POC Ventral Spin Helmet for Sale, Reviews, Deals and Guides

8.3
out of 10
15 Positive, 3 Mixed & 1 Negative
from 19 Reviews
Retail Price:
$289.95
Used Value:
$173.97
Sale Value:
$260.96

POC's Ventral Spin Helmet is touted as the most aerodynamic, well-ventilated, and safest road helmet ever produced by the Swedish protection experts. Its name takes inspiration from the guiding scientific principle behind the helmet's design: the Venturi effect. This scientific principle states that by constricting airflow in a choke point, the air pressure subsequently drops as it gains velocity. POC's engineers used this guiding principle to maximize ventilation by sculpting massive airflow vents in the front, which channel air inside constricted channels over the top of your head, then out from large exhaust ports along the sharp, trailing rear.

By speeding up the flow of air inside the helmet, the Venturi effect means you'll remain cool and comfortable as you ride at a blistering cadence, even in the summer heat. Not only that, but the sharp trailing edges of the helmet and large exhaust ports smoothly reattach airflow coming through the helmet with that moving over the top, subsequently minimizing turbulence off the rear end, which is critical in making an exceptionally aerodynamic helmet.

POC decided to upgrade the Ventral Spin's protective properties with their newly introduced Spin rotational protection impact system. This minimizes the traumatic forces from crashing at an oblique angle by allowing the helmet to rotate independently around your noggin in the case of an angled crash. Spin pads placed inside the helmet are fixed in place, but exhibit a bit of movement, which gives the helmet a bit of shear in the case of a crash. These pads are made of a silicone-based material on the bottom for extra impact mitigation, lined with traditional foam on top for sweat-wicking comfort.

Now, we generally take claims of watt-saving aerodynamics with a grain of salt, but POC makes an excellent case for employing well-known science into the making of their flagship road helmet, thereby increasing its streamlined efficiency while boosting comfort in the stifling heat of summertime—all while upping its protection from oblique impacts with their Spin liner system. We'll go as far to say that by merging advanced aerodynamics, high levels of ventilation, and enhanced safety, POC created one of the highest performing, most attractive helmets we've seen in quite some time.

Specifications

Brand:
POC
Claimed Weight:
250 g
Fit Adjustment:
rear dial adjustment system
Impact Foam:
EPS foam, Spin rotational protection system
Manufacturer Warranty:
1 year
Recommended Use:
road cycling
Shell Material:
unibody shell
Ventilation:
9 large vents

