Endura MT500 Waterproof Jacket II 2018
Reviews / Jackets
77,505
At A Glance
The MT500 range in the Endura line up is the flagship product range from the Scottish brand. With deep roots in the MTB world, they know a thing or two about keeping dry and comfortable when the weather gets inclement. Danny MacAskill is on the team, and their MTB range has been expanding in recent years.
Buy Jackets on
The MT500 Waterproof Jacket II is an upgrade to the popular previous model. ExoShell60 3 layer waterproof fabric makes up the bulk of the jacket, and it offers some impressive waterproof and breathability numbers. 18000 score on waterproofness and an incredible 64000 on the breathability scale.
It has a very bike focused cut with a long tail and short front. There are substantial underarm vents and storm proof zips. All the seams are taped and sealed inside, and there are some solid nods to detailing such as the hard wearing shoulder panels with silicone grip for backpacks and the napoleon pocket with a glasses wipe and media port.
Available in a range of sizes and four colourways this year, from the classic black to the standout orange with blue and khaki in between there should be something for everyone.
On The Trail
I’ve long been a fan of the MT500 jacket from Endura, durability coupled with excellent waterproofing and breathability has made it a firm favourite in my winter stable. The new model features some solid upgrades from my previous jacket which must be getting on for being about five years old and yet still in excellent condition.
The new ExoShell60 material is softer and feels more comfortable to wear; we also love the ability to pack away the impressive hood too. The hood can be sized to fit either over your helmet or your head which makes the jacket useful for a quick trip to the shop off the bike in the rain! The ability to pack it away is great for those damp cold days where it’s not raining too much and you don’t want the hood flapping around and slowing down your Strava times on the DH runs!
Another feature we love is the long arms with integrated internal stretch cuffs. These can be pulled over your thumbs and worn over or under your gloves. The result is significantly reduced draft and mud/water entry through the cuffs of the jacket. The zips are all of exceptional quality and waterproof, during our vigorous rides in the rain the jacket kept us warm and dry.
The breathability of this jacket is the real highlight though, it’s no point being the most waterproof jacket in the world if it fills with sweat and you get wet on the inside. That isn’t the case with the MT500, even in our hot autumn testing days, the moisture build-up escaped the jacket with impressive ability. We were always coming back dry, no matter how hot or how wet the ride was.
Overall
This is one of our favourite jackets in the business with good reason. Excellent waterproofing and durability mean the jacket is perfect for hard trail riding through the woods. The breathability of the fabric means you won’t overheat and get wet on the inside and the integrated cuffs are a charm on really cold days. Another highlight is the excellent hood that can fit over your head or your helmet or be packed away on the days you don’t need it!
This review was in Issue 51 of IMB.
For more information visit EnduraRelated
By Rou Chater
Rou Chater is the Publishing Editor of IMB Magazine; he’s a jack-of-all-trades and master of none, but his passion for bikes knows no bounds. His first mountain bike was a Trek 820, which he bought in 1990. It didn’t take him long to earn himself a trip to the hospital on it, and he’s never looked back since. These days he’s keeping it rubber side down, riding locally and overseas as much as possible.
