Best Road Bike Helmets

Buying guide for best road bike helmets

Ready to buy now? Shop the best:

• Best of the Best: Giro Synthe MIPS II Cycling Helmet
• Best Bang for the Buck: SMITH Signal Cycling Helmet
• Best Ventilation: LAZER Helmet Z1 Kineticore Road Cycling Helmet
• Best for Racing: Giro Aries Spherical Bike Helmet
• Best for Kids: Giro Scamp MIPS Youth Recreational Cycling Helmet

A helmet is one of the only safety-specific pieces of gear you need to ride a road bike. As a result, it is absolutely crucial that your helmet fit snugly, be comfortable to wear, and provide sufficient protection.

The three most common types of road bike helmets are fully vented, aerodynamic, and semi-aero. These different types have varying degrees of ventilation and aerodynamics that affect the feel and performance of the helmet. There’s no limit to the number of shapes, styles, and colors of road bike helmets, so it’s easy to find one that fits your taste or complements your bike.

A road bike helmet can be expensive, and it’s important to understand the different types available to find the one that meets your needs. That’s where we come in. After researching helmets from the most popular brands on the market, we found the Giro Synthe MIPS II Cycling Helmet to be the best. It’s a lightweight, comfortable helmet that comes with advanced features to keep you safe. 

Editors’ picks

Giro Synthe MIPS II Cycling Helmet

Editors’ Favorite 

Weight: 1.65 lb | Shell Material: Polycarbonate | Protection Technology: MIPS II 

If you’re a hardcore cyclist looking for an aerodynamic helmet with a good balance of comfort and protection, you’ll find plenty to love about the Giro Synthe MIPS II. This helmet is both lightweight and durable due to its in-mold polycarbonate shell and extremely comfortable thanks to its EPS foam liner.

It’s a premium helmet boasting an advanced Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) that reduces rotational forces during angled impacts. The Roc Loc 5 Air fit system allows for single-hand adjustment for a custom fit while internal air channels promote optimal airflow to keep you cool. Plus, the featherweight webbing and antimicrobial X-Static padding provide superior comfort.

The Giro Synthe MIPS II is one of the more expensive models at $150. However, it’s one of the best options for serious riders who want elite performance and protection.

SMITH Signal Cycling Helmet

Great Value 

Weight: 0.66 lb | Shell Material: Polycarbonate | Protection Technology: MIPS 

Riders who want to feel light as a feather while cycling will appreciate the SMITH Signal Cycling Helmet for its lightweight, minimalist design. This helmet weighs just 0.66 pounds and has a shell made of durable polycarbonate material.

It’s a high-performance helmet featuring an EPS liner for enhanced comfort and improved airflow, which helps riders stay cool even in the hottest climates. The VaporFit system offers 270-degree fit adjustment with the turn of a dial for a custom fit, allowing cyclists to use it with just one hand while focusing on their ride. 

The SMITH Signal Cycling Helmet strikes a terrific balance between performance, protection and cost. It’s not as durable as more expensive helmets, but intermediate-skilled riders working with a budget will love it.

LAZER Helmet Z1 Kineticore Road Cycling Helmet

Best Ventilation 

Weight: 0.49 lb | Shell Material: Polycarbonate | Protection Technology: Kineticore

If you’re a hardcore cyclist who wants the best in protection and performance, look no further than the LAZER Helmet Z1 Kineticore Road Cycling Helmet. This high-end helmet features advanced Kineticore technology, which manages both rotational and direct impacts, providing superior protection.

At just 0.49 pounds, this helmet is one of the lightest yet most durable options for serious riders who want to avoid any head or neck restriction. The Advanced ScrollSys fit system cradles the skull, allowing for single-handed adjustments to ensure a secure, personalized fit. It’s available in three sizes and features oversized ventilation channels that allow for improved airflow, helping riders stay cool during extended riding sessions.

Casual riders may want to consider other options, as this helmet costs a whopping $300. However, those looking to gain an edge while staying well-protected during competitions won’t be disappointed with this helmet’s high-quality design. 

Key considerations

Choosing a road bike helmet might seem like a fairly simple process: choose a style, find one that fits, and buy. But there is more to it than meets the eye, and not all road bike helmets function in the same way.

Types of road bike helmets

The three common varieties differ in airflow and aerodynamics. One isn’t necessarily safer than the others, but each is better suited to a style of biking.

Fully vented: These helmets have more air vents to keep your head cool. If you regularly bike in hot weather or just hate your head overheating while you ride, a fully vented helmet might be the right choice for you.

Aerodynamic: These helmets, also known as “aero” helmets, have little to no ventilation to provide maximum aerodynamics and speed. These are a popular choice for professional cyclists, though you’ll need to reach speeds of 25 miles per hour or more to experience a significant reduction in drag. If you opt for an aerodynamic helmet, you should also have a fully vented or semi-aero helmet for warmer conditions and casual riding.

