- Reviews
- Q & A
Extremely Comfortable Helmet
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
- Fit: True to size
- Size Bought: M/L
This helmet fits as if they used my measurements to make the molds. Rear coverage is very good. The liner is soft, comfortable, and absorbs sweat extremely well. The ventilation is also excellent. The only thing to watch out for would be that the underside of the visor is reflective, which can be distracting on rides. Easily cured with a strip of electrical tape!
Great helmet
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
So comfortable. We tend to forget we have it on when we walk into a coffee shop. worth every penny.
looking for a poc tetcal race black in med you have any coming in soon?
Light & Cute
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
Great helmet for hot desert days and pedally climbs - it doesn't work with all sunglasses, so make sure they have thin and low-profile arms around your ears, any thick-armed sunglasses will cause major discomfort. Otherwise, the vents are great, the brim adjustable (the little metal adjuster piece falls out often, fyi).
Great helmet
This helmet has been great, fits well and feels good.
Keeps your melon safe and stylish
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
Prior to using this POC helmet, I was rocking a Super 2, which I liked, but now I've been shown the light. POC really nailed it with this one. The helmet is super comfortable and very light. From pictures I actually would have thought it would be on the heavier side, but was pleasantly surprised. It has a strap on the back for goggles which I use when I ride left service. Would be cool if it came with MIPS but I feel very safe in it. It's very low profile too and looks great.
Fits like a dream
I first purchased a trabec helmet and immediately returned it. It was to wide and felt like a MARIO brother or mushroom head. This helmet on the other hand fits my skinny head much better. The straps are perfect and adjustment dial works great. My only knock on this is he internal padding on the forehead soaks all of the sweat in and then drips on face if I bump. Quite a few helmets do this though.
New Favorite
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
Ended last season by busting open my Bell Super 2. So in looking for a new helmet I had the chance to scoop up the new TLD A2 MIPS. It's a rad helmet by all means but had some pressure points on the top of my noggin.
POC usually doesn't fit my head to well, but because I liked the look of the helmet I tried on the XL/XXL.... love it!
This thing is comfy, looks good (*very* important in the MTB community), is light, airy, fits my Julbo Aero shades well, and I definitely trust it to protect my noggin' from the inevitable and numeros endos I'll take this season.
Only things I don't like about it are that the screw to adjust the visor can come loose and/or fall out (dab of loctite fixes it. If you lose it, POC will send new ones to you) and that goggles have been hard for me to pair with it. I don't blame the helmet for the goggles because I had to size up from what I normally wear, I also haven't tried all of them.
Seriously so happy I tried this helmet out, I feel so much more comfortable out on the trails.
Good helmet
Fits well, most comfortable helmet I could find for my head. Light, well vented. Have not tested it in a crash.
No mushroom head!
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
I don't look like toad from mario brothers any more! This thing definitely fits an oval head better than the Trabec. Super light and really well vented, I have been really happy with the helmet so far!
Massive upgrade from the Trabec
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
If you were to compare this helmet to the older Trabec, you would be blow away. In order to find out if this helmet is the right one for you here are a few pros and cons for you to chew on:
Pros:
1) Light weight- This helmet is so light and breathable, all while being protective and safe.
2) Ventilation- 15 vents makes this helmet feel like a brand new A/C unit installed in your room after going half of a summer with just a mini fan
3) Style- Much less "bubbly" than the previous rendition POC had with their flagship helmet, the Trabec
4) Cost Effective- Stands toe-to-toe with some of the best helmets out there for slightly less the price
5) Goggle & Glasses integration- fits my Smith Vo2 MAX sunglasses and Smith Squad MTB's very well.
6) Overall Satisfaction- HIGH.
Cons:
1) Although it breathes well I still manage to work up a good sweat wearing this (spoiler alert: somewhat of a head sweater out there)
2) Turn dial design flaw- On the standard Tectal there have been a few issues with the dial sightly adjusting upon being pulled or pushed on. Another reason to go with the Tectal Race!
Questions about fit, on the fence with a handful of helmets or just wanna chat MTB - Hit me up.
Head feels safe
This helmet is comfortable and well-ventilated but feels very solid and safe. I love the style of POC helmets.
Great lid for my noggin
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
- Fit: True to size
- Size Bought: M/L
I wanted a helmet that was light and offered good ventilation for the hot Houston weather but still offered top protection and good coverage. The POC Tectal race ticks all the boxes. Incredibly comfortable, barely realise you are wearing it, stands out and is easy to see and fit with minimum (easy) adjustment out of the box.
What is the difference between the Race and no Race helmets?
According to pinkbike:
http://www.pinkbike.com/news/poc-tectal-helmet-review-2016.html
the Tectal Race adds a goggle retainer strap in back and more reinforcing aramid fibers throughout the shell. The Tectal Race also fits tighter. For a comparison of the fit between the Trabec Race MIPS , Tectal, and Tectal Race see my comment on the Trabec Race MIPS page.
I contacted POC and a rep said the "Aramid bridges are the same in both helmets." So the only differences are the goggle clip and available colors.
The ad copy here at Backcountry for the regular Tectal says it has the goggle retention strap as well. So it appears that the only quantifiable difference is the available colors. Fit is cited by some, but that may be perception.
Poc tectal race
I just received my new poc tectal race helmet it's the most comfortable mtb helmet I have ever put on it fits perfect, if you need any help ask for Zach lassek at backcountry he is very helpful
Thanks for the shout out, Bill! Glad you love the helmet man.
Is the visor removable? No me gusta visors. Light mount?
Hey Chris,
Looks like you can just unscrew the visor if you don't want to use it. As far as light mounts, you'd have to use the helmet mount that came with your light, there isn't an integrated light mount. Let me know if you have any other questions!
Thanks!
What is the difference between the Tectal race and the standard Tectal? Thanks!
The difference you are going to have between the Tectal Race and the standard Tectal is with the Race model you get an integrated google clip and the Aramid bridge around the entire helmet while the Standard has it around the seams.
Is the black/teal helmet matte or glossy? I can't tell from the photos. Thank you!
Hey Chris - The Uranium Black/Beryl Green color is glossy. Check out the picture below. Feel free to contact me directly with any additional questions.
- Kyle L. - Expert Gearhead - klivingston@backcountry.com - 801-736-4337
what is the difference between the tactal race and just tactal, it seems they weigh the same per the website?