POC Releases Solar-Powered Omne Eternal Helmet

Feb 16, 2021 at 10:48
by Alicia Leggett  

POC Sports has released what it claims is a world-first: a solar-powered helmet.

The Omne Eternal helmet is made for commuting and XC riding and features a small rear light that turns on automatically when the helmet is worn. Rather than using traditional solar panels, the helmet uses a material called Powerfoyle through a partnership with Swedish solar cell tech company Exeger.

Powerfoyle harnesses both natural and artificial light. The material is flexible and unassuming, so it is integrated into the helmet without any noticeable aesthetic changes – other than, of course, the light on the back of the helmet. Other than the light, it's similar to POC's other helmets, with POC's rotational force protection, Spin. There are no switches or charging ports.

photo

bigquotesOur ‘Whole helmet concept’ illustrates that in today’s world a helmet can, and should, do significantly more than manage impacts. By integrating digital solutions we can protect a user before, during and after an accident. Integrating Powerfoyle opens a world of new opportunities, creating helmets with an endless power source is the key to unlocking new ideas and innovations which have the potential to revolutionize safety.—Jonas Sjögren

photo

While the marketing points more to commuter use than to XC riding, there's plenty of crossover with mountain bikers who ride their bikes to and from the trails. The Omne Eternal will be available in June 2021 for €250 / $302 USD. More information available on POC's website.

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80 Comments
  • 99 6
 $302 for a little blinky light and that stuff that solar calculators have had for decades.
  • 10 3
 It's not the same basic solar panels as your calculator has, though. I'm assuming this "Powerfoyle" material is a big chunk of that price.
  • 17 1
 I agree, the price is a bit cray, but the idea is cool. If everyone's helmets had this there is no doubt that some lives would be saved.
  • 10 1
 @barp: have you seen the price of poc helmets? Dont get me wrong the material plays a part but its still poc.
  • 4 1
 Well the non solar blinky light version is $200 so maybe people will see this as a bargain lol.. also if this thing is powered it should have more features like bluetooth for hands free communication and navigation. I mean come on POC if your gonna do a thing than do a thing worth while.
  • 1 0
 Yeah, the light is not bright enough. There are aftermarket rechargeable led lights that are very good and inexpensive. People will still be into this helmet though.
  • 3 2
 Send them all to Texas !
  • 3 3
 K2 sells a junior helmet with a blinky light for $25.

"If its not broke, change it anyway and tack on an extra $300 bucks" - POC
  • 2 0
 @scott-townes: MET sells helmets with LEDs and all of there helmets can be converted.
  • 1 0
 202 of those dollars are for the POC logo, all POC products are very overpriced.
  • 1 0
 @Losvar: The best MTB goggles I've ever owned are POC and they were selling for $40. You can find good deals if you wait long enough.
  • 1 0
 He doesn't even look like some regular rider, he just a regular engineer.
  • 56 8
 Make helmets lighter? Nah. Make them safer? Nah too hard. How bout we try and make our existing safest and lightest helmets more affordable? Heaven forbid. Put blinky light charge by sun and charge em twice as much? f*ck yeah sounds perfect
  • 2 0
 To be fair, I just bought the POC Obex Pure for snowboarding for $110 this weekend. Seems like a great value at that price. Their upper end stuff is meh though for the price.
  • 10 14
 "BuT wE NeEd To InNoVaTe To MaKe MoNeY!"

