Fresh Produce: IXS Metis

There used to be little competition when it came to sensibly priced yet decent full face lids, but it’s now fiercer than ever and this IXS Metis is the latest to join in the fight.

It might not not be challenging the very lowest prices, but we still reckon that this lid offers great value for money as unlike some lids at this kind of price point it has a distinctly quality feel about it. Put it this way, before we knew the price we were all guessing that it’d easily be around the £200 mark.

We reckon IXS have done a great job with the styling, and although this particular colour might not be to everyones taste there are of course several other finishes to choose from. With a fully removable and washable lining the finish inside is just as good as it is outside, plus the fit is good too. With IXS being a protection obsessed company it’s also not surprising to see a double D-ring buckle. It might not be the easiest system to use, but there’s no doubting that it’s incredibly secure.

So often with cheaper priced lids the thing that really puts us off is how flexy the chin guard area is, but this Metis is reassuringly solid. Reassuring is also a word that can be used to describe the 1124g weight. It’s certainly not the lightest, but it’s still reasonable and I think most riders would prefer to carry a few extra grams than be worrying about whether or not a lid is actually going to do its job in a crash.

Finally, the amount of venting on offer has to be mentioned as once again it is definitely a cut above some of its competition. Oh, and the plastic guard all around the bottom edge is a classy touch too as it should help keep the helmet looking sweet despite being checked around a bit.

Price: £139.99
www.ixs-sportsdivision.com
www.hotlines-uk.com