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POC has a new time-trial helmet, and the interesting part isn’t just the wild looks or the watt-savings claim.

The new POC Sonal is the brand’s fastest helmet to date, developed with EF Pro Cycling and shaped around the rider’s full aero profile, not just the head.

That idea goes back to the original Tempor, but the Sonal pushes it further with an elongated front, two shell widths based on shoulder width, and a shape developed around real TT positions.

POC says the Sonal saves an average of 15 to 20 watts at 60 km/h compared with its existing TT helmets.

(All photos/POC)

Two Widths, Not Two Head Sizes

The standout feature is the sizing. Instead of offering the Sonal in conventional small, medium, and large shells, POC offers narrow and regular widths based on shoulder width.

Riders with shoulders narrower than 37cm should use the narrow shell. Riders wider than 37cm should use the regular version. How do you get the correct measurement? POC takes it across the outer shoulders while the rider is in an aero position, and it’s definitely a two-person job. Both shells fit the same 51- 59 cm head circumference.

It sounds strange until you think about where the air goes after it leaves the helmet. Shoulder width, head position, and back shape all change the aero profile. A shell that works well for one rider may not work as well for another, even if both wear the same hat size.

POC is now sizing the outside of the helmet around the body, not just the inside around the head – pretty wild stuff.

What’s With the Long Nose?

The Sonal’s extended front manages the high-pressure area that forms at the leading edge of a TT helmet. POC says the nose helps move that air around the helmet and across the rider instead of letting pressure build at the front.

Development used CFD along with wind-tunnel testing with EF Pro Cycling riders. POC used the Tempor, Cerebel, and Procen as benchmarks while working through the Sonal shape.

15-20 Watts at 60 km/h

POC says both Sonal widths showed significant aero gains in rider testing, with average savings of 15 to 20 watts at 60 km/h against its existing TT helmets. These results vary with rider shape and position, which is important context, but POC does have a fast TT helmet (compared to its others) for its riders.

Better Vision Without Lifting Your Head

POC also worked on a less glamorous TT problem: seeing where you are going. The Sonal’s forehead angle is shaped around the rider’s line of sight in an aero position. The goal is to keep forward and peripheral vision open without forcing the rider to lift their head and compromise the position. The helmet comes with two magnetic Clarity lenses, one clear and one tinted.

440g or 490g

Despite all that shell, the Sonal is not especially heavy for a full TT helmet. The narrow version weighs a claimed 440g, while the regular is 490g, both including the lens.

A new BOA adjustment system handles fit, with light internal padding and a balance point that POC says is neutral in a TT position.

POC Sonal TT Helmet – Price and Availability

The Sonal will come in Hydrogen White and Uranium Black Matt.

Pricing is $660 USD / €600 / £550 / $830 CAD / $1,000 AUD.

The Sonal is also certified to EN 1078 and CPSC standards.

POC will offer limited quantities of both widths starting in October, with broader retail availability planned for spring next season.