Whilst we mountain bikers are a tricky bunch, convenience is all the time of key significance while you’re out at the trails. This spring I won Endura’s MT500 MIPS helmet, Singletrack Lite shorts, and Singletrack Core Tee II to check, and after a couple of months with those items, I’m nonetheless relatively glad to toss any of them on for a journey.

I did have some small problems with the helmet’s have compatibility (however not anything fighting me from dressed in it), and located minor gripes with the shorts and jersey, however I might nonetheless say all 3 items are forged possible choices for MTB riders.

Endura MT500 MIPS Helmet:

For entire main points at the MT500 MIPS take a look at my release article from this spring, however listed below are some key specifications: Its in-molded shell is constructed round light-weight and extremely ventilated Koroyd coverage. A MIPS liner pairs up with Endura’s dial-operated retention device, and the adjustable visor gives 3 positions.

General I to find the MT500 MIPS beautiful comfy. The form of the shell suits the highest of my cranium effectively, and the internal padding assists in keeping anything else inflexible from touching my head. For this up to date type Endura greater head protection from the former MT500 helmet, and on my shallow head it simply clears my ears, sits low on my brow, and covers the again of my cranium fully.

The Koroyd core supplies superb air flow – and no longer simply from the entrance, however from any attitude. Even at low speeds air flows during the shell and the Koroyd simply, so the MT500 is just right to head for decent summer season rides. 

The MT500’s retention device gives 4 peak positions, and because the shell suits relatively deep on me I’ve stored mine within the second-highest surroundings. On this place, the rear dial sits low sufficient to supply a protected have compatibility. The straps’ Y-shaped adjusters are simple to arrange, and I’m completely proud of the standard chin buckle.

The MT500 MIPS isn’t the lightest open-faced helmet in the market at 416g, nevertheless it’s no longer heavy sufficient to impress any soreness in my neck. I’m enthusiastic about lighter helmets however frankly, the MT500 MIPS suits me neatly sufficient to hold its weight with ease. 

In my release article, I discussed how the helmet have compatibility a little huge on me, because of my 56cm head lining up with the smaller finish of the dimensions medium’s 55-59cm vary. After using it, I’m happy to mention the retention device does stay the shell feeling extra protected than I anticipated. Entrance-to-back the MT500 suits me OK, however there’s extra width within the shell than my slim head wishes. Alternatively, when I hit the paths with it I forgot all in regards to the width; with the retention device clinched in, I didn’t understand the shell flopping side-to-side in any respect.

For the reason that MT500 MIPS’ shell suits so deep on me, compatibility with eyewear is an issue. I’ve a number of pairs of sun shades available and none of them paintings with this helmet, as there’s no longer enough room on my brow. I attempted my smallest pair of goggles with the MT500 they usually driven the helmet upwards via greater than an inch, so there’s no method I may journey this lid with goggles.

As discussed in my release article, the MT500’s visor handiest supplies colour in its lowest of 3 positions. In that surroundings it’s already slightly visual, so I by no means moved it upwards. The higher positions are most probably there to hold goggles, however I by no means examined this since the deep shell couldn’t accommodate a couple on my shallow head anyhow. The MT500 MIPS retails for $239.99, and sizes S/M, M/L, and L/XL are to be had. Colour choices are White, Olive Inexperienced, Black, Concrete Gray, and Blueberry.

Singletrack Lite Shorts:

The Singletrack Lite shorts are made out of a combined Nylon/Elastane material that’s mild, breathable, and sturdy. The material gives four-way stretch and is lined with a PFC-free water-repelling end. Vent holes down the insides and outsides of the legs supply some airflow.

Those shorts function a zipper fly with a two-button closure and reasonably slender and small Velcro waist adjusters. The huge Endura emblem and stripes throughout the waistline act as a gripper to verify a forged have compatibility. The Singletrack Lite shorts are Clickfast suitable with Endura’s chamois, so you’ll snap the 2 layers in combination to stay them coated up with ease.

