POC has launched the Sonal, billed as its fastest time-trial helmet to date, developed in collaboration with EF Pro Cycling.
According to POC, the Sonal approaches rider aerodynamics by focusing on the rider’s whole body rather than the head in isolation. The helmet comes in two shell widths matched to shoulder width rather than head size. It features an elongated front designed to deflect airflow at the high-pressure zone that typically forms at the front of a helmet, guiding airflow around the helmet and over the rider’s body.
The helmet builds on the legacy of the Tempor, which POC introduced in 2012.
Magnus Gustavsson, Director of Hard Goods at POC, said “We have been working incredibly closely with EF for well over a decade and have built a great relationship. It allows us to bring new ideas to the table, and everyone is eager to test them.
“We had long been interested in exploring a new TT helmet, and when EF asked if we thought we could improve on the Tempor’s performance in time for the next Tour de France, a perfect opportunity developed and we all threw ourselves into it. The Sonal emerged as a result, and collectively we could not be happier with the result and its performance.”
Andreas Klier, Sports and Technical Director at EF Pro Cycling, said “Success in professional racing is built on performance and the very smallest of margins. We came to POC with some ideas and areas we wanted to focus on – notably, that aerodynamic performance was now needed by more riders, not just a few specialists.
“We wanted to develop something faster than the Tempor that would benefit even more riders. The Sonal delivered all that and more. We can already see in our testing that it will significantly improve performance for more riders, and it’s another example of POC pushing forward with a new way of thinking, creating products with incredible quality and relevance.”
The helmet was developed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) testing and analysis alongside wind-tunnel testing with EF Pro Cycling riders. Tested at speeds of 60km/h, the Sonal is claimed to deliver average power savings of 15-20 watts compared to existing POC time-trial helmets.
The helmet is offered in narrow and regular shell widths:
- Narrow width: Designed for riders with shoulder widths under 37cm.
- Regular width: Designed for riders with shoulder widths over 37cm.
Both shell options feature the same internal helmet sizing, fitting head circumferences between 51-59cm.
The Sonal features a forehead angle designed to match the rider’s line of sight while in a time-trial position, providing forward and peripheral vision without requiring additional head movement. It includes two magnetic Clarity lenses (one clear and one tinted).
Safety features include EN 1078 and CPSC certifications, with an internal structure optimized for deformation during an impact. The helmet uses a Boa adjustment system and weighs 440g for the narrow width and 490g for the regular width, including the lens.
Magnus Gustavsson, Director of Hard Goods at POC, added “We already knew that with the Tempor, Cerebel, and Procen, we had some of the fastest time-trial helmets in cycling.
“Our objective with the Sonal was to create the fastest, most aerodynamic helmet possible – and to make it work for more riders, because we know a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work in time trial. That’s what led us to develop two distinct helmet sizes based on body and shoulder width, since airflow over the whole body – not just the head – is what ultimately creates the right aerodynamic profile.”
The POC Sonal will be available in limited quantities on the company’s website in October 2026, with full availability through retail partners arriving in spring 2027. The helmet is priced at US$660 / €600 / £550.
