POC has launched the POC Barocon Carbon, a new carbon full-face MTB helmet designed around the rising speeds and protection demands of modern downhill racing.
Priced at £730 in the UK, the Barocon Carbon sits firmly at the premium end of the full-face helmet market and is aimed at riders taking on downhill tracks, bike parks, race stages and high-consequence terrain. It is not being presented as a general trail helmet or a specific eMTB helmet, but the thinking behind it will be relevant to aggressive MTB and eMTB riders who are spending more time on steep, fast and technical trails.
POC says the helmet has been developed to offer higher levels of protection without simply copying a motocross helmet. That matters because while some downhill riders have moved towards MX-style lids for extra reassurance, those helmets can be heavier, hotter and less suited to the needs of mountain biking.
For riders considering whether they need this level of protection, our guide to the best full-face MTB helmets 2026 explains where full-face helmets make sense for trail centres, bike parks, enduro riding and eMTB use.
Carbon shell, EPS liner and a different construction approach
The biggest technical talking point is the way POC has built the Barocon Carbon. The helmet uses a carbon fibre outer shell in-moulded with an EPS liner, with POC describing it as a fused sandwich construction rather than a more traditional shell-and-liner arrangement glued together afterwards.
The aim is to improve structural integrity while keeping weight down. POC claims a weight of 1040g for a size medium, which is notably low considering the helmet’s intended use and certification targets.
That puts the Barocon Carbon in an interesting space. It is built for downhill racing, but POC is clearly trying to avoid the penalty riders often associate with heavier, less ventilated full-face protection. For eMTB riders, that could be particularly relevant. A full-power eMTB can make it easier to repeat descents, ride longer bike-park sessions and spend more time on technical terrain, so comfort and airflow matter almost as much as outright protection.
The Barocon Carbon also uses ventilation channels inspired by POC’s existing full-face and road helmets. The idea is to keep air moving across the head without compromising the protective shell structure.
More protection testing, but not a motorcycle helmet
POC is placing a lot of emphasis on certification with the Barocon Carbon. The helmet meets the usual cycling standards, including EN 1078, CPSC 1203 and AS/NZS 2063, while also being certified to ASTM F1952 for downhill mountain biking and ASTM F2032 for BMX full-face use.
More unusually, the helmet is also certified to DOT FMVSS 218, a US motorcycle helmet standard, and POC says its development was guided by values from ECE R22.06, the European motorcycle helmet standard.
That does not mean the Barocon Carbon is being marketed as a motorcycle helmet. POC is clear that it is a downhill MTB helmet, not an MX or road motorcycle lid. The point is that motorcycle helmet testing uses higher speeds and more demanding penetration criteria, and POC has used that thinking to create what it says is a greater safety margin for DH use.
For riders, the practical takeaway is simple: this is a serious gravity helmet built for high-speed mountain biking, not a lightweight convertible or trail-first full-face. If your riding is mostly trail centre blues and reds, it will probably be more helmet than you need. If you regularly ride uplift days, downhill tracks, enduro stages or steep eMTB terrain, it becomes much easier to understand.
For a broader view of lighter trail and enduro options, our guide to the best enduro MTB helmets 2026 covers high-coverage open-face helmets for riders who want more protection without moving into full-face territory.
Mips, breakaway peak and matching Zygon goggle
The Barocon Carbon includes Mips Evolve, designed to help manage rotational forces in certain impacts. It also gets a magnetic multi-directional breakaway peak, which is designed to detach from the helmet in a crash from either the front or side. Once removed, the peak can be clicked back into place.
Other details include a D-ring buckle, adjustable padding and extra space around the ears to help with balance, comfort and fit. These are small details, but on a helmet aimed at racing and long downhill days, they matter.
POC has also launched the Zygon goggle alongside the Barocon Carbon. Priced at £120, the Zygon has been designed to work with the helmet, using wide outriggers to support peripheral vision and an angled strap intended to sit correctly with the Barocon shell. It uses a cylindrical lens with POC’s Clarity lens technology, adjustable ventilation and triple-layer face foam with a Coolmax fabric layer next to the skin.
The Barocon Carbon is available immediately through POC, with availability through official POC retail and online partners expected later in the summer. For riders building a full gravity setup, it also naturally sits alongside pads and armour choices covered in our best eMTB protection 2026 guide.
At £730, this is clearly not a casual purchase. But for serious downhill riders, racers and aggressive eMTB users who want a highly protective full-face helmet without stepping into a heavier MX-style lid, the POC Barocon Carbon is one of the most interesting helmet launches of the year.