The Cytal is POC’s newest top-of-the-range ventilated highway helmet, sitting above the Ventral Air. It’s made just about utilizing a regular helmet business method, specifically an exterior polycarbonate shell bonded to an EPS foam interior, however with the addition of a large carbon wing. The EPS foam additionally has various densities that POC says have been optimised to offer additional safety within the zones that require it most. Gone is MIPS, SPIN or any anti-rotational affect safety, however the Cytal nonetheless scores 5/5 within the Virginia Tech Helmet (VTH) security score. Weight for a measurement medium is claimed to be 250g, whereas in actuality the medium on check was 265g.
Adjustment for the helmet comes through a temple-to-temple cradle. The 2 attachment factors on the temple are adjustable to tailor the match barely, whereas the rear of the cradle is top adjustable. A rear dial gives micro-adjustments for tightening or loosening, whereas a standard 15mm adjustable webbing strap retains the helmet good and safe. Any extra strap underneath the chin folds over itself, with a rubber tab to maintain it from flapping, whereas an extra sleeve retains it neat and tidy. Good touches.
The carbon wing is the Cytal’s huge show-stopper. This has been inserted by means of the EPS throughout the highest of the helmet, and varies in form to help in directing airflow. POC says that this improves aerodynamic efficiency, air flow, and security through optimised affect power distribution. It additionally claims that this has additionally allowed it to maintain the entrance of the helmet much more open with out compromising its structural integrity.
Air is directed by means of the helmet, moderately than round it, apparently lowering drag and saving some watts over the Ventral Air. Inside there may be restricted padding on the forehead, temples, and high. The decreased contact factors on the entrance are designed to help airflow, with completely different padding configurations accessible to maintain the forehead open or lined.
Driving out with the Cytal
For enhanced venting, the Cytal sits additional ahead than most helmets
(Picture credit score: Andy Turner/Future)
The very first thing I seen when placing the POC Cytal on for the primary time was how snug it was. There have been no stress factors or areas the place the helmet felt tight on my head. The adjustment of the straps and the cradle was straightforward, and as soon as adjusted stayed in place securely. I didn’t have any points with the frames of my glasses rubbing or knocking on the helmet in any respect.
By way of the way it seems on the top, it has the standard huge frontal that POC helmets have been recognized for because the introduction of the Octal highway helmet. Nevertheless all of it seems in proportion.
The forehead does lengthen out somewhat bit greater than most highway helmets, to push it away from the forehead to offer extra airflow, however that is solely actually noticeable from the aspect. Nevertheless, it did lengthen into my view barely when using, however not sufficient to detract or have an effect on imaginative and prescient in any significant means.
Out on the highway, the massive entrance vents do an excellent job of permitting a considerable amount of air to hurry over the top. The helmet has very deep inner channels, so airflow can move cleanly over the top, and out by means of the rear exhausts. When travelling at any velocity from round 15kph and up, the airflow was greater than enough in 20˚C. In 28-30˚C the cooling impact was nonetheless very efficient. I solely acquired a bit heat at excessive effort stage at low velocity similar to steep climbs, however I don’t assume any helmet might fight that.
In comparison with different ventilation-focussed helmets, that is actually top-of-the-line when travelling at velocity, however at slower speeds, loads of others are simply nearly as good if not barely higher. The entrance vents additionally work properly for storing glasses, as most arm shapes can be accommodated by the massive openings. The grippers will not be essentially the most safe, and I relied totally on the wraparound of the glasses’ arms to maintain them within the docks.
One other factor I favored so much was the match on the entrance of the helmet. Past the 2 EPS extensions that function contact factors, the remaining is open and permits an excellent stage of airflow to the forehead and the brow. At 20˚C this meant that there wasn’t padding to get saturated by sweat, and though some did drip down, it tended to go round my forehead moderately than into my glasses. In hotter temperatures when there’s extra sweat, I most well-liked the choice of the provided forehead padding. The open entrance means the pad will get an excellent stage of airflow so it dries out fairly rapidly so long as you’ve durations of travelling at velocity with a decreased work fee.
