Leatt MTB 4.0 Enduro V21 convertible helmet

£279.99

Leatt’s latest convertible helmet is a feature-rich design, with a number of smart design touches that separate it from much of the competition. The back drops deep around your skull and in front of your ears in open-face mode, offering decent coverage. With the chin bar in place, there’s no extra rear protection, but the helmet feels sturdy and secure, with additional pads provided so you can get a good fit. The chin bar attaches via a pair of locking levers and two static clips, and is a bit of a faff to fit – the process feels less slick than on some rival lids.

Inside, Leatt’s 360 Turbine Technology is used in place of MIPS to provide anti-rotational protection, as well as to help absorb straight-on impacts. This takes the form of blue rubber discs, which didn’t cause any discomfort. These are backed up with thin but comfortable pads and a fairly neutral shape, which we found snug. The height-adjustable cradle has a finetoothed adjustment wheel that pulls on a band secured at the temples for an encompassing fit. On long days, we found this band dug into the top of our ears. The helmet is secured with a pair of fixed webbing straps and a Fidlock magnetic buckle, which is easy to use with gloves on.

The three-position peak shifts up enough to just about get a pair of goggles underneath it, although wider-framed models overhang in front of your eyes slightly. In full-face mode, the opening has ample room for goggles. Just behind the peak is a rubber dock for sunglasses, which can also be stowed under it. In an ideal world, the peak would be a touch longer and wider, to shield your eyes better from low sunlight and rain.

Airflow is good for a helmet of this ilk, with plenty of big vents in the top half, including a generous pair under the peak. However, larger exhaust ports and deeper internal channels might help draw more air through. The chin bar is nice and breezy, especially if the plastic roost guard is popped off the front. With this done, it doesn’t feel at all claustrophobic – an issue that some convertible and full-face lids can suffer from.

The medium size we tested (small and large also available) tips the scales at a reasonable 850g in full-face mode, which is competitive. However, its 501g weight in half-shell guise is a little heavy. Price-wise, it’s cheaper than the MET Parachute and Bell Super DH (both £300) and only a tenner more than the Giro Switchblade. Tom www.hotlines-uk.com