-Capitalism, ~1840-2021
  • 9 1
 Isn't the blinky light for safety?
  • 8 0
 I think this is neat as hell.
  • 5 0
 Pretty sure the light falls under the category of “safety” you mentioned.
  • 1 1
 dude, did you read the article? it's mainly for commuting, where being seen is the difference between life or death, so if that "blinky light charge by sun" isnt a safety improvement then idk what is. it also looks fantastic.
  • 2 1
 That thing ain't looking like it's producing more than 20 lumens. Buy a Giro Agilis MIPS for $90 and a set of lezyne lights (800L front/ 300L rear) for under $150, you'll still be $60 clean. Shoot could even buy a Goal Zero Portable solar charge for that extra bit and then have a better safer helmet. I don't deny the added safety this helmet brings but safety shouldn't only be reserved for those with loads in the bank
  • 2 1
 @toooldtodieyoung: Yesit is, but that wont stop folks like @joshwoodwardphoto from complaining.
  • 1 1
 @NWuntilirest: Matte black, the colour of this helmet, is arguably the most invisible hue/tone/colour, so the whole safety thing doesn't apply here. A driver is going to see a neon pink, or orange helmet long before they see this stealth helmet, even if the light is on. If it's mainly for commuting, make it a bright colour also.
  • 1 1
 @woofer2609: uh, you ever see a neon pink solar panel.....?
  • 1 0
 @NWuntilirest: uh...you know that only the 3 inset panels at the top of the helmet harvest sunlight, right? The rest of the exterior of the helmet is a regular smooth plastic that can be any colour.
www.bikeradar.com/news/poc-omne-eternal
So whilst I have not seen any pink solar panels, I don't see why that would come into play here.
  • 36 1
 So what you're saying is that it won't work in the UK from October to March?
  • 3 0
 I don't think POC are delivering to the UK at the moment ;-)
  • 24 2
 FFS, why would you make a helmet that is marketed on safety and being visible to other road users and then make the shell matte black?!?! It's the highest visible point on a cyclist, make it white or yellow, or better yet, make it a reflective material.
  • 7 1
 Exclusivity (price) first fashion second safety third.
  • 5 0
 I would imagine the solar electric portion has to be black. It's absorbing the light to convert it to electricity. Hopefully it at least has some retroreflective accent patches.
  • 2 0
 @barp: Interesting, I guess Matte black would be best at absorbing all the suns rays for conversion to power, seems kind of weird still, seeing as it would blend in during daylight hours.
  • 7 0
 Put a blue light in it wear it backwards; COP.
  • 3 0
 yep, that's exactly what I thought too. I always want a white lid for the road/commuting
  • 2 0
 So, I spotted some more photos of this helmet over on Bikerumor, and I would like to retract my statement above. Because, it appears that the solar panels are the recessed black panels in the slots in the main shell, implying that they could in fact have made the main shell any color. I was assuming that the whole shell was the solar panel but now I think I was wrong. Here's hoping they are doing multiple colors and just chose the dumbest one for their marketing.
  • 8 0
 The marketing wank is strong with this one. "By integrating digital solutions we can protect a user before, during and after an accident."
Dude, it is a blinky light. I guess the "digital" means "off and on" in this case...
  • 6 0
 Cool concept IMO. Would love to know how many lumens its putting out and what the battery life is like as well as how much "charge time" it would need. Bit vague on the tech specs.
  • 7 0
 What is wrong with the LED glowing ball sack to hang off your saddle? Serves the same purpose but only cost $15
  • 11 0
 And I thought it was a heart! So many awkward gifts given...
  • 1 0
 @ryan83: LOL
  • 3 0
 I've always wanted a helmet with built in lights. But without a charging port it is nearly pointless. Most of my night riding is in the winter when there is very little daylight. How is the helmet going to charge when it is only outside at night?
  • 2 1
 It says it charges off both natural and artificial light, so if you leave it sitting on a desk/shelf during the day it will charge and be ready for the evening ride.
  • 1 0
 @ChiefSilverback: I don't leave my lights on all day when i'm at work.
  • 3 0
 The waste of this is what gets me. I read through their website and there's no reason to think that the electronics can be moved to a new helmet. So, if you crack your helmet or just replace it on a schedule, you have to buy new lights. Not to mention, it seems unlikely that the energy savings of a solar powered bike light could make up for the energy to make a little solar panel like this unless it's being used every single day. I could see this being super useful for bike touring. And there is probably potential for better integration of lights with helmets.
  • 2 0
 Poc are generally very overpriced, so the cost of this doesn't surprise me. The light looks weak though, which if true, beats the purpose of the product.

