POC’s Ventral has been a long-standing cornerstone of the Swedish protection brand’s cycling helmet range. Over the years POC has diversified the Ventral from being a semi-aero helmet and released the svelte Lite and breezier Air versions, there is also a slightly odd Tempus edition designed specifically for riding in the rain.
For riders who aren’t on the hunt for marginal aero or weight gains, the added ventilation combined with POC and MIPS safety credentials means the Air version of the Ventral is the best option for those looking for a versatile gravel bike helmet from POC.
Design and aesthetics
The Ventral sports the ubiquitous yellow MIPS sticker on the outside, however looking inside the helmet you won’t find the internal cage structure that you would expect inside an MIPS-equipped helmet. Instead, the Ventral Air MIPS uses MIPS’ Integra system that replaces the standard helmet padding with silicone padding mounted on a smooth in-mold PC (polycarbonate) layer within the helmet. The pads' slip plane action and ability to slide on the PC layer reduce rotational motions that can cause concussions during impact. The MIPS Integra pads are positioned around the brow and extend across the top of the head, whereas at the rear there are four thinner standard foam pads. It's held in place by velcro and can be removed easily for washing.
With the Air edition being presented as the most ventilated Ventral, it’s not surprising that it’s packed with vents. Eight large forward-facing intakes feed into five internal channels across the head and exit out the six rear vents. Two vents on the top and two on each side of the helmet create further escape options for any heat build-up.
The helmet is constructed using an EPS liner that's fully wrapped with a unibody shell to stop the EPS from being damaged, it's all very neatly put together as well with no gaps or overlaps. The front vents have been designed to store sunglasses and feature high-friction pads to grip the arms. Getting eyewear in and out of the vents while on the move is easy and the helmet holds almost all my sunglasses securely even when riding on rough gravel. The only ones I have found that don’t play nicely are the POC’s Devour's although the unconventional adjustable legs don’t like being stored in most other helmets I have used.
At the rear, there’s a 360-degree fit system with three vertical positions and a rotating dial for accurately adjusting the fit. The helmet strap uses an adjustable plastic Y-junction to neatly route the straps around the ear and it’s fastened with a standard buckle closure under the chin, both of which are adjustable.
For the adventurous solo riders among us, POC also makes a version of the Ventral Air MIPS with an NFC Medical ID. This allows rescuers to use an NFC-equipped smartphone to access important medical information about you in the case of an emergency.
The Ventral Air MIPS comes in S (50-56cm), M (54-59cm), and L (56-61cm) sizes, not all heads are shaped the same so POC also has a Wide Fit version too. I have a medium Ventral Air in its standard fit on test which weighs 257g. POC offers the Ventral Air MIPS in a wide selection of 12 colorways, my test sample is the Okenite Off-White Matt, plus there's the pink EF Education-EasyPost ED and gold Amani ED special edition versions.
Performance
POC helmets have always suited my head shape and the Ventral Air MIPS provides the comfortable fit I would expect. With the cradle in its lowest position, the rear dial is easy to adjust and gives an accurate and secure fitment around my head. The positioning of the straps around the ear is perfect and they sit close to the face to avoid flapping when riding quickly. The Y-junction position can be adjusted by feeding the strap through the guide if needed, although it's a fiddly process. While we are on the subjective aspects of a helmet, I have long held the opinion that the POC Ventral series is the best-looking helmet around, although all heads are different so your experience may vary.
Although it's not the lightest helmet out there, the Ventral Air MIPS easily falls into the category of being unnoticeable when worn and it was as comfortable on a quick lunch spin as it was on an all-day epic.
Ventilation is impressive and while it has not been the warmest summer, on the occasional hot day or during big climbs I have yet to feel the need to loosen the helmet in an attempt to reduce heat build-up. The wide vents still do an impressive job of gulping in the air even at slow speeds and the straight-cut channels across the head give an unobstructed exit route. The channels also extend forward to ensure there is airflow across the brow to keep sweat build-up to a minimum. With the MIPS Integra integrated into the padding POC’s channeling is left unimpeded, further maximizing the airflow benefits.
Although I have never felt discomfort from a traditional MIPS line personally, I have heard plenty of reports from riders that aren’t graced with my voluptuous head of hair that says otherwise. As the Integra MIPS system removes the inner plastic liner these issues should be resolved while still offering rotational force absorption benefits. It also means there are no squeaks, creaks, or wobbles while riding, which is something I have experienced with some MIPS-equipped helmets. Other than a couple of yellow stickers, the Integra system goes completely undetectable while using the helmet which is exactly what you want.
Verdict
For me, the Ventral Air MIPS ticks all the boxes when looking for a performance helmet for drop bar and XC riding. A secure fit, excellent ventilation, and low weight ensure comfort while riding. The detailed design and clean construction show that a lot of care has gone into producing the helmet too. I’m a big fan of the bold POC aesthetic and there are loads of color options to suit any rider's wardrobe theme. While the theory behind the MIPS rotational protection has always made sense to me it has not always been perfectly implemented, that said the Integra system is the best version of MIPS I have used and goes completely unnoticed when riding.
This combo of Swedish design and MIPS safety tech comes at a steep £230 price tag, firmly placing the Ventral Air MIPS in the premium helmet category. This will leave some riders pondering whether it's worth the outlay over POC’s own Omne series. After all, the Omne Lite is also very comfortable and is marginally lighter, however, a noticeable improvement in ventilation, added rotational safety features, and secure sunglasses storage is enough to justify the extra outlay for the Ventral Air MIPS.
Tech specs: POC Ventral Air MIPS helmet
- Price: $260 / £230 / €260
- Weight: 257g (size Medium tested)
- Sizes: S, M, L
- Colors: Fluorescent Orange AVIP, Himalayan Salt Matt, Hydrogen White, White Matt, Lead Blue Matt, Okenite Off-White Matt, Adventure Yellow Matt, Prismane Red Matt, Sapphire Purple Matt, Lemon Calcite Matt, Uranium Black, Uranium Black Matt
