We tested all sizes and shapes of helmets for road, mountain, recreational riding, commuting, and everything in between. These are the best of the best.
From Left to Right: Bell Z20, Lazer Z1, Bontrager Starvos, Giro Agilis, Kask Infinity, Poc Octal, Oakley ARO5, Giro Synthe, Bontrager Ballista, Giro Cinder
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Looking for the best bike helmet for road, mountain, recreational riding, or commuting? Our cycling experts have spent the last decade testing hundreds of bike helmets to help you find the best model to help make your bike adventures safe, comfortable, and fun. We took these helmets on our mountain bikes, road bikes, gravel bikes, and top folding electric bikes, and evaluated and scored each model based on essential metrics like protection, ventilation, features, comfort, weight, and durability. Whether you're looking for a helmet for casual riding, commuting, road racing, bikepacking, cross-country, trail, enduro, or downhill mountain biking, we've compiled this list of the best options for each type of helmet.
Weight: 300 grams | Diameter Range (size L): 58-63 cm
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable with easy adjustment
Excellent ventilation
Lightweight
Minimal exposed EPS Foam
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
The Bontrager Velocis MIPS is shockingly comfortable all day long, and its ventilation is some of the best we've found, keeping your head plenty cool on long, hot rides. The chin straps are easy to adjust and you can easily center the adjustment buckle. We love the simple BOA dial to adjust the fit around the head, too. It allowed us to evenly tension this helmet around our heads and create a snug yet comfortable fit. The minimalist 37.5 fit padding has fewer contact points than many helmets which makes you feel like the helmet is floating just above your head. The Velocis has a full-coverage polycarbonate shell that doesn't leave any of the vulnerable EPS foam exposed to potential dings or dents. Plus, it has MIPS technology to add extra protection to that noggin if you crash. This helmet has a velcro visor and sunglasses port, which we found extra handy for evening rides. With all of these features, this is still one of the lightest helmets we tested. We also think the duotone color design looks fast, and looking fast helps you ride faster, right?
While the internal recessed vent design adds some extra bulkiness to this helmet, we all loved the cooling effect that the ventilation system creates. Even our sweatiest testers noticed a significant difference in the cool channels of air. They reduce wind roar, too, so we can live with the added bulk. The Velocis is pretty pricey, but the innovative ventilation design is worth the price for long rides in the heat.
The Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 is a road bike helmet that stands out for its exceptional ventilation system. Woven aramid fiber bridges replace more traditional foam ones and create optimal airflow. During our testing, we didn't experience any hotspots and found that the liner pads wick away moisture with ease. We love the smooth dial and find it easy to make minute adjustments to achieve the perfect fit.
As with many innovative products, the unique design may not be the right choice for every rider. The sizing in this helmet may be somewhat tricky to get the hang of, and users with more rounded head shapes may not find the flatter top as comfortable, creating unnecessary pressure on the top of the head. We recommend trying on this helmet before making your purchase to ensure this will not be a problem. The Y-buckles on the Prevail 3 are not movable, further limiting the helmet's adjustability. For these reasons, this helmet may not be the perfect choice for every rider, however, if you are able to find a comfortable fit, and are looking for maximum airflow around your head, then the Prevail 3 is a great option.
The Smith Persist achieves an admirable balance of performance and price. Our testers found it to be comfortable, relatively well-ventilated, and stylish, and they were able to find a good fit most of the time. The helmet frequently garnered compliments from fellow riders for its stylish design and wide range of color options. We also appreciate the versatility of the Persist, making it an even better value. It is advertised as a good helmet for road, gravel, and MTB rides, and we felt comfortable wearing this helmet in any of those settings.
However, in order to reach the lower price point, some sacrifices have to be made. The head retention system may be difficult to size correctly because the jumps between each stop are wider, and the ventilation is just average. We didn't have any major issues with airflow, but it was noticeably reduced when directly compared to options from other brands like Bontrager or Specialized. The padding isn't the fastest drying and tends to get a bit soggy feeling on cooler descents after you have worked up a sweat. Imperfections aside, we think the Persist is still a great affordable option, and are happy with its overall performance.
