The new POC Sonal time trial helmet has an elongated design and comes in two widths to unlock as much speed as possible.
POC was the first brand to bring out an oversize time trial helmet, the Tempor, back in 2012. The Tempor changed the consensus on how these specialised helmets should perform.
Other brands have released huge helmets in recent years. But it wasn’t until EF Pro Cycling asked for a new time trial helmet for the 2026 Tour de France that POC began to work on one. Now the Swedish company has officially launched the new helmet.
“The Sonal takes a new view of rider aerodynamics by focusing on a rider's whole body rather than the head in isolation and uniquely comes in two sizes matched to shoulder width rather than head size,” POC says.
“It features an elongated front designed to deflect air flow at the high-pressure zone that typically forms at the front of a helmet, which adds drag, instead it guides the airflow smoothly around the helmet and over the rider's body.”
Two widths
The Sonal comes in two shell widths to treat the head and body as a single aerodynamic unit.
Mangus Gustavsson, POC’s director of hard goods, says: “Our objective with the Sonal was to create the fastest, most aerodynamic helmet possible – and to make it work for more riders, because we know a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work in time trial.
“That's what led us to develop two distinct helmet sizes based on body and shoulder width, since airflow over the whole body – not just the head – is what ultimately creates the right aerodynamic profile."
POC says riders with shoulders narrower than 37cm in a time-trial position should opt for the narrow Sonal; riders with shoulders wider than 37cm should go with the regular size.
It adds that the shells have the same internal size for heads spanning 51-59cm, which covers most small to medium-sized helmets.
“This means riders get a shell matched to their shoulder width without needing to worry about head-size fit separately,” POC says.
So how fast is it?
POC says aerodynamic performance always depends on the specific rider. But it claims testing shows the Sonal provided a “significant improvement” in aerodynamic performance in both widths.
“Tested against the already very fast POC TT helmets and at speeds we typically see in modern TT and track events, 60 km/h, the Sonal delivers average savings of 15 to 20 watts,” POC says.
Vision and comfort
POC says another important aspect of the Sonal's development was vision.
The helmet is designed to offer a full range of forward and peripheral vision. “This has been achieved by designing the helmet's forehead angle to match the rider’s line of sight without requiring head movement,” POC says.
The helmet comes with a clear lens and a tinted lens for use in different light and weather conditions. These are secured by magnets so you can “swap lenses quickly and securely in seconds”.
Despite its size, the helmet is also said to be comfortable to wear for extended periods. This is thanks to its weight (440g and 490g for the small and regular widths, respectively), light padding, Boa adjustment and its balance on your head while in a TT position.
The Sonal will be available from POC’s website in October, with full availability next spring. It costs £550 / $660 / €600 / AU$1,000.
