MET’s new Trenta 3K Carbon bike helmet review: top tech in a bag
26/2/2026
Translation: Megan Cornish
Pictures: Patrick Bardelli
Optimised air channels to improve ventilation. Intensive impact tests to boost safety. Victories at the UCI Road World Championships and the Tour de France. MET’s new Trenta 3K Carbon bike helmet is bursting with superlatives. If only it weren’t so incredibly expensive.
Even the storage bag makes it unmistakably clear what the new Trenta 3K Carbon’s all about: advanced tech and performance. The silver and black design inevitably reminds me of Mercedes. And what better symbol of engineering prowess is there than the iconic Silver Arrows from Stuttgart?
Italian brand MET, however, is based in Lombardy and has been developing bike helmets for almost 40 years. Since 2008, the company has also owned the Bluegrass brand, which covers enduro, downhill and BMX. The manufacturer has now revised the helmet it originally introduced in 2017 and developed the Trenta 3K Carbon.
If it’s good enough for Pogačar…
Firstly, let’s address the elephant in the room: the UCI pro team Emirates uses this helmet, headed up by Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian’s hair peeking out of one of the vents has practically achieved cult status. I don’t have the hair – let alone the legs – of the multiple Tour de France winner. But I still wore the new version of the Trenta 3K Carbon on my gravel rides.
… it’s good enough for me
According to the manufacturer, the centrepiece of the redesigned helmet is the 3K Airframe: a carbon wing structure that removes EPS (expanded polystyrene) from the inner frame and uses open air channels to ensure optimal ventilation. Air flows freely through the 24 openings, the helmet and then out of the rear vents. You can practically see right through the helmet.
According to MET, it offers 16 per cent more airflow than the old model. I can’t measure it myself, but I can confirm it’s extremely breezy up top on my rides. What’s more, the manufacturer claims to have increased the safety of the new Trenta 3K Carbon with MIPS Air Node by 40 per cent compared to its predecessor in linear and rotational impact tests. This is also reflected in the five-star rating from the renowned Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Source: MET
Source: Patrick Bardelli
Very comfortable
In size M, the helmet weighs 260 grammes, which makes it either average or light for a road helmet, depending on your perspective. It’s comfortable to wear, without any irritating pressure points. Cycling glasses fit easily into one of the designated openings. I’ve already mentioned the padded and ventilated bag (a good idea). The design’s appealing, but the feel of the bag isn’t. Its extremely plasticky material reminds me of Mancera perfumes. The bottles come in a similar plastic bag. I find it almost unpleasant to touch.
The price issue
Finally, let’s talk about the price. The manufacturer’s website currently lists the Trenta 3K Carbon for 400 euros. On Galaxus, it’s considerably cheaper at 324 Swiss francs (around 355 euros). That’s something, at least. But those are pretty steep prices. That’s what I think anyway.
Don’t get me wrong: the helmet’s amazing. It’s uncompromisingly designed for performance, looks stylish, delivers maximum ventilation, is comfortable to wear and supposedly offers the highest possible protection. And hey, what’s good enough for arguably the best cyclist in the world right now has to be good enough for me. But it is expensive.
One more thing: for the price, I’d have liked to see a magnetic Fidlock fastening, as other reviewers have also mentioned.
In a nutshell
An awesome bike helmet at a fantastic price
I give the Trenta 3K Carbon helmet – which MET provided to me – the highest rating: five out of five stars. In my opinion, the quality’s perfect. Except perhaps for the lack of a magnetic Fidlock fastening. I really wish it had that feature, especially considering the exorbitant price.
So, who’s this helmet made for? Tadej Pogačar and Team Emirates seem to be the primary target audience. And that pretty much sums up what this helmet’s all about: performance. The new Trenta 3K Carbon’s practically crying out for riders who prioritise performance above all else. Whether you’re willing to spend 324 Swiss francs or 400 euros on it is entirely up to you.
If you prefer a more relaxed pace on your road or gravel bike, Galaxus offers plenty of good, affordable alternatives. I recently had a really positive experience with a product from another manufacturer. Here’s the link to the review.
Pro
- Excellent ventilation
- Comfortable to wear
- High safety standard
- Performance-oriented
- Easily accessible glasses slots
Contra
- Price
Header image: Patrick Bardelli
Patrick Bardelli
Senior Editor
Patrick.Bardelli@digitecgalaxus.chFrom radio journalist to product tester and storyteller, jogger to gravel bike novice and fitness enthusiast with barbells and dumbbells. I'm excited to see where the journey'll take me next.
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