I use one of lezyne's "duo" models strapped on my helmet, it has a front and rear light and you can set the mode (blinking or steady) separately for each. Best thing I've done for visibility in traffic, so the helmet light idea has merrit. Just make it brighter and add a front one too.
  • 1 0
 How about putting adjustable side straps on your helmets like basically every other brand... POC helmets are a total crapshoot if they will fit under your ears or not. Focus on the basics before you add extra unnecessary tech.
  • 1 0
 Thought the lumos helmets were cool when they came out. Issue with this built in lights in helmets is they aren't bright enough. You need a ton of lumens to really be seen by a car and make them go out of their way to avoid you. You need bright lights that compete with the brightness of model car lights. A dinky little light in the rear of the helmet (POC) or front of helmet (Lumos) won't make a difference. The light is also much too high to catch the attention of drivers who are conditioned to looking for lights are car head/taillight lever. Best placement for lights are the handlebars and seatpost. Some things never change.
  • 1 0
 I got a POC after I smashed a Fox lid. It arrived nice and shiny new and I was genuinely excited to go for a ride asap but my wife started laughing and pointing to the 'C' saying that she was going to fill the gap with some white tape thus spelling POO. Kind of spoiled the moment.
  • 3 0
 People here gunna hate, but imagine a world in which everyday objects created electricity. Amazing.
  • 3 4
 Also this “ While the marketing points more to commuter use than XC, plenty of mountain bikers rider their bikes to and from the trails and a little extra safety on the road is never a bead thing. The Omne Eternal will be available in June 2021 for €250 / $302 USD. More information available on POC's website”. Needs a bit of grammar chocking I would stay...
  • 2 0
 I assume it has a battery (unless it only works when it's light?), and how much that battery weighs?
  • 3 0
 Any chance of indicators, full beams and windscreen wipers for my glasses?
  • 1 0
 You jest, but the Bontrager Flare RT taillights are able to be used as turn signals/indicators. You need to buy two and the remote control. Came out in 2017, I think.
  • 3 0
 Does it come with a helmet bag?
  • 3 0
 Wake me when it will lower my dropper!
  • 1 0
 Does anyone remember the safari hat with the fans? I want that in a helmet!
  • 1 0
 Their new Tectal Spin with the little NFC chip for emergency responders is way cooler—IF they know it’s there.
  • 2 0
 can they put this in my car?
  • 1 0
 Maybe someone should talk about helmet lifetime vs using so much non reusable features in that kind of product.
  • 1 0
 I'm waiting for the solar powered air cooled DH version with mini air flow fans.
  • 1 0
 Maybe by June POC will have solved their problems with getting their goods into the UK with UPS...
  • 1 0
 Do they sell the socks too? According to their photo, the socks are brighter than the light.
  • 2 0
 No one will buy this
  • 11 43
flag Eric27 (Feb 16, 2021 at 12:34) (Below Threshold)
 Rich, far left liberals with their folding bikes will buy them to use when they are biking back and forth from the evil fossil fueled train that takes them from the beautiful suburbs to the dirty city where they work. And while on this bike ride with their $300 helmet and their right pant leg stuffed in their sock they can think about how wonderful they are because they are not driving a car and look down at all who do. These are the true heroes amongst us! I live in Massachusetts, they're everywhere! (I'm pro environment, just not pro-arrogance and there is a lot here)
  • 2 0
 @Eric27: There is only one true hero in Massachusetts.

Oh wait no he's in Tampa now.
  • 23 2
 @Eric27: how ironic when one considers how arrogant your rant is.
  • 4 2
 @juicebanger: That cut deep, that cut real deep.
  • 8 1
 @Eric27: That's a helluva straw man you've built there.
  • 2 0
 @juicebanger: insert slow clap GIF here
  • 1 0
 If they can put a USB charge port and a front light in the helmet I'm in.
  • 1 0
 call me when it charges my ebike
  • 1 0
 I've got a dynamo on my E-bike. Winning!
  • 1 0
 How to make a helmet lighter? Put on a solar panel with an led
  • 1 0
 Make mine cool my head
  • 1 0
 How much?!?!?!?!
  • 2 5
 NOOOOPE. A battery on my helmet? nope.
  • 3 4
 It's not a battery, it's a solar panel. It's very explicit about this.
  • 6 0
 @codfather1234: I feel like a solar panel and a light without a battery of some description to store energy for when it gets dark would be missing the mark a little bit....... more.
  • 1 0
 @codfather1234: So the conclusion is that you can only use it at night in a lit up environment? As soon as you enter a non lit rural area you have no light! pure genius! lol
  • 6 0
 @tkrug: my word......not my finest moment there! Indeed it must have a battery - egg on my face there.

A slightly unrelated point; there's no charging point so you have to leave it out in the sun all day to be able to use it at night....
  • 1 0
 @codfather1234: Let's hope so! or the rider will be rural roadkill!
  • 1 0
 @codfather1234: and by leaving it out in the daylight all the damage the UV rays do to the plastic.







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