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The definition of the best bike helmet has changed dramatically in recent years. At one point a helmet only had to keep you safe if you hit the ground. Now that’s only one piece of what the best bike helmet provides.
Not only are there new advances in safety but bike helmets do far more than that. The best bike helmet will score well on the Virginia Tech helmet crash tests while also making you faster through aero performance, keeping you cooler using advanced modeling of air movement through a helmet — and on top of it all let’s not pretend a helmet doesn’t have some fashion implications as well.
With those needs in mind, I’ve been testing helmets and looking for the best bike helmets for years. I have stacks of helmets from every company and I put them to the test on a variety of different bikes and in different situations.
After thousands of miles and hundreds of hours, this list is what I think are the best bike helmets for a variety of different situations.
Disclosure: This is a buyer’s guide and we’ve got a whole section of Velo Buyer’s Guides to explore. Most of the links in this buyer’s guide are affiliate links and we may earn an affiliate commission on things you buy through them. It doesn’t cost you anything extra and these are our genuine recommendations. Learn more.
Prices updated May 2025.
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Best bike helmets quicklinks
If you are looking for information to know when shopping for the best bike helmets check out. How to choose the best bike helmet.
If you are curious about a bike helmet you don’t see in these recommendations jump to Other bike helmets where there’s a few additional options and information.
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Best all-around bike helmet
| Model: | POC Cytal |
| Specs: | 311 grams for a size medium; 9 color options; sizes S, M, L; aero optimization; limited room for a ponytail; MIPS Air Node rotational impact system; #1 ranking with a 7.51 score in the Virginia Tech road bike helmet rankings |
| Highs: | #1 Virginia Tech Ranking for road bike helmets, lots of color options, excellent cooling plus aero optimization; heavy |
| Lows: | Strap divider system is maddening; rear cradle isn’t comfortable worn low |
| Buy: | $330.00 USD from competitivecyclist.com $420.00 CAD from poc.com €320.00 EUR from poc.com £290.00 GBP from poc.com |
I laid out a bunch of things that a modern bike helmet should do well. There’s one that’s non-negotiable: safety. Every helmet on this list is sold as safe by the government where it’s sold so that’s kind of something we take for granted. Except that Virginia Tech has emerged as a way to test helmets beyond what a government test covers. The testing takes into account rotational impact protection, and it also gives more than a pass or fail by ranking from best to worst.
Every impact and every brain is unique, so we can’t take the Virginia Tech Rankings as the only thing that matters. Still, it seems like higher is better as long as the rest of the helmet is otherwise good. The POC Cytal helmet is currently sitting as number one in the road helmets category of the Virginia Tech rankings. It’s also a really good helmet.
The basic concept of this helmet first came to market with the POC Cytal Carbon and it includes a wing design. The wing ties the upper portion of the helmet together and it shapes the air both for better aerodynamics and for better cooling. The combination makes a perfect all-around helmet. It’s not the lightest, or the most aero, or the best ventilated, but it does all of those things better than most. It’s also quite good at stashing sunglasses on a climb.
On the negative side of things, the biggest issue is the strap and cradle system. In the rear, you can pull the cradle down but the way it’s attached at the brow means not only is there not much room to get a ponytail through but it starts to get uncomfortable at the ears.
Then there’s the actual straps and the divider. You probably don’t think about this much because it only needs adjustment once. Despite that, when it’s not right, it’s annoying, and this one isn’t right. A helmet needs to stay low on your brow for safety and that means adjusting the chin strap so it’s forward enough. POC is using a terrible design for this need. It’s difficult to get it in the right spot and it’s difficult to get it even left to right. On top of that, the clip will move from left to right depending on the adjustment. The positives outweigh the one-time annoyance here but it’s a definite annoyance.
The POC Cytal does everything you want in a helmet pretty well, plus it’s currently the best performing road bike helmet at Virginia Tech.
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Best aero helmet
I keep writing and rewriting this description. The reason you want this helmet is simple, the Specialized Evade 3 is the fastest. Actually I suppose there’s a bit more nuance than that, the Evade 3 is the fastest helmet that looks like a typical road helmet.
It’s just by a little bit either. I put in the time with a Gibli aero sensor and the results of 7 Road Helmets Aero Tested was definitive. With similar clothing and position the sensor shows a 9-watt advantage for the Evade 3 at only 35km/hr. That number jumps even higher when the speed increases.
