Usually available in two configurations, convertible mountain bike helmets always strike a compromise. Throw three configurations into the mix and you would expect an even finer balancing act. However, Leatt’s three-in-one MTB Enduro 3.0 pretty much nails each of them. It’s comfortable, breezy, and easy to use, but even then, it’s not totally without flaw, as its visor can catch the wind, and in its full open-face guise, it’s a little on the weighty side.
- Best mountain bike helmets 2025 - top-rated head protection for the trail
- Lazer Cage KinetiCore full-face helmet review
- When should you replace your bicycle helmet?
Leatt MTB Enduro 3.0 helmet - Technical details
Claiming to be the most versatile helmet you can buy, the MTB Enduro 3.0 from Leatt offers three configurations: open face, ¾ over-ear, and full face. These can all be swapped out thanks to a hook and button system, where the sides hook into slots at the temples of the helmet, with two button-actuated clips that click in place into large black holes towards the lower rear. Releasing the attachment requires just a press of a button and a bit of a pull.
Even with the three options, the helmet is certified to ASTM F1952-10 for downhill use. That’s as well as AS/NZS 2063:2008, EN 1078, and CPSC 1203, so it’s primed for all types of riding from trail, e-MTB, bikepark, and downhill.
Bringing the protection is an in-molded impact foam wrapped with a polymershell and complete with Leatt’s own 360 Turbine system. There’s also an in-molded PowerBridge force absorber.
20 vents promise good airflow, there’s a Fidlock magnetic closure, 20 vents, an adjustable breakaway visor, and a sunglasses dock at the rear vents. A micro-adjuster at the rear sorts fit adjustment both vertically and for the circumference of your head.
As for weights, in its open-face configuration it comes in at 458g, with the ear pieces it’s 588g, and in full-face mode it’s 721g. So, without any attachments, it is heavier than a standard open-face lid, it’s lighter than the Fox Dropframe Pro with the ear guards installed, and it's lighter than similarly certified full-face helmets with the chin guard in place.
For easy transport, Leatt includes a drawstring bag.
Leatt MTB Enduro 3.0 helmet - Performance
When in open-face mode, the Enduro 3.0 helmet is far from a featherweight, which has become par for the course for a convertible lid. It’s certainly not uncomfortably heavy, far from it, but it can feel a little wobbly on the head. But the helmet’s at its very best when paired with either the over-ear attachments or the chin guard, where the extra face-hugging support stablises the helmet, effectively hiding the helmet’s weight.
Adding the ear covers, or chin bar, is super simple. Simply slip the tabs on the attachment into the slots at the temples of the main helmet, then locate the large black buttons in their holes. This can be done with the helmet on your head, but it’s not something I’d recommend. It’s tricky, and far easier done with the helmet off, before you ride, or drop into a track.
The MTB Enduro 3.0 boasts generous internal padding, and it comes with two thicknesses in the box to help dial in the fit further. Settling on the thinner option and padding is still generous. With that comes excellent comfort as there are no hard points around the head, and well, the helmet’s a great place to be. Add the over-ear covers or the chin guard, and the helmet doesn’t become uncomfortable at all. If anything, it gets even more so thanks to the added stability I mentioned earlier.
When beginning my test of this helmet, I didn’t expect it to deliver the level of airflow that it does. It’s plentiful, and as it’s guided around the head thanks to internal channels, the Enduro 3.0 doesn’t overheat. That’s in all configurations, too, but in full-face mode, with the chin bar attached, I’ve been very impressed with how open and airy it feels. It’s by no means claustrophobic, and thanks to vents in the chin bar itself, air flows freely throughout.
Although its weight can’t be felt when worn with no attachments, the downsides are incredibly few. However, there are a couple - the sunglasses dock isn’t perfect. It works best when paired with glasses with straight arms. Those with arms that bend around the ear don’t hold as securely, and don’t slide into place all the way. But it is good to see some kind of eyewear storage solution, and with goggles, there’s plenty of space for them to sit under the visor.
Secondly, the rather large visor catches the wind at higher speeds. This then causes the helmet to pull on the head. It’s still secure, without a doubt, it’s just a very mild strain under certain scenarios.
Leatt MTB Enduro 3.0 helmet - Verdict
£250 is quite the investment on a helmet, for sure, but you are getting three in one here, and thankfully, it works very well in each configuration. Compare that with the price of a good open-face helmet and a good full-face, and you’re easily saving money.
Despite there not being any other helmets that offer the three-in-one function, there are other convertible hats that are worth looking at, such as MET’s Parachute MCR. It’s a heavier helmet, but it’s breezy, and although its Fidlock chinbar mounts are fiddly to use, the chin bar can be installed as the helmet is worn. This is a £300 helmet
The Bell Super DH Spherical is more expensive again at £315. It’s downhill certified, but the real selling point is that it uses Mips Spherical, which is made up of two foam cups that slide separately from each other under impact, to put it as simply as possible. Bell’s Super Air Spherical is cheaper at £225, but it is not DH certified.
By bringing three configurations to the game, the Leatt MTB Enduro 3.0 helmet is one of the more ambitious convertible helmets on the market. However, it manages to excel and perform regardless of how you set it up. Airflow is good, comfort is great, and the attachment mounting system is fairly straightforward. It does fall foul to the classic convertible helmet problems, being heavier than a regular open face helmet and additionally, the sunglasses dock isn’t perfect, nor is the visor but as a hat that’s designed to fulfill three purposes, it does and excellent job - why buy three helmets when you can buy one?
Add comment