Urge Archi-Enduro helmet

New to Australia, Urge helmets are soon to land and we really like the look of the new Archi-Enduro full face lid.

While offering the same protection to the Down O Matic (Urge’s down hill helmet), the Urge is a little more comfortable with greater ventilation, lower weight (820g), and a slightly shorter back so wearing a backpack is more comfortable. They come in two sizes, but are provided with different thickness pads to get the best fit.

Urge also make the Veggie model, which uses a natural linen fibre, although that bumps the weight up to 960g.

PRICE 310$

Cannondale Trail SL 29 SS

The fat aluminium tubes are a constrast to the skinny items seen elsewhere in the test, but this rigid Cannondale uses them to create one of the most old-school - and lightest - rides here.

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KONA SHRED

With a reputation for no-nonsense ruggedness and a background in the always progressive and punishing riding of Canada, Kona have been building hardcore hardtails for longer than almost anyone else. The Shred is the most expensive bike on test but it’s a proper trail tank.

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SKS Airbuster CO2 inflator

The alloy Airbuster has a large knob so you can regulate the flow of gas, a mechanical stop to prevent the cartridge being pierced in transit and a dust cap to keep the valve free of debris. While it works with Presta and Schrader valves, switching between them requires a fiddly change of the valve head. The thin rubber sleeve doesn’t provide much protection from cold spent canisters. You can’t insert much of the valve into the inflator head, so you have to be careful to avoid leaks. Price $33 w/16g cartridge

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