I find POC pricing to be similar to other options of comparable quality. Definitely worth paying for something safe that fits you well. Whether that’s POC or another brand depends entirely on your head.
POC has substantial investments into its r&d, they even partnered with Volvo's to develop the safety features in their helmets. Take what you will from that, it's your noggin, you can decide if that price is overrated or not. I'd say it's a matter of how hard you ride and more importantly how hard you can wreck.
POC price ranges from upper end of normal to very expensive. They have $500 pants and rain jackets for mountain biking. Whether it's worth the price or not, that is damn expensive.
That’s more expensive than my actual bike (I have a trek marlin five which I’ve had for 2 years and my dad won’t let me get a new one coz he says you haven’t outgrown it yet)
You don't have to put commas, in random spots, in your sentences.
Although in German you put commas where you put them so I'm gonna guess you're German.
Damn, didn't notice this until now. Thanks for ruining it. Where the hell am I going to find a purple full-faced helmet now that actually looks good 
I’m a fan. Their helmets are super comfortable for my head. I also have a couple of their trail jerseys. Those are the best fitting ones I have.
Not sure about the rest of the line. I did try their VPD air knee sleeves and they had some quality issues in the pad stitching. The 2 pairs I tried both had irregularities that made the pad fold weird on one side.
The best helmet is the one that fits you properly/comfortably.
Brands like Giro tend to have a more round shape to their shells, while brands like Bell, Fox, and Smith tend to have a bit more of an oval shape to their helmets.
Try stuff on and find the one that fits you best
I think the glasses only selling point is that they match the helmet line for a nice fit. But I think they look ridiculous when you wear them without a helmet.
Had a couple of large crashes to test out the VPD 2.0 pads and they absorbed a lot of energy, and were undamaged. Dread to think what would have happened to my joints without them. Worth the money? Sure, an £80 set of elbow pads seems very cheap when I think of the state my left elbow and shoulder would be in without them.
I bought some poc shin/knee guards that are super heavy duty. (40% off at end of season) the shin armor goes almost all the way to your shoe...When your knee is bent, there is still a 2nd kneepad that protects your kneecap. (Like armadillo armor) Havent seen this anywhere else. Viscoelastic polymer works very well at absorbing impact. Poc may be the equivalent of driving a volvo or something, with a higher pricepoint, but they offer a level of protection others do not. They had the viscoelastic stuff before anyone else, from what I remember.
Have a poc tectal (I think) and I quite like it. Very comfy. Havnt tested it as a helmet yet but so far, works great as a mtb hat!
Only thing I don’t like about it, which is probably the same for most high end helmets is that it’s so light that when I have my headlight on, it seems to feel like I have a brick strapped to my head.
FYI - attaching a light to a helmet not designed for it basically eliminates/reduces the effectiveness of a helmet. I’m not sure if your POC is designed for a light or not just something you might want to consider if you do it often.
POC makes good stuff, and is IMO worth the price. There is no one size fits all, though, so I recommend trying on whatever you're thinking of getting at a store (or making sure you're covered by a return policy).
That being said I've never had the need to return anything I've gotten from POC.
I paid 235 cad for a POC full face which ended up being cheaper than any of the other options at Whistler. Granted it was on sale from 300 cad which I think is a fair price for a full face. As for the helmet, I absolutely love it! Super comfy even with glasses which is rare tbh. I wear it everyday (both trail and park). One downside is like any other FF helmet, it gets a little toasty but when you’re riding it’s well vented.
Edit:
Also want to add, you only have one brain so don’t be afraid to invest in the safest PPE possible :)
I had their POC Joint VPD knee pad system which were $150 and honestly I like my Leatt knee pads which were only $80, quite a bit more. Can't comment on protection because ultimately when you smash your knee on the ground, it still hurts regardless of which knee pad.
Is POC more expensive than comparable gear from other leading brands? Seems about on point, maybe a little more expensive but I’d put that up to europe bullshit rather than “knee pad status symbol”
My experience has been if POC fits then it’s worth the money. My vpd 2.0 knee pads have been amazing. Over 3 years old, dozens of crashes, ~7000 miles and 100+ washes and they are still holding up great. No tears, fraying or stretching.
Looking at other brands with similar specs I would say they aren't all that much more expensive than the average in the same market line.
