If there’s one thing that is worth spending a few bucks on when it comes to gear, it’s a helmet. There is nothing fun about putting on an uncomfortable helmet that has out of date protection, and still costs too much money.
One thing that seems to be on trend lately are affordable helmets that look awesome and offer more than just an EPS foam wrap around your head. More and more protective equipment brands are bringing MIPS or their own rotational impact reduction system to trail helmets for under $150.
Sweet Protection has a Dissenter with MIPS for $150 (or less without), Fox has the new Speedframe with MIPS for $110, and now POC has a brand new helmet for 2020, the POC Axion SPIN for $150.
POC Axion Spin Details
- Trail helmet with unibody shell and EPS liner
- SPIN (Shearing Pad INside) rotational force reduction system
- 360° size adjustment with dial
- Breakaway visor
- 15 total vents
- Eight colors
- Three sizes
- Weight: 345g
- MSRP: $150. Available at JensonUSA, Wiggle, and other online retailers.
The POC Axion in action
One of the most noticeable things about the POC Axion SPIN right out of the box is how light the helmet is. That’s not because it’s overwhelmed with vents, or feels flimsy; it’s just light. At 12.1 ounces (343g), it’s a featherweight option for head protection and it lends to the Axion’s comfort.
On the inside, the POC helmet’s SPIN (Shearing Pad INside) only extends from the crown of the head down to the brow, and then around the sides from the temples to the brow. It doesn’t appear to offer the most rotational coverage, compared to the inside of a MIPS lined helmet. However, it looks like it’s working for them, and the POC Tectal Race SPIN ranked pretty high in the latest testing from Virginia Tech.
To further mitigate rotational effects, the visor on the POC Axion SPIN can break away on impact, reducing the amount of torque that is applied to the neck in certain crashes.
The padding is soft and comfortable against skin and does a decent job absorbing sweat. Well-placed vents also help bring in a lot of airflow to the head. Two low down brow vents bring a steady stream of air through, and the venting on the visor directs air flow into the vents up front.
I can’t say I had any issues with the POC Axion on the fit front either. The dial in the back was easy to adjust and retained its position over time.
POC should have a pretty marketable helmet here. With the not-overly-aggressive trail styling, and eight different color options, there should be something for everyone.
Closing thoughts
After thinking through this review and my time with the Axion SPIN, I don’t have anything negative to say about the new trail helmet from POC. It comes in at a sweet price, is comfortable and nicely vented, and it looks good. There isn’t much more that we can ask.
- Price:
$150$109.98 - Available at Backcountry and other online retailers