Full Reviews

10
Was looking for a new helmet and wanted something light, comfortable and safe that looked good aesthetically too. This hits on every aspect I was looking for. There is plenty of ventilation on hot days to keep my head cool, and the sunglasses garage works really well (gets a little loose on gravel / MTB trails, but that's to be expected). From a profile standpoint, this was the least "mushroomy" of the options I considered too. I tried the Octal too, but that one was very mushroomy for me... I've seen other reviews talk about MIPS. This does not have MIPS, but it does have POC's own SPIN technology (the little pads on the helmet are meant to shift a little if there's impact and displace direct impact energy). Haven't had to test it's strength yet but I hope it's as good as MIPS.
Dan F., backcountry.com
September 18, 2020
4
The strap harnesses that sit below the ear do not adjust up and down, only front to back. And the front strap connects to the helmet way out front, placing the strap well in front of your ear, and closer to your eye. Look at photos of people wearing it and realize that this is not user error- it is a fixed design. And when tightening the chin strap it digs into my throat worse than other helmets. Again, if you look at photos of people wearing it, you will see some of them with a loose strap under their chin. It's a flagship racing model that people wear loose under the chin? Also runs large. I've owned a lot of high end helmets and I always wear a medium. This one was big. I do not like returning stuff, but this has to go back.
Rodney T., backcountry.com
August 21, 2020
8
I'm coming from a Specialized Evade aero helmet (1st generation) and I loved the fit. The POC Ventral Spin fits great as well, but the side strap adjustments are a little difficult to dial in. Once I got them dialed in, I have been very happy with the fit. I ordered a Medium and the straps for me are almost too short. Not quite, but almost. Just my experience. The venting is absolutely fantastic. I have no idea if the aero claims match up, I just like the look of the helmet more than anything. That said, I had no idea what I was missing in regards to the venting. Much more air flow than my Specialized helmet. Overall I'm incredibly satisfied and love the look of this helmet. The Ventral Spin seems to me to fit a bit closer to my head and a bit lower profile in general than some of the other POC helmets.
Jake H., backcountry.com
July 28, 2020
10
The MIPS technology increases my peace of mind that I'll be better protected. The feel of this on my head feels incredibly comfortable. If you get the correct size, it feels like a glove; almost like it's not even there. Super light weight and with 90 degree and high humidity, this baby breathes REALLY well. I've worn many brand helmets over 23 years; THIS is by far the most impressive. After a couple rides, I went back and bought another one. WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!!!!! www.MyCycleCoach.com
robert W., backcountry.com
June 30, 2020
10
After reading some of the reviews with concerns about fit, I was a little apprehensive about buying this but hoping for the best and buoyed by the positive reviews I pulled the trigger and I am certainly glad I did. The helmet looks huge sitting in the box but once upon my head didn't look out of proportion. The straps, ear loops, everything, fit perfectly and is amazingly comfortable. Great ventilation. I live in a hot, dry area and I am not a super fast rider but I still feel the cooling effects of the design. Finish quality is really nice, I have nothing negative to say about it perhaps other than price but in this case it seems like it is worth it. Size large fits my big round head with a Headsweats beanie on it just fine with room to adjust larger if needed. Have about a dozen rides and 500 miles on it so far. The white matte looks good and I think adds to my visibility. Product was shipped as promised from Competitive Cyclist.
Erik A., backcountry.com
June 24, 2020
8
Finally a helmet that fits my small head. Comfortable and cool. Even received a few compliments from the group
Euna R., backcountry.com
June 14, 2020
2
I have purchased many items from Competitive Cyclist. My latest was a POC helmet for $300+. Unfortunately Competitive Cyclist used the slowest possible delivery service and after 10 days, the helmet still has yet to be delivered. Customer service (Maggie) was of little help - "just wait a bit longer, we've had many complaints about our delivery service" was hardly the news I wanted to hear and should not have been my problem. I'll start to look elsewhere for cycling accessories and clothing if their delivery and customer services are not improved. (No way to rate the helmet since I have not received it..........)
Peter S., backcountry.com
June 13, 2020
6
My head size seems to be between a M and L in most helmets. M is fine, though the shape of the styrofoam pushes a bit in places. Lots of airflow - no issues with overheating. Nice band on the chin strap to prevent rubbing. Like others, the ear loop part of the strap is small - you can only adjust so far because of the design and it pulls my earlobes a bit (and I have small ears). I think Backcountry sent me some of the older stock (Production 2/19; purchase 3/20) - not sure if this has been fixed in later iterations as per other reviews. Fortunately I have yet to test its crashworthiness.
Andrew H, backcountry.com
June 2, 2020
10
Medium was a bit small but I got a pretty big head. This was my first pricey helmet so I was a bit nervous but this thing is great. Feels like there isn’t anything on your head at all while riding is definitely order again when I need a new one
Mario, backcountry.com
May 23, 2020
10
Poc has nailed it with this one! The helmet is great for so many things such as ( mountain biking, Road biking, Gravel riding, looking cool at the coffee shop). The vents in this helmet are very breathable when moving above 15 miles an hour my head stays very cool. This helmet is also very light for an aero helmet. The spin technology is also a great idea, its very comfortable and absorbs a surprising amount of sweat. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves adventuring or racing.
