TESTED: the Met Parachute helmet

MET has been a player in the helmet game for nearly 3 decades now. The brand was created in Italy just near the impressive Lake Como. Although the brand is still designed and based in Italy, a lot of production now occurs in China. The quality, however, is still definitely there, and the styling is still quite Euro focused. MET has a rich pedigree in racing, though mainly in cross country and road cycling circles. The brand has dipped its toe into the fullface market before, but this new MET Parachute has been completely re-designed to cope with new challenges from the emerging “enduro” scene, where riders need maximum protection but have a big emphasis on ventilation and weight.

Lachlan takes the Met Parachute to flight on the Norco Aurum.

Unboxing the helmet, the first thing I realised is just how light this helmet is. The whole helmet came in at 698 grams which is very impressive. MET has done a lot of work to really get this helmet light, but without sacrificing their Australian standard sticker. To be honest, after I had unboxed the helmet I was skeptical that the build and inside were going to be solid. I had to inspect further – was it going to have all the creature comforts that I am used to and prefer?

MET have done an amazing job with the pads in the helmet, they are super thin so aren’t going to soak up your sweat like a sponge, but are comfortable, and – best of all – removable. The retention system at the back is a nice touch that I have not seen on a full face before, it allows the helmet to fit snug on the head, limiting movement (much like your regular half lid). The small touch of the goggle strap was also nice to see.

Using the MET Parachute on the trail

The fit whilst riding was nice, the medium was the perfect fit for my head (56cm). All the padding held up well on the rides and as previously mentioned, the low profile pad design did not become sweat soaked. The mouthpiece sits quite close to the face, which although is not a comfort concern, does make the fit of the helmet feel different to other offerings I have used in the past.

Summer has been the perfect time to test out this extremely light lid. One of the biggest marketing points for the helmet is the ventilation – it allows you to descend and climb in the same helmet. The helmet features 24 large ventilation holes and, I can wholeheartedly say, that the marketing is true – this helmet keeps you cool while riding. This is most definitely a helmet that you can ride in all day on an “enduro” style bike and not feel the need to carry a second half lid just for the climbs. The mouth guard offers a little more protection to the enduro rider, but I thought it felt a little light for full downhill use. Although I had no gripes with the protection, I am definitely used to a weightier helmet with a one-piece construction.

Met has created a helmet that is light and ventilated enough to be used all day on backcountry epics or stage rides/races. The Parachute is the lightest full face at the moment in the world and offers a lot more protection than your standard half lid. That being said, I did not find the lightweight and two-piece design optimal for downhill duties.

Hits:

• So light!
• Washable padding
• Secure fit

Misses:

• Doesn’t ‘feel’ like a downhill helmet

RRP: $299

From: advancetraders.com.au