Weight: 330 grams | Diameter Range (One size): 54-61 cm
REASONS TO BUY
Excellent comfort
Large detachable visor
Extended coverage
Affordable price
REASONS TO AVOID
Limited sizes
Non-adjustable ear splitters
We were so impressed with the Giro Fixture II MIPS that it earned our Best Budget Helmet pick. This mountain bike style helmet impressed us with its deep fit, extremely adjustable harness system, and MIPS rotational impact system. The MIPS system has a plastic insert that is intended to rotate inside the foam shell on impact to help absorb rotational forces. This is an affordable helmet with MIPS protection, so it stands out among budget-friendly helmets. We were impressed by the polished and thoughtful design, especially considering how much extra head coverage this helmet has. Its look and feel are very reminiscent of Giro's more expensive half-shell mountain bike helmets. The in-mold construction fuses the polycarbonate out shell with the EPS foam, giving it a very clean finish and durable feel. With 16 vents it is surprisingly well-ventilated, and the large visor works well to shield your eyes from the sun or keep brush out of your face on tight and twisty trails. The Fixture II also comes in a variety of fun colors to match your kit.
We looked hard to find any flaws in the Fixture II's design but couldn't find much. This isn't the least expensive helmet on the market, but we think it's still an impressive bargain given its quality construction, protective features, and good looks. Some might find the non-adjustable, sewed ear splitter straps annoying, but we didn't find them problematic during testing. The only other potential issue we found with this helmet is sizing. There are only two sizes available, the 54-61-centimeter "Universal Adult" size and the 58-65-centimeter "Universal XL" size. All of our testers could find a comfortable fit with the Universal Adult size no matter their head shape or size. However, we've seen universally sized helmets that don't work for everyone. This sleek all-around helmet works for any type of cycling whether you're tackling mountain bike trails or the bike path to and from work.
Weight: 401 grams | Diameter Range (Size L): 59-63 cm
REASONS TO BUY
Dual-shell Spherical impact protection
Amazing ventilation
Sunglasses storage
Good coverage
Adjustable visor
REASONS TO AVOID
Average weight
Expensive
The Giro Manifest Spherical is our top choice for a mountain bike helmet. Giro has created a pretty unique model that has everything we've come to expect from a high-end, half-shell helmet. It has a sleek, well-executed design. It uses the MIPS Spherical rotational impact system, which is made up of two separate EPS foam shells connected with elastomers. These foam shells have different densities and are designed to rotate against each other in case of angular impact, much like a ball and socket joint. The interior foam shell extends low on the back and sides of the head to provide extended coverage for mountain biking, and we found it to comfortably fit a wide variety of head shapes. Large air vents and interior channels provide some of the best ventilation we've seen in a mountain bike helmet, and the interior padding does a great job of absorbing and wicking sweat.
We had a hard time finding anything to complain about with the Manifest as we found no issues with performance during testing. It does have a fairly high price tag and only an average weight. But, we think the dual-shell design's protection is worth the incredibly minor weight penalty. Even though it's a few grams heavier than some helmets, on the trail the difference isn't noticeable with the secure fit. We're also not very concerned about some added weight for a trail helmet that does it all. The price tag might seem high at first glance, but realistically, it's comparable to other high-end mountain bike helmets. Since we think this helmet outperforms all the other high-end mountain bike helmets, we feel that price is justified.
Weight: 360-grams | Diameter Range (Size L): 59-63 cm
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Affordable
Adjustable Visor
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Small visor
Average ventilation
The Giro Radix MIPS is the latest iteration of functional, affordable, mid-range helmets from Giro. It has the shell shape of a classic mountain bike helmet, fits comfortably, and has great features for cyclists of all kinds. This affordable helmet has a versatile fit and feels remarkably secure as soon as you put it on. Giro's Roc Loc harness is one of our favorite fit adjustment systems that we've tested, allowing you to dial in the fit to your exact preference. The MIPS internal liner protects from rotational forces in case of a crash, and the EPS shell offers excellent coverage. The Radix MIPS is also one of the lightest mountain bike helmets we tested. The size large weighs only 360 grams.