Notice the large quantities of venting across the brow and forehead space
(Picture credit score: Andy Turner/Future)
In relation to the carbon wing, it’s exhausting to quantify the entire efficiency beneficial properties POC guarantees it makes. I can see how structurally it permits for a extra open building, much like the Specialised S-Works Prevail 3, and airflow is actually good. From a security perspective, I can even see how it could act equally, in addition to serving to to maintain the helmet in a single piece. Though it lacks any particular rotational affect safety, the VTH Security commonplace does check for rotational impacts, so a 5/5 score ought to imply it performs properly in that state of affairs.
By way of aero efficiency, it’s not possible to guess. Inwash and outwash approaches to managing airflow can each enhance aerodynamic efficiency however will differ in effectiveness from rider to rider and place to place. The airflow is actually pretty clear by means of the helmet and out the exhaust, doubtless lowering frontal stress, whereas the aspect vents are designed to absorb among the outwash airflow and goal it out the rear.
POC makes use of the identical Venturi Tunnel options right here that it makes use of in its Procen TT helmet and Procen Air aero highway helmet. Each of those rating strongly in impartial aero exams whereas that includes good ranges of air flow. Given the helmet is ventilation-focused, I think about it will likely be slower than a whole lot of aero helmets, however as quick or sooner than most vented helmets. I really feel assured in saying this with my expertise working as an aerodynamicist for my firm doing aero testing on the Silverstone wind tunnel. It is usually value noting that at speeds of 25-35kph, and slower when climbing, watt financial savings between helmets are small. Consolation, security, and air flow are my go-tos for a helmet if I’m not racing, then aero will get added after security if I’m.
Enormous exhaust vents assist airflow by means of the helmet
(Picture credit score: Andy Turner/Future)
There are a pair faults with this helmet. Firstly, the value is £360. That’s the joint costliest helmet I’ve ever examined, and the opposite is one other POC helmet. The Cytal options nice efficiency, security, and air flow, however at £360 it’s round £100 greater than equally performing opponents.
There are additionally some scuff marks already seen from both my glasses or the clip on the underside of the polycarbonate shell. They don’t seem to be huge, and don’t do something apart from injury aesthetics, however they’re fairly seen on the matt black shell. Lastly, though there’s a white choice on the POC web site, it appears not possible to order at current, leaving simply black as an choice. For a scorching climate helmet, black isn’t the perfect single color choice given it absorbs warmth.
Worth
The carbon wing takes up all the width of the helmet nevertheless it provides to the price
(Picture credit score: Andy Turner/Future)
The efficiency of the POC Cytal is undisputed, it’s a actually nice helmet to make use of. However at £360 it’s extremely costly and one of the crucial costly commercially accessible highway helmets in the marketplace. Sure, it makes use of carbon in its building and has had aero testing growth in addition to CFD to evaluate cooling impact. However the Specialised S-Works Prevail 3, Limar Air Professional, and MET Trenta 3K all function carbon fibre of their shells and boast related air flow and aerodynamic claims. Sure, they vary from £215-£290, at the least £70 cheaper.
Moreover in relation to air flow I’d say that the Prevail 3 is best for sluggish velocity excessive temperature using because the open high permits nice warmth dissipation. In the meantime, the Giro Aries performs at the same stage and subjectively seems higher whereas being cheaper and attaining the next security score rating.
Conclusion
Regardless of the venting, the black color will retain the warmth so the white model is a greater purchase. If it ever turns into accessible…
(Picture credit score: Andy Turner/Future)
The POC Cytal presents very good air flow, nice consolation, independently verified security, and promised aero financial savings. It’s a subjectively divisive helmet in relation to aesthetics, however the efficiency is certainly nice. Nevertheless, at £360 it’s supremely costly and doesn’t supply nice worth even with its excessive ranges of efficiency. Additionally, the black colourway is just not preferrred for decent sunny situations and temperature regulation.