Semi aero: These helmets are a more recent invention – a mix of aerodynamic and fully vented helmets. They offer enough ventilation to be used on hot days while reducing drag far better than a traditional fully vented helmet. If you only want to buy one helmet, this is a good option. These are also considerably less expensive than aerodynamic helmets on average.

Certifications and safety

While almost all helmets use expanded polystyrene foam that is designed to crush and absorb impact in the event of a crash, road bike helmets vary in their safety features. A quick way to determine the level of protection is to look at a helmet’s safety certifications. Most helmets indicate that they have passed either CPSC or CEN testing. For the safest possible helmet, look for the Snell certification as well.

CPSC certification: This indicates that a helmet has passed the safety tests of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), which is standard for helmets made in the United States. These tests include a G-force drop test and a strap strength test.

Snell rating: These are safety standards issued by the nonprofit Snell Memorial Foundation and are fairly similar to the CPSC certification. The primary difference between the two is that the Snell organisation continues to test helmets after their initial creation to ensure that manufacturers are maintaining the same level of safety.

CEN certification: This is a European safety standard comparable to CPSC certification. It is somewhat less strict and often results in helmets that contain less polystyrene foam.

MIPS technology: The multi-directional impact protection system (MIPS) is designed to protect your head from rotational forces. MIPS comes in the form of a layer with reduced friction that allows your helmet to rotate slightly, thus reducing the rotation transferred to your head and brain. A MIPS layer results in a slightly heavier helmet and often a costlier one, too.

Fit

A properly fitted road bike helmet should fit snugly to your head without squeezing it. The front edge of the helmet should rest about an inch above your eyebrows. The strap should sit comfortably where your neck meets your jaw. Some road bike helmets have a tensioning band inside the helmet to secure it firmly to your head.

To measure yourself for a road bike helmet, wrap a flexible measuring tape around your head just above your eyebrows.

Road bike helmet features

Road bike helmets vary greatly in color and style and come with a number of features that improve fit, adjustability, and overall comfort.

Adjustments

The foam in a helmet isn’t designed to flex or move to accommodate your head, but there are two primary ways you can change the fit of a helmet: the adjustment system and the retention system.

Adjustment system: This refers to the way the helmet’s inner band can be tightened or loosened to fit your head. Many helmets don’t have a way to do this, but some have a dial at the back of the band that can be turned. This isn’t only a matter of finding a good fit; sometimes you might want to wear a cycling cap for extra warmth and need to loosen the helmet slightly.

Retention system: This is the adjustment of the chin strap to be looser or tighter. It should be easy to adjust the strap to fit properly beneath your jaw. The V-shaped portions of the strap near your ears should rest just below your earlobes without rubbing against your ears.

Hair port strap

If you have long hair, consider buying a helmet with a hair port strap in the back. This allows you to comfortably tuck a ponytail through the gap in the strap.

Style

There are too many different styles, colors, and patterns of road bike helmets to break them down into categories. Safety is the most important consideration when choosing a helmet, but you might also want to choose one that fits your taste and complements the colors of your bike and cycling gear. A brightly colored helmet can help to increase your visibility, too.

Road bike helmet prices

Inexpensive

Road bike helmets that cost $20 to $50 typically use heavier materials and are less likely to fit comfortably or be easily adjustable.

Mid-range

Most road bike helmets fall in the $50 to $150 range. Many of these are fully vented or semi-aero helmets and fairly lightweight, though they might lack a MIPS liner.

Expensive

You’ll spend $150 to $250 for a high-end road bike helmet that has a MIPS liner and an adjustment system for more comfort. These helmets are extremely lightweight and often aerodynamic in design.

Tips

• Wear your helmet correctly. A road bike helmet should rest just above your eyebrows, covering your forehead for maximum protection.

• Replace a damaged helmet. Any helmet that takes a bump in a crash should be replaced. Even if there is no noticeable damage, the helmet could fail to protect you in a future crash.

• Replace your helmet every five years. This is a general guideline. Pollution and general wear and tear can render the polystyrene foam ineffective.

• Check that your glasses fit comfortably with your helmet. Use vents to hold your glasses when you don’t need them.

FAQ

Q. How do I clean my road bike helmet?

A. Most helmets are submerged in water as a part of their testing, so the polystyrene foam should be fully waterproof. You can clean the outside and inside of your helmet with soap and water.

Q. Can road bike helmets be used for other types of biking?

A. While they can be used for commuting, mountain biking, and other types of biking, your safest option is to purchase a helmet for each type of riding because they vary in their design and safety features.

Q. Where should I store my road bike helmet?

A. It’s important to keep your helmet away from heat to avoid damaging the foam. Attics and cars are likely to become fairly hot in the summer. The best place to keep a road bike helmet is somewhere relatively cool, like a closet.