Scottish brand Endura has been around since 1993 and is a mainstay of the UK mountain bike scene, with a well-deserved reputation for quality products that last a decent amount of time. There’s a lot to like about Endura, not least the brand’s strong environmental focus.
I recently reviewed Endura's all-round helmet the Humvee Plus and was impressed with its on trail performance and wallet-friendly price. The only negative I encountered was limited ventilation, so I was keen to test the higher priced Singletrack MIPS to see if the overheating issue was an issue here too. Could this mid-range model make it into our best MTB helmets guide?
Design and specifications
Endura promote the Singletrack MIPS as a feature loaded lightweight trail helmet, and at 360g for a size M/L it's in the right ball park for a modern trail lid, but nothing extraordinary. For comparison, the cheaper Humvee Plus (MIPS version) came in at 368g. There are a lot of carry over design cues from the Humvee Plus and there's strong family resemblance. The Singletrack MIPS looks to have taken the Humvee Plus design and turned everything up a notch. The coverage over the temples and back of the head has been extended, and the general shape has been sharpened up a bit, making for quite an angular aesthetic. The peak is a near carbon copy from the Humvee Plus but has been extended to 45mm, which is still shorter than a lot of its competitors, and will limit its sun shading or rain protecting performance. The Peak can be removed if you see the need, and can be adjusted through three positions.
The construction is a traditional molded foam core with a hard outer shell that fully extends to the bottom edges providing protection from everyday knocks. Embedded in the foam core are two strategically placed Koroyd inserts, which resemble a honeycomb of plastic drinking straws all stuck together. Endura claim the Koroyd inserts offers improved energy absorption in the event of an impact, which all sounds commendable, but hasn't been backed up with any hard data or test results. The engineer inside me is always a little sceptical when such claims aren't quantified. Endura aren't alone in the promotion of Koroyd as a safety enhancement, with Smith being another long term proponent. If nothing else, the Koroyd inserts help the Singletrack MIPS stand out in a very crowded market.
15 vents provide ventilation, with air channels moulded into the foam core to promote airflow over the head. The Singletrack MIPS definitely strikes a more airy appearance compared to the Humvee Plus, with more open area over the top of the head and larger exhaust vents at the rear.
At the back there's a textured rubber panel to help with google strap retention, and an accessory mount can be clipped into the top of the helmet, but the mount will need to be purchased separately.
Inside the helmet, you will find a MIPS liner, providing protection against rotational forces and two removable cushion pads are supplied; one with an integrated fly screen covering the forward facing vents. The pads are made from a fast wicking quick-dry material.
A customized fit can be achieved by adjusting the micro-adjust wheel at the back of the helmet, which can be moved through four height positions to suit your head. The straps can be adjusted to achieve a level fit and a traditional under chin buckle keeps everything in place. The whole retention system is the same as that found on the lower priced Humvee Plus.
Three sizes are available; S-M (51-56cm), M-L (55-59cm) and L-XL (58-63cm), and seven colors are being offered by Endura in the UK, including the Tonal Green tested.
Endura offer a Crash Replacement Scheme if you're unfortunate enough to damage the helmet in use, which will help reduce the cost of a comparable replacement.
Performance
It appears Endura have slightly changed the head shape they have used for the Singletrack MIPS design. The M-L (55-59cm) should easily accommodate my 56cm head, but despite playing with all of available adjustments, I found that it pressed slightly against the back of my head. Others riders have tried the fit and not experienced any issues, but it's worth checking, especially if you're upgrading from an existing Endura helmet.
On the trail I soon forgot about the contact at the back of my head, and got on with testing. The micro-adjust system does a good job of cinching the helmet into position and can be easily adjusted one handed. I didn't experience any bounce or movement when putting the Singletrack MIPS through its paces, and it proved to be comfortable and unobtrusive in use. Testing ranged from quick woodland blasts on steep techy terrain through to longer XC rides.
As mentioned earlier, the Humvee Plus suffered with overheating during testing, but the more airy design of the Singletrack MIPS has definitely improved airflow. At no point during testing did I notice any heat build up, and airflow across the top of the head was excellent.
The short peak can be easily moved through its three positions. However, the upper position would have benefited from being slightly higher to better accommodate goggles for those that like to place them under the peak when not in use.
The extended temple area has been cut-away on the inside surface to help accommodate riding eyewear and most glasses I tried played nicely with the Singletrack MIPS shape. However, the relatively wide framed Oakley Jawbreaker did interfere with the cut-outs, so it's worth checking compatibility with your preferred riding specs.
Verdict
Endura have put a lot of effort into the design of the Singletrack MIPS, and the result is a feature rich offering at a competitive price. The extended head coverage, combined with MIPS and Koroyd technology should provide a safe place to put your head. There’s been nothing to complain about with regard to the Singletrack MIPS performance on the trail. The angular styling might not be to everyone's taste, but with seven colors available, there’s plenty of choice. Just be sure to check the fit before committing to purchase.
Tech specs: Endura Singletrack MIPS helmet
- Price: £169.99 / £114.99
- Weight: 360g (size M-L tested)
- Sizes: S-M, M-L, L-XL
- Colors: Black, Concrete Blue, Electric Blue, Olive Green, Pomegranate, Tonal Green, White
