POC POCito Skull
POC POCito Skull Children’s Ski Helmet by POC (POCito Skull)
For families who won’t compromise on protection, and whose children already ski faster than they do.
Overview
490 grams. That is the number to hold in mind with the POCito Skull, because it is where the design conversation both starts and ends. POC builds race helmets for adults, and the POCito Skull carries the same technologies down to a child’s head, in a shell most children manage for a full ski day, though the youngest will notice the weight. Not ultralight, not a compromise: a deliberate calculation about what protection needs at this size.
The shell is injected polycarbonate and ABS. Inside, an EPP (expanded polypropylene) liner absorbs impact across more than one fall, where single-use EPS foam compresses permanently at the first hard hit. For a child learning to ski and falling repeatedly across a week’s holiday, that is not a small distinction. Any helmet should still be replaced after a serious impact, whatever the liner is made of.
POC lists the certification as EN 1077 Class A on its own product page, and the helmet has a full aramid penetration barrier built into the liner. Some retailers print the standard differently, so read the label on the helmet you are handed. A RECCO avalanche rescue reflector sits in the shell, passive and battery-free. The goggle clip at the back carries a My Info panel for a parent’s contact details, and the helmet comes with reflective stickers. POC also offers a separate accessory pack with an LED light and a fluorescent vest. At EUR 169.95 it is priced above most children’s helmets, and the extras are considered rather than decorative.
Why It’s Great for Family Travel
The fluorescent colours are the first thing parents notice. Fluorescent Blue, Orange, Pink and Yellow-Green: these are slope-visibility colours, not a marketing concession to the children’s market. On a busy resort day, with a six-year-old skiing in a school group somewhere between a red run and the lift station, fluorescent is the difference between tracking your child by confident sight and scanning an anonymous sea of black and grey helmets. Owners often say the colour alone decided the purchase, which makes sense the first time you scan a crowded lift queue for one small helmet.
The rear rotary dial adjuster sets a secure fit across the XS-S range (51 to 54 cm head circumference), so the helmet can grow with the child. Owners commonly report two to three ski seasons from one helmet before the adjustment range runs out. At EUR 170, that arithmetic matters: the cost divides across winters rather than into a single trip. For the family that skis annually, that is the right way to think about the purchase.
The flexible clip at the back keeps goggles in place, and the My Info panel built into it has room for a parent’s contact details. It is barely noticed in use and valuable in a scenario nobody plans for. The LED light from POC’s accessory pack earns its place on flat late-afternoon runs, when visibility closes in. Check whether your retailer includes the pack in the price, because POC describes it as an addition.
Real-World Use (Ski Resort / Car / Ski School)
The drive to the resort is the POCito Skull’s first logistical test. A full hard shell does not compress. At 490 grams and child-head circumference, it is compact relative to adult equivalents, but it occupies fixed space in a ski bag or helmet bag and requires that space to be planned. Parents packing for a family of four, ski equipment included, will need to account for it alongside boots and poles rather than tucking it into a soft bag corner. This is a minor logistical consideration, shared by any full-shell children’s helmet in its size category, and not a reason to choose a different product.
At ski school drop-off, the optional LED light earns its place. Early mornings on the lift in flat winter light, or the end-of-day collection when visibility closes in before 4pm: the blinking light makes the child easier to pick out in the group without the child doing anything. The fluorescent vest layers over the jacket for the walk from the car park to the lift. Both extras work without a second thought from anyone wearing them, which is how safety kit should behave at this age.
The fitting question is where families need to be honest with themselves. This is a full-coverage race shell, and owners report that it can be a tight pull over a wider or rounder head, especially on a child who resists helmets. POC makes the range in other styles too: the POCito Fornix MIPS and the POCito Obex MIPS are the models to try alongside it, and both carry MIPS, which the Skull does not. Try the helmet on the child before buying, online or in a shop, and check the return terms. POC’s own shop lists a 30-day return.
Specs That Actually Matter
- Weight: 490 g (POC’s official figure; some retailers list 500 g)
- Head circumference: One Size = XS-S, 51–54 cm (POC lists 51/52 to 53/54 cm); for children of roughly 4 to 10, depending on head size
- Shell: Injected polycarbonate/ABS shell; full aramid penetration barrier
- Liner: EPP (expanded polypropylene) multi-impact inner; removable LD foam comfort padding, hand-washable
- Certification: EN 1077 Class A (per POC’s product page)
- MIPS: No. The Skull relies on a full aramid penetration barrier and has no rotation liner; the POCito Fornix MIPS and Obex MIPS add MIPS
- Fit system: Rear rotary dial, stepless adjustment across the XS-S range
- RECCO: Integrated avalanche rescue reflector (passive; no battery required)
- Extras: Reflective stickers and a goggle clip with a My Info contact panel. POC also offers an accessory pack with an LED light and a fluorescent vest.
