As someone who spends most of my saddle time on road and gravel, I was a bit hesitant to strap on a helmet from a company that cut its teeth in the moto world. But I’ve spent about 40 hours in the Endurance 4.0 during a grueling SoCal heatwave, and my first impressions of this helmet are not what I was anticipating.
Out of the box, it was sleek and naturally cradled my head, not the swollen mushroom look I was envisioning. Out on the fire roads, the ventilation system was effective at keeping air flowing, and at 315 grams, the weight wasn’t an issue.
While I’ve yet to need its safety features, Leatt’s 360 Turbine Technology–small gel rotational dampers–felt genuinely premium, like a subtle head massage mid-ride. The sunglass dock is another well-thought-out detail, with rubber grooves providing the added friction needed to keep your pricey glasses stowed away.
Where they lost me was the chin strap closure system. Instead of a classic buckle, Leatt opts for a magnetic “fidlock.” It wasn’t intuitive and I found myself fiddling with the clasp to get the helmet on and off. Curious to see if that changes–stay tuned for the long term review.