POC Kortal Race MIPS helmet
£220 BRANBDRANNEDW
The new Kortal Race MIPS is POC’s latest attempt to create the ultimate open-face helmet to meet the everincreasing demands of trail and enduro riding. It’s e-bike certified, too, having passed the Dutch NTA 8776 standard, which requires lids to be subjected to higher impact speeds than in other tests.
Not only does it have a head-enveloping fit and good coverage around the back of the bonce, but POC have gone to town on additional safety features, too – as you’d expect, considering the lofty price tag. Like many lids, the Kortal Race comes with a MIPS system to better protect your head from rotational impacts, but here it’s the new Integra version, which is moulded into the EPS liner, with the helmet’s padding sitting directly on top of it. This should, in theory, improve ventilation compared to the standard MIPS.
The helmet also features a handy NFC ID chip, which can store all of your medical info (via an app) and emergency contact details, along with a RECCO reflector – a transponder that doesn’t require power or activation. This can help emergency services locate you if you crash. Then there’s the aramid bridge, used to bolster the lid’s structural strength, and the breakaway peak, with three height positions to choose from. There’s no exposed EPS foam around the rim of the helmet, with the outer shell wrapping it completely to boost overall durability.
An indexed adjuster wheel lets you dial in the fit around your head and there are three different vertical positions to choose from. The cradle wraps around the entire inner circumference of the helmet, helping to avoid any awkward pressure points when it’s cinched up enough to keep it secure. At 407g (medium) the Kortal Race isn’t the lightest lid out there, but it is a few grams lighter than Troy Lee Designs’ similarly-priced A3.
The POC helmet’s one-piece padding isn’t too thick, but remains comfortable on long days in the saddle. After back-toback rides with the A3, we’d say the Troy Lee lid has the edge when it comes to comfort, although venting is similar. The Kortal Race’s large intakes at the front do a good job of directing air in and over your head, and help to avoid overheating on long summer climbs. While it’s not quite as comfy as the A3, some may prefer the (marginally) deeper fit the POC lid offers.
Although the Kortal Race costs a lot, it’s comfortable and we appreciated the extra safety features it offers over much of the competition. Rob www.pocsports.com