POC Fornix Review

At a middle-of-the-road price by in-molded standards, the Fornix competes against the finest that companies like Smith and Giro have to offer in well-made, well-ventilated and protective helmets. POC additionally has added Aramid strings (in the family of Kevlar) into the foam liner, adding strength and structural stability.

Performance Comparison

Fit and Comfort

It has adequate and well-placed padding all the way around the helmet without being too bulky. The padding on the ears creates a nice seal and did not make for any painful pressure points. The Fornix fits slightly rounder heads the best and seemed to run on the slightly smaller size compared to Smith helmets, so be sure to try this helmet on before buying it. POC also offers the Fornix with Mips technology if you feel like upping your protection measures.

Weight and Bulk

The Fornix is one of the most lightweight options we tested, and is significantly lighter than the other in-molded helmets with size and ventilation adjustability. Its straightforward, skate-inspired style is slim and fits well under most hoods we tried it with.

Warmth

Although warm at first glance, our testers found this helmet to be a bit draftier than expected. The vents on top closed and sealed well, but there are two large vents at the nape of the neck that are open holes to the back of the head, causing some serious brain freeze with the right wind direction if not worn with a beanie or buff. If you know you run cold and want a helmet you can completely close off to the elements, check out the Smith Vantage.

Ventilation

Six vents that open and close with one toggle on the top of the helmet provide adequate ventilation, but didn't seem to pull air in or create a lot of airflow. The goggle vents did seem to effectively push air from the front of the helmet down on top of the goggles. If ventilation is super important to you, it will be worth checking out the Smith Vantage or Salomon MTN Lab.

Goggle Compatibility

Tested with Smith and POC goggles, the Fornix created a great seal, and left no obvious gap. Without a visor, it's easy to slip the goggles up to rest on the helmet and the goggle clip in the back has a large tab and is easy to use with a gloved hand.

Style

Sleek and understated, the Fornix has an ample-sized logo for good style points.

Best Applications

The Fornix rates well against the other in-molded helmets with convenience features like the Smith Vantage or the Giro Zone. If you're willing to spend some extra money and the Fornix fits you well, it would be a great helmet for any climate or type of skiing/riding.

Value

As mentioned above, the Fornix is by no means the cheapest helmet, but it's not the most expensive either — and compared with other similarly featured helmets in our test, its price is middle of the road.

Conclusion