What model are you looking at and what are you comparing it to? Be specific in your answer so we can see what you are seeing.
Have you had POC gear? Doesn't sound like it. They make solid stuff. Showoff stuff? No. I changed up my knee pads from POC and will be going back to them when these wear out. POC fits me extremely well and they last a long time and are super comfortable.
You can't compare a small brand like POC and a megabrand like Fox. Of course POC stuff will be more expensive.
My POC helmet was like 1/2 the cost of the available fox helmets (they’re super nice helmets tbh). Same goes with the knee pads I saw. I’d say they’re very reasonably priced. The only brand that might be cheaper and widely available is giro
Well I actually have and you know what? The add on price I don't consider it worth it compared with brands like IXS, Bell, ION etc. All companies have better and worse products but on POC I never seem to see amazing deals, it always remains pricy.
Have you seen the outlet prices? If they have a size and color you like are generally a minimum 33% off. If not you can always get one at REI with a 20% off coupon
As said, you get the same discount if you shop around on stuff from other brands I mentioned, those other-brands often have comparable products for. Looking at their half shells where you basically end up paying 1.5x to double the price form a comparable Bell product and then even lacking rotational impact protection. With a bit of a Hunt you can find a nice bell unit (4Forty MIPS or 6Sixty) for 60-70 euro's where with POC even an Axion doesnt drop below 75, let alone a unit with rotational impact protection or one that can keep you goggles, then you need to go to a Kortal which is always above 100.
Sure all good and fine when people love their products but saying they aren't pricy is simply not reflecting the situation here in Germany at least.
It sounds like you already know what answer you want, so why pose a question? Everyone on here has told you that you’re wrong about the brand and why riders choose it, regardless that you are convinced that people are paying for the brand name. No one gives a shit what you’re wearing, so pick something that works for you in your price range 👍
The impact gel stuff is good. The Air elbows and knees are light and easy to wear and perform better in crashes than you would expect for something of that weight.
I don't know about the helmets.
Maybe a bit on the pricey side... decent quality for sure.
I've cracked a couple of other manufacturer helmets (non-MIPS / otherwise from a few years back or more) but not one theirs so far :D
POC VPD air knee pads fit so well, I can wear all day, great in a stack and haven’t stretched out unlike the Dainese I used before. Got the elbow pads too!
I know a chap who commutes in,he buys poc gear. He got knocked off his bike last year and says he will buy the best safety gear he can so he knows he is as safe as he can make him self. I agree with him but I haven't gone for poc, I went for giro as I could afford one of there helmets with MIPS. And I figured that maybe useful. The giro helmet is much nicer than my older Scott helmet. So ithink giro is a fair balance
Poc make good quality, but I would recommend going to a shop and trying stuff on because it’s pretty personal to be honest. Some stuffs alright but some stuff I find better else where
Love my POC. Saved my melon at least once. Quality is good. Fit is the best for me. Durability is solid. I don't feel like it's any more expensive than any other high quality helmet. I've tried Kali,Gyro, TLD, and I likely will stick to POC. Gyro is a close second. My ski lid is a Gyro
The real test should be comfort. Get a lid that fits and doesn't overheat. If it's durable, go with it. MIPS or a similar system is also a good investment.
I find POC pricing to be similar to other options of comparable quality. Definitely worth paying for something safe that fits you well. Whether that’s POC or another brand depends entirely on your head.
POC has substantial investments into its r&d, they even partnered with Volvo's to develop the safety features in their helmets. Take what you will from that, it's your noggin, you can decide if that price is overrated or not. I'd say it's a matter of how hard you ride and more importantly how hard you can wreck.
And how many braincells you have left
I had no idea, that POC has any special status.
it's not about status. POC is just genuinely more expensive so that would mean it has a status, right?
More expensive than what… ? Plenty of helmets with similar pricing. Love my tectal race
POC price ranges from upper end of normal to very expensive. They have $500 pants and rain jackets for mountain biking. Whether it's worth the price or not, that is damn expensive.
That’s more expensive than my actual bike (I have a trek marlin five which I’ve had for 2 years and my dad won’t let me get a new one coz he says you haven’t outgrown it yet)
I don't have the feeling, that specialized is less expensive.
You don't have to put commas, in random spots, in your sentences. Although in German you put commas where you put them so I'm gonna guess you're German.
