The Endura MT500 helmet is pricey but you are getting a lightweight, well-vented trail lid that takes impact protection to the next level.

Read more: Buyer’s guide to the best mountain bike helmets

On the outside the MT500 doesn’t look that dissimilar to the company’s Singletrack II helmet we tested a year ago but flip it over and you’ll see a sort of honeycomb internal structure. This is Koroyd, an energy absorbing material that’s actually structural part of the helmet. The idea is it crumples in a more predictable way than regular EPS during an crash and absorbs more of the impact energy. Since it’s honeycomb it also offers incredible air flow, making the MT500 one of the best vented helmets on test. On the flip side, Koroyd is expensive and this pushes the MT500 towards the upper end price wise.

You do however get a ton of features for your money, including an adjustable visor, anti-bacterial padding, eyewear dock, as well as a clip-off accessory mount for attaching a headlight or helmet-cam. The visor tilts far enough up to park goggles underneath and there’s large (removable) clip at the back to secure the strap. Also back there is a one-handed retention device with a rubber coated dial. It’s gripy but has a nice smooth action with incredibly small detents, so you can really fine tune the fit if you’re in between head sizes.

Koroyd honeycomb offers superb ventilaiton

Endura uses a generic retention device but the dial is rubber coated for grip, has a nice smooth action and small detents, so you can really fine tune the fit. The one-piece sweat pad is better than lots of small pads and it’s also perforated to help wicking.

The thing is it just doesn’t look like a £150 helmet. Don’t get us wrong this helmet features some really sophisticated technology for the money, it’s just that after a couple of months use our sample is already pretty tired and, compared to Troy Lee and Giro, the styling and colour, is just a little flat.