POC’s already versatile Omne bike helmet family gets two new versions – one, the completely wild Omne Ultra with buckles, velcro & straps to attach things to your head and two, a 20% lighter, more ventilated version that’s as now as light as the fully-open Ventral Air. Add the Ultra & Lite to the solar-powered Eternal, kids POCito, the stubby-visored Resistance, and the original Omne Air now with MIPS Integra – and this is the most adaptable helmet in POC’s line-up for everything from road rides to commutes, to off-road bikepacking adventures…
POC says the addition of the new Omne Ultra & Omne Lite are their way of making their most versatile cycling helmet even more adaptable to any type of cycling. Both performance lids essentially start with the same semi-aero road helmet design, and then tweak it for a more niche use. POC calls the Ultra “something different” while the Lite is a pretty straightforward upgrade in ventilation and lighter weight…
Omne Ultra bikepacking & gravel bike helmet
Let’s start with the new POC Omne Ultra – likely the most niche helmet we’ve seen yet. Sure, there are already plenty of “gravel helmets”, but this one takes it a step further by adding ways to strap things to your helmet just like your bikepacking bags. POC says it’s about being able to personalize your setup and to help add “inspiration for those extended adventures on your bike”.
Now, is it a good idea to strap stuff to your helmet? That’s probably a no, but the Ultra isn’t about hauling gear on top of your head. It’s more like making a statement.
Adventure tech details
A big piece of velcro on the left side of the helmet gives you somewhere to stick on a patch? A mini bungee strap on the right is more likely a spot to stick a feather in your cap that you find along the way? And a daisy chain strap and buckle at the back might let you dangle a scarf, hold a goggle strap in place for some deep winter adventures, or secure a rain cover on top? I think the idea is to leave it up to you to decide.
Other than the attachment point, the Omne Ultra is essentially the same as the standard Omne Air, with a full wrap polycarbonate shell in-molded over a light EPS foam liner, with a low-profile MIPS Integra system & a RECCO reflector inside and 360° dial fit adjustment.
The new EN/CPSC/AS/NZS-certified POC Omne Ultra sells for $200 / 200€ and comes in three sizes S (50-56cm) at 320g, M (54-59cm) at 340g & L (56-61cm) at 390g (all claimed weights). It will be available from next month, March 2023, in 4 matte colors – Argentite silver, Epidote green, Himalayan Salt orange, and Uranium black.
Omne Lite lightweight road & gravel bike helmet
Compared to the weirdness of the Ultra, the Lite is easily overshadowed. But POC’s upgrades to the Omne Lite are more impressive, really. Starting with the same overall Omne Air shape, the Lite drops around 65g (more than 20%) to make this POC’s second-lightest helmet, only behind the Ventral Lite. It does that by trimming back the outer polycarbonate shell to just the edges for protection and by hollowing out a bit more EPS foam without sacrificing safety thanks to a ‘whole helmet’ safety concept, plus foregoing any extra MIPS system inside.
Lightweight tech details
Omne Lite (l) vs. Omne Air MIPS (r)
The result is not just a lighter helmet down to a claimed 240g, but also much-improved ventilation thanks to larger openings, an extra pair of exhaust ports at the sides, and deeper internal ventilation channels.
Omne Lite (l) vs. Omne Air MIPS (r)
That makes it as light as the completely open-vented Ventral Air, and at least 100g lighter than the Omne Ultra. Tech-wise it still has the same in-mold construction – just pared down – and the same 360° dial fit adjustable retention.
The new EN/CPSC/AS/NZS-certified POC Omne Lite sells for $190 / 190€ and comes in three sizes S (50-56cm) at 220g, M (54-59cm) at 240g & L (56-61cm) at 260g (all claimed weights) – plus a WF wide fit version. It will be available in shops & online in March 2023, in 7 colors – a darker matte Epidote green, matte Amethyst purple, matte Uranium black, matte Uranium black + Lead blue, matte Uranium black + Prismane red, glossy Fluorescent pink + Uranium black, and gloss Hydrogen white
Other POC OMNE MIPS helmets, too
POC Omne Air MIPSPOC Omne Air Resistance MIPSPOCito Omne Air MIPSPOC Omne Eternal
POC calls the Omne family their multi-discipline helmets “with advanced performance and the optimal blend of function and form”. On top on the new Ultra & Lite, there are four more in the family. The Omne Air recently got a MIPS Integra update, as did the Omne Air Resistance, while the hi-viz kids’ POCito Omne Air also now comes equipped with MIPS, too. The commuter Omne Eternal didn’t, but it still delivers perpetual LED rear lighting thanks to solar panels that recharge even inside, plus light & motion sensors that automatically turn the light on when you ride in low light conditions.
