A helmet is the most crucial investment you’ll make in cycling gear. While full-on downhill lids provide the best protection, they’re too heavy and sweaty for most types of riding. However, lightweight ‘enduro’ full-face helmets – some with removable chin bars – have evolved to the point where they’re fantastic for high-speed e-bike use, enduro riding and racing, bike park laps, messing about in the woods and even aggro trail sessions. With many of these lids even meeting DH safety standards, there’s less reason than ever not to benefit from the additional protection they offer.
Finding one that fits well and offers ample coverage and safety tech is key – it could be a lifesaver. But how exactly do bike helmets provide protection? First, they distribute the impact force across a wider area, which is crucial in scenarios like hitting a sharp rock. Second, they decelerate the force and elongate the impact duration. This delay of a few milliseconds before the blow reaches your head can reduce its severity, potentially preventing brain damage.
Inside these helmets lies a foam liner, designed to crumple on impact and help extend the impact duration. Many brands now incorporate varying densities of expanded polystyrene (EPS) or polypropylene (EPP) foam for extra effectiveness, or innovations such as Koroyd – a honeycomb
