Best Bike Helmets of 2024
In one test, we drop helmets going 14 mph onto a flat anvil to find out how well they would protect a bike rider's head
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Your bike (whether pedal-powered or electric) is a great way to get around: commuting to work, exploring a new trail, cruising around town, or prepping for a century tour or bike-packing trip. An e-bike can easily replace a car for many of your trips around town. But whether you’re headed for a long or short ride, you should always wear a bike helmet to protect yourself.
More Americans rode a bicycle in 2022 than ever measured before, and bike participation among people ages 25 to 54 has continued to increase, according to PeopleForBikes, a group dedicated to making bicycling easier and safer for everyone.
While jumping on a bike is healthier for you than hopping in a car, there’s always the possibility that something could go wrong and that you could take a fall. But no matter where you are when an accident occurs, a bike helmet can significantly reduce your risk of head or brain injury. Though there are no federal laws requiring bike helmets, 21 states and the District of Columbia have statewide laws requiring kids to wear them, according to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute.
In Consumer Reports’ tests, we strap helmets onto “head forms” that simulate the size of a human head, then drop them 14 mph onto a flat anvil to find out how well they withstand impact. An electronic sensor inside the head form monitors the force that would be transmitted to a rider’s skull in an accident. To ensure the helmet will stay in place during an accident, we test the strength of the chinstraps, attachment points, and buckles by dropping a weight that’s 8¾ pounds and 2 feet so that it yanks on the straps to simulate the force of a crash.
Our testers also evaluate each helmet for ventilation, fit adjustments, ease of use, and other features. Keep in mind that a well-used bike helmet should be replaced about every five years and sooner if it’s damaged. (If you’ve been in an accident—even if the helmet doesn’t seem affected—replace it anyway. It’s possible its interior foam has been damaged in a way that you won’t detect.)
Below are our top picks for adults (separated into road/mountain style and urban/skate style) and kids. Members can access our full ratings of over 100 bike helmets for adults and more than 20 bike helmets for kids. And don’t forget to check out our bike helmet buying guide.
We also note below which of these picks come with a Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS), low-density layer (LDL), Rotexx, SPIN, WaveCel, or similar technologies, all of which are liners designed to reduce the risk of a concussion. Remember that if you’ve fallen and hit your head while wearing a helmet, it’s time to get a new one.
Best Bike Helmets for Adults (Road/Mountain)
The Trek Starvos WaveCel gets top marks for its impact absorption and ease of use, and earns a respectable rating for ventilation. As its name suggests, it features WaveCel technology, which is meant to reduce the effects of rotational impact. It also comes in five sizes and has reflective features, so you can still see it in low light. There’s a crash replacement program in case you damage your helmet in an accident within the first year of ownership.
The Bell Formula LED MIPS Ghost has excellent ratings for impact absorption and ease of use, and a strong rating for ventilation. Its many adjustment features translate to a satisfying rating for fit adjustment, too. Bell’s helmet has an adjustable strap for a custom fit, and it comes in three sizes. It has reflective aspects for greater visibility—plus, it comes with an LED light and a one-year warranty.
The moderately priced Trek Solstice MIPS aces our tests for impact absorption and ease of use and is near the top score for ventilation. The many adjustment features translate to an excellent rating for fit adjustment. The length of the strap for the retention system can be customized, and it’s fairly easy to do. This helmet comes in two sizes, and it’s not too heavy. It has MIPS technology to limit the effects of rotational impacts and comes with a one-year warranty.
The Lazer Tempo Kineticore performs near the top of the pack on our tests for impact absorption, ventilation, and ease of use. It also does well on fit adjustment. The helmet comes in one size, but the strap for the retention system is easy to adjust. The helmet is light and has Kineticore technology to mitigate the effects of rotational impacts.
The Giro Register MIPS gets top marks for impact absorption and includes a Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (or MIPS) to reduce the risk of a concussion. It also provides excellent ventilation, which means you’ll stay cool during longer rides. It comes in a universal size, though, and not all of its straps are adjustable.
Best Bike Helmets for Adults (Skate Style/Urban)
The LEM Boulevard has a top-level rating for impact absorption and ease of use. It’s available in three sizes and includes additional padding, a dial, and adjustable retention straps to help you find the right fit. It has surprisingly good ventilation for a skate-style helmet, meaning you’ll remain cooler during rides than with others in this category. It comes with a one-year warranty.
The Nutcase Vio MIPS earns the highest ratings for impact absorption and ease of use. It’s on the heavier side, though it has very good ventilation, which is pretty impressive for a helmet of this style. It comes in two sizes and has a convenient magnetic buckle and built-in LED lights.
The Bern Hudson is a relatively expensive helmet that has hard-to-beat scores for impact absorption, ease of use, and fit adjustment, though it has only a passable ventilation score. It has an easy-to-adjust strap and comes in three sizes. It comes with MIPS technology and additional padding, in case the fit isn’t to your liking. It also comes with a one-year warranty.
Best Bike Helmets for Kids
This Bontrager Tyro gets top marks for impact absorption, ventilation, and ease of use. It has an easy-to-adjust strap for its retention system, a pinch prevention system, and a convenient magnetic buckle. It comes with a one-year warranty.
The Garneau Nino has top-level impact absorption and ease of use scores. It has a dial that makes it easy to adjust the helmet’s fit, and reflective stickers improve its nighttime visibility. Plus, a bonus for parents: The padding is washable. It’s reasonably priced, too.
The moderately priced Giro Raze helmet gets top marks for ease of use and respectable scores for impact absorption and ventilation. It has an adequate fit adjustment feature to fit a child’s head properly, and its retention strap is easy to adjust. The helmet comes in only one size, and it’s relatively lightweight. It also has reflective features for greater visibility in low light, and it comes with a one-year warranty.
The moderately priced Garneau Woody does an excellent job at impact absorption, is very easy to use, and provides good ventilation. The length of the strap for the retention system can be adjusted, but it’s difficult to do so. This helmet comes in one size and is on the lighter side. It has Rotexx technology to limit the effects of rotational impacts and comes with a one-year warranty.
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