The MET Terranova is the Italian outfit’s mid-range open-face trail helmet. Cutting a similar silhouette to the full noise Roam, the Terranova is actually a few grams lighter and has one more vent — it misses out on lighter straps, a nifty integrated goggle clip and MET’s high-end Safe-T Orbital Fit System.
Even still, the Terranova, which is not related to the TV series produced by Steven Spielberg of the same name, is a well-furnished open-face lid that carries an inoffensive $199.99 AUD price tag.
Hands-on the MET Terranova
Available in MIPS and non-MIPS treatments, we have the former. The yellow liner inside is MIPS’ C2 brain protection, and while it’s not as integrated as some, the slip liner still slips.
The coverage on offer is impressive, with the shell descending well down the back of your head and over your temples, and the fit feels comparatively deep.
Weighing in at 350g in a size medium it’s actually 10g lighter than the flagship lid from MET’s sister brand Bluegrass, the Rogue Core MIPS.
With 17 vents on offer, it breathes okay. It’s not the airiest lid we’ve ever pitted against the oppressive SEQ summer heat and humidity, but it’s also far from the worst. Part of the problem here could also be due to the padding. It’s quick to saturate and isn’t made from super techy, air-permeable, ultra-fast drying materials.
MIPS, good-sized vents and a full-wrap shell
The actual vents are large enough for digits chasing an itch, and the intakes on the front offer a spot to stow your sunnies. That said, the long straight arms on my Oakley Sutro Lites did get snagged on the edge of the MIPS liner, so your mileage may vary.
Fully encased in polycarbonate, the shell wraps completely underneath the bottom edge and extends into the vents. While it may seem like a small thing, it protects the foam from small dings and gouges that can happen as day-to-day wear and tear, and helps extend the life of the helmet.
Utilising a ratcheting dial, the Safe-T Duo retention system isn’t quite as minimal as the brand’s flagship Safe-T Orbital Fit System, but using a 360º band, it applies pressure evenly all the way around your head as you cinch it down. MET says it’s ponytail compatible, but given the length of my luscious locks, I’ll have to take their word for it.
One of the areas it’s clear MET saved a few bucks is in the webbing selected for the straps. It’s a bit thicker, heavier, and less cooperative than the ultralight straps on pricier helmets. They create more wind noise and take a bit more faffing to get everything sitting nice and flat, but they are hardly an imposition. MET has also opted for a standard buckle rather than a fancy magnetic affair.
Compared to the other trail lids in our stable, the visor on the Terranova is longer than the slideshow your weird uncle showed you from his exciting trip to Cleveland, Ohio. However, even in its lowest setting, it doesn’t obstruct your view, and despite it not having any indexed positions and tool-free adjusters, it stays firmly in the position you left it in. The peak is also designed to be flexible, so when you break a fall with your face, it should flex and deform rather than dig into the ground.
