POC Omne Air Bike Helmet - Whether cycling to work, exploring gravel tracks or on the local trails, the helmet gives trusted protection

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Although there will always be government safety testing, Virginia Tech goes further. Certifications from agencies like the CPSC only state that a helmet meets a minimum requirement. They give no indication of how that performance ranks compared to the competition and impact testing only covers a specific type of impact. Virginia Tech has emerged as the only unbiased organisation to use a standardised and comparable test to rank helmet performance compared to other models. Virginia Tech is also a pioneer in the idea that off-centre impacts are different. When you actually wear the Kask Elemento though, none of that is what stands out. Instead, what you'll notice is how secure it feels. If you hate the feeling of helmets moving around on your head, this is the one to grab. The rear cradle, with a ton of space for a ponytail in it, hugs down and creates a very solid connection. It doesn't matter if you are bombing down a steep gravel descent or dripping sweat as you climb what seems like a never-ending hill. You'll never feel the need to reach up and adjust your helmet.

Regardless of the reason for the missing rating, when it's missing it leaves a question. I've highlighted that question when appropriate and I've included the rating when I have it. You will have to decide what that means for you. How do I find the most comfortable road bike helmet? The big difference between the two is that Smith adds Zonal Koroyd in addition to MIPS. Koroyd looks a bit like a handful of straws and the idea is that it actually replaces some of the foam to add rotational impact protection right into the helmet itself. There's another interesting effect of the Koroyd though.

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If you want more specifics though, road bike helmets tend to split into aero, climbing, and city styles. Aero helmets are an excellent way to add aero optimisation without extra cost but they tend to run hotter and weigh a bit more. Climbers helmets have tons of vents and do a great job keeping you as cool as possible while still wearing a helmet. More and more they incorporate some aerodynamics and they tend to be better all around options with a style that fits in on more types of rides. City, or commuter style helmets add features like extra coverage and lights and work best with an upright, relaxed style of riding. How do we test the best road bike helmets? Rotational motion is a common cause of concussions in oblique hits to the head. In a crash, the Mips system is designed to move slightly inside the helmet to help redirect forces away from the head.

The other piece to consider when it comes to MIPS is that it is so completely dominant in the industry. That leaves a brand to decide if a helmet coming to market should pay the license fee to MIPS and in return get a technology most other helmets have. For some brands the equation makes sense because consumers have come to understand that MIPS adds safety. Some people will not buy a helmet without MIPS and there may be good reasons to make that choice. Whether on the morning commute or a long weekend club ride, the Omne Air MIPS pushes you to go further. Optimal liner MIPS stands for multi-impact protection system and it's a brand name. At this point, it's become synonymous with helmet safety because MIPS was early to identify the need for a slip plane system to reduce head trauma. The brand is the most well-known because of its excellent marketing and smart technology. That doesn't mean though that a helmet has to have MIPS to be safe.The answer was a resounding no, and we found that there's no performance or comfort benefit. Just like in bikes, there's as much scope for difference between two people of the same gender as there is across different genders. If all helmets pass the relevant certification protocols why do some brands have MIPS? MIPS stands for multi impact protection system and it is a brand name. Like Hoover or Velcro, MIPS has become synonymous with a type of system but it is a brand like any other. If a helmet has MIPS it's because money has changed hands. On the outside, the POC Omne Air features an optimised-density EPS liner for "ideal impact force absorption". The exterior aesthetic is quite minimalist, with a relatively low profile, meaning it sits neatly on your head without looking bulbous in any way. This is the style section. It's something that people think doesn't matter but ends up being one of the questions I get asked about the most. Style matters and it's important to trust your intuition. Sure, I'll admit to hopping on a rideshare bike from time to time without a helmet — but whenever I can, I strap on a bike helmet. I've been riding road bikes, gravel bikes and mountain bikes for multiple decades now, not to mention a few healthy years of bike commuting. Never once did I regret having a helmet on.