Read between the lines, though and there’s actually a bigger advantage for the Specialized S-Works Evade 3. Without resorting to a design that looks like a time trial helmet, looking at you POC Procen Air, you get a significant aero advantage. It’s also got great cooling, with such a large vent in the front that sunburn can be an issue, plus there’s a comfortable strap system that stays out of the way and plenty of room for ponytails and sunglasses. A five star Virginia Tech rating and reasonable, though not amazing, weight round things out.
The Specialized Evade 3 is the go-fast helmet that doesn’t require sacrifices.
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Best bike helmet for racing
| Model: | POC Procen Air |
| Specs: | 355 grams for a size medium; 5 color options though three are variations of white; sizes S, M, L; aero optimization; plenty of room for a ponytail; MIPS Air Node rotational impact system; 10.93 Virginia Tech helmet test score |
| Highs: | Faster than any other road helmet; Visor leaves room from your face and stores in the rear; surprisingly usable as long as you are moving quickly |
| Lows: | looks ridiculous; lacks rotational impact protection |
| Buy: | $400.00 USD from poc.com $520.00 CAD from poc.com €400.00 EUR from poc.com £370.00 GBP from poc.com |
The POC Procen Air is an answer to the question, “What if no one cared what it looks like?” Which is not to say this is an ugly helmet, I’ll let you make that decision, but it doesn’t pretend in any way that this is a normal road helmet. If you want to go fast, this is the way to do it, and the POC Procen Air is, in my testing, 16 watts faster at 35km/hr than my baseline and 9 watts faster than the Specialized. Think about what an advantage that is.
The POC Procen Air is also remarkably usable. Lachlan Morton raced for 200 miles across Kansas and won Unbound with this helmet and I’ve used it for a number of century rides. As long as you can get past the idea of looking ridiculous, it is lightweight for what it is and the vent at the front moves a lot of air. You have to keep moving but otherwise it might even be better than a helmet and sunglasses because of the distance to the visor from your face.
The big downside to all of this is the lack of both Virginia Tech testing and a rotational impact protection technology. Neither means that this helmet is unsafe but both add piece of mind that’s now missing. The internal structure would seem to lend itself well to MIPS Air Node so it’s odd, and a shame, to see it missing.
You probably don’t want to wear the POC Procen Air all the time because it’s less comfortable than a normal helmet and it looks odd. But on race day, this is the helmet to grab.
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Best budget bike helmet
If you know my writing, you know I’m not afraid to say to spend more money for better quality. Sometimes my budget pick isn’t all that budget and yet here in the best bike helmets list this one is an absolute bargain basement price. The reason is pretty simple, Specialized is offering a quality helmet that just happens to be inexpensive.
A big part of that is the Virginia Tech ranking of this helmet. In the past, I’ve recommended other budget bike helmets with lower scores. Again though, Specialized is knocking it out of the park here then pricing it aggressively. At #24 overall, the Specialized Align II competes with far more expensive helmets.
Another big reason I’m recommending this helmet is that I never want anyone to feel like they can’t feel good in a product because it’s cheap. The Align II looks good, and there are a ton of colors. No one is going to look at it and think it looks cheap. That’s exactly the idea.
The downside to all of this is that it’s bulky. Even at a slightly smaller than some helmets S/M 337 grams is heavy and it’s easy to see why that’s happening. There’s the less expensive but bulkier and less breathable MIPS liner and the rear cradle is big and bulky too. It’s likely you’ll eventually want something sleeker and lighter but if your rides are more like a couple of hours instead of all day, this is a great choice.
The Specialized Align II is a budget helmet that looks good and does well with Virginia Tech.
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Best gravel bike helmet
Let’s be very clear here: this helmet is a gimmick. In a way, it helps make my job easy because if you are searching for the best gravel bike helmet, this is an easy answer. I’m not glib, though. I love this helmet.
The gimmick is that POC takes the basic helmet shape and makes a bunch of variations for various labels. This is the gravel bike version because it has a Velcro patch on one side, a bungee cord on the other side, and a strap in the rear with a bunch of attachment points and more velcro. I’ve used this helmet since it hit the market years ago, and I’ve never once used any of those attachments. I still love them.
It’s okay to have a bit of fun with your helmet. Modern gravel bike helmets aren’t really a thing. Both the POC Cytal and the Specialized Evade 3 are great options for racy day gravel bike riding. The POC Omne Ultra is a style play that matches well with a tech tee and shorts. Don’t think too hard about it. Besides, it’s a great helmet anyway.
