Leatt MTB 4.0 Enduro V21 Helmet

Enduro racing has quickly grown into a major segment of our sport, helping to push the development of new products. Leatt, a gravity-focused company since 2004, has been at the forefront of designing and developing better protective gear. The 4.0 Enduro V21 helmet is a fine example of that. But, with that said, what types of products do enduro riders and racers even need? Well, with timed downhill segments connected by relaxed climbs, enduro gear must balance gravity protection and breathability for long days in the saddle. Let’s dive right into this new helmet to see how it can benefit riders looking for top-notch enduro products.  

Tech features: The 4.0 Enduro V21 helmet is built downhill tough with DH certifications. And, thanks to its removable chin bar, it becomes a trail-ready helmet for long climbs and rolling terrain. Leatt checked all the boxes for what’s expected from a modern helmet. Starting with safety, Leatt uses its own 360 Turbine technology to allow the head to float freely, and Leatt designed the visor to break away to reduce rotational impact forces. Leatt then used in-molded EPS and EPP foam to manage forces caused by a direct hit. 

Creature comforts of the V21 include a three-position adjustable visor, a magnetic buckle, a washable liner and a pair of ports to hold sunglasses. The helmet’s removable chin bar offers a sturdy locking mechanism on both sides, allowing riders to convert their full-face helmets into regular trail lids quickly and easily. Ensuring the helmet offers a proper fit, Leatt provides three sizes and uses a twist dial for fine-tuning adjustments. In full-face form, the helmet has different-sized cheek pads to further adjust fitment. The 4.0 Enduro helmet sells for $300 and can be purchased in four different colors. Leatt claims the weight of this helmet is 810 grams or 1.7 pounds, including the chin bar. 

Field test results: We started off the ride with our chin bar removed to test the helmet’s functionality as a traditional trail lid before snapping on the chin bar to test its downhill performance. Our size medium fit true to size, allowing us to find a snug fit and snap our magnetic buckle together in just a few seconds. The outer shell, on the other hand, is on the larger side, which is to be expected considering it’s a gravity-focused helmet that meets downhill testing certifications. The three-position visor allowed our testers to clear their field of view or block the sun. Meanwhile, the grippers under the visor on both sides of the helmet helped lock our sunglasses in place when rolling down the trails.

Once we got a good feel for the helmet, we snapped the chin bar on using the two metal levers that actuate metal plates, locking the chin bar in place. When the chin bar is attached, the helmet closely resembles a full face with the added benefit of ample air flow. Should riders want additional air flow, the front mouthpiece can pop out, creating a larger opening. Although it wasn’t tested, this mouthpiece seems like it would pop out if a rider crashed; however, it’s designed to fall out of the front of the helmet instead of protruding inside the helmet. 

The chin pads are a nice touch, adding comfort and preventing the helmet from moving around on a rider’s face. Pulling the helmet on and off seemed to be easier when loosening the fit dial at the back of the helmet, although this was only the case when the helmet was in full-face mode. 

Overall, Leatt executed a solid helmet for enduro riders and racers by focusing on the features racers want and need. From forward-thinking protection to creature comforts, this lid is sure to find itself on the heads of top-level enduro riders.

HITS

• Protection-first thinking 

• Two helmets in one for downhill or trail riding 

• Lots of vents to keep riders cool 

MISSES

• Needs to be loosened a bit to pull on in full-face mode 

• Front mouthpiece seems like it would fall off in a crash

Star Rating

4 out of 5

Price: $300

Contact: www.leatt.com