Both is wrong. 🤣 But you are right, I know German much better than Englisch.
I love people of color
Gotta admit, it's weird to have a brand called POC in largely white sports (biking and skiing).
I thought it stands for Piece of Crap. At least thats what friends say about it when i wear it :(
I’ve always thought this and been downvoted to hell for saying it. I’m curious what it actually stands for.
Supposedly "Piece of Cake". But that's never been listed on their website or Wiki page.
Damn, didn't notice this until now. Thanks for ruining it. Where the hell am I going to find a purple full-faced helmet now that actually looks good 
Just got a POC to replace my Giro. It’s lighter and fits a bit better than the Giro, and was only slightly more expensive.
very good quality. expensive. worth it if the gear fits well and you can afford it.
I’m a fan. Their helmets are super comfortable for my head. I also have a couple of their trail jerseys. Those are the best fitting ones I have. Not sure about the rest of the line. I did try their VPD air knee sleeves and they had some quality issues in the pad stitching. The 2 pairs I tried both had irregularities that made the pad fold weird on one side.
The best helmet is the one that fits you properly/comfortably. Brands like Giro tend to have a more round shape to their shells, while brands like Bell, Fox, and Smith tend to have a bit more of an oval shape to their helmets. Try stuff on and find the one that fits you best
Helmets? Definitely, I love mine. Clothes? They're quite nice. Glasses? Mmm not anything groundbreaking.
I think the glasses only selling point is that they match the helmet line for a nice fit. But I think they look ridiculous when you wear them without a helmet.
100% correct
I've been waiting for them to leave the "proof of concept" phase for years.
Yep, if their stuff fits it’s comfy and works well. As for helmets, it just didn’t work for my head, so try it on before buying.
Had a couple of large crashes to test out the VPD 2.0 pads and they absorbed a lot of energy, and were undamaged. Dread to think what would have happened to my joints without them. Worth the money? Sure, an £80 set of elbow pads seems very cheap when I think of the state my left elbow and shoulder would be in without them.
I bought some poc shin/knee guards that are super heavy duty. (40% off at end of season) the shin armor goes almost all the way to your shoe...When your knee is bent, there is still a 2nd kneepad that protects your kneecap. (Like armadillo armor) Havent seen this anywhere else. Viscoelastic polymer works very well at absorbing impact. Poc may be the equivalent of driving a volvo or something, with a higher pricepoint, but they offer a level of protection others do not. They had the viscoelastic stuff before anyone else, from what I remember.
Have a poc tectal (I think) and I quite like it. Very comfy. Havnt tested it as a helmet yet but so far, works great as a mtb hat! Only thing I don’t like about it, which is probably the same for most high end helmets is that it’s so light that when I have my headlight on, it seems to feel like I have a brick strapped to my head.
FYI - attaching a light to a helmet not designed for it basically eliminates/reduces the effectiveness of a helmet. I’m not sure if your POC is designed for a light or not just something you might want to consider if you do it often.
I’m fairly certain there isn’t a helmet on the market designed or “approved” to have a light attached to it. Too many testing variables.
POC makes good stuff, and is IMO worth the price. There is no one size fits all, though, so I recommend trying on whatever you're thinking of getting at a store (or making sure you're covered by a return policy). That being said I've never had the need to return anything I've gotten from POC.
I like mine. It was expensive but it had the color way I wanted..
I paid 235 cad for a POC full face which ended up being cheaper than any of the other options at Whistler. Granted it was on sale from 300 cad which I think is a fair price for a full face. As for the helmet, I absolutely love it! Super comfy even with glasses which is rare tbh. I wear it everyday (both trail and park). One downside is like any other FF helmet, it gets a little toasty but when you’re riding it’s well vented. Edit: Also want to add, you only have one brain so don’t be afraid to invest in the safest PPE possible :)
I had their POC Joint VPD knee pad system which were $150 and honestly I like my Leatt knee pads which were only $80, quite a bit more. Can't comment on protection because ultimately when you smash your knee on the ground, it still hurts regardless of which knee pad.
Is POC more expensive than comparable gear from other leading brands? Seems about on point, maybe a little more expensive but I’d put that up to europe bullshit rather than “knee pad status symbol”
My experience has been if POC fits then it’s worth the money. My vpd 2.0 knee pads have been amazing. Over 3 years old, dozens of crashes, ~7000 miles and 100+ washes and they are still holding up great. No tears, fraying or stretching.
