Review: POC's New Otocon Full Face Helmet Is Packed With Tech
The brand-new POC Otocon is an enduro-style full-face helmet in the same category as the Troy Lee Stage or Specialized Gambit. POC say it's "developed for the precise needs of enduro riders," but as with all of these lightweight full-face helmets, it's a good choice for any ride where you want more protection than an open-face but still want/need to pedal.
Like most helmets in this category, it meets the same lab-based safety standards as any downhill helmet. That doesn't necessarily mean it's just as safe as the heavier options made purely for descending, but in the case of the Otocon the relatively generous padding and a suite of safety features make it feel a little more reassuring when getting out of your depth than some of its ultra-light rivals.
Like most helmets in this category, it meets the same lab-based safety standards as any downhill helmet. That doesn't necessarily mean it's just as safe as the heavier options made purely for descending, but in the case of the Otocon the relatively generous padding and a suite of safety features make it feel a little more reassuring when getting out of your depth than some of its ultra-light rivals.
POC Otocon Details
• DH-certified lightweight full-face helmet (ASTM F1952 )
• 'Race Lock' Adjustment mechanism
• Removable cheek pads and grill for hot weather
• Mips Integra liner
• twICEme NFC Medical ID & RECCO Reflector for emergency response
• Weight (size L): 860 g, actual
• Sizes: S, M, L
• Price: $270-350 USD
• pocsports.com
• DH-certified lightweight full-face helmet (ASTM F1952 )
• 'Race Lock' Adjustment mechanism
• Removable cheek pads and grill for hot weather
• Mips Integra liner
• twICEme NFC Medical ID & RECCO Reflector for emergency response
• Weight (size L): 860 g, actual
• Sizes: S, M, L
• Price: $270-350 USD
• pocsports.com
The twICEme symbol indicates the position of the integrated, battery-free hardware. This can be scanned with the NFC antenna of your smartphone to upload or download medical information.
SAFETY AND FEATURES
At 860g in its heaviest configuration (tested), it's not the absolute lightest of the lightweight full-faces, but it's packed with safety features. As you'd expect, it passes the ASTM F1952 safety standard for downhill helmets, but it also passes the new Dutch standard for Speed E-bikes (which offer assistance up to 45 km/h) called NTA8776, which is nice to know even if you don't intend to wear it on a derestricted e-bike.
The top-spec Otocon Race Mips gets a Mips Integra liner to reduce twisting forces in a crash; twICEme NFC Medical ID which can store your medical information and emergency contact details digitally on the helmet, which first responders can use by scanning it with a smartphone; RECCO Reflector which could make it easier for search and rescue teams to find you in the event of an accident (it's usually used in avalanche recovery), and a patented breakaway peak designed to protect your neck in a crash. Under the skin, there's an aramid layer under the polycarbonate outer shell, which is claimed to improve structural stability and penetration protection. Though not exactly a safety feature, it also comes with a clip-on transparent peak extender that offers extra splash protection for the foulest conditions - the perfect compliment to your wet-weather dungarees.
The standard Otocon (as opposed to the Otocon Race Mips) does without Mips Integra liner, twICEme medical ID, the aramid layer and the wet weather peak, but meets all the same safety testing standards. It costs $80 less and, according to POC, is about 70g lighter too.
The thumbwheel adjusts the fit much like with many open face helmets...
... it tensions the cradle inside the helmet.
FIT & ADJUSTMENTS
The Otocon is available in three sizes: S (51-54 cm), M (55-58 cm) and L (59-62 cm). Two sets of cheek pads are included to adjust the fit, along with what POC calls the 'Race Lock' system, which tensions an internal cradle to adjust the fit (similar to most open-face helmets) via an integrated thumbwheel at the back of the helmet. The chin strap uses a conventional plastic side-squeeze buckle.
To improve ventilation, or if you want to eat a banana in the most enduro-bro way possible, it is possible to remove the plastic grill on the chin-bar and pop it in your pocket for climbing. This is very fiddly and takes a lot of force, and to be honest I don't see much point. Similarly, POC suggests the cheek pads are easily removable for sweaty climbs between stages and that the helmet remains secure without them. But while all that is true, re-installing them is fiddly and probably isn't something you want to be fussing with just before a race stage.
The Otocon is available in a wide array of colours. POC chose to send me the purple version, presumably because it offers the greatest potential for insightful observations in the comments section.
WEIGHT
Of course, weight is important for an enduro full-face, but it's not as simple as a single headline number. Below are some claimed weights from POC; as you'd expect, larger sizes are heavier and the more feature-packed Race MIPS version weighs around 70 grams more. POC sent me the Otocon Race Mips in a size large, which weighed 860g - ten more than claimed. For comparison, a Troy Lee Stage helmet in its largest size weighs 768g.
