The Most Versatile (and probably best) Helmet in the World: The POC Receptor +

Welcome back to Weebee's World.  Today I'm happy to introduce what I call a "Weebee Wonder," or something that is so amazing and can be used for so many things that it is just simply amazing.


So what is it?  It is the POC Receptor Plus (or POC Receptor +)

So what is so great about this helmet?  Well for starters, its the only helmet in world that is officially certified in the USA and Europe for use in a variety of activities: bike, skateboarding, snow and water.  That means you can use the same helmet for skiing, snowboarding, kayaking, BMX and mountain biking, and skateboarding.  It's basically the granddady of all helmets.  It may not be the best looking helmet out there- in fact I was looking for a skiing helmet after hearing about people getting injured in the snow and read many online reviews.  I finally settled on the Giro Fuse for skiing, but the problem was that I could not find anywhere to buy it!!!  Insane.

 So I went to EBay, where I bid $90 for a $120 helmet and lost.  I bid again at $110, and still lost out to some other bidder.  Frustrated, I starting to look for another helmets when I came across this Swedish company called POC.  Upon further research, I found an even better helmet- the Receptor Plus.

So now back to it.  One helmet for all your needs- biking in the summer, you just remove the straps inside for ventilation, and the side parts that cover your ear.  Kayaking?  Replace the material if some waterproof straps.  The easiest way I can describe this helmet is like Lego blocks.  You can detach the different padding inside in various combinations to get what you need. 

The shell itself is actually a double hard shell- or two layers of hard shell.  You will recall that regular biking helmets have holes in them, so it lets in ventilation.  That's great if you fall on pavement when biking, but you can't take that helmet skiing because you could hit a tree were twigs could potentially go through the holes.  That's where the POC Receptor comes in.  Utilizing technologies of an inner and outer shell, you get the protection from any way things could poke in.  Of course there are helmets that have no holes in them, but then there is no ventilation.  The great thing about POC Receptor Plus is that the dual layer provides the best of both worlds.  You can get the ventilation that goes through the holes, but you also get the same amount of protection that a full hard shell provides!

The helmet can also sustain multiple shocks because of its material, and the whole helmet is lined with a layer of aramid (another word for Kevlar).  Why they don't just call it Kevlar I don't know, but the last covered hole on the helmet instead of the original color is in yellow, where they actually show you that the Kevlar is present (rest assured that yellow is not a manufacturing defect, but really the opposite to show you that it works).  There are more fancy terms and more on the technologies on the helmet, but I'll let you read that for yourself on various websites below (they will open in a new window):

Videos about the POC Receptor +

Description from All Sport Protection

Description from XSports Protective

So obviously my owner has test driven this helmet to see if it is really that good.  And yes it is.  For those who like outdoor sports, and don't want to have multiple helmets, this is the one for you.  You can use it all year round, and it actually looks pretty good.  My owner wore it biking, and when it got cold (like 0 degrees C or 32 F) he just put in the padding on the side to protect his ears from the wind.  The same material can be used for skiing, and you can close the holes to provide maximum warmth. It even has a detachable clip in the back to hold your skiing goggles.  I'm telling you this thing is the best helmet I've seen.

How much is it?
Generally helmets of this type are not cheap- but remember, this is actually replacing multiple helmets, so really its actually quite cheap if you look at the that way- the value is there.  Actually let me rephrase that- what is more important than protecting your head?

Prices go from around $200 USD.  Not cheap, but not that bad either.  I've seen some websites (where my owner got his on a heavy sale) for $128 USD, though you'll probably pay somewhere in the $175-$190 range if you do some searching online and are willing to wait for sales.  They do sell it in Europe, but it seems to be even more expensive, so it may be better to ship it from the USA!

Please note that there are other versions from POC that are slightly cheaper.  The POC Receptor Bug, POC Receptor Flow, or Receptor Crown Snow Helmet are also from POC, but they are NOT the same as the one I'm talking about.  These are essentially a stripped down version of the POC Receptor +, so the biking one will have the holes in it, the skiing one will have the double layer for protection, but it may lack the waterproofing abilities that the Receptor Plus has, and more.  Just be careful you are buying the right one, because you may think "Oh its much cheaper than Weebee mentioned, let me order it" without realizing that the one you are ordering is only good for that one sport it says, and not the snow/bike/kayak/water sports helmet ability in the Receptor +.

Pros: 
Extremely flexible in use- one helmet for all events- bike, skateboarding, snow (skiing & snowboarding) and water (water ski, kayaking, etc)

Excellent all year comfort

Cons: 
Not the "coolest" looking helmet (however I think it still looks pretty good.)