While this is a versatile and protective helmet, the Radix MIPS isn't quite as burly as some beefier mountain bike helmets designed for going fast downhill. The traditional shell shape doesn't cover quite as much of the back and sides of the head as other helmets. Also, the visor is smaller and flimsier compared to some helmets. We wouldn't recommend this helmet for aggressive all-mountain riding, but we would recommend it for more general cross-country and trail riding.
Weight: 445 grams | Diameter Range (Size L): 58-61 cm
REASONS TO BUY
Simple design
Inexpensive
Classic styling
Versatile
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy
Three sizes
For an inexpensive, classic, high-quality helmet, check out the Retrospec CM-1. This is a straightforward, "skate-style" bike helmet that will protect your head while you ride. We like this because it's incredibly versatile. It works for commuting, skating, biking, and much more. After rigorously testing this option, we concluded that it provides a lot of value for those looking for a basic, reliable helmet to keep their head safe. It has plenty of interior padding and a thick EPS foam shell attached to a scuff-resistant ABS outer liner. The simple design means there isn't much that could go wrong with this. The CPSC-certified EPS shell is the thickest in our testing, so it should do well to protect your head during impact. It comes in small, medium, and large sizes that fit heads from 51-63 centimeters in circumference. It comes with interchangeable pads to customize the fit for your head size and shape, too. The chin buckle adjusts easily to get a secure fit, and the straps come with sliding adjustable ear-splitter clips to dial in the fit around your ears and sit flat on the side of your face. Our testers all thought this was one of the most comfortable helmets because of the thick padding.
While we think the CM-1 is an excellent value, we did find some drawbacks to the design. With a massive EPS shell, thick padding, and few air vents, this helmet can get hot on long rides or on warmer days. We found ourselves avoiding it on the hottest days since it made us sweat so much on longer rides. Short morning and evening commutes were never a problem, but we avoided this for more intense cycling. We have some concerns about the ABS outer shell separating from the EPS foam over time. Although we didn't see any evidence of separation during testing, this is an issue we've had with this style of helmet in the past. Most adhesives will eventually stop working over time when exposed to heat. But if you avoid leaving this in the sun when you aren't wearing it, you can minimize this risk of separation. Despite those concerns, we think this skate-style helmet is an excellent value that will serve anyone, from aspiring BMXers to commuters.
Weight: 378 grams | Diameter Range (Size L): 58-62 cm
REASONS TO BUY
Great ventilation
Seamless eyewear integration
Reasonable price
REASONS TO AVOID
Fixed visor
We've tested many well-ventilated helmets, but the Specialized Ambush 2 is the best of the best in this category. Specialized claims to have used computational fluid dynamic modeling to optimize the airflow with this helmet's design. This is noticeable immediately when you roll forward, and you'll feel the air moving over your head through the helmet. Even at low speeds, you can feel air moving from your forehead out through the back of this helmet. Also, the MIPS SL rotational impact protection system doesn't require an internal plastic liner. This further enhances the ventilation effect since there's no plastic sheet to block the wind. We had no issues with sweating or excess heat while wearing this, even on long, hot, exposed climbs. But breathability isn't all this has to offer; this was one of the highest-performing mountain bike models in every category. It has some great features, such as a well-designed eyewear holder: two small vent ports on the front of the helmet have rubber flaps to hold your glasses securely. This lets you easily stash your sunglasses beneath the visor without accidentally dropping them on rough trail sections. The helmet also has a highly-adjustable strap, harness system, and a great, burly visor.
The visor on the Ambush 2 is not adjustable, however. But, it easily comes off and back on, so it shouldn't break in the event of a crash. The visor's high position on the helmet doesn't provide as much protection from the sun at lower angles, though. The adjustable harness works well to give a secure fit, but the way it connects to the back of the helmet doesn't allow you to position it as low as some models. Regardless of these minor flaws, we feel this is an excellent model with awesome features that beats other brands' flagship models in price.
