The new POC Amidal road cycling helmet is a new slimmer helmet in POC’s cycling lineup that was developed as an all-rounder. That means the helmet blends elements from road aero helmets with standard road cycling helmets. One fun fact is that the helmet name Amidal is actually a play on the word Amygdala which is part of the temporal lobe in the human brain. Retail price for the helmet is $270 which includes a MIPS Air Node rotational impact safety system. The helmet also features POC’s 360 fit system with an adjustable cradle that has a rear dial. One of the unique features of the helmet are the reinforced rear vents that give the helmet a distinctive appearance. There is also an optional POC x KNOG collaboration taillight that can be attached to the rear of the helmet for additional visibility.
The POC Amidal road cycling helmet offers a sleeker and streamlined profile with POC’s unique color and styling.
| Rating | 9.2 / 10 |
| Retail Price | $270 |
| Measured weight (in g) | 357 (size M) |
| Likes | + Slim profile compared to other POC helmets + Impressive variety of color options with POC’s distinctive palette + Comfortable and easy to adjust fit system |
| Dislikes | – Premium price |
| Where to Buy (US) | POC |
UNBOXING
The POC Amidal helmet comes in cardboard box with POC branding and a label printed on it with specific specs for the helmet color and size variation. In the box you’ll find:
- Amidal helmet
- Branded storage bag
- Instruction manual and tags attached to helmet
- Safety pamphlet
POC’s included bag is an interesting clear plastic-like bag with bright orange draw strings. The bag reminds us of the raw finish on the Velocio Ultralight Jacket with it’s semi-transparent grid texture.
FIT & FINISH
Visually, the POC Amidal shares many of POC’s distinctive design elements like smooth vertical vents and a unique color palette. The Amidal is marketed as a slim and all-around road cycling helmet so it borrows elements from the aero-road helmets such as the Ventral with a covered center section and combines it with larger vents and a reinforced rear. POC offers the helmet in 11 color variations from the iconic all-white Hydrogen white with white foam to the fluorescent orange with white foam that the brand is known for. There are a variety of solid matte finishes that borrow colors from POC’s color palette as well as some more eye-catching multi-color variations that use different colors on the upper, lower and rear border.
One of the most distinctive features of this helmet is the rear which has what POC calls “reinforced zones” with a slightly protruding lip around the rear vents. When we first saw this helmet, we thought the extensions were actually aero add-ons you could remove, like the Limar Air Atlas helmet, but they are non-removable. It gives the helmet a distinctly bug-like rear appearance where the two vents almost look like eyes.
POC also collaborated with Knog to create a rear taillight that can strap onto the rear of the rim. There is a special cutout in the center that lets you pull the light strap through. We don’t have the light in this review to demonstrate it, but you could use any bike taillight as long as there is enough strap length. What is special about the collaboration is that the Knog light has matching POC colors so you could have a perfectly matching light and helmet combination. There are also some smaller horizontal slots above the helmet which look like mounting spots, but they are just for ventilation. Additionally, there are large rubber pads on the front vents to help securely store sunglasses while riding.
Inside the helmet you have a combination of MIPS Air Node and POC’s 360 Fit System. The MIPS Air Node is a popular and minimalist way to integrate a MIPS liner using small sliding mounting points. This gives you the benefits of some internal rotation, which helps reduce the impact during an accident, while still maintaining a lightweight design. The black MIPS liner also has cutouts to ensure air is able to flow through the helmet and through the internal channels. POC’s fit system is a classic rear dial design with a wrap-around cradle to optimize comfort. The straps are thin and lightweight so you do not feel them, and offer enough adjustment to fit a wide range of head sizes. To keep the weight down, the helmet also has a standard plastic buckle and lightweight side adjustment connectors.
RIDING IMPRESSIONS
We’ve been lucky enough to ride with many of POC’s helmets such as the relatively new POC Cytal as well as some of their other popular helmets such as the POC Ventral Air. While the POC helmets have always been sleek with unique colors, they’re almost always quite thick and bulky in comparison to other helmet brands. The Amidal addresses that with a thinner and streamlined appearance. The size medium helmet fit just as well as other medium helmets we’ve worn with plenty of adjustment and secure cradle design. We found the helmet to also offer great ventilation with the large vents and open interior. While the bug-like rear reinforced zones will likely be a little controversial, they helmet the helmet stand out and should add some safety element if you were to fall on them.
THE VERDICT
Overall, we found the POC Amidal to be a fast and comfortable road cycling helmet. POC has taken their distinctive design and created a sleeker and slimmer helmet with the Amidal. While it retains POC’s design language, the helmet blends aero elements with a unique reinforced rear vent design. We found the helmet to be comfortable and well ventilated for road cycling. Details like the color matched foam and easy to adjust fit system help give the helmet a premium look and feel. The only negative with the helmet is the premium price which may put the helmet out of some rider’s budget. That said, the POC Amidal is a nice evolution of POC’s helmet design with a more streamlined shape.
Disclaimer: The product for this review was provided by POC. The views expressed on this website are solely those of the authors and are here to help people make an informed choice before a purchase. The authors or the blog itself does not get any monetary compensation from the product manufacturer or third-party websites/vendor links that are posted here.