If you've been racing in a POC Cytal for a season or two, you already know how good the helmet feels out of the box — and how that fresh feel quietly disappears once the pads compress, hold onto sweat, and stop gripping your scalp the way they used to. This replacement pad set from POC is built specifically for the Cytal, the aero road racing helmet that earned a 5-star rating from Virginia Tech, the independent helmet testing experts . Swapping pads on a schedule keeps the fit dialed and the helmet smelling like a helmet rather than a gym bag.

The pads aren't just comfort foam, which is the part worth understanding before you order. The Mips Air Node is a low-friction layer laminated to the base of the comfort padding, working to improve rotational impact protection . That means the padding is part of the rotational protection system, not separate from it — so when you replace the pads, you're restoring both the fit and the safety architecture to factory spec. Worn, packed-down pads change how the helmet sits on your head, which changes how everything from the retention system to the Mips layer performs.

POC offers this kit in three sizes (S, M, L) to match your helmet, so order the pad size that corresponds to your Cytal. The kit only fits the Cytal — POC's pad architectures aren't interchangeable across their helmet line, and using pads from a different model can affect fit and compromise protection. If you're not sure which size Cytal you own, check the label inside the shell before ordering.... Read More