Otocon Race Mips - XS = 590g, S = 680 g, M = 750g, L = 850g
Otocon - XS = 530g, S = 620gr, M = 680g, L = 780g
PRICE & AVAILABILITY
Otocon Race MIPS: $350 USD / $420 CAD / €329.95 / £300
Otocon: $270 USD / $310 CAD / €269.95 / £240
POC say the Otocon will be available from the end of March and the Otocon Race Mips will be available later in April online and in selected stores.
RIDE IMPRESSIONS
My head circumference is at the upper limit of the range POC recommends for the size large; as a result, I found it a little tight around my jaw even with the thinner cheek pads, but not to the point of being uncomfortable. Adjusting the fit with the thumbwheel is easy and effective, and I often increased the tightness for rough descents and loosened it off a click or two when climbing. My only complaint with fit would be that I found it sits a little low over my brow at the front and pushes some goggles down towards my nose slightly. It feels like there is more pressure on the crown of my head and less pressure further towards the forehead, making the helmet sit a touch low at the front. This could well be an issue just for me, though. I've had similar problems with a couple of helmets in the past, but not with other helmets in this category.
Ventilation is pretty impressive. You can feel airflow around your face and especially around the temples once moving with a bit of speed, but inevitably it does start to get sweaty when the speeds drop off on the steepest hills, mostly because there's a bit more padding in direct contact with your head than with something like a Troy Lee Stage and Fox Proframe. It's tough to say how the ventilation compares to either of those, both of which I've ridden a lot in the past, because it's impossible to ride them both in exactly the same conditions at the same time. But with my feet to the fire, I'd say the other two have a slight edge when it comes to staying cool even with the POC's grill removed. The slight extra weight (about 90g compared to the Stage) is noticeable too, particularly in a big compression or berm.
The field of view is excellent, with no hint of claustrophobia. There is just enough room to store goggles under the peak if that's your thing, but it restricts ventilation and field of view. For a long climb, it's better to store goggles on the back of the lid.
When descending at speed, including flat-out sections in the bike park, it always feels secure and solid, with plenty of padding against your head. Whereas some lightweight full-faces can feel overly airy at times, which can feel less reassuring when hurtling towards a jump face, it's easy to forget the Otocal isn't a full-fat downhill helmet.
Pros
+ Fully-certified, safe feeling yet pedal-friendly helmet
+ Packed with physical and electronic safety features
+ Well-ventilated (if not the coolest when climbing)
Cons
- There are lighter and airier alternatives
- Not cheap
Pinkbike's Take
 | The Otocon Race MIPS isn't the most impressive in terms of its price or weight when compared to other enduro lids, nor is it the most ventilated. But that's perhaps because it's designed to sit a little closer to the downhill end of the "enduro" spectrum. It's full of tech designed to improve safety, from the aramid reinforcement and Mips system to the digital safety features. Does that make it any safer than other DH-certified helmets in the real world? That's tough to say, but it certainly offers peace of mind when combined with the well-padded, secure feel on the trail. The internal shape didn't fit perfectly with my head shape, but that's no criticism of the helmet itself, just a reminder of why it's always a good idea to try on a helmet before buying. |
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Great point Seb. When I purchased a fullface helmet, I read all major reviews and user experiences and then ordered the three best ones. None of them fitted properly... I then went to a big German bicycle store (because I want to try them on and most Dutch stores have maybe 1 or 2 fullface options and usually the same ones), where exactly 1 model fitted properly. It was also the most expensive and hot one, meant for pure downhill riding. I ride both up and down, so went to three other stores before finding a helmet that was suitable for me.
Long story short: helmet reviews provide valuable insights, but everything is dependent on fit, and it's not an option to accept bad fit just for other improvements.
That’s a cardinal sin of helmet purchasing, unless you just really enjoy returning things.
This
I tried on around 15 helmets before I found one that fit like a glove. It was a pain, and I always recommend going to an LBS if you have one.
FYI, most mail order companies like Competitive Cyclist and Jenson USA, will happily return items with a free return label; credit you or a full refund + free shipping of the next item
Helmet sizing is super important, and the strap alone won’t keep it on, which some people don’t realize.
if id tried my TLD stage on at the shop i'd have been like "nope doesnt fit not comfortable" but because i gambled and got it online i messed around with the pads until it was super comfortable, now its great!
moral of the story is just because a helmet doesnt fit immediately, doesnt mean it cant be adjusted to fit in a way that doesnt compromise its safety.
You find it in backpacks for summer backpacking and the RECCO sensor works in tandem with thermal imaging, so flight crews will pick up on a reflected signal very easily while using more effective summer search techniques. It's a win-win.
RECCO: Recovering Every Cold Corpse Occasionally
And yes, RECCO has recovered many bodies, which is great. Recovering a body is never a happy day, but it's much easier to tell families that we can give them a body to bury, rather than telling them their loved one's mangled corpse might be findable in the spring, or could be lost to the mountain forever.
The patroller I talked to there was frustrated about how finnicky RECCO was to use and I got the impression he thought it wasn't a great. He showed me how to use the device with the practice chip and we practiced in an open lot. Can agree, was very finnicky.
