When you are riding down the trail you have a lot to think about: which line to take, when to shift down, where youre going to stop for a milkshake after this epic ride is over. You dont want your helmet taking up any of your precious brain power, but you do want it to protect your noggin. This is why I like the POC Tectal the lightweight construction has plenty of ventilation to keep my head cool, the straps are comfortable, and there are no weird pressure points. Added bonus: the built-in adjustable visor helps keep the sun out of my eyes, so theres another thing I dont have to worry about.After two decades of mountain biking, the POC Tectal is the only helmet Ive ever purchased more than once. I have two: one in white and one in pink, and my husband rocks the Tectal as well.Review in a NutshellPros:Full coverageComfortable, easily adjustable strapsNo pressure pointsIncludes Recco reflectorAdjustable visorFun colorsMIPS and non-MIPS versionsCons:Larger profileHard to wear with a pony-tailVisor screw falls out easilyPrice: $220 (MIPS version) / $170 (non-MIPS)Buy at POC.comBuy at Amazon.comPOC Tectal Video ReviewFitUsually when I try a new helmet on in the bike shop, it feels great. I go ride for an hour or two, and it still feels great. But then, at hour 3 or 4 (or 24) it suddenly starts to hurt somewhere, slightly annoying at first until finally it hurts enough to take an ibuprofen. With the POC Tectal, Ive never had any pressure point issues. And based on comments from other friends, riders, and fellow reviewers, it seems that other people would agree.Same goes for the straps. I might be challenged, but I often struggleto get straps positioned correctly around my ears, so that either I look like a total dork or they are rubbing my earsjust enough to drive me crazy. The straps on the POC Tectal, thankfully,have a marvelous no-adjustment-required splitter around the ears that keep things looking tidy and feeling comfortable. All helmets should have this design for their straps.The helmet loosens or tightens via a fit dial at the rear. It is easy to operate, even one-handed and with gloves on, should you choose to adjust it while cruising down the trail.The one issue I do have with the Tectal that I havent seen in any of the male-written reviews out there is the pony-tail problem. Because of the deep-coverage that the Tectal provides, there isnt any room for a ponytail. I end up having to do a low pony or braid which I dont love because of the heat/sweat factor, but it is a worthwhile trade-off for the comfort and safety of the Tectal.AestheticsWhether or not you like the looks of the POC Tectal is largely a matter of personal preference. The profile is larger than other helmets, so if you like a slimmershell, pass on by. Personally I think the Tectal looks rad it has a hard-core enduro look that will make you look pro even if youre just cruising down the blue runs at the bike park.The other thing I like about POC helmets is the wide variety of colors that they come in. Dont offer your favorite color? Wait a month and they probably will.They seem to switch up the colors quite frequently.I also found that the color on the Tectal stays true. Even after a couple years of use, this helmet has stayed colorfast. Unfortunately, I cant say the same for my pink POC Trabec.VisorAs you would expect in this price range, the POC Tectal has an adjustable visor. (Unfortunately the screw has a tendency of falling out, which Ive had happen several times). That said, even when missing said screw, the visor works well raising up if you choose to wear goggles, andlowering for times of full-sun. POC also offers a replacement screw kit for $5 so youre not totally out of luck.SafetySo the POC Tectal is comfortable, it shades your eyes, and it looks good but what about safety? After all thats what a helmet is supposed to be about, right? Fortunately, the Tectal will do a good job in saving your noggin in the event of a crash. The PC outer shell and EPS liner meet all of those standard certs: EN 1078, CPSC 12.03, AS/NZ 2063:2008.The really cool part of the Tectal is the built-in Recco reflector. In the unfortunateevent that you should become lost or hurt, the Recco reflector bounces a directional signal that can be located by rescuers carrying a Recco detector. Of course, it is unlikely that you will ever need it, but if you often ride solo or venture out in the backcountry, the Recco reflector is a good insurance policy.The one surprising safety miss on the regular POC Tectal is MIPS. At this pricepoint and technology-level, you would expect the Tectal to come with MIPS, but it doesnt. Fortunately, the helmet is also offered as the POC Tectal Race MIPS which does offer the technology. Bottom LineThe POC Tectal is my helmet of choice. Even after trying several other mountain bike helmets, I keep coming back to the Tectal primarily due to its extreme comfort. Now that it comes in a MIPS version, Ill switch to that, but I cant think of any other good reason to venture much further than that. Compare to Other Great Mountain Bike HelmetsNot sure if the POC Tectal is right for you? Weve created a list of our favorite mountain bike helmets. See our other recommendations and see how the POC Tectal stacks up against them: Best Mountain Bike Helmets for WomenAbout The ReviewerKristen Bonkoski is a USA cycling and NICA coach, bike educator, and founder of Femme Cyclist.Shes also the host of the Femme Cyclist podcast and runsRascal Rides, a website about biking with kids.Shes been riding bikes for more than two decades and is passionate about empowering women on the bike.IG:@femme_cyclistJoin Kristens Weekly Newsletter!The post POC Tectal Mountain Bike Helmet Review: Why Its My FAVORITE Helmet appeared first on Femme Cyclist.