The Endura MT500 is the first glove we know of to feature a D3O knuckle duster. In its inert state, this smart material is flexible and moulds to the shape of your hand, but when you hit something it stiffens, helping dissipate the impact energy and reducing the transmitted force. It does cost a lot, hence the high price, but is the knuckle the right place for it?

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When you catch your hand on a tree it’s usually the pinky that takes the impact, and if you crash it’s the heel of the hand that gets all the abrasion. That said, the MT500 does feel well protected, and has by far the best fit around the wrist of any glove on test. This shaped cuff sits really flat, even with the inverse Velcro strap pulled tight.

Endura MT500 D30 glove

On the back there’s a four-way stretch, ripstop material. On the front is a synthetic leather palm. Although the MT500 has heavily-shaped fingers and Lycra webs between them, it’s not tight-fitting and bunches up when you grab the grips. There’s silicone on both braking fingers and touchscreen tech on three.