This summer I spent most of my pedal rides wearing the Endura MT500 MIPS helmet. A relative newcomer to the world of mountain bike helmets, Endura has teamed up with MIPS and Koroyd to provide additional protection in this new flagship trail helmet. In my first experience with an Endura helmet, what struck me most about this helmet was its oversized vents and impressively deep coverage around the back of the head. Read on to see how it fared in the long run…
details
- MIPS rotation protection
- Koroyd impact protection
- 5 colors
- 3 sizes: S/M, M/L (tested), L/XL
- Standard buckle
- 420 grams (our scale, M/L)
- Glasses friendly
- Detachable accessory/light/camera mount
- Micro-Adjust Fit System
- Crash Replacement Policy
- $239.95
As you can clearly see, the large vents and extended cover on the back stand out.
This helmet has clean lines and a beautiful look, while nothing is overly funky. Note the subtle and minimalist accessory holder at the top of the middle frame.
There is a grip area at the back that helps keep the goggle straps in place.
The height of the restraint system is adjustable in 3 positions, as you can see above left. The knob is easy to operate with one hand and there is a thin layer of rubber on the contact side to keep everything comfortable and easy to grip.
Koroyd is an interesting thing. Basically it looks like a bunch of straws folded together. The idea is that it increases impact resistance while allowing good air circulation.
The strap system is what we’ve come to expect these days – a Y-shaped strap with fixed anchor points on the front of the helmet, combined with a standard buckle.
The adjustment range of the visor on the MT500 MIPS is huge. It has more than enough space for a pair of safety glasses if that’s your thing. The notches aren’t entirely clear, but the hardware is sturdy, made of aluminum, and there’s no unwanted movement.
On the path
Starting with the fit, the sizing was pretty precise and accurate. Regardless of how most brands label things, I always wear the medium if they offer three sizes. I also didn’t notice any hotspots or strange shapes in the overall profile. However, if possible, it is always good to try on a lid beforehand, as riders’ head shapes vary greatly and therefore many people have specific preferences depending on how each brand tends to fit. Anecdotally, I feel like most riders would do well with the shape of the MT500. I really appreciated all the features and the padding is quite plush and soft to the touch. It also seems to be well distributed in the right places. Although I personally don’t wear half-cover goggles, I have tried some and they work very well. Speaking of glasses: The temples of two different glasses could be easily inserted and did not interfere with the holding system.
A few thoughts on Koroyd and the vents… Although I found the very generous vents kept things very cool, I did have a desire to scratch the occasional itch through them and unfortunately the Koroyd layer prevented me from doing so. With that in mind, I don’t think such large vents would be nearly as safe in the absence of the Koroyd as a stick could easily pass through them in the event of an accident going wrong, so it’s worth considering. All in all, this helmet runs very cool and provides very good air circulation – especially considering how much protection it offers. As far as moisture management goes, I wore this lid on a few days in the deep summer heat and it did a great job at keeping sweat from running down the front of my face or dripping into my glasses.
As for some of the other features, I really liked the sight. In addition to the huge height range, it is sturdy and quite thick, but also somewhat flexible, which leads me to believe that it would survive a few minor drops without exploding. Let’s put it this way: it doesn’t feel brittle or fragile. When it came to the belts and restraint system, I had nearly no complaints. I was completely comfortable with the restraint system and found the straps and anchors to be very comfortable. However, as someone who was spoiled Fidlock I wish this helmet had a buckle, and considering the price of the MT500, it could definitely do with this additional premium feature. All in all, this is just a very short list of disadvantages.
In total
In summary, I am a big fan of Endura’s MT500 MIPS helmet. One of my favorite aspects was the very broad coverage – which definitely helps instill confidence as we all demand more and more trail bikes these days. Although it’s a little hard to quantify, it is true feels Like it has a little more material than all the other lids I’ve used in this category. I haven’t had any bad falls with it (knock wood!), but I feel very secure when I wear it. In comparison, it is extremely comfortable and runs very cool. Interestingly, when I went back to my TLD A3 – my previous favorite – it didn’t feel as comfortable as the MT500 and I found I preferred the shape and padding of the MT500. All in all, I would highly recommend this lid if you are looking for something new. Even though Endura is a newcomer to the helmet world, they are definitely doing it right.