- Colours: Fluorescent Blue, Fluorescent Orange, Fluorescent Pink, Fluorescent Yellow-Green
- Care: Remove liner; hand-wash comfort pads in cold water; air-dry away from direct heat
- Warranty and returns: Check the current warranty terms on poc.com; POC’s own shop lists a 30-day return.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- EN 1077 Class A certification listed by POC, with a full aramid penetration barrier
- EPP multi-impact liner: built to absorb more than one fall (replace after any serious impact)
- RECCO avalanche reflector integrated, passive, no battery needed
- Rear dial adjuster grows with the child; owners report two to three seasons from one helmet
- Reflective stickers and a My Info contact panel on the goggle clip, plus an optional LED light and fluorescent vest pack
- Fluorescent colours make children easy to locate on a busy slope
- Built for young ski racers, with the same technologies as POC’s adult race helmets
Cons
- Hard full shell = narrow opening: difficult to fit on some children, particularly those with wider or rounder heads
- 490 g is noticeable on the smallest heads over a full day
- One size only (51–54 cm): families with older or larger-headed children need a different model
- No MIPS; the POCito Fornix MIPS and Obex MIPS are the range’s MIPS options
- Owners note limited ventilation on warm days; better suited to cold alpine skiing than to spring slopes
- Pre-season (September to October) stock is patchy at several EU retailers; poc.com lists it at EUR 170
FFH Gear Score
- Functionality: 8.5 / 10.
- Build Quality & Durability: 8.5 / 10.
- Ease of Use: 7.0 / 10.
- Family Practicality: 7.5 / 10.
- Pricing: $$$$. of $$$$$.
- FFH Gear Score: 7.9 / 10.
Final Verdict
The POCito Skull is a helmet for parents who want race-derived protection scaled down to a child, and it earns its 7.9. POC lists EN 1077 Class A, a full aramid penetration barrier and an EPP liner built for repeated falls, in a 490-gram shell with a rear dial that lets it grow with the child. The colours are loud on purpose, which is the point on a crowded slope.
The compromises are real. The full shell can be a tight pull over wider heads, the weight is noticeable on the smallest children over a full day, ventilation is limited on warm days, and there is no MIPS. A child who resists helmets should try the shell in a shop against the POCito Fornix MIPS and Obex MIPS before you commit to it.
For families who ski cold alpine terrain, with children in ski school or junior racing, this is the right choice. The EPP liner is made for the falls of a learning skier, and at EUR 170 spread across two or three seasons the price is fair. One firm instruction: try it on the child before buying.
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POC POCito Skull: Questions from Families
Who is the POC POCito Skull best suited for?
Children of roughly 4 to 10 with a head circumference of 51–54 cm who ski regularly, including ski school or junior racing. It suits families who put protection first and ski on cold alpine terrain. A child who resists helmets or has a wider head should try it on first, and can compare it with POC’s POCito Fornix MIPS or Obex MIPS.
What age and head size does the POCito Skull fit?
One size (XS-S) covers 51–54 cm head circumference, which suits most children of roughly 4 to 10 depending on head size. POC does not offer the POCito Skull in other sizes, so families with older or larger-headed children need a different model. Measure the child’s head before buying and try the helmet on if you can.
At 490 grams, will a young child find it heavy to wear all day?
POC lists the weight as 490 g (some retailers say 500 g). Most children manage a ski day in it, but it is a full-coverage race shell, and the youngest children will notice the weight, most of all on warm spring days when ventilation is limited. Younger children of four or five are the ones to think about before choosing this model.
What safety certifications does the POCito Skull hold?
POC lists the POCito Skull as certified to EN 1077 Class A on its own product page, with a full aramid penetration barrier and a RECCO avalanche rescue reflector. Some retailers print the standard differently, so check the label on the helmet itself. Replace any helmet after a serious impact.
Why doesn’t the POCito Skull have MIPS?
The POCito Skull does not use MIPS. Its protection comes from a rigid PC/ABS shell, an EPP multi-impact liner and a full aramid penetration barrier, the same approach POC takes with its adult race helmets. Families who want MIPS should look at POC’s POCito Fornix MIPS or POCito Obex MIPS.
Is the POCito Skull difficult to put on a young child?
For some children, yes. It is a full-coverage race shell, and owners report that it can be a tight pull over a wider or rounder head, or on a child who resists helmets. The rear dial makes sizing easy once it is on. Try it on the child before buying, and check the return terms; POC’s own shop lists a 30-day return.
How many ski seasons should a family expect from one helmet?
Owners commonly report two to three seasons from one POCito Skull before the child outgrows the XS-S adjustment range. The EPP liner is designed for more than one impact, but any helmet should be replaced after a serious fall. The liner can be removed for cleaning. At EUR 170, spread over two or three winters, the price is easier to justify than it looks for a single trip.
How does the POCito Skull fit alongside other FFH-reviewed family mountain gear?
The POCito Skull covers head protection specifically; a complete alpine kit for a young child also calls for high-altitude sun defence and load-carrying capacity for longer days. For complementary gear on mountain trips with young children, FFH reviews include the La Roche-Posay Anthelios Dermo-Pediatrics SPF 50+ for face and ear protection on the slope, and the Deuter Kid Comfort Pro for hiking days when the skis stay in the chalet. The POCito Skull does not overlap with either; together they address the main protection and logistics gaps for families with children aged 3–10 on an Alpine trip.
