the price. As with most Poc stuff.

i find POC gear looks a little too fashionista/try hard. style over function, if you will.

needed a new set of knee pads recently and tried on the POC thingys. wasn't that impressed and that is before i saw the price tag.

I don't want loads of padding. Enough would do. It felt like they'd forgotten to put the back bits in

There's nothing worse than a helmet that relies on loads of foam pads that make it feel like it fits.
What do you think happens to those pads in an impact?
May as well stick some foam to your head with a pritstick.

😉

Nah, not talking about big thick pads. The entire back of the shell lacks any padding, so no matter what, your head's in contact with hard foam or plastic. Unless you clench your forehead and hold it on that way 😉

Other helmets use the same level of padding that the POC uses, they just put it in all the places where it's supposed to contact your head, which is just sensible.

To illustrate:

[img] [/img]

[img] [/img]

I actually found the POC could move around more easily because smooth plastic and foam holds a helmet less well than a thin pad.

The Trabec that I ordered arrived. I thought I'd give it a thorough 'try'. First thing to note- there feels like a really hard bit of helmet in the centre/back of your head. As though its missing padding. Looking at Northwinds pic above you can see theres nothing there just a square logo. It feels annoying. Maybe as well as the looks it really is a marmite helmet in every sense.

Heres waiting for my next Flux.

I ordered a Catlike Leaf and a TLD A1 - they both feel good in terms of fit but the Leaf looks and feels cheap and nasty compared to the A1. Weight feels about the same but I suspect the Leaf may be more well vented. Think I'm going to keep the A1 though

I have the Trabec and after bad crash in an endurance event I've done recently it certainly saved my life ! the internals did what they are meant to do.

I impact was immense and it had done its job

I only had it a month so now I have to go and buy a bloody new one !!

My heads the wrong shape for the trabec, too small even in large, quality didn't seem better or worse than any other kids I've tried

If there is one thing STW can agree on and that is that quality kids are important when testing helmets 😉

Love mine, it's by far the best fitting and most comfortable helmet I've owned.
I've buy one again without question.

[Love mine, it's by far the best fitting and most comfortable helmet I've owned.
I've buy one again without question/]
+1 .

Yeah, I like mine too. I know there are cheaper helmets out there that probably do as good a job of protecting me but it fits my headsize perfectly. I wasn't aware how uncomfortable my old Met helmet was until this one.

As for the price, it's only £30 over what I'd normally pay. It should last three years, in that time I'll get through £120 of chains, £200 of tyres, £300 of fork / shock servicing. Biking is expensive.

Ive got a Catlike Leaf. £50 and just as well made as a £100 Giro etc.

Best fitting helmet ive had

The trabec fits me really well and as above having stacked in one it works well too.

^ 'it saved me' - well blow me sideways, thats what helmets do otherwise they'd be shiny hats 😉

All helmets sold in the UK have to meet/exceed standards.

I really like mine - it fits my head well. All helmets are shaped differently and the best protection is the one that fits your head. My previous Giro was sized the same but would blow up if I was traveling fast enough! The POC doesn't move on my head at all because it's a great fit. To the post above about it moving because of lack of padding I would argue that it's more because it's not the right shape for your head.

I really don't see the issue regarding build quality. Seems similar or above other top priced helmets. Wrap around shell, good straps, spare pads and a bag. Expensive and a bit of a fashion item but you can get them cheaper if you hunt or it's an out of date colour.

It's a helmet, what were you expecting? A cheap 30quid helmet will protect you just as well.