The Endura MT500 Mips is not the sort of mountain bike helmet that shouts for attention once you are riding, and that is one of its biggest strengths. It has plenty going on technically, including Mips, Koroyd, deep trail coverage, an adjustable visor, eyewear storage and a clip-on mount for a light or camera, but the main thing I noticed on the trail was how little I noticed it.

This review of the Endura MT500 Mips comes from riding it as a proper MTB and eMTB helmet, where comfort, fit and confidence matter more than any single feature. A good helmet should feel secure without being distracting. The MT500 Mips does exactly that. It is comfortable enough to wear and forget about, which is often the hallmark of a fantastic helmet.

It is also worth highlighting the sizing. Endura’s L-XL option goes up to 63cm, which is genuinely useful because not every helmet brand caters well for riders with larger heads. For some riders, that alone could make the MT500 Mips easier to recommend than many rivals.

Endura MT500 Mips: Review

Comfort and fit

The best thing about the Endura MT500 Mips is how quickly it becomes normal. Some helmets constantly remind you they are there, either through pressure points, strap irritation, poor balance or heat build-up. The MT500 Mips simply settles in and lets you ride.

The fit feels secure without needing to be over-tightened, and the padding gives enough comfort around the brow and sides of the head. It has a deeper trail feel than a light XC helmet, but it does not feel bulky or awkward once moving. For eMTB rides, where longer climbs and repeated descents can make small comfort issues more obvious, that matters.

The L-XL sizing is a real strength. With the largest size covering 58–63cm, the MT500 Mips will suit riders who often find mainstream helmet ranges too restrictive. That makes it a more inclusive option than many MTB helmets.

Safety and protection

The MT500 Mips has a serious safety package. Endura combines Mips rotational impact protection with a full Koroyd core, giving the helmet more of a technical protection story than a standard EPS shell with a slip liner. No helmet can remove the risk from mountain biking, but the MT500 Mips feels like a properly considered trail lid rather than a simple open-face helmet with a few marketing features attached.

Coverage is also good. It sits low enough around the rear and sides of the head to feel appropriate for trail and eMTB use, where crashes are rarely neat and predictable. It is not a full-face helmet, and riders doing bike-park laps or very steep enduro trails may want more protection, but for everyday woodland riding, trail centres and electric mountain bike loops, the coverage feels right.

It also helps that the safety tech does not dominate the ride experience. You are aware of the protection when reading the spec, but not constantly aware of it on the trail.

Ventilation and trail use

The MT500 Mips has large vents, including a top intake zone, and airflow is good for a helmet with this much coverage and protection material. Koroyd does sit behind many of the openings, so it does not have the completely open feel of some lighter trail helmets, but I would not mark it down heavily for ventilation.

In use, it feels practical rather than extreme. It is comfortable for normal UK trail riding, eMTB loops and mixed-condition days where you might be climbing slowly one minute and descending through colder woodland the next. Riders who run very hot or spend long days riding in summer heat may find airier helmets, but for the sort of trail use most UK eMTB riders are doing, the MT500 Mips works well.

The visor is easy to live with, and the eyewear dock adds useful practicality. The included clip-on mount is another good touch, especially for riders who use helmet lights in winter or want to mount an action camera.

What is not so good?

The main missed detail is the lack of a Fidlock buckle. On a helmet with Mips, Koroyd, eyewear storage, goggle compatibility and an accessory mount, a magnetic buckle would have suited the overall feature set. It is not a deal-breaker, but once you have used Fidlock on other trail helmets, a standard buckle feels less premium.

The MT500 Mips also is not the lightest open-face MTB helmet. It does not feel heavy in a distracting way, and the fit does a good job of managing the weight, but riders wanting a barely-there helmet may prefer something more minimalist.

There can also be some reported noise from the interaction between Mips and Koroyd on some helmets. I would not make that a major criticism unless you experience it yourself, but it is something that has appeared in other testing.

Final verdict

The Endura MT500 Mips is a very strong MTB and eMTB helmet because it gets the most important thing right: it is easy to wear. It has standout technology on paper, but on the trail it feels comfortable, secure and uncomplicated. That is exactly what many riders need from a helmet.

The large size range is a major bonus, especially for riders who struggle to find helmets that fit properly. The Mips and Koroyd protection package, adjustable visor, eyewear dock and accessory mount all strengthen the overall value of the design.

It is not the lightest helmet, and a Fidlock buckle would have made sense, but those are minor caveats. The Endura MT500 Mips is a solid, practical, well-featured trail helmet that does its job very well. More importantly, it lets you stop thinking about your helmet and get on with the ride.

Endura MT500 Mips competition

Endura MT500 Mips FAQs

Is the Endura MT500 Mips good for eMTB riding?

Yes. The Endura MT500 Mips is well suited to eMTB riding thanks to its secure fit, deep trail coverage, Mips and Koroyd protection package, adjustable visor and practical accessory mount.

Is the Endura MT500 Mips comfortable?

Yes. The MT500 Mips is comfortable enough to wear and forget about once riding. The fit is secure, the padding is supportive and the helmet feels well balanced on the trail.

What size does the Endura MT500 Mips go up to?

The largest Endura MT500 Mips size is L-XL, which covers 58–63cm. That is useful for riders who often struggle to find MTB helmets in larger sizes.

Does the Endura MT500 Mips have a Fidlock buckle?

No. The Endura MT500 Mips uses a standard buckle rather than a Fidlock magnetic buckle. That is one of the few missed details on an otherwise well-featured helmet.

Does the Endura MT500 Mips work with goggles?

Yes. The MT500 Mips has a goggle-friendly design with a rear strap gripper. It also has front vents designed to work as an eyewear dock for sunglasses.