Endura first incorporated a Koroyd honeycomb energy absorbing layer into their MT500 trail riding backpack at the beginning of the year, as it was pretty easy for them to slide the flat green plastic plate in behind a hydration bladder to deliver both back protection and ventilation. But they’ve been working hard on a few other more technical applications to bring Koroyd protection to more riders since it was first introduced a couple of years back. So now continuing the idea of bringing better safety and improved ventilation to aggressive enduro & trail riders, Endura is introducing the MT500, their own Koroyd helmet, plus an innovative new multi-material Koroyd knee pad called the MTR…
MT500 helmet
The first goal of the new MT500 helmet was to deliver better protection to redefine the top of their mountain bike helmet range. By combining Koroyd panels that were 3D shaped and molded into the shell combined with typical EPS foam the new helmet blew through the EN testing procedure while making major improvements to moving hot air away from the head.
Endura tells us that the biggest benefit to using Koroyd in a helmet is actually the way it stays together in a major impact. While most standard EPS-only designs have to work hard to keep the foam from not just completely falling apart in a major crash, the Koroyd honeycomb retains its shape and integrity at the same time that it dissipates an impact across its entire structure.
Since the Koroyd structure results in openings that radiate in all directions away from the head, the helmet gets distinctly designed and styled airflow patterns. That results in a few large forward facing openings that pull air in across the head, plus side and rear openings to exhaust the air out. On the top of the MT500, it gets some small scoops that redirect air down onto the top of the head before also making their way out the back.
To make the helmet more goggle-friendly, the large visor simply pivots up out-of-the-way allowing you to quickly and easily get them up off of your face without having to pull them past the visor. A clip at the rear keeps their strap securely in place. A clip just in front of the top air scoop also lets you easily mount an action camera or light. With the Koroyd covering most of the helmet’s vents, Endura added two completely open ports below the visor that also make it so you can slide your sunglasses in just above your brow as well.
Inside the helmet gets a set of soft, wicking pads with an antibacterial treatment to lift your head just off of the Koroyd structure. It also gets the same dial-adjust retention system of Endura’s other top trail helmets, plus a wider 4-position height adjustable system.
The MT500 Helmet was certified to CE EN1078 standard, which looks to allow peak head deceleration of something like 250G in the tested major impact. That amounts to a not very promising 40% chance of skull fracture. The Koroyd MT500 in that test was said to hit a peak of about 185G, which although it’s only a 35% reduction in peak deceleration, amounts to <5% chance of skull fracture, so more than 8x improved performance than the certification criteria.
The new MT500 will be also covered by Endura’s Crash Replacement Policy in Europe, which will get you a replacement for 50% off retail if you crash it within three years of buying, plus Endura’s regular product performance guarantee. It will be available in three colors, the white that uses the trademark green Koroyd structure, a navy blue shell that gets contrasting light blue Koroyd, and an all-black version. Each will come in Endura’s standard three sizes S/M, M/L & L/XL to fit heads from 51-63cm.
MTR Knee Guard
The Endura & Koroyd partnership continues with their first new knee pads that combines the light & open honeycomb with a perforated viscoelastic memory foam. By combining both they deliver the soft comfort of a flexible pad, with both greatly improved ventilation and protection for all-day peace-of-mind on extended technical trail rides.
Using a larger opening structure for the Koroyd insert, the pads deliver even better through ventilation while still greatly improving the impact strength of the pads. They effectively become stronger than a hardshell set of pads while of course improving ventilation, but at the same time offering the crumple zone feature that the honeycomb delivers for better absorption of major impacts, all certified to meet CE EN1621/1 standards.
And since the knee guards use a removable foam + Koroyd pad, Endura is working through impact certification to see if you can just affordably replace the Koroyd part after a major crushing impact to regain full protection. The pad slides into a fairly standard lightweight sleeve that ensures a good stable fit on the knee and leg with silicone grippers and an elastic/velcro thigh adjuster strap. It uses an open mesh construction to get the most out of the ventilation of the pad design, coupled together with an aramid (Kevlar) reinforced impact panel down the front to ward off abrasion damage. The MTR pads will come in three sizes S/M, M/L & L/XL and just in this black with green Koroyd insert.
Both the MT500 helmet and MTR pads are part of Endura’s spring/summer 2017 collection and will be available by the beginning of March 2017.