Weight: 765 grams | Diameter Range (Size L): 59-62cm
REASONS TO BUY
Well ventilated
Substantial and robust feel
Relatively lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Not the best option for pure downhill riding
A little expensive
The Smith Mainline MIPS is a relatively new lightweight full-face model. This was designed along with Smith's professional enduro racers. For a full-face helmet, it's pretty dang light. It isn't the lightest enduro-focused helmet, but it's close. It also has a more substantial, confidence-inspiring feel than some enduro helmets. Smith uses Koroyd in the construction to keep high levels of coverage, impact protection, and ventilation. This airflow is critical when pedaling hard uphill in the middle of an enduro stage or for those climbs in the middle of your shuttle lap. The Mainline has a DH certification, and it felt more robust than some of the other enduro helmets. We think this helmet finds the ideal balance of weight, ventilation, comfort, and protection.
While we loved the Mainline for its substantial feel and outstanding weight-to-protection ratio, it isn't perfect. If you're most concerned about ventilation, there are better options in the full-face helmet world. Though this helmet has above-average airflow, we found some other models breathed even better. Also, this isn't the best option for dedicated downhill racing or getting big air at the bike park. While it is downhill certified, we think getting a heavier-duty DH-specific helmet is a better idea for these applications. As you might expect, this option is on the pricey side. But it's a high-quality, lightweight, full-face helmet, so the asking price is reasonable when you consider this.
Weight: 1219 grams | Diameter Range (Size L): 58-59 cm
REASONS TO BUY
Reasonable price
Comfortable, plush, and protective
REASONS TO AVOID
Sub-par ventilation
Heavy
No rotational impact protection system
The Troy Lee Designs D3 Fiberlite is a high-end helmet with an impressively low price. It has many of the same features as the more expensive Troy Lee Designs models but packages them in a more affordable fiberglass shell. We feel this represents an excellent blend of quality and price. It delivers loads of comfort with plenty of padding. And, it has a fit all our testers loved. The heavier construction inspires confidence when firing down a trail. We felt secure and well-protected at high speeds and while hitting jumps in this helmet.
The D3 Fiberlite is one of the heaviest helmets in our review, though. For this reason, it's not the helmet we would choose for anything but pure downhill riding. It's best suited for riding lifts at the bike park, racing, and burly freeriding. Also, we found the ventilation to be a bit below average. And while we feel it provides excellent protection, it doesn't come with any rotational impact protection system.
The D3 Fiberlite has a robust and substantial feel and costs less than most other burly DH-oriented helmets.
Credit: Pat Donahue
Why You Should Trust Us
Over the years here at GearLab, we've tested more bike helmets than we can count. We tested helmets on the trails, on mountain roads, on our commutes, and everywhere else our bikes could take us. For this review, we compiled test results from all of our bike helmet testing, all purchased at retail prices from many of the same popular merchants where you likely shop. Our team tested and rated all of these helmets for different qualities depending on the model type and its intended use. We put them on and adjusted them to fit. We inspected their construction. We weighed them all. And of course, we wore them while riding our bikes. In short, we put these helmets through the wringer to find the best.
We tested each helmet across several rating metrics:
Protection
Comfort
Ventilation
Features
Weight
Durability
The test team for this review is led by Sam Schild, Nick Bruckbauer, and Jeremy Benson. Sam is an avid cyclist and has ridden his bike over 50,000 miles in the past decade. He has bikepacked across the United States, across Colorado on the Colorado Trail, and all over the American Southwest. When he's not out on the trails somewhere, you can find him mountain biking or trail running on the Colorado Front Range or bikepacking somewhere new. On all his bike adventures, he always wears a helmet.
Nick manages many of the GearLab bike categories. He's an avid outdoorsman and gear junkie. His passions include road cycling, trail and road running, hiking, camping, backpacking, climbing, and skiing. Nick has worn helmets of all different shapes and sizes on all his cycling adventures.
