POC, the Swedish company renowned for safety and design... Wait... Are we talking about Volvo here? Fair enough, all Swedish sporting good and car companies seem to brand themselves in a similar manner, and admittedly it seems to work. POC, the synonym for premium, well fitting clothing and safety gear release the trail and enduro oriented Axion SPIN helmet in late 2019 and it became available to dealers in March / April 2020.
Features
The new design of the Axion helmet follows that of the more expensive Tectal, which has been out for several years, but does so in a slightly slimmer and most importantly less expensive package. The looks are distinctly POC with clean lines and plain colorschemes. You won't see any tribal tattoo inspired designs on their products, and I couldn't be happier about that! It's available in the following colors:- Matt white
- Matt black
- Kalkopyrit blue matt (turquoise)
- Uranium black / kalkopyrit blue matt (dual color scheme)
- Actinium pink matt
- Hydrogen white / Apophyllite green matt (dual color scheme)
- Lead blue matt (dual color scheme with grey accent)
- Fluorescent yellow / green matt
The peak / visor can be adjusted to three positions with a klick-in-place type mechanism, which holds it in place well. The peak is designed to break away on impact, and can be easily reattached.
The shell is well vented and the vents are large and well placed. No GoPro or light mount is available for this helmet.
The Axion is priced at MSRP 160€, but is available from different on-line stores and even local shops like Sporthammer, close to where I live, for anywhere between 137€ - 180€ depending on region. This is mostly on par with its direct competitors like the Bell Sixer, Fox Speedframe or Giro Montaro.
Fit and finish
It probably goes without saying that the finish on this lid is second to none, except perhaps the more expensive Tectal from POC. The Axion has a fully wrapped unibody shell made up of several parts of plastic joined together, which has allowed POC to use the same design for different colorways. Mine is the black & turquoise version in size XL or 59-63cm. My head is 60cm and I found this the perfect size for my nogging, while still leaving enough room for a helmet cap underneath. The injection molded outer shell is permanently joined to the impact foam inner shell, and the helmet feels extremely sturdy and well built with no creaks of discernable movement between the parts.
While other manufacturers use the rotational impact reducing system from MIPS, POC have decided to go their own way with the SPIN (Shearing Pad INside) system. It uses silicone pads to attach the retention system to the shell of the helmet. POC call these SPIN and they consist of silicone discs, which allow the retention system to rotate inside the shell. Very similar to the newer iterations of MIPS, like the one found in the Bell Sixer I have also reviewed. I don't want to call the retention system a liner like in the Sixer, as it's not as much of a separate part of the helmet as in the Bell helmets, but sits much closer to the shell and doesn't feel like the shell and retention system are separated by anything. It feels like a helmet without MIPS / SPIN and I think this is excellent! The pads are fully removable and washable.
The chin strap is adjustable, but has no fancy magnetic attachments or doodads, but rather just a simple mechanical clasp, which we're all used to.
The helmet is shaped so that it offers more protection at the back and temples, and it fits nice and close to the head. This means that while wearing the Sixer it's impossible to place your glasses on the outside of the helmet straps, this maneuvre is easy with the Axion, should you be so inclined. The helmet also feels extremely protective when worn with great coverage all around.
My size XL weighs 390g, which is not bad for a trail helmet.
Ride impressions
Out on the trail the helmet doesn't make a number of itself. It's, in fact, so unnoticable that it's easy to forget you're even wearing a helmet! POC's 360 liner, or retention system, adjusts well to the shape of your head, so no more worrying about a poor fit like with helmets of days past. The SPIN system also makes the helmet fit very snuggly and close to your head, so the feeling of your helmet being detached from your head is not present in anyway or form.Glasses work well with this helmet unless your sporting some fancy big blades. My Oakley Jawbreakers fit great and the straps are unobtrusive.
I have not had the chance to wear the helmet for longer rides on hot days, but the open design makes me hope this won't be comparable to a a miniature sauna on your head.
Conclusion
I have not owned POC helmets before, but as I was in the market for a new trail helmet and this was available locally, it was an easy decision once I tried the helmet on. The fit is PERFECT for my Scandinavian head and somewhat high forehead, but might not suit people with sloped or low foreheads as the helmet does sit rather deep. The Tectal feels very similar, so if you already own one, or have test fitted one, the fit will be more or less 100% the same.Going from 160€ to 230€ would get you the top-of-the-line Tectal, but to be honest I can't find any feature in the Axion's more expensive sibling other than styling, why I would opt for the more expensive lid. Honestly, you can't go wrong with this helmet, so it gets two thumbs up from me and warm recommendations!
Build quality: 4.5/5
Fit: 5/5
Price: 4.5/5
Ride impressions: 5/5
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