While the 2011 version came out, it is not really different than an earlier version, so don't sorry if you're getting a 2007 POC Receptor +, the technology is the same.  Here is a description from XSports below:

2011 POC Receptor+ Helmet

The 2011 POC Receptor+ Helmet is a great choice for anybody who wants a helmet that is certified for use across a number of different sports, anybody who wants a helmet that can be worn comfortably no matter what the season or temperature, and anybody who wants a helmet that, while doing all of this, provides some of the best head protection money can buy. If you ski, snowboard, skateboard, mountain bike, and/or water-ski, the POC Receptor+ (called the "Receptor Plus") helmet will work for you. It is the perfect choice for all gravity sports.

It comes in Red, White, Green, or Black.  I would just get black as its easiest.  There one less thing to worry about!  Happy Shopping!

Banana Republic Quality Declines- Example BR Monogram Wool Officer's Coat

Weebee's Owner here, on a new rant about Banana Republic.  This is the men's line of clothing from gap in case you're a bit confused of what I'm talking about.  I must say, while the designs are very nice, and getting better with its monogram line, the quality is just falling apart to shambles.

I ordered a Wool Officer's Coat from Banana Republic below.   Apparently its not sold in the United States anymore (at least not on the website), but it is available on the European websites.  Given I live in Europe now its no problem, so I ordered the coat.  At 275 pounds retail (the US version was $475), it was quite pricey, but we a 20-25% coupon you can get it for a much more reasonable price.  However the quality of the jacket leaves much to be desired.

 BR Monogram wool officer's coat

"Remarkably soft, durable wool is constructed into a military-inspired coat. Warm, not weighty, with classic lines for commanding style."

Unfortunately, the warm part is out of the equation.  After waiting several days for the coat to arrive, I get it in a box, and take it out.  Well it fits quite well, just like my last BR Jacket.  And it looks great (see pictures below), just what I expected.  However, one thing I notice is how thin it is.  As in FLIMSY.  It feels just like a piece of paper, no more thicker than my own suit jacket.  Normally this would be good, but there's no way this jacket can actually keep me warm. 

I call Customer Service to ask about it, and the dork on the other line only mumbles stuff from the website.  I've read the website like a million times, tell me something that I don't know.  100% Wool?  Yes I can see that from the website.  And they forgot to mention its super thin.  How about the weight of the coat?  What type of wool?  Where's its made- "Imported" doesn't help.  (By the way the coat is made in China.  I'm not sure what the Monogram is doing there, though I do have a leather jacket from them that I like quite a bit).  I get fed up with him and tell him to go away and stop wasting my time.

As a note I find BR customer service to be excellent.  I've had a long conversation with several sales reps (they are based in California), and they all seem to be pretty helpful except for the one above.  So the service is there, but the quality is not.

As a result of trying this coat out.  I now have a severe cold that I'm trying to get rid off, courtesy of this jacket.  Oh let's check the details shall we?  100% Wool, but they forget to mention its thin as a piece of paper.  (Inside lining looks nice but its all the same as other jackets so not really worth talking much about)  Let's compare that to my other BR brown top coat (that was not part of the premium line Monogram) several years ago.  The coat (below left with the hanger) is the same weight but much more thicker.  Contents on the outside of that brown top coat include:  61% Wool, 28% Cashmere, 11% Nylon.  Oh and that coat went for around $200 or so USD.  So cheaper price, much, MUCH better quality, and much warmer (obviously with some cashmere in there).  It feels like a warm coat, and it is.

A rule of online shopping- be prepared to return things, since they might not always be perfect.  BR does make it as hassle free as possible, though its still a damn pain.  What's more worrisome is how the prices have gone up, but the quality has gone down.  This could put off some customers who want luxury at an affordable price.  If you're charging $475 for a wool coat that won't keep you warm in -5 C degree weather (23 F), then what's the point?  Might as well go for a lower brand that's warmer, or an actual "luxury" brand (you know, those Italians, etc) that can actually get you warm.  After all, spending a $1,000 for a coat that actually keeps you warm is much better than a crummy BR Coat that costs half the price but then gets you sick.

I am quite disappointed in BR, and although I've remained loyal, perhaps after the departure of its CEO to J.Crew, the quality went downhill.  Who knows?  I always considered myself one of their "ideal customers", getting the Visa card, shopping enough to become a LUXE member, and have been buying numerous products from them over the years, from coats, to loafers, to cufflinks, to ties, to socks, and everything else.  But the last purchase is what consumers remember.  All I know is I won't be buying anything from Banana Republic for a very, very long time.