Endura FS260-Pro Helmet

The finish of the FS260-Pro helmet from Endura is very impressive and I was expecting a price tag much higher than its £89.99. Comfort is great, too, and while it hasn't got the greatest airflow on the market, for a semi-aero lid it makes a really good all-rounder especially as we head into the cooler months of the year.

• Pros: Nicely finished, light weight
• Cons: Not enough airflow for really warm days

One nice touch that reveals the attention to detail is that Endura has covered the EPS (expanded polystyrene) around the bottom of the helmet. Often when the polycarbonate shell ends you get the grey/black finish of the internal shell showing at the bottom, but Endura has covered it.

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The helmet has a clean and smooth look, and the straps come out through small apertures in the bottom of the shell, which also looks cool.

Adjustment is carried out by the usual cradle affair which covers the rear half of the head and is tweaked easily by the thumbwheel at the back. The increments are small, so getting the fit just right is simple.

The padding comes in one section and there is plenty of it. It isn't massively thick but it's firm and I found it very comfortable even when overwhelmed with sweat.

The Endura has 15 vents, which isn't a massive amount compared with some helmets, and it showed when the temperature was above 20°C. The airflow is there, but it's more breeze than wind even when you are absolutely flying downhill. And when you're climbing it can get quite hot.

More recently, as the temperature has dropped to the low teens, the Endura has been much more comfortable so I'd say it's a great helmet for the spring or autumn, and with a cap beneath ideal for the winter months.

One thing that is impressive is the weight. The FS260-Pro is just 223g for this M/L (55-59cm) which compares really well to a few other helmets we've seen at a similar price point.

The £93.50 Smith Portal weighs in at 309g, although you do get Mips with that. Again with Mips, the £69.99 Giro Vasuma Mips tips the scales at 281g.

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You can get lighter – Limar's 778 Superlight Road Helmet is 200g, for £99.99 – but George felt it needed a few tweaks.

On the whole, I like the Endura, particularly for the quality of the build and the weight for the money; comfort is good too, but the venting makes it a better choice for the cooler months than summer.

Verdict

A quality lightweight helmet for the money, though not the best airflow