Just like the all-new Cularis MTB helmet earlier today, POC has a new aero road Cytal helmet too, balancing vented aerodynamic performance with unparalleled safety. This one isn’t quite as all-new, sharing the same overall shape as POC’s pro road team racing Cytal Carbon that debuted last summer. But while this new Cytal drops the carbon to lower costs at just a 10g weight penalty, the big innovation is a careful multi-density EPS foam construction that makes this the safest road cycling helmet that POC produces.
New POC Cytal claims to be the Safest Road Bike Helmet
In fact, the new POC Cytal earns the title of safest road bike helmet in the independent Virginia Tech Helmet Rating lab’s tests. Its safety is ranked so highly, that only 2 helmets sit higher across all categories – the recent Fox Speedframe RS mountain bike helmet, and POC’s own new Cularis MTB helmet launched today as well.
At the same time, this isn’t a helmet that obviously looks like it would be the safest on the market. It looks pretty similar to the trend for angular aero-shaped road cycling helmets. Although it is a bit boxy in shape, suggesting some extra material that may help absorb crash impact energy.
But interestingly, in the VT tests, the new Cytal scores much safer than the previous Cytal Carbon which appears to be incredibly similar.
So how did POC make it safer?
POC says they started with the key aerodynamic, ventilation, and even balance characteristics of the Cytal Carbon, and then kind of re-engineered how they could make it safer.
“Our safety mission is crystal clear, and it inspires us to improve and constantly question the status quo. We know how to develop highly ventilated, comfortable, aerodynamic and highly protective helmets; with the Cytal and Cularis, we wanted to challenge ourselves to take another step forward. In particular, we wanted to integrate more of our real-world testing and research knowledge to refine details and enhance helmet performance. And the Cytal and Cularis are a true embodiment of this approach.”
– Oscar Huss, POC Cheif Product Officer
The secret safety ingredient seems to be a variable-density EPS foam crumble zone construction that was developed based on POC’s in-house heat map that studies where impacts occur in real-world cycling crashes. There, FEM modeling (Finite Element Method) let POC engineers improve energy absorption where it matters the most. While also retaining top-tier ventilation and aerodynamic performance.
How does it feel out on the road?
Again, we can’t really speak to the safety until I land on my head (thankfully not yet.) but the independence and credibility of Virginia Tech go a long way to support the claims of this as the safest road helmet on the market.
What I can speak to is how the Cytal feels.
The design is quite tall and angular in the front, which actually results in a more even front-to-back balance than many other helmets. The Cytal simply sits very comfortably atop my head, probably feeling even lighter than it actually is.
It is also super ventilated. The forward edge and wing-shaped top do a great job of leveraging the Venturi-effect to draw air into the inver channels and speed it up over your head.
This is certainly one of the most ventilated helmets I’ve ever ridden. To the point that riding in cool weather after sweating on the climbs was better with a thing cycling cap on underneath.
Tech Details
- #1 ranked for road cycling safety by independent Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings (March 2025)
- 5-star Virginia Tech safety rating, and ranked #3 across all cycling helmet categories
- CFD-optimized aerodynamic design, while still prioritizing maximum ventilation
- fully ventilated aero road design, utilizing Venturi-effect airflow
- 5 larger vertical front intake vents, 5 smaller air scoop top intake vents behind the wing & two side scoop intake vents
- airflow over the top of the head and behind the occipital area with deep internal channels to compress & exit through 5 rear exhaust vents
- MIPS Air Node thin rotational impact protection solution
- variable density EPS foam co-molded in multi-part polycarbonate shell
- Eye Garage grippers to securely hold sunglasses
- 360° dial fit adjustment with additional vertical position adjustment
- lightweight plastic buckle
- 3 separate US/CPSC, CE/EN & AS/NZS certified models to optimize weight
- lightweight claimed at CPSC: S 300g, M 320g, L 340g; CE: S 250g, M 270g (271g actual), L 300g; AS/NZS: S 260g, M 280g, L 300g
- 3 wider-range sizes available: S(50-56cm), M (54-59cm) & Large (56-61cm)
POC Cytal road – Pricing, options & availability
The new POC Cytal aero road cycling helmet is available now directly from POC and their partner retailers by the end of next week for $330 / 320€. Buyers can also pick from 9 matte color options: AVIP-style fluorescent orange/black, navy blue/black, black/white, white/black, dark green/white, red/black, all back, all gray with gray foam, or all white with white foam. And of course, all colors in 3 sizes and each market getting their appropriate certification.
