Safety first.

POC’s new Cularis helmet is unapologetically safety-focused above all else. It received a five star rating from Virginia Tech’s helmet testing lab, and as of press time, is the highest rated helmet across all categories in their ratings. That’s not terribly surprising, POC has always been a safety-forward brand, and safer helmets are, of course, better. But most of the time, helmets just sit on our heads, waiting for us to mess up and use them. So how does the new Cularis perform when you’re not crashing?

POC Cularis Overview

• Sizes Available: Small, Medium, Large - 51-62 cm head circumference
• Features: Mips Air Node, Three position breakaway visor, Sunglasses storage, RECCO, Fidlock buckle
• Weight: 368 g 
• Price: $240

POC says the Cularis is designed for “fast flowy trails” and that it’s a good go-to helmet for everything between the extremes of XC racing and full-face Enduro riding.

POC Cularis Fit and Features

I have been slipping my mostly-oval almost-59 centimeter circumference head into size medium helmets for well over a decade now. I’m consistently right at that medium/large cusp, and I prefer a smaller helmet that fits better over a larger helmet that I have to chinch down to the limits of its adjustment. That carried through with the Cularis, although it is one of the smaller “mediums” I’ve ever worn. I’m right at the upper limit of its adjustment system, and my head contacts the sides of the shell a little more than on other helmets.

So if you are typically right on the cusp of sizes with Smith or Giro helmets, I’d recommend sizing up with the Cularis.

The Cularis comes with a nice laundry list of features: it uses a Mips Air Node system to dissipate rotational impacts, which is comfortable and quiet. The Fidlock buckle is a nice touch - I don’t notice it when I’m using a helmet with a Fidlock buckle, but as soon as I go back to a traditional buckle I miss it. The Cularis’s built in adjustment dial is fine, but not quite as smooth or comfy as the BOA one on the Smith Forefront 3. That BOA system is the gold standard right now.

The visor on the Cularis is doesn't look adjustable, but it is, to three preset positions. It takes a little force to adjust, but stays put nicely. It's also designed to snap away in a crash. There are slots in the vents above it for sunglasses. They work, but they’re not the most secure.

The Cularis incorporates a RECCO reflector. This gives SAR teams with a helicopter-mounted system another tool to help find missing people. It’s cool to see this tech make its way onto more summer gear. The Cularis doesn’t have any considerations for a light or camera mount, and doesn’t have a large enough flat area for a sticky mount.

Generally, this is the feature set you’d expect on a helmet at this price point. 

Performance

The Cularis has a little more of an on top of your head, slightly more XC feel than other helmets like the Forefront 3 that I’ve spent time in recently. That, combined with its generous venting, means that it’s been my top choice for long sunny pedals. It does a really good job of keeping air moving over my head and cooling it.

Despite the slightly snugger fit, I haven’t had any hot spots or rubbing from the Cularis. Instead it’s done a really good job of disappearing. It’s quiet, comfortable, and well-ventilated. What more could you want from a trail helmet?

Relative helmet safety is an interesting conversation starter. I appreciate Virginia Tech’s attempts to quantify safety, but, as internet comment sections are quick to point out, it’s hard to correlate the results of their testing with real-world conditions. Realistically, all of the helmets that score well in their testing are probably somewhat interchangeably safe, so I tend to prioritize a fit and feature set that work the best for my riding.

That said, there’s some value in being the “safest.” That would be a nice feather in the cap of any helmet brand, but it’s especially deserved when the rest of the helmet works well. POC manages to hit both of those marks. Science says this helmet is safe. My personal experience says that this is a comfortable and functional enough helmet that I’m happy to wear it on most rides. That’s a compelling combination.