Kali and POC, make extremely comfortable and protective helmets and armor. POCs helmets have subdued graphics in a wide spectrum of colors, while Kali creates helmets with outlandish graphics. Both companies manufacturer unique products which have saved my neck on more that one occasion.
Check past the break to see what products they were stoked on this year.
On display at its Sea Otter booth POC has a cutaway of extremely adjustable Trabec Race. The inner plastic yellow band, which has several points of adjustability, moves independently from the outer shell during an impact in order to better dissipate a direct force over a larger surface area.
The new POC line up of armor utilizes a revamped VPD foam, which hardens upon impact, to reduce bulk. The updated VPD, Viscous Polymer Dough, also functions more effectively in spite of temperature fluctuations.
Knee and shin, knee, and elbow guards using the revamped VPD are available. They’re slim enough for all mountain use but durable enough for repeated downhill abuse.
POC was also advertising its brand new merino wool socks, in a variety of colors, for that special sock lover in your life.
Stop by their booth at Sea Otter this weekend and receive a 50% off coupon of any of their products.
Kali
This year Kali introduced a budget helmet with performance features. The Chakra Plus, pictured above, retails for $49 and is available in a myriad of colors. The helmet weighs a very respectable 336g and featured a unique fit system and mesh “bug net.”
Kali also uses a technique they refer to as Composite Fusion in which the shell and the Contego EPS liner are molded at the same time, bonding the two together permanently. The process leaves no chance for air bubbles to form between the two and allows for a lighter and stronger overall product.
This technique not only works more efficiently in a crash situation, but because there is no degradation of glue or tape over time, in the long run the outer shell and inner foam will not separate.
Also on display was the brand new Avatar 2. The claimed weight is claimed to weigh around aprx 850+ grams, but production models tip the scales at a ridiculous 775 gms. The top of the line helmet has a carbon outer shell, but shares some of the same Composite Fusion in-molding techniques found in the budget Chakra +.
The Prana is Kali’s top of the line carbon DOT certified helmet. The Prana, pictured on the right, weighs 1,000 grams. The helmet offers better protection in extreme downhill circumstances but the DOT helmets weighs the same as one of the Kali budget full face lids. The Prana actually felt lighter on my smallish head, because the extra padding made for a tighter fit, but both felt extremely comfortable.
Just a few of the many different Kali graphics.
