Posted on March 18, 2022 by Sam Anderson

This week, POC announced a broad new collection that satisfies just about every bike clothing need.

The brand says the lines of bibs, jerseys, shorts, sunglasses, jackets, packs, and more will help riders “extend the season” with designs that prioritize versatility in “extreme conditions.”

How? POC Apparel Director Monica Lindstrom said the brand’s safety mission guided the designs. That mission is to “protect lives and reduce the consequences of accidents for athletes and anyone inspired to be one.” The company uses two in-house labs, which leverage elite athletes and research teams, to carry it out.

Lindstrom emphasized that safety wasn’t the only thing POC prioritized in the new line. “Our safety mission is our guiding light, but we have incorporated other principles in the development process to create apparel that will work in every and any condition. It is at the extremes when things show their true colors, in protection and performance,” she said.

POC’s gear has appeared on Olympic and World Championship stages. It’s also tracked well in Bikerumor’s testing.

Here’s what to look for from the newest POC kit, coming this spring.

A reverse suspender allows riders to take a nature break without taking off their jersey. Four-way stretch fabric with flatlock seams and the women’s specific Catalyst silicone chamois help add comfort on long days in the saddle.

VPD is a proprietary POC material that adapts and shapes to the wearer’s body but also hardens on impact.

As its name suggests, POC builds the Ambient to maintain ideal body heat during days with big temperature swings. “Perfect for chillier starts and late finishes,” it says; the lightly brushed jersey delivers thermal warmth with a soft warp knit. Reflective touches help keep early birds and midnight owls safe.

POC seeks a minimalist design in the Pristine through straight lines and lean trim. Minimal seams and a small collar combine with mesh ventilation to support all-day comfort.

The Muse is straightforward, longer-sleeved merino wool and polyester jersey for men. Priorities include thermal regulation and a “luxurious” feel against the skin.

The merino wool Kernel prioritizes core warmth and moisture-wicking for early-season rides.

The Rove Cargo gets pockets to hold your smartphone or energy chews, etc., plus material and build choices geared toward comfort. POC’s Vital VPDs chamois brings the benefits of a longer pad to gravel and adventure riders, and silicone inserts help absorb impact. A mesh torso, flatlock seams, and seam-free suspenders aid all-day wearability.

The Poise is a casual fit shirt built for downhillers. It’s sized to accommodate body armor, and POC looks to make it comfortable enough to wear on or off the bike. A small, secure pocket holds your lift ticket on the bottom left.

POC uses Japanese Delta-Peak polyester for the Poise hoodie. The snag-resistant fabric should help facilitate smooth riding through the trees. Like the crew and tee, body armor should fit underneath.

POC’s Essential Enduro shorts leverage a “light nylon stretch material” to help keep long rides on hot days comfortable. It says the material wicks moisture, dries quickly, and repels water effectively. An elastic waist helps the shorts fit right, and an in-house system helps keep knee pads in place.

An array of new socks and gloves are also on deck, optimized toward a wide range of riders and styles. The Zephyr merino mid-length sock uses a waffle knit pattern up top for support and a mesh structure on top of the foot to add ventilation. The Savant MTB glove seeks to balance comfort and grip contact with a thin mesh palm to help your hand breathe and silicone pads to keep it in place.

POC announced only one (significant) change to its helmet line: the reintroduction of MIPS. POC was one of the first helmet brands to offer MIPS. Seemingly always on the forefront of safety tech, POC then introduced their own rotational impact protection system with their SPIN Technology padding. Most recently, SPIN Tech gave way to the MIPS Integra system, and now POC is offering a number of new MIPS equipped helmets as promised:

The Coron Air Mips (left) and Ventral Air Mips

Elsewhere, the anticipated 23-gram Elicit sunglasses arrive this spring. POC achieved its lightest sunglasses ever by using trussed arms and removing the bridge across the top. The full-coverage shades come with a swappable lens.

EF Education-NIPPO rider Mitch Docker helped develop them and raced them at Paris-Roubaix. Photo: POC

Among the whole array, POC’s body-contouring, impact-cushioning VPD might make the most sense on the Column backpack. Since VPD shapes with body heat but hardens on impact, the backpack should stay comfortable and resist wear and tear. Thanks to a removable net, the 13L pack has enough room for a hydration system, bike tools, spare clothes, and even your helmet. Six adjustment points help riders cinch it down right.

The Oseus VPD integrated armor jacket and tee let downhillers protect their vitals without layering up. POC uses “a soft, flexible fabric” to let riders can wear either of the two against their skin. And thanks to the zipper placement, the protection across the chest is continuous.

Finally, anyone who likes riding without a backpack (meaning everyone), take note: fanny pack alert! The Lamina hip pack comes with compartmentalized storage for tools, a spare tube, some snacks, keys and a card. Purpose-driven pockets help keep everything in the right place: a pocket with a waterproof zipper for a smartphone, individual tool sleeves, etc.

Get your high-tech on when the whole collection arrives this spring at POC’s site.

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