The MT500 Full Face Helmet from Endura is very light and fits well, and offers excellent levels of protection. It can get hot when you’re riding fast and hard, though, and it’s not the plushest of lids to spend time in.
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The MT500 Full Face comes kitted with 17 reasonably sized vents, a Fidlock closure, and an adjustable cradle to fit the lid properly to your head. It’s fully compatible with goggles, and the Koroyd shock absorption uses larger diameter tubes than normal to boost airflow.
To help keep weight down, Endura has chosen Koroyd as a way around shock absorption and to reduce rotational impact forces.
Rather than using a secondary cradle, like MIPS, Koroyd is a honeycomb of straws which can twist, crumple and collapse upon impact. It’s fairly similar to Bontrager’s WaveCel design.
The MT500 weighs 640g in the M/L size, so it’s light and even pushing into IXS Trigger FF territory – but is arguably more protective.
With the Koroyd, the lid has an internal skeleton built into the chin bar, which adds to its impact strength and helps the helmet exceed ASTM, CSPC, and EN standards.
Upon first fitting, the most noticeable thing is that it’s quite hard on the interior. It has cushions and comfort liners, but still generally isn’t as cushy as others. The lining is fairly minimal and it doesn’t provide much space between your head and the Koroyd honeycomb.
The follically challenged may find some rubbing from the ends of the straw-like energy absorbers…
Even with hair, the thought of crashing in this helmet is scarier than in others, simply because of its distinct lack of cush. Under an actual impact, though, it’s obviously going to provide all the absorption and cusioning you need.
Mid-run its hardness is forgettable, and its low weight is a clear benefit. Airflow is a bit of an issue for the MT500 Full Face, however.
Oddly, if you’re going slowly or standing still, heat is exhausted rather nicely and the hat feels generally cool. However, once at speed the Koroyd seems to really get in the way, stopping much air getting through to your head. It can get a bit warm.
If strong protection and very low weight are exclusively what you’re looking for, the Endura MT500 Full Face Helmet really fits the bill. However, it’s warm when you’re working hard, and considerably less plush and comfy to wear than many other designs.
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