The award winning Crane helmet combines low weight with a durable and dent resistant construction. The weight is only 360-400 g, depending on what size you choose.

We have implemented a new kind of liner, combining two different densities. The stiffer outer part deals with higher energy impacts while the inside provides protection for lower energy impacts. In combination, the two densities provide a progressive stop in case of impact.

To further improve the durability and to withstand the demands of dirt and trail mountainbikers, the Crane has a considerably thicker shell than a normal in-mold helmet.

The unique size adjustment system makes it possible to customize the fit of the helmet to ensure it stays safe and comfortable in place.

The Crane helmet is available in six different colors and in the following sizes: XS/S, M/L, XL/XXL.

VPD is highly impact absorbent, comfortable and adapts to create an individual fit. Due to its high level of protection and the ability to transition from soft to hard during impact, we don’t have to choose between safety and flexibility.

Many back protectors are lightweight, but may not be optimal for shock absorption. Some can take one impact with good shock absorption, but a second impact to the protector will transfer a much higher amount of energy to the user, the third an even greater amount and so on. VPD retains the same high absorption level, and that is an important property for us since we believe that a protector will have several impacts during one fall, and during its lifetime.

We do everything we can to make sure we give you the highest level of protection, but we also want our armor to be comfortable to wear. Anatomically and ergonomically it should follow the shape of your body, be supple and give you complete freedom of movement. Another major advantage of the POC body armor is the highly efficient ventilation technology.

Looking at the range we hope that you will find a product that suits your personal needs.

Click here to see our VPD body armor.

POC’s VPD body armor is used and preferred by: Aurélien Ducroz, Flo Orley, Swedish National Alpine Team, Jon Olsson, Jeremy Jones, Anders Backe, TJ Schiller, Martin Söderström, Andrew Schandro, Ross Schnell, Robin Wallner

Swedish time trial cyclist Gustav Larsson signs to become POC’s first road bike athlete and now joins the ranks of other world class athletes associated to POC. In tours and peletons all around the world Gustav will now be using our shades to give him an edge over other riders.

– “As a cyclist I have a lot of needs when it comes to eyewear. They must be comfortable and perform to the highest standards in all sorts of weather, from sun, rain and everything in between. Cycling demands a lot from riders and equipment but that does not mean it cannot be stylish both on and off the bike. POC’s eyewear conforms to all these needs, which is why I’m looking forward to future collaborations with POC”, says Gustav Larsson.

Larsson and POC already have a well established relationship. Together with aerodynamic specialists at Semcon, Larsson played an important part of the development process of POC’s time trial helmet, Tempor. Gustav’s input and knowledge was a big reason POC showcased at the London Olympics 2012.

– “I started working with POC before the London Olympics 2012 and was very impressed with the Tempor helmet, which we developed together. I’m honored to be part of the POC family and products they are launching on the road bike market”, says Larsson.

The Tempor helmet was POC’s first step into the road bike scene and there are a number of major innovations and road bike products soon to come.

– “We are very excited to have Gustav on board. We strive for the best in performance and protection and with his input and knowledge we can optimize POC road bike products. Very soon, we will be launching his signature model, which encompasses his personal style and perspective and will provide the highest level of performance and visibility”, says Stefan Ytteborn, POC CEO and Founder.

Gustav’s first appearance as an POC Eyes ambassador will be during the Glava Tour of Norway, taking place May 15th to 19th.

The jury of the Red Dot Award was once again looking for products and projects true to the motto “in search of excellence”. This year, 1 865 manufacturers, designers and architects from 54 countries were hoping to receive the coveted Red Dot quality seal.

The largest Red Dot jury of all times had to test, discuss and evaluate 4 662 submissions, more than ever before in the history of the red dot. Only the best products were bestowed with the coveted award for aesthetic forms and lasting trends.

When the jury announced the winners, it stood clear that POC was awarded for the Skull Orbic Comp ski racing helmet, Tempor time trial helmet and Lid goggles.

– The winners at Red Dot Design Award are the protagonists of a highly developed design culture and design industry. These days it is becoming more and more difficult to distinguish between well-designed products. It is often only in the details that the special qualities become apparent, says Prof. Dr. Peter Zec, initiator and CEO of the red dot.

At the POC HQ in Stockholm, Sweden, the news was greeted with enthusiasm.

– To receive three awards at the Red Dot Design Award is overwhelming, energizing and truly inspiring in our daily work, says Stefan Ytterborn, POC CEO and founder.

The awards will be presented at a festive gala on July 1, 2013 in Essen, Germany.

More information about Red Dot Design Award at www.red-dot.org

Being able to redefine performance by combining low weight, perfect fit, dent resistance and great protection is always challenging. With the award winning Crane helmet we have risen to this challenge and we are proud to present a product that successfully balances these features.

In the Crane helmet, we have implemented a new kind of liner, combining two different densities. The stiffer outer part deals with higher energy impacts while the inside provides protection for lower energy impacts. In combination, the two densities provide a progressive stop in case of impact. The unique size adjustment system makes it possible to customize the fit of the helmet to ensure it stays safe and comfortable in place. The Crane helmet is available May 13.

The eyewear range is developed to optimize function and protection for all activities and conditions. For this season, we are proud to introduce you to the new Do Low sunglasses. All of our sunglasses have NXT lenses and there is a wide assortment to choose from, each different in tint and function. NXT lenses were initially developed for fighter jet canopies, and offer superior optical performance and extreme impact, temperature and chemical resistance.

