Keeping your noggin protected is job one in an adventure sport, which is why our experts have tested all the helmets worthy of inclusion
The eight helmets in our Road Bike Helmet Review from left to right: Giro Aeon, Giro Atmos, Giro Air Attack Shield, Giro Savant, Kask Vertigo, POC Octal, Bell Array and Bell Volt.
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Our adventure experts have tested hundreds of helmets in the last decade for biking, skiing, and climbing to keep your dome protected from accidental falls and impacts. Protecting your noggin is job one in our minds because you only get one brain, and protection means you get to play another day. This makes finding the best helmet super important when gathering gear for activities where head impacts could happen. Whether you are riding your bike on the road, off the road, skiing the slopes, or climbing a rock face, we've tested the helmets you need for safer, protected fun outside. No matter what your goals or budget, our lineup of the top helmets for each category can help keep your head protected just in case you take a tumble.
Our expert testers have ridden, skied, and climbed to analyze the best bike gear, climbing gear, and snow gear. No matter what gear you need to pair with your cranium bucket, we've hands-on tested it to get your feeling your adrenaline well-prepared.
Editor's Note: We updated this article on March 15, 2023.
Helmets for Every Activity
To ensure you stay protected and ready for fun on any given day, you need to protect your head. No matter the activity or the person, brain injury can impact anyone doing activities that could result in hitting your head. We've tested hundreds of helmets because it's important that your protection provide the features, fit, and quality to keep you going day after day, so you'll gladly wear them again and again. Below are our favorites in each category.
Credit: laredo
Ski Helmets
Sliding on snow requires a protected head. We've tested more than 18 helmets for snow sports to assess their performance in metrics like warmth, ventilation, comfort, weight, goggle compatibility, and more. With a vast market of options, you can rely on our favorite choices.
We would be lying if we claimed reviewing helmets isn't good fun.
Credit: Zach Wick
Mountain Bike Helmets
We've researched more than 80 mountain bike helmets over the years, and we purchase those we test for extensive head-on testing in metrics like protection, comfort, ventilation, features, weight, and durability. Hitting the dirt on your tires is vastly different than hitting the dirt with your head, our favorite head protection for the trails is below.
We've tested more than 30 top-ranking downhill helmets since 2017 to provide you with the details you need to find the best option for your downhill extreme sports fun. If you need more than just standard head protection and might hit the ground with your face, then a full-face helmet is for you.
Climbing high means the potential to fall far. The challenge and adrenaline-pumping fun of clinging to a rock face with just a couple of fingers doesn't come without potential risk. Protecting your nogging is the first move to help ensure another day of climbing is in your future. Our favorite climbing helmets are below.
The Atmos is an excellent choice for riding in hot weather.
Credit: Luke Lydiard
Road Bike Helmets
Asphalt can be hard and unforgiving, especially when you hit it with your skull. If you happen to fall, protecting your cranium is your top priority. We tested the best road bike helmets on the market to help you find the best fitting, most comfortable option out there.
Even if your budget is tighter, there are still several top-ranking budget bike helmets available to choose from. Our biking enthusiasts tested more than 9 wallet-loving helmets to find a quality, comfortable option at an affordable price.
The Prevail vents very well but additional contact points and smaller recessed channels kept it from breezing past other better ventilated models.
Credit: Matt Bento
Bike Helmets
From childhood adventures to adult riding with predefined goals, there is something freeing about cruising the world on a bicycle. While the wind feels good in your hair, the pavement does not feel good on your head, so a helmet is a must-have piece of gear no matter how far or fast you plan to go. We tested the best bike helmets in the business to find well-fitted options for all.
We prefer adjustability, but the Gambit has a fixed visor in a sensible position.
Credit: Pat Donahue
Conclusion
We've tested so many helmets we've almost lost count. Whether you love to head down a hill at high speeds on a bike or a board or you love to climb high into the clouds, we've tested a dome protector for that activity. No matter your goals or your budget, we believe we have a favorite helmet for you and your adventures in this list. So keep the good times rolling by helping to keep your brain protected with the right gear every time.
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Wendy Schmitz
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GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