Jeremy is the Senior Mountain Bike Review Editor at GearLab. He is an obsessive mountain biker and racer with a mild addiction to Strava and self-inflicted pain. He enjoys long climbs to reap the gravity-fueled reward of the descents and is especially tough on and critical of mountain biking gear. In the winter months, he can be found backcountry skiing throughout the mountains of the great state of California on two planks or driving down to lower elevations to shred dirt on two wheels.
It's never a bad time testing mountain bike helmets!
Our tester's helmet was safe and secure as we searched for a camp site.
How to Buy the Right Bike Helmet
Choosing the right bike helmet for your intended use is essential. You'll probably be wearing this on your head for many hours at a time, so you want to make sure it has the features and is comfortable enough to fit your needs. Many different kinds of helmets can be used for multiple types of riding, but having the right helmet for certain activities will probably be more comfortable.
If riding for long distances in hot weather, having the right helmet can help keep your head cool, so you don't have sweat dripping down your face. In some cases, such as downhill mountain biking, where high-speed crashes are more common, having the right helmet can prevent you from getting a severe head injury. We'll walk you through all the different types of helmets available to help you decide which features are right for you.
Where Do You Want To Ride Your Bike With Your Helmet?
Before choosing a helmet, it's essential to know what kind of riding you're going to do. If you want a helmet that will be good for commuting to work or school, that will be a very different size and shape compared to a larger full-face helmet for downhill mountain biking.
Many of the helmets here fit into the "standard bike helmet" category. What we mean by "standard" is not too specifically catered to one type of bike riding. Most of the helmets in this guide will meet your needs if you're a casual rider.
But while many of these helmets certainly look like standard bike helmets, most are intended for a specific use. We don't think you have to have the exact right helmet for every use case, but there are certain factors you should consider if you're serious about a specific type of riding. We'll outline those below.
Road Bike Helmets
Road-specific bike helmets are typically the most lightweight and well-ventilated helmets. They have specific features designed to fit the needs of road cyclists. They usually sacrifice a little protection to be as light and breathable as possible. Since road crashes less frequently involve colliding with an object after falling off a bike, they have less protection on the back of the head than some helmets. Also, road bike helmets usually don't have an integrated visor. This is probably just tradition more than anything, but it allows you to easily differentiate between road and mountain helmets. Since road helmets typically don't have a visor, road cyclists often wear a cycling cap under their helmets to keep the sun out of their eyes.
You can get to some beautiful places on a road bike.
Credit: Ryan Baker
Mountain Bike Helmets
Mountain bike helmets typically have more protection than road bike helmets. A mountain bike helmet covers more of the back of the head since it's more likely you'll take a tumble during a mountain bike crash. In general, mountain bike helmets provide more significant protection than road bike helmets. This also makes them heavier, though. Also, mountain bike helmets have the potential to be less ventilated than road helmets since they have the extra material for protection.
Mountain bike helmets are designed for high speeds on variable terrain.
Credit: Sarah Strobel
Full Face Helmets
Full-face bike helmets or downhill helmets look like motorcycle helmets, and they're designed for speeds close to what you can reach on a motorcycle. Full-face helmets prioritize protection over everything else. They cover your entire head, including your chin, so even if you go face first into the ground, you'll be protected. Full-face helmets are the heaviest style since they have the most material. And because they're not designed for the rider to be doing much pedaling, they have the potential to be quite hot.
If you're prone to riding aggressive terrain we recommend a quality full face helmet.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Skate Helmets
Skate helmets are helmets that cover the top and back of your head and look like the helmet you'd wear when roller skating or skateboarding. These helmets are usually heavier and less well ventilated. But, they have a less sporty look to them, so they're great for bike commuters who don't want to look like a competitive cyclist.
You might be mistaken for a Harley rider in a skate style helmet like this one.
