The Review | Endura Singletrack Helmet
There is the old saying, “light, comfortable or cheap – pick two”; well that certainly seems to be the case for the bike industry at the moment. The last three helmets that we’ve reviewed have all cost way in excess of £150 and the constant innovation means it’s easy to get lost in ever escalating prices, buying into the “it’s expensive because….” mentality. Well, when we received this new helmet from Scottish company Endura it was like a breath of fresh air when we caught sight of the price – £69.99, that’s more like it.
The first thing that struck us was the Singletrack helmets bold styling, the bright blue colour really setting off the aggressive angular profile. While most helmets are opting for a smoother curvaceous approach the Singletrack looks purposeful and dramatic. The helmet definitely looks more at home on bigger heads, but after a few sci-fi jokes we decided that we really liked the styling. Endura have always been loved for delivering durable products at sensible prices, but have perhaps bordered on boring. This helmet further demonstrates Endura’s move towards braver style statements, obvious throughout their colourful 2015 range.
There are no crazy marketing acronyms here, just a lightweight in-mould cycle helmet with removable visor. The one-hand micro-adjustment dial worked really well to accommodate different head sizes and is recessed to minimise hot spots. The only quibble was that the visor is fixed in position and cannot be tilted up or down. It was ‘only just’ high enough on our testers but it is important to try first. There is really no place for fixed visors on a modern helmet (Endura are addressing the issue of the fixed visor, and the next generation of the Singletrack helmet will come with an adjustable visor). However, Endura should be commended for their crash replacement policy; should you be unfortunate and damage the helmet in an accident, simply send it to Enduro and receive a replacement at 50% off the retail price.
On the trail the Endura Singletrack helmet feels light and airy with plenty of ventilation keeping cool on the climbs. It fits great and feels snug and secure, even before the strap is done up. The wide adjustment range was particularly pleasing for one of our testers because he previously struggled to find a helmet that fits. The angular front is striking and took a little getting used to but we really started to like the design. To top it off the reflective logo on the back is a nice touch adding a bit of visibility if you’re wearing it on the road at night.
Bottom Line
The Endura Singletrack helmet is very light and well vented, and offers a well built construction for a real-world price. We loved the excellent coverage over the back of the head and the sci-fi styling grew on us. The fit is not as universal as some so you will need to try it on, but if it fits it’s a great lid. If only that visor could tilt back a little it would be full marks!
For more information check out the ENDURA website
Words: Trev Worsey, Richard Turley Photos: Trev Worsey
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