The growth in helmet wearing by skiers and snowboarders in the last decade has been coupled with many improvements and innovations. POC have been at the forefront of this development, so I was keen to conduct this review of POC Receptor BUG adjustable snowboarding helmet.
With a simple but distinctive look, POC are one of the more popular helmet brands on the market. But whether I like a lid is more to do with the fit and features than the style and how well it matches my outfit.
Adjustable snowboarding helmet
The most important characteristic of any helmet is that it fits you properly. A poorly fitted lid, will not only be uncomfortable, but may not provide the protection you are wearing it for.
So the fact that the POC Receptor BUG is an adjustable snowboarding helmet is a good start. Slipping it on there is an easy adjustment at the back of the head to make it tighter or looser.
I went for the 59-61 cm BUG, and to test the adjustable fit a friend and I both tried the helmet on. He has a 59cm head and I’m a 61cm head and after adjustment it fit us both perfectly. Interestingly, I did not have it on the largest setting and he did not have it on the smallest so it would probably fit a larger range than advertised.
Of course size is not everything as the shape of everyones head is a little different. The internal adjustable harness coupled with the various bit of padding of the POC Receptor BUG meant that we both found it comfortable, despite our different sized and shaped heads.
For both of us previous experiences of buying a lid meant trying on about 20 before finding one that fit. So although I recommend you try before you buy, I was very impressed with the fit and the range of the POC Receptor BUG adjustable snowboarding helmet.
Review of POC Receptor BUG: Protection
POC are well known for their innovative take on protection and have won various awards. The POC Receptor BUG comes with their patented VDSAP (Ventilated Double Shell Anti-Penetration) outer shell. This is made from the industry standard ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) plastic
VDSAP consists of two ventilated shells that are offset to provide maximum protection against penetration from sharp objects. This is a unique take on helmet design and improves the safety performance of the Receptor BUG compared to competitors.
The inside of this adjustable snowboarding helmet uses a combination of molded polycarbonate and EPS foam. This which provides shock absorption in case of an impact and is a widely used material in helmets.
In the three days conducting this review of POC Receptor BUG adjustable snowboarding helmet, I fortunately didn’t bang my head. Conditions were mostly powdery so falls didn’t really test the protection. However, in the US and Europe the BUG have been certified the industry standard EN 1077-B and ASTM 2040.
Review of POC Receptor BUG: Features
Inside the helmet is a flap that can be removed to open up the ventilation. It is an all or nothing ventilation that does the job. But having to remove the helmet to adjust the ventilation is a little annoying, as it having a bit of material to put in your pocket that could be lost.
My previous helmets have all had a way of adjusting ventilation without taking it off my head, plus have had vents that can be partially opened to let the right amount of air in. Although having some ventilation is better than none, this is the main negative in my review of POC Receptor BUG.
Along with the vents, both the ear flaps and the neck roll can be removed from this adjustable snowboarding helmet for spring of summer snowboarding. This turns it into an all season lid, that will be comfortable from the coldest winter day, through to hot summer days lapping a glacier snowpark.
As with nearly all helmets, the POC Receptor BUG has a goggle clip to keep your eyewear of choice in place. We tried them with Oakley Canopy and Julbo Universe goggles both of which fitted nicely.
Of course great protection, fit, comfort and features are all important, but it also needs to match your outfit. Coming in eleven colours, this is another area where the POC Receptor BUG excels. With minimal detailing, and a shiny finish they look simple but are distinctive – there is sure to be one that matches your outfit.
Review of POC Receptor BUG: Conclusion
When you try on a new helmet it is never as comfortable as your old lid. However, the POC Receptor BUG adjustable snowboarding helmet came close for two of us with different sized and shaped heads. It also quickly conformed to my head and by the end of day one it was as nice to wear as my recently retired helmet.
To conclude this review of the POC Receptor BUG I can see why they are such a popular choice. It looks great and provides cutting edge protection, so you can be sure your noggin is going to stay as safe as it should in a helmet. Coming with lots of adjustability and good features it is a helmet that can be worn in any conditions.
I hope you found this review of POC Receptor BUG adjustable snowboarding helmet useful. The RRP is €160 and many UK retailers stock them, or you can buy directly from POC: www.pocsports.com
