Met Manta Mips helmet
£220, met-helmets.com
As well as having incredibly large brains, manta rays glide effortlessly smoothly thanks to their drag-minimising shape.
In an attempt to emulate its fishy namesake, the latest version of the
Met Manta aero road helmet features a ‘NACA’ vent on the crown that not only resembles a manta ray’s mouth and front fins but also keeps drag to a minimum while keeping the head cool.
Besides improved aerodynamics, the most obvious addition to the Manta is a Mips slip liner for extra angled protection in a crash. You might also notice a change at the rear, as it now has both a lower profile and a more pronounced shape, which Met claims saves an average of four watts at speeds between 33kmh and 80kmh.
Harder to spot is the updated inner shape inspired by the Trenta 3K Carbon helmet worn by Tadej Pogačar’s UAE Team Emirates. Met says this, along with the 360° head belt that removes pressure points on the skull, helps to improve comfort compared to the previous Manta.