Best enduro helmets – head protection for enduro bike riding and racing

The best enduro mountain bikes are letting us go faster than ever on technical, big-feature descents that would once have been strictly reserved for downhill bikes. Because they pedal really well too, we can seek out these maximum thrill descents right out in the back country well away from medical care. 

But riding high-risk trails is by its very nature more likely to result in a crash, though, and while any injury is bad, head injuries are the most likely to leave you with significant long-term issues or even be fatal. Luckily, enduro helmets are better than they’ve ever been in terms of protection and all-day comfort so we’ve rounded up our favorites from the current crop to help you find your perfect head case when you’re riding like a hooligan.

Enduro helmets come in open faced, full-face and convertible styles. The full-face versions look a lot like DH helmets, there are significant differences in design to keep them comfortable when you’re wearing them all day and putting in regular super-hard efforts on descents. First, they need to be light enough to stop your neck getting too tired – not just from wearing the helmet all day, but the repeated high-G impacts from long, rough descents on a bike with less suspension travel than a full DH rig. Because the climbs and descents are long and the level of intensity super high, you also want the best ventilation possible. As multiple courses over the course of a day or a whole weekend mean you can’t remember every detail of an enduro, having more open vision is also a help compared to the rehearsed runs of DH.

While it’s a legal requirement for some events and riding spots, not everyone wants a permanent full-face helmet. That leaves you with the choice of: a removable chin guard that you can take off for less dangerous parts of the ride, but clip on for the crazy bits; or you can choose an open face helmet with no jaw protection at all, but with deeper coverage on the back of the head to reduce the chance of injury. 

We’ve covered all the different types here and we regularly update this listing to be sure any new helmets that we rate are included and that existing helmets are re-scored to reflect any changes in the rankings.

So read on for our pick of the best enduro helmets, and if find that maybe they're all a little hefty, you may well be interested in our guide to the best trail helmets.

Best enduro helmets

The distinctive looks of the Gambit are only possible because of the carbon fiber-reinforced shell that allows big holes and gaps without compromising on strength. This includes a massive mouth vent and big cheek slots for a face full of fresh air and no heavy breathing halitosis. 

Big front and flank vents lead into high-volume channels inside and high and low exhaust vents so the wind whips over your skull at speed. Five different density pieces of very thin EPS foam mean it’s smaller in external size than most full face lids and the padding is minimalist too. 

While you get two chunky switchable chin pieces to keep your jaw padded in a slam the rest of the padding is more like a road / XC lid. The “MIPS SL” rotation protection layer dodges an internal skin by putting the pads themselves on stretchy elastic band mounts. A minimalist trail / XC-style cradle with clip lock buckle secures the helmet on your head via vertical slider adjustment and a dial embedded in the rear of the shell. This keeps the Gambit both airy inside and super light at just over 600g for our medium sample, so it’s no strain on your neck.

The only potential grumble is the fixed visor that’s so high it doesn’t provide any weather protection. It’s light, snaps off easily in a crash, won’t flap out of position and leaves plenty of room for goggles though so it’s swings and roundabouts for that issue.

It’s definitely not enough to stop it going straight to the top of our full face enduro helmet chart anyway and if you want an open face lid Specialized’s new Ambush S shares a lot of the same design features.

For more info on why we gave this helmet five stars, read our full Specialized Gambit review.

Giro’s Tyrant open face Enduro helmet has the maximum protection and quiet calmness available without adding a chin guard. The unique twin skin MIPS spherical design makes it relatively heavy and bulky, though.

Uniquely for an open face, the deep rear coverage of the Tyrant extends over the ears, giving the calmer, quieter vibe of a full face helmet that we think genuinely helps you stay relaxed on rowdy descents. The MIPS spherical design essentially uses two separate helmets one inside the other. That means rather than just the internal pad cradle sliding against the outer helmet like a conventional MIPS helmet, the whole outer helmet moves over the inner to dissipate brain-damaging forces. 

The two pieces come complete with hardshell skins and different density EPS and EPP foam to handle likely impact loads in different areas. Extensive internal channeling links up with large outer vents and big exhaust ports to pull a surprising amount of air through over your head. There are ‘stack’ vents inside the brow to pull steam out of your goggles too. That means it stays surprisingly cool on long climbs, although it’s inevitably hotter than a less enclosed, trail style helmet.

While it can twang your ears as you pull it on, the fit is otherwise excellent with easy adjustment from the Roc Loc cradle and the visor is adjustable for angle too, making it simple to keep weather out of your eyes or find a place for your goggles on climbs.