Conner Lacey, backcountry.com
March 16, 2020
4
Really disappointed in this helmet. The fit works really well for my head and I love the way it looks...but the straps are way too small. Fully extended they don’t reach the bottom my ears. I thought I was missing a way to adjust them further but digging into more reviews it seems like this is a common problem. Apparently POC made a running change, so it is possible I got an early production one. Maybe you will have better luck. Regardless, this shouldn’t be an issue on a $300 helmet. POC should be ashamed for bringing a mistake like this to the market.
tjross1965889, backcountry.com
July 16, 2019
10
This helmet is comfortable, light, looks good, and is supposed to be very safe with the Spin technology. I hope I never find out!
Nick Topham, backcountry.com
March 22, 2019
10
After wearing Kask for many years, I've found POC. First got a Trabec for mountain biking. Next was the Ventral Spin for road. Very comfortable and lightweight with major breathability - which is good for Arizona riding. Runs small so I had to return medium for large.
Pete S., backcountry.com
February 17, 2019
8
but it didn't fit, too small. and in a weird way. The ear straps barely fit over my ears and it was more the tightness of the harness and pads along my forehead that put pressure on my head, rather than the overall shell size. Anyway, my grape is about 58-58.5 cm for reference, and a medium in all other POC helmets fit perfectly, but this in a medium did not. I'm not willing to go large, I just can't see the point of that. I'm a solid POC guy and love my Octal X, so I tried on an Octal X Spin as well, and it didn't feel right either, so I'm beginning to think it's the Spin padding/configuration. I just ordered a Raceday, because 10/10 I will love that. And a huge shoutout to my gearhead, Connor Johnson, a dude who is an invaluable asset when it comes to online shopping for gear. If you don't have a gearhead yet, or yours lags, give him a shout at cojohnson@backcountry.com. My stoke level with him is RAGING.
Jean-Guille Philippe, backcountry.com
May 26, 2018
10
POC comin' out of the gates with another show-stopper of a helmet. The Ventral is very easy on the eyes, and feels pretty fantastic on the head. Full disclosure - I did not end up keeping this helmet due to my head not fitting the shape of the helmet - but I had to really convince myself to return it - due to loving everything the Ventral had to offer. Sleek colors (matte black, hell yes) great looking profile - and absolutely spectacular ventilation. Seriously - I walked through my living room with this thing on and could feel the air being channeled through the front - and out the back. The SPIN system is a great new alternative to MIPS - removable pads, extremely comfy and squishy - you really get what you pay for here. My last note being the fit - I have a 60cm (ish) dome - and it's on the oval side of things. I really wanted to make the M fit, and it did, but it was designed to encompass more of a circular head shape. L fit well, but just didn't feel like always having it cinched to 100% on every ride. 9/10 subjective overall rating.
Eric Poole, backcountry.com
May 24, 2018
10
I have worn Giro helmets for years and I am also the kind of person who generally sticks with what works - which is to say, I seldom change for its own sake. WhenI started looking at new helmets, I knew I wanted updated safety and aerodynamics. I had looked at Giro's offerings. The Synthe had mixed reviews on how MIPS was incorporated and I wasn't sold on the looks of the Vanquish and its integrated shield. I was always interested in POC's safety-first approach to gear and I had a love-hate with their eccentric, vaguely retro style (think Hesjedal's aviators).When the Ventral started appearing in reviews I immediately liked that it wasn't as mushroom-y as their initial range of helmets. I also liked that they had incorporated their latest MIPS iteration. I have no idea if this makes any difference and the plan is not to find out, but more is better in this case. A couple things of note about this helmet: First, I stuck with Giro because they just fit so well. POC's fit is different to be sure. It comes down further in front, but it doesn't interfere with vision or sunglasses. It did fit me a bit more loosely than my Giro, but again, not to its detriment. Based on the other reviews, I may be in the minority in terms of fit. The next is that the straps are a little different to work with and POC is a little light on instructions. It's sort of a stare at it until the logic becomes clear situation, but you'll get it. The venting seems quite good but I do well in the heat, so I may not be the best guide. Surprisingly, their sunglasses garage idea is waay more fiddly than you would expect - even with their own sunglasses. You have to push them in and down a bit. Beyond that, though, I am really pleased with this helmet. It looks very good. Its aero and safety capabilities I will just take on faith. I have finally found an alternative to Giro.
professorVelo, backcountry.com
April 18, 2018
10
Having used the Bell Star Pro Shield for two years, the vents are a breath of fresh air. I've had it for about a month now but I've had no performance complains to report. I wear a medium for almost everything but this ran a bit small for me.
Brady W., backcountry.com
April 16, 2018
8
Got this helmet as I have always been a big fan of POC helmets. First off the helmet if going to fit slightly small and not as low on the brow as the Octal helmet. That being said the helmet still fits great and the SPIN pads, in my opinion, are more comfortable than MIPS liners. If you have questions about the fit please feel free to reach out to me.
Andrew Dickinson, backcountry.com
March 29, 2018
10
Light and Aero. I have used it now only about 100 miles. I will update in the summer when temps rise. I bought a Large and have a 62cm Head. Fits ok. I could have went up a size but this large works. Brad W
Brad W, backcountry.com
March 25, 2018

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