The POC Omne Ultra is really just a POC Omne Light. Both helmets are lightweight (though the Ultra is heavier) and use MIPS Integra for rotational impact protection. There’s room for a ponytail and excellent ventilation.
My only negative on this helmet is the lack of a Virginia Tech score. I’ve mentioned this elsewhere but when it’s not there, it’s a question that doesn’t have to exist. For whatever reason, POC didn’t test this generation of helmet despite the MIPS inclusion that likely scores well on that test.
The POC Omne Ultra charges a little bit more for some gravel styling. It’s a gimmick, but it doesn’t hurt a solid design underneath, and it’s fun.
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Best lightweight bike helmet
| Model: | Lazer Z1 Kineticore |
| Specs: | 220 grams for a size M; 8 color options; sizes S, M, L; no aero optimization; limited room for a ponytail; Kineticore rotational impact system; #35 overall with a 10.06 Virginia Tech helmet test score |
| Highs: | Lightweight; highly vented; optional rain/aero cover |
| Lows: | Rollsys adjustment system |
| Buy: | $280.00 USD from competitivecyclist.com €224.95 EUR from all4cycling.com |
I want every helmet to be as light as possible. I ride long distances and I find it’s better to have less weight on my head. You’ll see that preference reflected in many of these descriptions as I call out anything near or over 300 grams as being too heavy. At the same time, I’m generally open to trading aero performance for a bit of weight. If you disagree, the Lazer Z1 Kineticore eschews aero performance in favor of being as light as possible. At 220 grams for a size medium, Lazer manages the trick.
The bonus here is that despite no claims of aero performance, the Lazer Z1 Kineticore actually did quite well on my aero test. It’s not the fastest but it’s also not the slowest. Not only that, but if you really want to speed it up, note that I haven’t tested how much, there’s a rain/aero cover that closes most of the vents. It’s inexpensive and lightweight and it fits the top perfectly.
What I don’t like about this helmet is the Rollsys system that Lazer uses. Rather than the usual dial at the back of the helmet on the rear cradle, there’s a dial higher up. It works well enough, but it’s an unnecessary complication for a system that wasn’t broken to start with.
Despite Rollsys taking some accommodation, the Lazer Z1 Kineticore is a good helmet with great venting and a very low number on the scale.
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Best bike helmet for hot weather
| Model: | Giro Aries Spherical |
| Specs: | 280 grams for a size M; 9 color options; sizes S, M, L; minimal aero optimization; plenty of room for a ponytail; MIPS Spherical rotational impact protection; #5 overall with a 8.4 Virginia Tech helmet test score |
| Highs: | Excellent cooling; high Virginia Tech Score; optional but highly integrated rear light; front padding channels sweat |
| Lows: | MIPS Spherical is more difficult to push up |
| Buy: | $299.95 USD from competitivecyclist.com €279.00 EUR from all4cycling.com |
I would tell you that modern helmets should be as aero optimized as possible. It doesn’t make a lot of sense to me not to choose free watts. Lots of people think I’m wrong and love the feel of big, wide-open vents. If that’s you, the Giro Aries Spherical is for you.
To be fair, the Aries Spherical does consider aero, but that’s not the point. The point of this helmet is to let you feel the air on your head. There are big open vents with barely there AURA II Reinforcement Arches at the top of the helmet that provide structure without getting in the way of air. On the inside, the foam has deep channels, reminiscent of Kineticore from Lazer, and limited padding. When you eventually do sweat, the front pads use a channeled design that helps move sweat to the edges before it drips. Even the rear cradle is minimal.
I’m also a huge fan of the optional Roc Loc 5 LED Light that perfectly integrates into the rear cradle. Not everyone will buy it but if you like the idea of an extra light, no brand does a better job of this integration.
Of course, by now you understand that a high Virginia Tech Score is a positive, and that’s the case here too. The only downside to this piece is that there’s a ball and socket system that hides the MIPS slip plain within the helmet. It’s kind of genius, but it sometimes gets on my nerves during long rides as you have to be a little more intentional with pushing up the front of the helmet. If not it will shift but not actually move.
The Giro Aries Spherical is kind of aero but mostly highly vented with a number of hot-weather-centric design features.
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Best commuter bike helmet
At this point, you should be getting the idea that as much as I want helmets that perform, I also want them to look good. When it comes to a commuter bike helmet that is still true but I feel the style should be different. Something that matches with street clothes and a city bike. Something like the Specialized Mode commuter bike helmet.