Credit: Zach Wick
What Else Look For In A Helmet
Once you've figured out the helmet style that best suits your needs, looking at the specific design features of different individual models will help you narrow down the field considerably.
The classic style makes it an ideal choice for long rides or simply cruising around town.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Protection
The entire reason you wear a helmet is to keep your head safe. So, this is the most important category when it comes to helmets. Any helmet from a reputable manufacturer should protect your head to a minimum standard, but we aren't that certification agency. We're not crash test dummies, either, and aren't going out getting in crashes while wearing these helmets just to see how well they protect our heads. Our analysis of a helmet's protection is based on its overall construction quality, head coverage, and additional protective features like a rotational impact system. All of the helmets we've tested meet or exceed the US CPSC Bicycle standard.
Head coverage varies from model to model and helps play a role in how protective a helmet will be in the event of a crash. And, the amount of coverage varies from model to model. Some helmets we cover here protect more of the back of the head than others. Full-face helmets provide the most head coverage, followed by mountain bike and skate helmets. Road bike helmets offer the least overall protection, generally.
Most of today's bike helmets are constructed with Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) foam that is only designed to withstand one significant impact. The foam liner in these helmets is designed to compress and get crushed while absorbing the forces of impact. Once a helmet is cracked or impacted, you should replace it as it will no longer provide the same protection. Helmets made using Expanded Polypropylene (EPP), often found in skate helmets, have a more rubbery rebound with multi-impact capability. You can take more hits in these helmets without losing their form and performance, but your skull will absorb more of the impact on each hit.
More coverage = better protection. It's simple science, but it's still science.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
How a helmet is constructed also contributes to how well it protects. All models have an in-mold construction, with a polycarbonate shell wrapped around an EPS foam liner. A lot of today's newer helmets have dual-density foam designs with a mix of EPS and EPP foam. This is to better help with impacts at both high and low-speed impacts. Some helmets use multiple types of foam to help with rotational impacts, too.
Rotational Impact Protection Systems
Many bike helmets on the market today come with rotational impact protection systems. MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) was the first type of rotational impact protection system to come to the market. Recently, many other technologies have been introduced in other helmets. Leatt developed Turbine, a 100% designed Smartshock; Kali implemented LDL; Bontrager made WaveCel; and 6D designed ODS. These systems all aim to solve the same problem, but they approach it in various ways. Some designs, like Smartshock, LDL, and 6D, employ direct and rotational impact protection, while the original MIPS system is designed strictly to help with rotational impacts.
Which technology is best? The jury is still out. We recommend doing some research and deciding for yourself, but they will all provide more protection than a helmet without rotational impact protection. The cost of these systems has come down recently, too. They only add about 5-10% to the price of a helmet, so we definitely think they're worth the increased price now. The whole point of a helmet is to protect your brain, isn't it?
Most helmets in our lineup have rotational impact protection of some kind.
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Comfort
Some cyclists spend long days in the saddle, so a comfortable helmet is crucial if this is you. Ideally, you shouldn't notice your helmet once you put it on, and you shouldn't think about it during your ride. Even though head sizes and shapes vary from rider to rider, our testers consistently found certain design elements that helped a helmet fit comfortably on different shaped heads, adding to the overall comfort regardless of the user.
Padding design, full circumference headband adjustability, and chinstrap design all play an essential role in the comfort of a helmet. Since the headband adjustment systems on most helmets tighten in the back and push the head against the front of the helmet, good padding is essential in the forehead and temple areas. While quality padding is important, we have found during all our testing that the location and coverage of the padding, along with the shape of the foam liner, were more important than the thickness of the padding itself.
Comfort is more than just the foam padding on the inside of the helmet, but that's part of it.
Credit: Zach Wick
The best internal headband system designs make a complete loop around the head. Some helmets only do a partial circle around the head and anchor into the helmet liner near the temples. This isn't as comfortable, generally.
Chinstrap design also plays a massive role in the comfort of a helmet. Our testing team appreciates helmets that incorporate thinner webbing straps and a Y-buckle, allowing the straps to lie flat against the face.
