POC Otocon Race MIPS – In our big 2023 comparison test for lightweight and convertible full-face helmets

The Swedish protection specialist POC is known for its clear design. Your Otocon Race MIPS lightweight full-face helmet is clearly recognizable as a POC and competes against the competition in our 2023 lightweight helmet comparison test with several high-tech safety features.

The POC Otocon Race MIPS has the same striking silhouette as POC’s downhill helmet, the Coron Air DH, but has significantly more ventilation holes. The Otocon retails for €330 and is available in four sizes from XS to L, so it also offers a suitable option for drivers with small heads with a circumference of 48 cm or more. Our test helmet in size L weighs 842 g, making it one of the heaviest helmets in the entire test field. The fit can be adjusted using a knob that is seamlessly integrated into the back of the shell. The holding system is height adjustable in three different positions without having to remove and reconnect the entire system – just pull up and down! This means you can get the right fit in no time. In addition, the fit can be adjusted even more finely using different sized cheek pads, which are included in the scope of delivery.
The Otocon consists of four layers. Inside is a MIPS Integra liner designed to dissipate rotational shock. Above that is a layer of soft EPP foam to absorb smaller impacts, followed by a layer of traditional EPS foam to absorb larger impacts, topped off with a durable PC outer shell. POC has also integrated some clever technology to protect you in the event of an accident – a RECCO transponder is designed to help emergency responders find you in inaccessible places, and an NFC chip can store important details such as blood type and emergency contact details. The flexible visor features a removable plastic extension that can be used in particularly bad weather conditions to keep your goggles clean, and the chin bar features a removable mud guard. To round off the clever details, there are small rubber stoppers on the bottom of the helmet to prevent the helmet shell from being scratched after removal.

When you wear the Otocon for the first time, it feels like a full-fledged downhill helmet. The integrated holding system makes it easier to put the helmet over your head and the fit is initially reminiscent of a downhill-specific helmet. The Otocon fits well on all types of heads, hugging the head quite well and instilling so much confidence on the trail. However, the Otocon cannot match the outstanding “head-wrap” feel of the Bluegrass Vanguard Core. In this test, too, the POC offers one of the narrowest fields of vision, but this didn’t affect us on the trail. The ventilation is also not particularly good compared to the rest of the test field, as the Otocon heats up quite quickly due to the massive chin bar – on hot summer days we definitely recommend removing the mud grill! They’re a great feature on rainy days because they keep the trail out of your mouth. The cheek pads are quite far back so that they don’t fall on your face and the interior climate is a little more pleasant.

In typical POC style, the Otocon impresses with a slim design, excellent fit and numerous high-tech safety features. Of the lightweight helmets in this test, the Otocon offers the most realistic DH helmet feel, but it does come with some pros and cons. Even if it can’t quite keep up with the rest of the test field in terms of ventilation and field of vision, the Otocon impresses with a secure, comfortable fit and some clever, practical features that ensure a lot of confidence on the trail.

Tops

• Countless security features
• Inspires enormous self-confidence
• Countless security features

Flops

• Average ventilation
• Not the widest field of view

For more information visit pocsports.com.

For an overview of the group test: 9 lightweight and convertible full-face mountain bike helmets tested

All full-face helmets tested: Bell jar Super Air R Spherical (Click to review) | Bluegrass Vanguard Core Edition (Click for review) | Fox Proframe RS (Click for review) | giro Insurgent (Click for review) | MET Parachute MCR (Click here to read a review) | POC Otocon Race MIPS | Specialized Gambit (Click for review) | Troy Lee Designs Stage (Click for review) | Uvex Revolt MIPS (Click for review)

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Words: Simon Kohler Photos: Peter Walker