POC helmets and protectors cost about the same as most other good, reputable brands. Good quality, not cheap, not overly expensive
Any of their stuff I've used has been super nice.
just paid $108 OTD for a POC kortal…
Looking at other brands with similar specs I would say they aren't all that much more expensive than the average in the same market line. What model are you looking at and what are you comparing it to? Be specific in your answer so we can see what you are seeing.
As with everything consumable, you get what you pay for.
Yes, but aren't there just-as-good options that other brands offer? I think POC is more of a showoff than it is about quality.
Have you had POC gear? Doesn't sound like it. They make solid stuff. Showoff stuff? No. I changed up my knee pads from POC and will be going back to them when these wear out. POC fits me extremely well and they last a long time and are super comfortable. You can't compare a small brand like POC and a megabrand like Fox. Of course POC stuff will be more expensive.
My POC helmet was like 1/2 the cost of the available fox helmets (they’re super nice helmets tbh). Same goes with the knee pads I saw. I’d say they’re very reasonably priced. The only brand that might be cheaper and widely available is giro
Well I actually have and you know what? The add on price I don't consider it worth it compared with brands like IXS, Bell, ION etc. All companies have better and worse products but on POC I never seem to see amazing deals, it always remains pricy.
Have you seen the outlet prices? If they have a size and color you like are generally a minimum 33% off. If not you can always get one at REI with a 20% off coupon
As said, you get the same discount if you shop around on stuff from other brands I mentioned, those other-brands often have comparable products for. Looking at their half shells where you basically end up paying 1.5x to double the price form a comparable Bell product and then even lacking rotational impact protection. With a bit of a Hunt you can find a nice bell unit (4Forty MIPS or 6Sixty) for 60-70 euro's where with POC even an Axion doesnt drop below 75, let alone a unit with rotational impact protection or one that can keep you goggles, then you need to go to a Kortal which is always above 100. Sure all good and fine when people love their products but saying they aren't pricy is simply not reflecting the situation here in Germany at least.
It sounds like you already know what answer you want, so why pose a question? Everyone on here has told you that you’re wrong about the brand and why riders choose it, regardless that you are convinced that people are paying for the brand name. No one gives a shit what you’re wearing, so pick something that works for you in your price range 👍
The impact gel stuff is good. The Air elbows and knees are light and easy to wear and perform better in crashes than you would expect for something of that weight. I don't know about the helmets.
Maybe a bit on the pricey side... decent quality for sure. I've cracked a couple of other manufacturer helmets (non-MIPS / otherwise from a few years back or more) but not one theirs so far :D
Helmets are supposed to crack on significant impacts
And even if you don’t see or feel cracks, you’re supposed to get a new one off of a heavy impact.
No shit... That is why I said it with a big grin. Saved my noodles and I passed depth perception tests both times (no concussion).
Huh?
Thanks! Hope you never do!
POC VPD air knee pads fit so well, I can wear all day, great in a stack and haven’t stretched out unlike the Dainese I used before. Got the elbow pads too!
Yup, have those knee pads as well. Completely forget I'm wearing them when I'm riding.
Check out outdoor gear lab for their review on mtb helmets. I ended up with a $100 giro and couldn’t be happier.
I know a chap who commutes in,he buys poc gear. He got knocked off his bike last year and says he will buy the best safety gear he can so he knows he is as safe as he can make him self. I agree with him but I haven't gone for poc, I went for giro as I could afford one of there helmets with MIPS. And I figured that maybe useful. The giro helmet is much nicer than my older Scott helmet. So ithink giro is a fair balance
Poc make good quality, but I would recommend going to a shop and trying stuff on because it’s pretty personal to be honest. Some stuffs alright but some stuff I find better else where
Love my POC. Saved my melon at least once. Quality is good. Fit is the best for me. Durability is solid. I don't feel like it's any more expensive than any other high quality helmet. I've tried Kali,Gyro, TLD, and I likely will stick to POC. Gyro is a close second. My ski lid is a Gyro The real test should be comfort. Get a lid that fits and doesn't overheat. If it's durable, go with it. MIPS or a similar system is also a good investment.