The Met Trenta 3K Carbon helmet is great if you’re looking for a money-no-object option for road, gravel or cross country. Although it’s expensive, it boasts world class safety credentials which I think go a long way towards justifying the price.
The helmet of “choice” for teams UAE Team Emirates XRG and ADQ, this racey lid has been seen on the likes of Tadej Pogačar, Tim Wellens and Maëva Squiban for about a year now. Launched to the public in October 2025, this second generation Trenta boasts improvements in ventilation, aerodynamics, and safety.
The helmet comes with a travel bag with a mesh side to allow it to dry out if you put it away damp, and a drawstring to cinch it closed.
The main aesthetic difference to the outgoing Trenta is the addition of a new vent low on the front of the helmet, sitting between the struts that go over the top of your head and the base. This vent is made up of four smaller ports that are recessed slightly from the lip of the helmet. This gives the helmet a slightly taller appearance and may not be for everyone. I wasn’t a huge fan at first, but I warmed to it over the testing period.
I tested the helmet during the UK winter when temperatures were constantly below 10C, and the rainfall in the South West of the UK was near enough non-stop. This is where my only real gripe with the helmet occured. In these conditions, I like to wear a cap under a helmet to keep the rain away from my face and to offer some insulation. When I put the helmet on top, there was some quite obvious pinching on the sides of the helmet.
The shape is quite oval and it seems the medium was just a little too narrow for my head. It’s worth noting that my usual helmet is a Kask Protone in a size medium and I don’t experience this issue with that. Without the cap, the helmet was comfortable, but I did notice a little bit of pressure after a few hours, so I would say the helmet is on the narrower side, and you should bear this in mind.
A few years ago, I did actually own the previous generation Trenta, and didn’t experience this issue with that helmet. (I’m 30 years old, so I don’t think it’s because my head’s grown.)
Met has made some pretty bold claims about improvements with this helmet. The new vent configuration and the carbon ‘Airframe’ that reduces the amount of foam used have apparently led to a 16 per cent improvement in airflow. I have no way to test this, but I can say the helmet felt fast, and at 260g for a medium it is objectively quite light.
One of the more interesting claims Met has made – and had independently verified – is that this version has seen a 40 per cent improvement in rotational impact testing, and is worthy of Virginia Tech’s five star rating. This makes it one of the safest helmets out there thanks to the Mips Air Node liner that ‘redirects rotational motion for advanced protection’.
Price wise, there’s no two ways about it: the Met Trenta 3K Carbon is an expensive helmet. At £350, you’ll struggle to find anything more expensive (with the exception of the POC Procen at £370 – but that’s a whole different kettle of fish).
Other brands’ top end helmets that are worthy of comparison include the Kask Elemento at £35 and the Poc Cytal Lite at £320.
With the safety rating, you could argue a chunk of the price is somewhat justified. However, for the majority of riders, £350 will be a tough pill to swallow.
Overall, I did really like the Met Trenta 3K Carbon. I was a bit sad that the fit just didn’t quite work for me, especially considering the original Trenta worked fine, but I won’t hold that against it too much. Price aside, this helmet ticks all the boxes.
Test Report
What does the manufacturer say about this product?:
Met describes the Trenta 3K Carbon as a, “Performance Cycling Helmet for Road, Gravel and Cross Country”. It’s lightweight, boasts aerodynamic credentials, and comes with a pretty hefty price tag – so I’d say this is an accurate description from the Italian brand.
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of this product:
3K Carbon Airframe
Virginia Tech 5 Star Rating
MIPS Air Node System
Larger Air Channels
Fully Wrapped Polycarbon Shell
24 Vents with integrated sunglasses ports
SafeT Orbital Fit System
Any further comments on quality?:
The helmet is almost flawless. The moulding of the shell and overall finish is fantastic. My only minor gripe is that the strap feels s little bit basic in comparison to the quality of the rest of the helmet.
Any further comments on performance?:
The helmet looks great, and has all the credentials to suggest it’s fast. The fit was a little narrow for my head, but this is quite a personal thing; although the older Trenta 3k fit me just fine.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested?:
The price is in line with other top end road helmets.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? No
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
I enjoyed using the helmet on the whole, but the slightly narrower fit caused a little discomfort on some longer rides.
2 thoughts on “Met Trenta 3K Carbon”
3…, 2…, 1….
“safer than almost any other helmet on the market” – apart from the nine on the Virginia Tech website that rank higher? All but one (a full face downhill carbon MTB helmet) of the other nine, incidentally, are cheaper, in some cases significantly so (PZR A20, $55). There are also 48 helmets with the 5* rating, so rather sounds like marketing hype that shouldn’t find its way into a review?