POC Axion Spin Trail and Enduro Helmet Review

For the past month now, I have been riding with the POC Axion Spin helmet. This trail/enduro style half shell is the little brother to the very popular Tectal Race Spin from POC. It shares the same SPIN technology and features many of the elements of the Tectal but at a much lower cost at $150. Let’s take a look at the features of the Axion Spin and then I’ll tell you what I thought about it out on the trail.

For the full review, watch the video above or continue reading below. You can also leave your own review of the POC Axion Spin in the comments section with the built in rating system.

The Short Review
The POC Axion Spin helmet brings the POC build quality and comfort at a more affordable price. If you can get over the more vanilla styling in comparison to the Tectal, the Axion is a great way to get POC comfort without breaking the bank.
Design
6
Comfort
10
Build Quality
10
Value
8
Reader Rating1 Vote
9.8
The Good
POC Quality at More Obtainable Pricing
Disappears on the Trail
Good Venting and Overall Comfort
The Bad
Childlike Design
No Goggle Support
8.5
Overall Score

From POCSPORTS.com

Finely tuned trail protection. Our NEW trail and enduro mountain bike helmet gives exceptional coverage and features POC’s innovative, patent-pending technology to minimize neck injury.

POC Axion Spin Helmet

Axion Spin Helmet Features

  • SPIN technology (Shearing Pad Inside) – our patent-pending silicone pad technology system
  • Fully wrapped unibody shell to enhance durability and structural integrity 
  • 360° size adjustment system for the most precise and secure fit
  • Lightweight and well-ventilated
  • PATENT-PENDING BREAKAWAY VISOR – The novel breakaway visor will snap off the helmet in an impact, thereby minimizing the impact forces that are transmitted to the neck. 

The lightweight, well-ventilated Axion SPIN has extended protection zones around the temples and the back of the head for extra coverage where it is most needed.

  • Lightweight, highly ventilated trail and enduro helmet
  • Optimized PC shell
  • Optimized EPS liner
  • Extended shell around temples and back of head
  • Adjustable peak

In this review, the M/L was tested and weighed in at 360 grams.

POC Axion Spin Helmet

Axion Spin Helmet Review

When you first open the box for the Axion Spin, you get exactly what you would expect from POC…high quality/Apple like packaging. POC seems to really go over the top on the unboxing experience to make you feel like you are getting a premium item. They aren’t wrong! You are…it is just interesting to see in the mountain biking industry. Most companies don’t take that route.

Axion Spin Fit and Comfort

The initial look over the helmet is very much like the Tectal. POC uses high quality materials and overall the helmet seems very lightweight. The first fitment is very easy thanks to great helmet straps and an easy to use enclosure system.

POC Axion Spin Retention System

The first thing I notice with the Axion Spin is how comfortable it is. Just like with the Tectal, the helmet’s fit does not leave a lot of gap between the helmet and your head. It has a slimmer profile because of this and it seems to be more comfortable to wear with no hot spots. POC has really nailed helmet comfort and the Axion falls right in line with that. I really like how the helmet doesn’t look as wide as most mountain biking helmets do when you are wearing it. I really equate this to them incorporating their spin system into the pads themselves. Other systems like MIPS add an additional layer that needs room to move so that adds to the space in between your head and the helmet. The lower profile and Spin system make the helmet lower profile and keep it from moving as much on your head.

POC Axion Spin Helmet

The visor is easy to adjust by just pulling it in and out with 4 possible angles. There is no hardware to mess with and it does feature the same breakaway technology if you crash. That is good as that is one less thing that can jerk your head sideways should it hit the ground. With the Axion, you do loose the goggle strap compatibility. I did miss this out on the trail as I really like to wear goggles on trail rides due to having to wear contacts. If I get mud in my eye…it could ruin the entire ride.

The one area I think the Axion really falls short on is looks. When you compare it to the Tectal which I really like the design of…it looks like the cheaper option. The vents are smaller and more spaced out. The design is not as aggressive. It really does look like a Tectal lite and not in a good way. I really wish that POC would have gotten just a little bit more aggressive with the styling to keep it from almost looking like a cheap kids helmet.

POC Axion Spin Helmet

Axion Spin Helmet Out on the Trail

One of the best things about the Axion Spin is that it really disappears out on the trail. Thanks to the very comfortable fit and light weight, it doesn’t get in the way of your ride. The fit system keeps the helmet from moving and there is zero noise from the helmet over technical terrian.

Even in very humid, hot riding in Georgia, the 13 vents did a great job of getting fresh air in and expelling the hot air. I initially thought this was going to be an issue with the smaller, more spaced out vents, but it really wasn’t. The helmet did a great job of staying cool in some of the most humid conditions.

The visor on the helmet is rather narrow and I didn’t find that it did all that much. The push in design was set and forget. I didn’t find that I really wanted to adjust it while we were out riding. Luckily in our area, we are under tree cover on 99% of our riding so visors really don’t do much outside of looks anyway. It would have been great to have goggle compatibility though. Glasses did fit great with the helmet and didn’t interfere with it at all but for my riding I do prefer more eye coverage.

While the helmet doesn’t have as much coverage as the Tectal and some other more enduro style mountain bike helmets, there is still adequate temple and lower rear head protection in case you decide to slam your head against something. Luckily, during this review, I did not crash test this helmet like I did the Coron Air…but more on that in a later review.

POC Axion Spin Helmet

Overall Thoughts on the POC Axion Spin Helmet

The best parts of the Axion Spin are that you get that POC comfort, lightweight and performance at a fraction of the cost of the Tectal helmet at $150. That does not make it a cheap helmet by any means but it does bring their quality and performance to a wider range of riders at $70 discount over their flagship and $40 less than the regular Tectal.

That $70 discount does come at a cost though. You loose goggle compatibility, the styling looks more amateurish and you also don’t get things like their Aramid bridge technology or a Recco reflector.

If you have been wanting a Tectal for some time but just couldn’t stomach the cost…the Axion Spin is a great option. You get that comfort and performance on the trail at a fraction of the cost. One of my favorite things about the helmet is how much it really just disappears on the trail. The comfort and weight are dialed in just about perfectly.

3 comments

Guille May 22, 2021 - 10:14 am

Hi, I bought it and it hurts my head. I don’t know why but I end up with headache. It is my size and I adjust it normally but it just hurts and don’t know what to do. Any ideas? Thanks

Reply
Morgan Golabowski December 14, 2020 - 11:10 am
8.7
Light and Comfortable!

I agree this is a great helmet for the price. Slightly disappointed that one of my pairs of glasses do not fit at the brim while wearing this helmet. I also can feel the helmet resting on the crown of my head. Love the color options and the SPIN technology adjustment and feel-it is super light and disappears on the trail as Robb stated-which was a must have for me.

Breakdown
Leave A Review

Design
7.4
Comfort
8.1
Build Quality
9.3
Value
9.9
1
1
Reply
Robb Sutton December 14, 2020 - 11:26 am

Thanks for leaving your review Morgan!

Reply

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Design
Comfort
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Value
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