In the past that style preference would have me recommend other helmets, but Specialized has the Mode priced so aggressively that nothing else makes sense. On top of that, many modern commuters are riding bikes, and the Specialized Mode also carries the Dutch NTA 8776 e-bike certification. That’s a test with the higher speeds of ebikes in mind, and it requires more coverage and passing higher drop tests than other helmet tests. Ebike or not, that seems like a good thing, and with a #12 overall Virginia Tech rating, it seems to work.
Negatives are pretty minor here. The design uses the cheaper MIPS liner that covers some of the inside. No problem, except it also covers the adjustment points for moving the rear cradle down. You can still do it but it’s a little more of a hassle. Along the same lines, there’s an included light mount that doesn’t seem all that secure, so maybe skip using it. We’ve got a bunch of great lights in our best bike lights buyers guide that you can mount on the bike instead.
The Specialized Mode is a stylish commuter bike helmet that doesn’t cost much, has a high Virginia Tech Rating, and is also a good choice for ebikes.
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How to choose the best bike helmet
Modern road bike helmets are tasked with doing a lot more than just keeping you safe. These days, safety is the basic backstop and from there it’s the extra features that set apart the best bike helmets.
A big part of that is simply product differentiation. Helmet companies figured out a long time ago that safety couldn’t be the only consideration as there’s governing bodies that set standards for helmet safety. That means if you buy a helmet, it’s been tested against required safety standards for the location it’s sold. An example would be that all US helmets pass US CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) certification. The CPSC mandates basic standards for peripheral vision, positional stability, dynamic strength of the retention system, and impact attenuation. That meant helmet companies started adding more features to catch your eye.
Some helmets focus on weight, others on glasses retention, others on comfort. Whatever it might be, those are value-added details that make a helmet more pleasant to wear. They don’t change the basic safety of all helmets sold.
Do aerodynamics really matter in helmets?
Among the value-added features found in modern bike helmets is aerodynamics. Obviously this is something that’s a part of the performance bike helmet market, vs transportation bike helmets, but if that’s your interest, there’s big potential. Helmets can save you as many watts as a set of wheels and they cost a whole lot less, plus there’s no real downside. Some people prefer the open feeling of a highly vented helmet, which is why I’ve included options in my list, but modern aero helmets move a lot of air as long as you are moving. If you care about going fast, you should care about the aerodynamics of your helmet.
Why does Virginia Tech bike helmet testing matter?
As I mentioned, all bike helmets that are for sale commercially are safe. Despite that, I’ve also leaned heavily on the Virginia Tech test results to help shape this list. What gives?
The answer has two parts. The first is that smaller, non-governmental organizations can sometimes move faster. Virginia Tech focuses quite heavily on rotational impact protection and tests for what the latest research shows is best for reducing the prevalence of traumatic brain injury (concussions) in bike-related impacts.
The second thing is a bit of a pull back of the curtain moment. Basically, people prefer lists vs blanket statements. Virginia Tech ranks the helmets that the organization tests and everyone loves something better. If I’m choosing between two helmets to highlight and one has a higher Virginia Tech rating, it only makes sense to highlight that one. All things being equal, the better score is worth consideration.
That said, I’ll caution that you can also break free of that scaffolding a bit. Virginia Tech states, “We encourage athletes to choose helmets with 4 or 5 stars.” Virginia Tech also states, “No helmet is concussion-proof. Any athlete can sustain a head injury, even with the very best head protection.” Meaning I’d interpret that as higher is better, but there might be reasons why it makes sense to look at a slightly worse ranked helmet as long as it’s still 4-5 stars.
Virginia Tech testing matters because it offers a more nuanced look at how helmets compare to each other and the testing focuses heavily on rotational impact protection.
Why does MIPS matter?
Hand in hand with Virginia Tech testing is rotational impact protection. That means how does a helmet handle protection for your brain when you hit the ground at an angle and roll as you land? That’s specifically what Virginia Tech tests and any helmet that scores well on that test will have to manage that type of impact.
This all relates to MIPS because that is what MIPS does. The name is an acronym that means Multi-Directional Impact Protection System and it’s trying to reference a technology. It’s not only technology though. MIPS is also a brand name. If you see a helmet with MIPS that company has paid MIPS to use the technology in a helmet.
