The Octal, which has been POC's signature road helmet design for several years and several variations, returns, now modified and carrying the MIPS rotational motion protection system. The bold open shell design and 21 vents that have made the Octal such an excellent hot weather helmet define the visual appearance with full function for air intake and release, with excellent standard impact safety and the proven comfort of the POC retention and adjustment system.

The award-wining Octal helmet remains an evolution in protection for road cyclists. With distinctive design, the extremely lightweight helmet provides optimal ventilation and comfort, while protection is heightened with extended coverage over the temples and at the back of the head. The EPS liner is strategically thicker in the most exposed areas to enhance protection, and the fully wrapped unibody shell enhances structural integrity while maintaining a low weight. The polycarbonate shell is InMolded into the foam for a more protective relationship between the two.

To date, MIPS is the pre-eminent safety addition to any helmet design. It is well understood that the brain is mobile within the skull, so impact forces not only feature the direct force, but rebound and shearing forces must be accounted for, and a rotational slip-plane layer that allows the head and helmet shell to be some what independent, and allow for the impact force to be dissipated. The MIPS allow for this separation of the the skull and helmet in how they react to impact force. POC has opted to adapt the visible yellow layer to a modified Octal construction that supports it properly, while minimizing the weight gain of the MIPS system.

POC offer the Octal MIPS in several colors, including Fluo Orange AVIP. The AVIP designation is all about safety as well. The acronym stands for Attention, Visibility, Interaction and Protection and the brightness of the color options on AVIP products certainly stands out. This initiative is a substantial effort by the Swedish company to draw attention (in multiple ways) to the serious issue of road safety for cyclists.