After that I really agree with @owl-X about the "pseudo safety scam". Nothing keeps you safer than a trip plan and a good head on your shoulders. @owl-X s acronym seems pretty accurate to me, but just based on my anecdote. Maybe things were different with your SAR experience in the rockies.
I have a way bigger problem with POC's insistence on printing their helmets' ingredients on the outside (what the f*ck even is that you strange Swedes?), and I'm not gonna refuse to wear a POC helmet if it has a RECCO reflector glued into it, but I'm definitely going to question anyone who claims it's safer.
Our tools are only as good as the user. NOBODY's using this thing (and, again, I struggle to even compose a hypothetical situation where a RECCO reflector helps a mountain biker).
It's the damn QR code of safety gear, they've been trying to make fetch happen for like 30 years with this clonk!
Dude how many times have you been stoked to find a lighter in your crumpled up jacket when snow season rolls around but it's just the stupid RECCO reflector? Ugh.
Still and yet: surprise me. I'm ready to be wrong about RECCO.
NOTE: still very down with the flying scotsman reeco wilson, the most handsome man in DH
Bear in mind that I truly think avy beacons are a bit of a racket too, and I've been riding solo (on weed) during the whole demmy. I may not have a rational risk management profile.
But seriously let's get to the real issue: what's your stance on powder skirts?
Is this all and Outside+ reverso false flag operation to get us to point out the garbatious nature of a RECCO rescue so they can show the GPS emergency feature on Trailforks to be superior? Cuz it is. Scandalous duplicity for real...
It's the people in the end. My main man Bulldog sat on the side of that goddamn Canadian mountain for FIVE HOURS with a broken goddamn back, they knew where was the whole time eff a RECCO amirite? Come find me with a French antenna looking for a chance to stand there and do nothing?
Bro.
Recco on the other hand is only good for avalanche recovery if you've got a way to survive under snow for at least 45 minutes (eg Avalung or something, or you just get lucky and your head is in a pocket of air or somehow). Even in the Alps where helicopters are frequently very nearby and able to scramble in a few minutes, getting even the best prepped people loaded, flying and searching is not a sub 15 minute job. And I agree, what good is it for a biker really? If you get hurt but managed to call for help somehow and someone got out in a heli AND thought to use a Recco scanner "just in case"... well you've already told them where you are? How else would they even know to come looking for you? What are you going to be buried under on a bike, that people could plausibly call for help knowing your location to within 100m but not be able to find you? Just adding features for the hell of it at this point.
www.pantone.com/color-of-the-year-2022
Agreed. Norco Sight, Knolly Fugitive, Revel Rascal....
c'mon no other Brits getting in on the Finbarr Saunders action here?
Equally it doesn’t mean it will be worse. There is no scientific evidence that a heavier helmet will give better protection. There is however scientific evidence from motorcycling that shows lighter helmets are better at protecting the head because the neck is better able to stop the head hitting the ground as hard in the first place. This is because the force you hit the ground with is mass x acceleration. If you make the helmets lighter then there is less force to deal with
Is that a bro-nana in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
But then again, I wear a baby unicorn and rainbow "we're all gonna die" t-shirt
However, the orange/black one is nice
Does anyone know a helmet that is better to prevent this problem??
Obviously i need to try one, but would be interested to know if they run the same shape across all their helmets.
POC continues to de-innovate their helmets. Sad for a company that gave us the groundbreaking Cortex DH MIPS...
Perhaps if these certifications are horseshit the real article should be about that. If they’re just Better Business Bureau JD Power Car and Driver Car of the Year 9 out of Ten Dentists Fake Yelp payola they shouldn’t be mentioned at all—except to blow them up.
Credulous hacks reporting drug seizures while completely ignoring the efficacy of the drug war type shit—is that what’s up with helmet certifications?
If so, eff any mention of safety until that’s cleared up!
I do know modern cars got way safer with crumple zones, which is counter-intuitive—so maybe a softer chin bar is safer? I dunno.
Stay up.
Now my Bell Carbon Full 9? That is a hot mother f $#$%# er
@AyJayDoubleyou Yeah, I think that pretty much sums it up. The weight of a helmet creates a squared effect on the velocity at which your head will impact an object, so light is better until you really need more substantial materials. But I would argue that anyone racing an enduro at a professional level is going to crash in a major way. There's a point in the "incident yielding crash" graph where you become statistically more likely to only have a major crash.
Safety on a bike is always a compromise, and trying to climb anything with this is also dangerous, unless you like getting heatstroke……
I guess that applies to KIA autos...
Seriously though, I’d like my face to stay the way it is so I choose to wear a full face, and I am also setting a good example for my kids (who shred). Knocking someone’s personal choice on how much protection they wear is f*^king lame, grow up.
I'm not questioning legitimate use of full face in the right situation. Yeah those electric scooters that you rent with a mobile phone are a death trap for sure.
Also I fear people may take my comments too seriously.