The word ‘crown’ is often used figuratively to describe Tadej Pogačar's many accomplishments in road cycling – he is currently eyeing the triple crown of the Giro, the Tour and the World Championship – but what does he actually wear on his head when he’s laying waste to his rivals? The answer is, of course, the Met Trenta 3K Carbon, a helmet that is, like Pogačar himself, already iconic in the WorldTour thanks to a classic aesthetic that has been unchanged since the Italian brand launched the original version in 2017. What’s more, it’s likely that it will be forever associated with the three-time Tour winner: he has worn the Trenta 3K Carbon for his entire pro career since signing with UAE Team Emirates in 2019.
Met was founded in 1987, and the Trenta was launched to celebrate its 30-year anniversary (trenta is Italian for 30). Since then, it has been upgraded with Mips Air, the lightest and most advanced version of the third-party rotational management system, making it, according to Met “the most advanced road cycling helmet we have ever made”. There’s also a non-carbon Trenta Mips that’s priced lower, at £220, compared to the £290 of this flagship pro-level 3K Carbon version.
Construction
The Trenta 3K Carbon was the first helmet in the WorldTour to use carbon fibre, something which Met says allowed it to reduce the density of EPS foam by 20% without affecting the helmet’s capacity to absorb energy in an impact. The 3K weave is visible in the wider lateral sections of the cage that run across the front of the helmet underneath and between the longitudinal ribs. The amount of EPS bulk inside the helmet is noticeably reduced compared to other helmets with a traditional polycarbonate hardshell construction. At 223g for the size medium we have here on test, it’s impressively lightweight, too, undercutting most of the top road helmets.
On the head, the Trenta 3K Carbon also has a minimal, low-bulk look, fitting the sides closely above the ears and avoiding the dreaded mushroom silhouette. Compared to other helmets, it suits a narrow, long head better than a wide, round one. The internal retention system – the Safe-T Orbital – has a good range of precise adjustment and works on a ratchet via the wheel at the rear. The straps can be easily and neatly adjusted for a perfect fit with the two plastic under-ear splitters. There are S, M and L sizes. My head is more the long and narrow type, and I don’t think I’ve ever known a helmet fit me as well as this one.
Ride impressions
In a year where we’ve seen some outrageously enormous time trial helmets and a couple of questionable road helmets that don’t strictly adhere to the road cycling style guide, the Met Trenta 3K Carbon has never looked classier. To my eye, the sweeping lines and the unfussy vent shapes are effortlessly cool. Some of the current road helmets include some weird-looking ‘exhaust ports’, but again, the Trenta 3K Carbon has a graceful-looking tail incorporating what Met says is a NACA cooling vent with a rear deflector.
The Trenta has a total of 19 vents, including the slot on the top and the two at the tail, and they move air inside the helmet and over the top of the head effectively – Met says using the Venturi effect whereby fluid, or air in this case, speeds up as it flows through a constricted section.
Met has the Manta as its dedicated aero helmet, with the Trenta as its lightweight, ventilated model, but the Trenta was still wind tunnel tested and features the NACA rear tail. Although we know that the way a helmet performs aerodynamically is very dependent on the shape and position of the rider wearing it, if a helmet can feel fast, this one did.
Additionally, there are crucial practicalities that haven’t been neglected, such as a sunglasses port that holds sunnies straight without them either falling halfway out or poking the rider’s temples on their way in. The Trenta 3K even has small rubberised patches positioned at the front of the vents that hold the arms to stop them from slipping forward.
Conclusion
The Met Trenta 3K Carbon looks super stylish, it’s comfortable, lightweight and easy to adjust – though it fitted me so perfectly that adjusting the cradle and straps took a matter of seconds. It’s extremely well-vented, making it ideal for hot weather, and although we can’t compare it directly to the Met Manta or other aero helmets, aerodynamics clearly haven’t been neglected. At £290, it’s priced higher than the S-Works Prevail at £250 and the Kask Protone Icon, as worn by Ineos (£245). The Limar Air Atlas, worn by Mark Cavendish, is priced at £252. However, the Giro Aries Spherical, as worn by Visma, is slightly more expensive than the Met, and there are the new aero helmets from POC and Kask that break the £300 barrier.
Overall, just like its most famous wearer, the Met Trenta 3K Carbon is pure class.
Although this UAE Team Emirates edition is a nice reminder that this is Pogi’s lid, it does come in other colours – check it out at Met’s website.
