The Airshell – Endura’s first foray into the road helmet market – has an expanded polystyrene construction with reinforcement bridges made from silver glass fibre or black carbon fibre, depending on which of the five colour options you choose. At £90/US$140 it’s competitively priced but comes with a helmet pod to sweeten the deal further.
The retention cradle is dial operated and vertically adjustable. Lockable chinstrap dividers help make fine-tuning the fit a quick and easy job, whether it’s before you set out or on the fly.
The Airshell is generously proportioned. The 298g L/XL model on test is intended for 58-63cm heads but feels as though it could accommodate the Mekon’s melon. It’s well padded and comfortable but feels wider than lids in general.
You can make the front and back fit easily enough by dialling the retention cradle right down, but it still feels a little loose at the sides. It’s definitely worth trying before you buy because it takes a big, broad head for the Airshell to feel properly seated.
Keeping cool is simple thanks to its 24 vents. They ensure there’s enough of a breeze blowing in to take care of any sweat not soaked up by the fast-wicking, antibacterial pads.
This article was originally published in Cycling Plus magazine, available on Apple Newsstand and Zinio.
