POC Trabec Helmet

Offering more protection than a regular road/XC helmet without going all the way to a full-face lid, the Trabec is another addition to the trail/all-mountain helmet market. It comes from Swedish protective gear company POC, and while this model was released overseas a few years ago, it’s only just reaching the Australian market. Every helmet sold here needs to pass the stringent and expensive Australian Standards compliance testing, so it always takes a season or two before we see the ‘latest’ helmet models.

Two versions of the Trabec will be available in Australia; the standard Trabec which sells for $199 (on test here) and the $299 Race MIPS version. Both helmets share the same basic appearance (differing colours aside), the same ventilation and sizing options. So in regards to the fit, feel and comfort they are basically the same animal. Where they differ is in the level of protection that’s on offer. The premium version features additional ‘aramid grid’ reinforcement and ‘MIPS’; a patented injury-preventing technology.

MIPS is short for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. This technology was born out of research conducted by the Royal Institute of Technology and Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Most helmets are designed to absorb the blow from a vertical fall onto a hard surface. In the real world, it’s far more likely that your head will hit the ground at an angle—especially when you are travelling down the trail at speed. The resulting oblique impact creates a rotational force and the Swedish research has shown this to be a prime cause of brain injury.

To improve protection, the MIPS helmet uses a low-friction layer between the outer shell and the liner. This slows the rotational forces that are applied during an oblique impact and the result is said to be vastly improved real-world protection. This technology has been licenced to POC as well as a number of other helmet manufacturers. It’s worth looking at the MIPS website to learn more on the topic – www.mipshelmet.com.

Out of the box the Trabec’s slick appearance is a standout and it attracted plenty of comments from fellow riders. Its padding, straps, size adjustment and visor are nicely designed and made, and the helmet is easy to adjust to the shape of your head. Included with the helmet is a second set of pads and a drawstring bag for storage and transportation.

The padding on the Trabec has been treated with ‘Polygiene’ odour control treatment; it’s claimed to inhibit the bacterial growth that causes bad smells. Both this and the ventilation of the Trabec weren’t put through the most rigorous testing, as this review took place in the middle of winter. However, the helmet never smelt bad after plenty of riding and it never got a wash during the review period. Its 16 ventilation holes provided decent airflow and it seems unlikely that heating up would be a problem for the Trabec in warmer weather.

POC claims that the seams of the Trabec’s shell are placed in the least exposed areas for better durability and after some use you can see that the shell did a good job of protecting the polystyrene core from dents and abrasion. Importantly, the shell wraps right around the underside of the shell; again affording better protection against general wear and tear.

The Trabec is offered in three shell sizes; XS-S (51-54cm), M-L (55-58cm) and XL-XXL (59-62cm). Having a multitude of sizes certainly improves your chances of getting a good-fitting helmet. While the results will differ from one person to the next, this helmet won me over with its spot-on fit—I’ve never worn a helmet before that suits the shape of my head as well as the Trabec.

Commonly, spending more on an upmarket helmet gets you improved fit, better ventilation, lighter weight or sleeker styling but there’s an assumption that the protection level will be the same—after all, they all need to pass Australian Standards. POC adds a new dimension by allowing you to opt for protection that goes above and beyond the regular level offered by the Australian Standards. The MIPS system may add $100 to the cost but the concept of protecting against rotational strain makes a lot of sense. In the end it seems like a small price to pay if you prioritise your safety.

Snowsport International (02) 8203 4333 / www.pocsports.com