While the MIPS Spherical design does make it slightly heavier and bulkier than other open face helmets it’s extremely well priced for the level of tech and Zen like vibe it brings to your biking.

For full details read the Giro Tyrant review.

Helmets that are convertible between open face and full-face are nothing new, but the Arbitrator from Scandinavian brand Sweet Protection feels like it brings a whole new meaning to the dual-use statement.

When in full-face mode the Arbitrator far exceeds full DH specification and closes with a double D-lock fastener, yet release the clip at the rear of the helmet and the full carbon fiber chin guard detaches, a normal buckle closure untucks, leaving you with a traditional looking tech-packed trail helmet. Whilst we wouldn’t necessarily carry the chin guard around on the majority of our rides the pure versatility of a true best of both worlds convertible helmet makes a ton of sense if you’re wanting one helmet that will allow you to hit the bike park over the weekend before blasting the local trail ride on Monday. 

Sweet prioritizes protection over everything else and, as a result, the Arbitrator features Sweet’s perfected multi-density EPS liner, an industry-leading MIPS liner and an outer shell that has been specially tuned to deal with a huge variety of impacts. 

Ventilation hasn’t been missed in the mass levels of protection either and the Arbitrator features Sweet protection’s STACC venting which allows for cool air to be transferred over the temples without any compromise to the overall protection. 

It’s by no means cheap but the entire Arbitrator package is a ton cheaper than buying both a full-face and open-face helmet separately too, especially considering the world-class protection features.

The Ambush 2 is the latest addition to Specialized’s totally revamped helmet range. It uses the same potentially divisive aesthetic too, but that means excellent airflow at speed, maximum safety rating from a minimal padding strategy and spectacular spectacle storage. 

According to Specialized’s massively experienced helmet design “supergroup“ the Ambush is designed from the “inside out” in two distinct ways. Primarily they use FEA (Finite Element Analysis) computer impact analysis to position the multi density foams in the helmet to give a maximum five score from the Virginia Tech independent testing lab with minimum weight and bulk. 

They also design the airflow through the helmet – again with CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) – by creating broad internal channels over the scalp and then positioning and shaping the input and exhaust vents to suit. They’ve used the same minimal “pads on elastic bands” MIPS SL system they debuted in the Gambit and Tactic helmets to remove the need for a separate airflow compromising MIPS sheet between the pads and the shell. 

The 3D adjustable shell uses a dial embedded in the rear of the helmet too so it’s super easy to adjust fit and angle to suit whatever glasses / goggles you’re using. The design team also spent weeks perfecting the in-vent grippers for the arms of your glasses too, so your specs are very unlikely to rattle loose if you’re stowing them off your face. A full hardshell wrap makes it cosmetically tough and it comes in six colors to match your vibe.

The result is a light, yet max protection trail / enduro helmet with impressive cooling power if you’re moving reasonably quick. It doesn’t vent quite as well as the best in category when you’re crawling though. Also, the high, fixed-position peak is more decorative than functional when it comes to shading you from sun or rain. It leaves plenty of room for goggles or glasses underneath, though, and it won’t flip up or droop over time. It also pops off more easily than an adjustable visor and it weighs slightly less too.

If you’re looking for a very similar vibe and the same excellent protection rating from your helmet then be sure to check out the excellent Specialized Camber which is an absolute bargain and also comes in five different shell sizes for a great fit on everyone from kids to King Kong.

For more, check out our full Specialized Ambush 2 review.

The Dropframe is Fox’s answer to the new breed of extra protection open-face helmets targeted at aggressive riders. Now with the addition of MIPS the overall protection levels have been raised even further. The extended coverage is a confidence booster, but the exposed ear design does offer slightly less protection than the Giro Tyrant, it does mean hearing is totally unaffected though.

The overall fit of the Dropframe sits low and as a result, the protection levels do feel a good chunk higher than most trail helmets and the eight large intake vents and seven exhaust vents do a good job of temperature management. We’re big fans of the magnetic closure strap too, fasting your helmet has never been easier.

The lack of an adjustment dial does make selecting the correct size critical though, but due to the Dropframe being available in most good bike shops trying for size is relatively easy. The visor is also fixed and whilst it didn’t cause us any issues on the trail it’s worth considering if you are particular about peak placement or always perch your goggles when climbing. 

The design doesn’t make it the lightest either, but we think the protection levels more than make up for the slight weight penalty. 

If you’re an enduro rider that’s maybe not hitting it between the race tape the Forefront 2 helmet from Smith brings a near-perfect balance of protection and shell coverage for big climbs and gnarly descents. 

Smith breaks the mold and blends traditional EPS with a unique looking and super high impact absorbing Koroyd construction. Koroyd is a series of honeycomb sections of thermally welded straw-like tubes that offer protection from direct and angulated impacts. 