The well-designed straps on the new Ambush 2 hold them flat and don't interfere with your ears.
Credit: Zach Wick
Adjustability
A helmet must fit well to be comfortable and protect you in case of a crash. For a helmet to protect you, it can't slip off your head on impact. Correct fore/aft positioning, headband tightness, and chinstrap adjustment will help your helmet stay on your head where you need it to be so it can protect your head.
The best helmets have a chinstrap system that attaches under the chin and splits into two straps in front and behind the ear, where the straps attach to the helmet. Usually, the straps are joined by a plastic Y-buckle just below the ear. On many helmets, the Y-buckle allows you to adjust the straps in front and behind the ear. Helmets that have an adjustable Y-buckle usually earn better scores in our adjustability metric. However, some helmets without an adjustable Y-buckle still seem to fit a wide variety of head shapes and sizes.
The fixed Y-buckles on the Airnet are comfortable and well-placed, but the lack of adjustability could be an issue for some riders.
Giro's chinstrap Y-buckles can easily be adjusted to be either lower down by the chin or higher up by the ears.
Smith's chinstrap system has a simple quick-release tab on the Y-buckle, making adjustment a breeze.
Most helmets have an adjustable dial near the back to tighten and loosen the helmet's headband. While the tension dials usually work as intended, some are harder to use, making them more challenging to use while wearing gloves or with cold hands.
Our favorite dials have 360-degree accessibility and are large enough to be adjusted while wearing gloves or with numb fingers. It's also crucial that these adjustment dials do not cause discomfort in the neck when the neck is flexed, like when you're riding.
The Roc Loc harness adjustment pulls tension evenly around the head for a secure fit.
Credit: Kelby Spore
Weight
Some cycling pursuits are more weight-conscious than others, but a lightweight helmet requires your neck to support less weight. Weight, therefore, will affect the comfort of a helmet. Yes, extra grams can slow you down on climbs, too. But we think comfort is the most important benefit of a lightweight helmet.
However, the lighter a helmet is, the less material there will be to protect your head in a crash. More material equals more protection. Generally, road bike helmets are the most lightweight and least protective. Mountain bike helmets, which provide better head coverage, are typically heavier. Full-face helmets cover most of your head, so they give the most protection and weigh the most.
Our size M/L helmet weighed 401-grams. Not the lightest, but pretty light considering its coverage and robust feel.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
Ventilation
A well-ventilated helmet helps keep your head cooler, which keeps your overall body temperature down. Ventilation, therefore, enhances the comfort and performance of a helmet. The best-ventilated helmets are not always those with the most vents, either. Some helmets combine well-placed vents with channels built into the helmet's internal design to create the best airflow. On some helmets, the inner MIPS liner can block some air vents. The best MIPS helmets have a MIPS liner with holes that line up with a helmet's vents.
Look at all those vents!
Credit: Ryan Baker
Durability
The EPS foam found in most helmet liners is a relatively soft material that is prone to dents and abrasion. The most durable helmets have a shell that extends around the base of this foam liner. This leaves little of the liner exposed to dents and dings. Helmets with this full-wrap shell seem to get banged up less during daily use. However, this extra durability measure also adds to the helmet's weight.
All signs indicate that this helmet will hold up to regular use.
Credit: Zach Wick
No matter how well constructed, most bike helmets are designed to function for a single impact. So, if you get in a crash and your helmet makes an impact with something, you should replace it to be safe. Some helmet manufacturers even have a crash replacement program to encourage you not to keep wearing a helmet that might not protect you as well the next time you need it.
Since helmets are single-impact, our durability assessments look at how well a helmet can withstand the daily abuses of minor bumps and scrapes.
Happy riding!
Credit: Nick Bruckbauer
Conclusion
This guide should help make your helmet-buying decision a little bit easier. This list of helmets is the best of the best. So, choose the one from this list that fits your needs the best and get pedaling. Rest assured, we will keep buying, using, and reviewing the best helmets in the industry to keep this list current.
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