Endura’s Airshell helmet is becoming an increasingly frequent sight in the world’s biggest bike races, but these are among the first in the UK.
The NetApp-Endura team, registered for competition in cycling’s Pro Continental second tier, has been gaining wildcard entries to elite WorldTour races at a rate of knots (the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix, and the Amstel Gold Race among them, with a July engagement in France possible) and where they go, so does the Airshell.
Offered the chance of a sneak peak, and a brief fitting of the Scottish clothing firm’s new lid, including one in the NetApp-Endura team livery, we jumped at the chance.
It’s Endura’s first foray into the helmet market, and early signs are positive, although we’ll complete a full review before delivering a final verdict.
The S/M version (51cm to 56cm) tipped our scales at a fraction above the claimed 220 grams and certainly felt light in the hand and on the head. There are two larger versions, the largest of which, the 58cm to 63cm L/XL version, tipped our scales at almost 300 grams, a little above the 270 grams claimed by Endura.
Ventilation takes place through two systems, one internal, the other external. The large vents visible in the shell are known to Endura as ClearThru. The internal system Endura call HeadStream, one they say directs air through the front and out the back of the helmet.
Adjustment proved easy enough, with a classic dial mechanism at the rear of the helmet to tighten or loosen the cradle accordingly.
While on the topic of the retention system, it mounts to the inside of the helmet in in a choice of three positions, controlling how high or low the cradle rests on the back of the head.
There’s lots of nice touches: the double tether strap with a colour coded pin stripe to match the shell, carbon reinforcements, and reflective panels on the rear to name just three.
Expect to see them in the shops at the end of March in a choice of five colours: black, red, white, titanium, and team edition.
The Airshell helmet will be sold with a storage pod, an impressive inclusion, given the £89.99 price tag. Check back soon for a full review.