With a waist that’s a tad beneath a 32, I’m dressed in dimension small shorts they usually have compatibility nice. The waist and hip house are slender however no longer comfortable, and I’ve handiest needed to cinch within the Velcro waist adjusters via a little. That leaves hardly ever any bunching in the back of the waist, which works completely omitted whilst using. It kind of feels the waist gripper is doing its process because the shorts keep in position rather well. The minimize of the shorts permits for complete mobility, to the purpose that the material’s stretch hardly ever wishes to come back into play.

For this quick Endura gives choices for shorter or longer leg lengths, and I selected the longer choice. The longer leg is beneficiant however no longer overkill. At 5’10” the longer shorts simply quilt my knees, and the legs don’t seem to be dishevelled however unfastened sufficient to hold freely over kneepads.

The Singletrack Lite shorts be offering two zippered leg wallet and one zippered rear pocket, which I love – why concern about shedding issues when you journey? The entrance wallet don’t really feel very deep, however they’re sufficiently big to suit my smartphone. My handiest factor with the wallet is that they’re beautiful sq. in form, so after some using my telephone finishes up moving round and sits diagonally or horizontally throughout my thigh as a substitute of staying vertical. This doesn’t restrict mobility or get uncomfortable, however in all probability a deeper, narrower pocket would stay a telephone coated up together with your leg higher. I stay a decent-sized keychain within the different pocket and it’s by no means felt uncomfortable all over rides, and for one journey I tossed my pockets within the rear pocket and completely forgot it was once there! The pocket stored my pockets utterly off my saddle.

In relation to coolness, the Singletrack Lite shorts are beautiful reasonable. Except for the laser-cut vent holes and breathable material, there’s no mesh paneling, zip vents, or the rest to make those an ultra-cool choice. I wouldn’t hesitate to journey those shorts on any summer season journey, however I’ve cooler pairs in my closet. 

I haven’t had any spills within the Singletrack Lite shorts, however I’ve put an honest quantity of mileage on them. There may be undoubtedly no harm or extra put on to record on my shorts.

The Singletrack Lite shorts promote for $119.99, in males’s sizes S-XXXL and girls’s sizes XXS-XL. Endura gives 5 colour choices for girls and 9 colours for males.

Singletrack Core Tee II:

Holding issues mild, the Singletrack Core Tee II is only a easy and skinny T-shirt genre best – No wallet, no goggle wipe, no zippers, simply sufficient to stay you lined up. The skinny grid-style frame material permits for quite a few airflow and manages moisture neatly, so this jersey is a great selection for decent climate rides. The 80% recycled polyester material gives a slippy really feel, and there are not any nasty seams or the rest inflicting convenience problems.  I’m keen on rounded collars and glad to have one in this jersey.

At a slender 5’10”, I’m dressed in a dimension small tee. The jersey suits me neatly within the chest and shoulders. The frame is simply lengthy sufficient to stay me totally lined in using place; I’d take every other inch or two in duration however it’s OK as is. I just like the arm duration, which just about reaches my elbows offering just right protection and solar coverage.

The Singletrack Core Tee II passes the bottom layer check, because it’s no longer too dishevelled within the frame or sleeves to with ease put on beneath different layers. It labored completely neatly beneath my snug-fitting Dainese AWA wind jacket.

Each and every jersey I overview will get the pack check too, and sadly, the Singletrack Core Tee II isn’t proving to be in particular sturdy.  After simply 3 rides with my digital camera pack, I spotted put on and tear at the material at my hips the place the waist strap sits, plus some slight put on at the decrease again. Endura did go away seams working around the jersey’s shoulders, however they’re small and don’t get uncomfortable beneath shoulder straps.

MSRP for the Singletrack Core Tee II is $54.99. Males’s sizes vary from S-XXL, they usually are available in Aubergine (as examined), Black, Blueberry or Tangerine colours.

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