MET has been manufacturing helmets for mountain bikers for 30 years now. But with the new Roam, the Italians want to have packed even more protection and more innovative functions into a helmet than before.
MET Roam - the facts
- CE - CPSC - AS/NZ - certified
- Sizes: S (52/56) - M (56/58) - L (58/62)
- Seven colours to choose from
- MIPS optionally available
- 22 Ventilation openings
- Adjustable visor
- Weight: 335 grams / 360 grams (MIPS)
Price: 150 euros / 170 euros (MIPS) / Info: www.met-helmets.com
More protection for trail bikers
Increasingly demanding trails and better riding skills also demand more protection for mountain bikers. MET now wants to offer this with the brand new Roam. Like classic helmets, the new all-mountain helmet is made of foamed EPS. However, the Roam is also encased in an outer shell made of polycarbonate, which should not only make it safer, but also more durable.
We are now familiar with the low-slung rear end from many other models. The advantages are obvious: more cover also offers more protection. Despite the increased use of materials, the weight should still remain bearable at around 335 grams.
If you want even more protection, go for the version with MIPS. The additional shell on the inside of the helmet to better absorb rotational energy and thus better absorb the forces in the event of an impact. In collaboration with the Swedish manufacturer, a special shell is said to have been developed that virtually eliminates the disadvantages of MIPS - more weight, less ventilation. Compared to the normal version, the MIPS system adds 25 grams of weight and costs 20 euros more.
Sophisticated equipment, better customisation
MET draws on the full range of features: the visor can be adjusted over a wide range so that a goggle fits easily underneath. The shield is also very flexible, so that in the event of a fall, it doesn't snap your head back like a spring and is also less likely to break. The padding on the inside covers a large area of the head to ensure a secure fit and maximum comfort.
MET has developed a completely new system, called Safe T-Orbital, for better adjustment. The circumferential head ring can be adjusted particularly finely using a rotary wheel. A three-stage height adjustment and an additional adjustment at the back of the head are also possible. Rubber pads in areas where the helmet comes into contact with the scalp are designed to ensure greater comfort. Thanks to 22 ventilation openings and internal ventilation channels, bikers should keep a cool head on the trail.
Additional features
As already mentioned, the visor can be adjusted. Three positions are possible here. In the top position, not only can a goggle be placed comfortably on the helmet shell, but there is also space for classic sunglasses. Clips on the back of the helmet and on the visor keep the goggle strap in the correct position at all times.
There is an indentation in the EPS shell directly below the upper ventilation openings. The Velcro straps of an action cam or helmet lamp can be attached here conveniently and without impairing comfort. Simply attach the padding over this and you should no longer feel the straps.
The specs of the new Roam sound promising. As soon as MET's new all-mountain bike is available, we will take a test model out on the trails and describe our riding impressions. Until then, we'll have to make do with the impressions from the specially filmed product video.
Stefan Frey
Editor
