Since Swedish brand POC entered the cycling space it's created a range of some of the techiest road and mountain bike gear on the market. And continuing with this trend, the brand has bagged two more designed and innovation awards.
OMNE Air Spin helmet
It wasn’t all that long ago that POC launched its top of the range Ventral Air helmet, and now the brand has debuted a new mid-range road lid the, OMNE Air Spin.
Looking eerily similar to the Oakley ARO3 road lid, POC says the OMNE features an ‘optimal liner density’ where certain zones on the helmet have been beefed up to keep your brain happy and healthy in case of an impact.
In a similar vein, the OMNE Air will come with POC’s Spin pads. Short for 'Shearing Pad INside,' the SPIN pads are the company's version of a rotational force dissipation technology, using a silicone gel membrane inside the padding rather than an insert.
While POC says the helmet gets an "aero influenced" design, it doesn’t make any drag based claims.
The new lid gets POC's 360-degree size adjustment retention system and strap splitters for no-fuss comfort. At the moment, we don't know how much it weighs, but it's available online now and is retailing for £140 / $175 / AU$TBC.
VPD Torso system
When it comes to body armor, its usually accompanied by a hot sweaty (read: stinky) mess. POC is no stranger to this arena, and with the new VPD Torso system is aiming to make an airy, lightweight solution that limits the sacrifice of comfort for protection.
According to POC, this chest and back protector is not only vented, but moulds to the rider using their own body heat to soften the material, so it conforms to their shape, but in the event of an impact the material hardens similar to a non-newtonian fluid.
Again we don't have a claimed weight for the VPD Torso system, but it's retailing for £85.00 / $100.00 / AU TBC for just the chest plate and £210.00 / $240.00 / AU TBC for the chest and back protection.
Resistance Collection
The new Resistance Collection is the latest addition to POC mountain bike clothing range and has bagged a design and innovation award for its clever use of fabrics and integrated pockets.
The back and underarms of the top are made using mesh in an effort to dump as much heat as possible, while the sleeves are made with Cordura to fend off abrasion for increased crash protection and durability.
At the back, there are pockets with an internal gaiter and elastic lining so you can carry food and tools without the need for a backpack or hip pack. There’s also a zippered side pocket for small items such as credit cards.
The jersey is cut to be most comfortable in the bent over riding position, and there is room to accommodate a back protector and elbow pads. Available in both ¾ and long sleeve variations, the Resistance jerseys come in both men's and women's cuts and start at £140 / $160 / AU$TBC.
Also new are the Resistance shorts, and in the same vein as the jersey are designed around pads and feature reinforced areas that commonly see abrasions, namely the side of the hip, thigh and knee. However, instead of Cordura, the shorts are reinforced with tear-resistant Vectran.
The knees are pre-bent, and the fabric gets a DWR finish. There are two side pockets and a zippered pocket on the rear, plus Velcro waist adjustment.
Available now, the shorts go for £140 / $160 for both the men's and women's version.
Clarity sunglasses
POC has given its popular Crave, Aspire, DO Blade and DO Half Blade sunnies the Clarity treatment.
Clarity is the Swedish brand's tuned lens, designed to increase contrast and limit eye fatigue to help you spot road or trail hazards faster — think Oakley's Prizm or Smith's ChromaPop.
Depending on your frame, POC's performance sunnies complete with a Clarity lens start at £215 / $230 / AU$TBC.