See all our Wheels 2013 products >>

POC Lid and POC Skull Orbic Comp

Åre is famous for its alpine feeling and friendly character. You can ski right down to the village centre, to taverns that tempt with good food and espresso. That is one of the reasons for being a fun, international meeting point for families, skiers and boarders.

We bet you have loads of nice POCito photos from your skiing vacation that you would like to share with us!

Enter the competition by submitting your best “POCito memory” photo (featuring a POCito product)

Thanks to Åre resort the winning family will be able to enjoy free lodging, ski rental and ski passes for one week. Make sure to enter your name, address, phone nr and email so that we can get in touch with you if you win.

Final entry date: 30 April 2013

Enter the competition click here >>

For those who cannot see, a radical touch tour at the New York Museum of Modern Art paints the perfect picture.

Words: SHELLEY JONES Illustration: CIARA PHELAN

A man runs his hands over smooth marble, taking in every lump, bump and dent. He soaks up the temperature of cold stone and suddenly feels hyperaware of his body and its presence in space. He moves away and is helped to assume a position. Now he is the
sculpture; knees bent, head turned, arms wrapped around himself in an artful curl.

This sensory experience is happening at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. It’s here among some of the greatest works of art – Gogh’s ‘Starry Night’, Matisse’s ‘The Dance’ and Rousseau’s ‘The Dream’, to name a few – that museum assistants are helping visually-impaired visitors tear through red tape to touch the masterpieces beyond. Director of the Community, Access and Schools Programs, Francesca Rosenberg explains: “It’s our belief that everybody can benefit from access to works of art and that includes, among others, the blind and partially-sighted. So we want to provide the most inclusive environment possible. Touching art can be a very transformative experience.”

It was to that end that MoMA rolled out its first touch tour in the early seventies – inspired by the success of their art therapy centre for war veterans that opened in 1944. And although most galleries nowadays offer some kind of touch tour, MoMA is still leading the charge. “There are hundreds of works that can be touched,” says Rosenberg about an ever-growing collection. “We ask visitors to wear gloves, for conservation and curatorial
concerns, but they still let through the temperature and texture of these works of art, so visitors can experience them using other senses.” And for those who cannot see, those senses are particularly heightened. In fact, the “educators” at MoMA have learned a thing
or two from their tactile visitors.

“[Blind and partially-sighted people] certainly notice things that other people don’t,” says Rosenberg, “the hand will stop and explore nuances that the eye just glances over.I’ve spent time with blind people on Matisse’s ‘Backs’ and I’m now able to see them in a new way.”

Removing works of art from their pedestals in this way is a democratising force, but not all institutions think that’s a good thing. A related case made headlines in 2011, when a blind sculptor, Felice Tagliaferri, was forbidden to touch Giuseppe Sanmartino’s ‘Cristo Velato’ (Veiled Christ) in Naples. According to Reuters, the artist made his own version, in protest, and toured Italy with it, inviting visitors to get as close as they wanted to. Many blind people from all over Italy made a symbolic visit to Tagliaferri’s facsimile. But why the big fuss? Art Beyond Sight, a non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing blind and partially-sighted people closer to art, has a mission statement that helps explain: “Our fundamental belief is that people who are blind or visually impaired must have access to the world’s visual culture if they are to participate fully in their communities and in the world at large. [...] It improves the quality of their lives, and helps them gain skills crucial to their education and employment opportunities.”

MoMA is constantly pushing for more accessibility. In fact, it now includes visual descriptions on its tours, which add another dimension. “Some works that you think will be easy to describe, end up being really hard,” says Rosenberg. “Sensory analogies are good. For example, explaining Jackson Pollock’s ‘One’ as the size of a twin bed, gives a better sense of it than just giving inches or feet, and it’s better to describe something like the colour red as being really intense like a deep cabernet [wine].

If we’re describing a work that’s figurative, we may ask the participant to get into the position of the sculpture or the painting, so they have a sense of the body’s stance and balance.” And that’s the beauty of any work of art; it shows us a different way of looking at life. “For me, the most exciting part is the conversation,” says Rosenberg. “Not just me sharing my knowledge as an expert, but other people sharing their perspectives, informed
by rich life histories.”

There´s also an additional focus on culture, DNA and manners, between us and in dialogue with our users. Business as usual from 9 am til night, just in a different environment. All this made possible thanks to design award price money.

The timing was perfect. POC is planning to launch its first Road Bike line, in the fall of 2013 and starting by developing something promoting our mission of saving lives and reducing consequences with the challenge of optimizing performance with ground breaking aerodynamics was perfect.

Gusatv had a lot of ideas, some deriving from speed skiing where we at POC have experience, with World Record holder Sanna Tidstrand on the team, together with numerous other directions.
A number of concepts were tested together with Semcon, who has the most sophisticated soft ware and experience for data projections, used for anything from Formula 1 cars to developing the fastest hulls for boats.

The concept of viewing the cyclist as one body mass, rather than isolating the head showed to be the go. At the end, with a few secret details (the ventilations holes might not be what they appear to be, for example), we had developed a helmet, at least 34 seconds faster at 50 K/h, for 50 Ks, compared to the fastest competitor.

Gustav crashed at the Olympics and now with the nomination for Design S, there might be chance for another victory, for him and us.
We cross our fingers. ” Says Stefan Ytterborn CEO and Founder