At 374g it’s light too so if you are an all-day epic sort of rider the helmet should be comfortable for the full ride. If you’re a Smith goggles or glasses user there are also specific ventilation channels to help maintain fog-free vision with these optics. 

Ventilation through the Koroyd honeycomb is through radiation and micro exhaust flow over the outer ends rather than airflow directly over the scalp. This means they can be hotter than a conventional helmet when working hard and you’ll often feel a sudden heat release when you stop at the top. The cells can also fill with water in heavy rain which makes the helmet heavy and reduces ventilation further.

The Kortal is pricey but POC's newest enduro helmet comes packed with features that mean it's a top performer when you're riding the trail and when the trail is riding you. Almost every feature on the helmet has been tailored specifically for enduro riding from the extended coverage, impressively lightweight to the ventilation and peak design which takes goggle straps and storage into consideration.

However, in the unfortunate event of a crash the Kortal's features will come into play. The latest MIPS Integra system protects against rotational forces to the brain as does the peak which is designed to break away from the helmet. The built-in RECCO Reflector helps emergency services locate you and the twICEme Medical ID stores medical and emergency contact information which can be accessed immediately using NFC. 

Despite being a fully fixed, full-face helmet the Stage will keep you cool, regardless of whether you're sweating it out on the climbs or pushing the limits on the descents. This is thanks to the 11 large high flow intake vents and 14 open exhaust ports constantly keeping things fresh, making you almost forget you’re wearing a full face altogether. Not totally though, as the additional protection over an open face lid encourages you to open the throttle that fraction more, especially in a race scenario.

It’s a combination of EPP and EPS foams that keep you safe should the worst happen and these two layers team together and disperse energy regardless of the impact speed. The latest MIPS liner is also integrated to make sure every protection base is covered.

Due to its lightweight, the Stage is a dream to wear and, in usual Troy Lee Designs fashion, there’s a raft of colors and artistic designs to choose from. It’s by no means cheap but with a flawless fit, a technology-packed design and a color scheme to suit nearly any style the Stage leaves you wanting no more.

Bell is certainly no stranger to the convertible helmet party, but the Super DH brings protection to a whole new level with its ASTM 1952 safety standard. This certification means it’s ready to tackle everything from elite-level DH racing with the chin guard attached to big backcountry epics with it removed. 

What makes the Super DH so well suited to enduro is how easy the transformation between the two guises is and by following a simple process the chin piece can be removed and installed within a few reassuring clicks. The installation can take a little bit of persistence to perfect but once mastered it can easily be clipped into place right before you drop in. When in open face mode we find the chin guard relatively easy to carry too, and due to its ‘U-shape’ design it can be hooked onto hip pack waistband with little to no interference when pedaling.

Internally the Super DH sees the ball and socket like MIPS spherical rotational impact protection system which sits inside Bell’s specially developed fusion in-mold polycarbonate shell – a process that bonds the outer shell onto the EPS foam liner to create a sturdier helmet.   

The price is high, but it’s reflected in the overall build quality and bespoke feeling comfort levels. The pads Bell have used cushion beautifully against your head and does a sterling job of wicking sweat which when paired with the hyper-efficient venting system allows you to thrash from dawn to dusk in pure comfort. 

Met was one of the first brands to hit the market with a convertible full-face helmet, luckily the modern Parachute MCR has evolved into a very different beast. For a start, the Parachute MCR is ASTM F-1952-15/F-2032-15 certified (including the chin bar), lined with MIPS and a BOA-FS1 fit system with swappable chin bar pads.

The Parachute stands out from the other convertible full-face helmets in that it uses magnets to locate and attach the chin bar. Developed with Fidlock, a brand that specializes in all sorts of magnetic fixtures, MCR stands for Magnetic Chinbar Release. The magnets help locate the chin bar into the attachment points before using handles on each side to lock it in place. Removal is simple as well, turning both handles to disconnect making it easy to whip off before climbing. Fidlock also takes care of the chin buckle as well.

There are a load of features beyond the chin bar too. The visor is flexible to limit damage in a crash has enough adjustability to store goggles underneath. Met has kitted the Parachute out with 21 vents which feature channeling throughout to help ventilation. It's not cheap though, retailing for considerably more than the other helmets in this guide. 

Meet the tester

Guy Kesteven

Guy's been testing and writing about mountain bikes since the early nineties and we're betting than he's tested more MTB helmets than anyone else in the UK. He's no stranger to enduro racing either and has raced in a multitude of different events.

What to look for in the best enduro helmets