Before you read our own review, if you’ve not seen Danny MacAskill in the all-new Endura MT500 Waterproof Suit ripping up some of Scotland’s tastiest enduro trails yet, it’s time you grabbed yourself a cuppa and indulged in some light procrastination. We’ll wait…
Endura MT500 Waterproof Suit, “Ultimate Foul Weather MTB Onesie”
That’s Endura’s description of the one-piece of course. We’re struggling to argue on this, though. It really is a fine piece of technical winter riding kit. This is possibly the coolest onesie you’ll ever come across (if onesies can be cool).
Over the last few weeks, we’ve tested the Endura suit in some pretty hideous weather conditions, including howling wind and rain racing over the granite terrain at Fort William, and loam-turned-to-mud at the Innerleithen downhill trails with shuttle providers Adrenalin Uplift.
Here’s the low-down…
Endura MT500 Waterproof Suit – The Nitty Gritty (Details)
Endura know they are by no means first to market with this one-piece kit. Dirtlej got there first with their range of winter riding onesies; we reviewed the Dirtlej Core Edition recently.
Endura didn’t set out to duplicate the Dirtlej product, though. It has some small but important and very useful differences. Most notably, despite being a one-piece, it looks just like your traditional jacket and pants combo from the front. The split front design allows you to open up the front right up. This makes layering-up and de-layering a tad easier, and climbing out of the thing a heck of a lot easier. The pants feature a zippered fly with popper (snap) closure, making the event of relieving yourself a much more dignified and efficient affair, whatever your gender.
Endura’s Waterproof suit has a waterproofing value of 18,000mm while boasting an incredible breathability measurement of 64,000 g/m2/24h! The fully seam-sealed suit is impressively lightweight, composed of a 105gsm ExoShell60 3-Layer waterproof fabric. It doesn’t have that annoying, noisy ‘jackety’ feel you get with other waterproof jackets. The main zipper is a water-repellent Vislon zip, featuring a storm flap.
Endura MT500 Waterproof Suit – Then, Nitty Gritty Riding
I got through quite a lot of pedaling in this suit at the last round of the Scottish Enduro Series at Fort William, which was also the final round of the EWS Continental Enduro Series, incidentally. We can’t recommend this kit enough in terms of breathability. Over 24km of pedaling on race day, I didn’t once feel the need to violently tear myself out of it due to overheating.
On the climbs, I made use of some of the two large underarm zipper-accessed vents to stay at a comfortable riding temperature all day. The front pockets can also double up as vents if you open then up.
The suit is a full-length piece but the lower leg portions can be zipped off just below the knees to provide additional breathability and maneuverability. Our tester regretted removing these however, finding her shins caked in mud after a full day of downhill at Innerleithen, Scotland.
Then, we just hosed both her and the suit off in a jiffy.
On the shoulders of the Endura suit you will notice a silicone patterning, ergonomically positioned to provide extra durability where it could be needed most – directly underneath where backpack straps would rest.
Durability is enhanced further in the seat panel, and in the lower back region a stretch panel aids comfort and maneuverability. The hood is adjustable in 3 dimensions, is more than large enough to get over a helmet and can be neatly stowed with the collar retention system.
Endura MT500 Waterproof Suit – Sizing, Pricing & Availability
The Endura MT500 Waterproof Suit is available in sizes S-XXL. Technically speaking, this suit is a men’s range garment. Our tester (featured above) is slim a build, 5’11” female – the Small was a good fit.
Sorry to disappoint all you female riders out there – I have made a point of telling Endura to make a women’s one! Get the MT500 Waterproof suit direct from Endura now for £400, or around $512. Endura offer a 90 day satisfaction guarantee – a “no-quibble refund or replacement within 90 days of purchase”.
Endura also offer a garment repair service to customers of the UK and EU, sweet!
For more procrastination, see one of the world’s best trail builders, Dan Atherton, sending it large in the waterproof onesie’s little brother MT500 Jacket on his home trails in the Dyfi Valley, Wales…