That also means there are other rotational impact protection systems on the market. Admittedly, the competition is shrinking but right now Lazer Kineticore is another credible solution to the same challenges.
MIPS matters because it is one brand that offers a solution to protecting your brain against the most common type of impact cyclists experience. Typically, if a helmet has a high Virginia Tech impact score, it will also be using either MIPS or a competing impact protection technology.
Does fashion matter in a bike helmet?
Yes definitely, without doubt, or maybe not? The real answer is up to you. Fashion never matters or always matters, depending on your perspective. What I can say is I am constantly interviewing people about why they chose a specific product. In the case of helmets, I’ve seen over and over that people think about fashion when choosing the best bike helmet for them. I think it’s better to just acknowledge that and address it.
Often, this plays out in relation to the bike someone is riding. An aero helmet on a city bike would work but no one wants to match that combo up. Don’t be ashamed of that. Look for a helmet that fits your style and the bike you are riding.
How does Velo test the best bike helmets?
I am going to say something very similar to what I say in the best bib shorts buyers guide. I start by collecting every helmet I can manage. This is an ongoing process because not everyone has stock of the newest pieces at the same time but I pay attention and get what I can for testing. I’ve also been doing this for years and quite literally have more helmets in my house than bike shops.
From there, I start rotating through different bike helmets when I ride. I pay attention to fit, I weigh the helmets, and I do my best to aero test as many as possible in the best ways I can. When I feel confident about the best options then I figure out what the strengths and weaknesses are so that I can recommend them for different categories. I keep an eye on price and I make sure you can actually find these options for sale. At the end of it all, I publish but I keep testing. This article is a living process that will continue to change over time. Most importantly though, I have spent a lot of miles in everything here and I stand behind the recommendations I’m making.
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Other bike helmets
I am constantly evaluating the never ending list of the best bike helmets. The reality is that there are a ton of good options and there are some that nearly make the final list but don’t quite.
| Model: | Scott Cadence Plus |
| Specs: | 419 grams for a size M; 1 color option; sizes S, M, L; aero optimization; plenty of room for a ponytail; MIPS Air Node impact protection; #160 overall with a 13.87 Virginia Tech helmet test score |
| Highs: | Excellent accessories, magnetic buckle, venting right at the front brow padding |
| Lows: | One-piece strap system can move around and slide from one side to the next. |
| Bottom line: | A buyer’s guide is a puzzle. That means finding spots where a particular product stands out. It can also mean really good quality products don’t fit the final puzzle. That’s exactly what’s happened here. From the very beginning, Alvin Holbrook highlighted the Scott Cadence Plus as being a great helmet. Unfortunately, it’s an aero helmet that’s not as fast, or ranked as high on Virginia Tech as the Evade 3. That said, it’s significantly cheaper and there’s a fantastic light included, plus optional vent plugs. It’s also got an innovative design that allows the front pad to directly “see” air flow from the front of the helmet and the only downside is a very minor detail with the design of the strap. You can read more about this in Scott Cadence Plus review, but don’t be afraid to grab this helmet. |
| Buy: | $92.00 USD from scott-sports.com; |
| Model: | Trek Ballista MIPS |
| Specs: | 260 grams for a size M; 4 color options with some wild ones but no white; sizes S, M, L; aero optimization; plenty of room for a ponytail; MIPS Air Node impact protection; #79 overall with a 11.44 Virginia Tech helmet test score |
| Highs: | Fold flat rear cradle; Low weight; Excellent visibility |
| Lows: | Lacks stylistic versatility |
| Bottom line: | This is another great aero helmet that falls to the Specialized Evade 3. Like the Scott, it’s not quite as fas,t and the Virginia Tech score isn’t as high. Despite that, I love this helmet because it’s so light. It’s one of the lightest helmets available, and it’s an all-in aero helmet. I love that, and the fold in rear cradle makes it easier to travel with. Another great feature is that Trek cut the front of the Ballista at an angle to help visibility in an aero position. Other than falling slightly behind in a few ways, the downside to this helmet is purely a stylistic one and you might disagree. Personally though, I have a hard time wearing this on a casual gravel bike ride as it’s so obviously an aero helmet. I tend to keep it with a road bike and wear something else on a gravel bike but not everyone has multiple helmets like that. If you think you can style it better than me, or just stick to road bikes, this is an excellent helmet. Too bad there’s no white colorway. |
| Buy: | $329.99 from trekbikes.com; $399.99 CAD from trekbikes.com |
