POC Ventral Tempus Spin Helmet Review

The POC Ventral Tempus Spin helmet is presented as a “winter training” model. While initially designed to tackle the coldest months of the year with its closed shell, its scope of action proved to be much wider than advertised, both in terms of weather elements and safety.

Text: Olivier Dulaurent – Photos: 3bikes.fr, POC

The test model is based on one of the Swedish brand’s best sellers: the Ventral Air Spin, from which a shell is added to obstruct the upper vents. Conversely, the side and rear vents are retained to prevent a “pressure cooker” effect.

POC presents this helmet as both a winter and pure training model and even primarily offers this fluorescent orange color (a matte green has recently been added to the catalog). However, it seems that despite a relatively high verified weight of 279 g in size Medium, this is not necessarily an obstacle to performance in certain conditions.

Indeed, since the wind-exposed openings are obstructed, the aerodynamic qualities of the Tempus model are all the more improved compared to its sibling in the range, the Air model. Furthermore, during rainy episodes during the test, the fact that the helmet was closed was greatly appreciated, for a wide temperature range, from -2 °C to 21 °C.

However, for the upper end of the range and in case of intense effort, a more ventilated helmet will naturally be preferable – if it’s dry, of course.

Thus, generally speaking, depending on one’s own sensitivity to cold and whether or not a cap or skullcap is used, the POC Ventral Tempus Spin works very well up to 15 °C.

But beyond protection from rain as mentioned above, it was during cold weather rides (below 5 °C) that the helmet showed its best side. Using the same skullcap as usual with a classic helmet, the difference in feel and comfort is striking from the first pedal strokes and lasts throughout the ride, even beyond 5 hours in the saddle. It is well known that the head is the primary source of body heat loss. Protecting this part of the body thus helps to better combat the cold.

However, POC had the good idea to keep “open” vents, both on the side and at the back. Sweating at the forehead during intense effort is obviously higher than with a completely ventilated model, but it is not bothersome.

Safety, also thanks to visibility

Another crucial point that the POC brand generally relies on, and particularly with this helmet, is visibility.

The fluorescent orange color is truly very visible. While the aesthetic may deter some purists who will not fail to draw parallels with the colors of the DDE (French road administration), far from the classy side of some fashionable outfits, when it comes to safety and life, bad jokes should no longer be tolerated.

As a reminder, cyclist fatalities increased sharply in 2021 with 226 people deceased (39 more than in 2019 and 48 more than in 2020). For the first time in 20 years, cyclist fatalities exceeded the threshold of 200 killed. Even if these figures must be compared with a clear increase in overall practice, it should be noted that mortality is more pronounced outside urban areas (+35% in 2021 compared to 2019) where cyclists are all the more vulnerable.

It is precisely in this context of sports practice, outside of cities, that the Ventral Tempus Spin finds its full value. Especially because in winter, visibility is lower than in summer: in addition to daylight hours, there are also days enveloped in mist or fog. In these conditions, the visibility criterion becomes crucial and nothing is “too much” to be seen.

Note that for next winter, the Ventral Tempus Spin will be equipped with MIPS technology (for Multi directional Impact Protection System). As a reminder, this process is an additional asset in the event of a fall; the helmet thus has the ability to absorb impact energy by allowing the internal layer and the external shell of the helmet to slide against each other. This principle cushions and therefore prevents impact. The brain is thus spared and does not collide with our skull.

Comfort is not forgotten either

What the user notices from the outset are the particularly comfortable interior foams. Using a pending patent, this technology employs silicone pads that prove to be pleasant while absorbing vibrations. The shape of the helmet itself, the chin straps, and the occipital retention only elicit praise, also in the interest of comfort.

More than just winter use

€260 (usually recommended retail price, but currently €182 on promotion on the POC website) is a high price for a helmet. But safety is priceless. Comfortable, providing better protection against the cold, and visible, the POC Ventral Tempus Spin has all the makings of the ideal winter helmet. But its use can perfectly be extended beyond its three-month target period. In bad weather in the middle of summer or even for riding when the light fades, it is a very valuable riding companion.

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