Review: New Leatt Endurance Helmet
The 4.0 Leatt Endurance Helmet is stylish, has plenty of protection and offers all-day comfort.
Speed Company Racing used a pre-production version of this helmet at the Cape Epic in March of this year (watch our interview with them here) and it has been available in-store, since early November. Sizes offered are small, medium and large, covering head circumferences from 51 to 63cm with four colours available.
Looking at the finer details, it is clear Leatt has done its research and has a solid understanding of what endurance riders are after. For starters, ventilation is a priority and to that end, this 4.0 Endurance lid has a whopping 23 vents which are designed to yield the maximum aero advantage possible. A key safety feature is the small blue bumper inserts known as 360° Turbine Technology which reduce peak brain acceleration and rotational forces, on impact. A second key safety feature is what Leatt calls the Powerbridge; it is a force absorber that runs vertically up the side of the helmet (from the ear section) and is literally designed to do what the name implies – absorb crash forces.
In terms of weight, our size medium test helmet touched on 325 grams which is very much on par with most leading brands. Other nice-to-have features include moisture-wicking materials, soft-touch straps, a washable liner, height adjustability and the BOA-style fit adjuster. Rubberized docking ports for eyewear are mandatory for any endurance helmet and Leatt has obeyed the rules of game. The docking ports are rather large, which should make it possible to stow just about any make of eyewear, with ease.
Ride Impressions
In total, I’ve done around 20 hours of riding with the 4.0 helmet and the fit is comfortable and neutral without any pressure points or hot spots. It is easy to tighten and remains comfortable when cranked up for windy days or fast descents.
Glasses were easy to take on and off without fiddling with the arms to get them into the right position. Mid-ride, when stowing eyewear in the helmet, it’s pretty easy to find the docking ports and they do a good job of securing the glasses.
As you can see, the vents are big and the forward-facing ones reach pretty far down the helmet which seems to amplify the cooling. I can’t attest to the safety features of the helmet (touching wood as I type) but it does feel solid in construction and there is a decent level of coverage. Out of the box, the 4.0 was a perfect fit for me and so far I’ve had no issues with it.
The bottom line here is if you are after all-day comfort with plenty of protection, this Leatt 4.0 Endurance lid could just be the perfect one for you. Also worth mentioning, is the 4.0 Endurance Helmet is part of the brand’s crash replacement program where owners qualify for a 40% discount on their replacement lid. That is indeed a very valuable benefit. | Leatt.com