Two sizes and a couple of colours make finding the perfect one a significantly easier task. She lives just outside the Peak District National Park near Manchester UK with her partner, daughter and a small but beautifully formed bike collection. Which it does. Lower down the page we have detailed all you need to know when making your purchase, including how to ensure you are getting the perfect road bike helmet in terms of fit, form, and comfort. We found it was a very comfortable lid, which provided a close fit with Met's 'Safe-T Orbital' fit system with retention dial. It surrounds your head entirely, you get the choice of three different height settings at the back and it's adjusted via a clicky dial. Tester George writes: Looks are subjective, but I think the Ekoi Legende is beautiful, and brings to mind those helmets worn in the 1970s but with the modern details you would expect from a current high-quality helmet. Thelightweight helmet uses the same Spherical MIPS protection as the Giro Aether, which isn't the only way this lower price offering challenges its more expensive sibling. It just isn't going to budge accidentally. Our medium sized Met Trenta 3K Carbon helmet was 220g on our scales, 5g heavier than Met's claimed figure but still very lightweight. Read more: Everything you need to know about Mips. Find a Kask dealer. It somehow manages to cram everything from the SOS message system to playing your ultimate riding playlist, to super visibility into one reasonably lightweight, good looking helmet for an impressive price. The shield is kept secure with a magnetic anchor attachment and it can also be stored in a flipped up position. Here at Cycling Weekly we get to test lots of different helmets across lots of different categories, but if we had to pick just one, this would be our absolute favourite road bike helmet. A thin plastic shell covers the foam to protect it from everyday nicks and scrapes. The rotational-force damping Mips system is really well integrated for noticeable gains in cooling and comfort, and the quality is high. There's little venting though, with the visor covering the two small slot vents in the front of the shell, making for a ride that was warm, if manageable. The weight saving over most other helmets will have a negligible effect on your speed, obviously, but you might find it more comfortable than one that's even 50g heavier. On test we absolutely loved the Ventral Spin, finding it the best road bike helmet for aerodynamic features without sacrificing breathability. Your subscription will help us to do more. It's not cheap however, although when you discover that the version we tested is double the price it almost seems reasonable! Covering these vents with the aeroshell decreases that airflow, but does not lead to a hot head. The only real sticking point is the price., Read our review of the Met Trenta 3K Carbon It should be possible to loosen the retention system on a helmet to allow for a thermal skull cap or cycling cap to be worn underneath. A cycling helmet comprises a thick layer that provides shock absorption, with soft cushioning for comfort where it rests on the head. Met says that it uses the Venturi effect, scooping air in at the front, and with the small gap between your head and the inside of the helmet, the hot air from your head is forced out of the rear to keep you cool. Like most sites we make a small amount of money if you buy something after clicking on one of those links. Ekoi has kept the ratchet simple and the magnetic closure system works really well., Buy Now for 135.00 - 213.00 from Sigma Sports. While the EPS foam in a bike helmet won't just deteriorate with age, it's over that time span that it will suffer with minor knocks and bumps from being stored, dropped from handlebars, popped in a kit bag. Catching the tail end of the warm weather of the summer during testing and then heading into autumn, it certainly keeps you cool when you're riding hard or the temperatures are high. The all-new Watts 2.0 focuses on added comfort and protection, with MIPS now on boards, but keep Berns iconic low-profile and brim-style design. Overall, this is one of my favourite helmets. The LEM Gavia helmet offers safety, comfort and style. Peaks and visors: Helmets intended for mountain biking often have a peak or visor, which provides a degree of shade for the rider's eyes. Tester George writes: The channels in this helmet aren't as deep as some, but those 25 vents still keep your head nice and cool regardless. Best road bike helmet for all round riding. Met has managed to keep the weight down by using EPS (expanded polystyrene) foam that's 20% less dense than normal, it says, without affecting the helmet's capacity to absorb energy in the case of impact. If you have a budding bike rider in your life then our guide to the Best kids' bike helmets will give you all the important information for how to help you keep their heads safe when riding. There's no doubting the pedigree of this helmet and it would be high on my list were I regularly riding on the Continent or further afield at home, the NeoVisor is unlikely to spell the end of caps/similar headwear, especially during the cooler months. Tester Mat writes: Let's start with the Mips Spherical tech because that's the most important feature. The only downside is that Met helmets aren't currently available in or allowed to ship to the US. Helmets with shorter, rounded tails provide most of the benefits without causing aerodynamic problems if you look down. Throughout the test rides I could feel a stream of air blowing across the top of my head, removing excess heat perfectly. Tester Emma writes: The five-point height adjustment of the cradle is worth taking time to get right once set, it won't need moving again. You can still feel the wind blowing through your hair as you ride, with just a slight reduction that I only really notice because I regularly wear the Mips and original version on consecutive rides., Read our review of the Lazer Z1 Mips Find a Specialized dealer. If when you try on a helmet the retention system is on its limit, it is probably the wrong size for you. The only reason why you wouldn't want to buy it is if your head fundamentally didn't fit any of the size options. It's for this 'EPS volume loss' reason that most helmet manufacturers will also recommend replacing a road bike helmet every three to five years. But if you're looking for a great value all-rounder option, then this is one of the best road bike helmets out there. It has Smith's VaporFit retention system, which can be adjusted vertically and horizontally to allow for a snuggly fit for all head shapes, which is a rare feature especially in aero focused helmet options. The brand says it's lightweight so as to cause less of a distraction once on and riding, and the single-hand adjustment system functions in micro increments for a perfect fit. Tester Stu writes: The Scott Centric Plus is one of the most comfortable helmets I've worn in a long time. The Mips design used here is specific to the helmet and is integrated with Giro's Roc Loc Air fit system. Tom Dumoulin at the 2020 Tour de France (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images). It's very comfortable regardless of temperature, too, with soft and plush pads that keeps the Mips system off the top of your head. The Abus AirBreaker is an excellent helmet that provides loads of ventilation in a lightweight and low profile package. These will also entertain LEDs, so long as their rubberised straps/O-rings have sufficient give, which comes in handy for winter and night riding. The Protone features a reinforced internal plastic sub-structure, which has been certified in passing the WG11 standard, a European testing standard on rotational impact, which is considered to have one of the most robust testing protocol standards, so you can rest assured that while it lacks weight, it doesn't lack head impact protection. It's worth bearing in mind that we've listed the weight of the helmet size that was reviewed, so just do a quick double check of the listed helmet size as it will vary between sizes making the weights not always a comparable factor. Helmets are often available in different sizes relating to the circumference of your head. In fact, the helmet has a very slippery feel about it and didn't generate any sense of turbulence on fast downhills. Terms and conditions of use. Our mission is to bring you all the news thats relevant to you as a cyclist, independent reviews, impartial buying advice and more. Find a Bell dealer, Buy Now for 116.15 - 143.99 from Pedalon. The primary function of a cycling helmet is to protect your head - and all helmets will meet the minimum standards set out by the safety authority in the country of sale. It looks good straight out of the box. Our guide will help you understand all the important aspects of buying the most suitable road bike helmet for you. It comprises a collar that rapidly expands into a head-enclosing airbag when it senses movement consistent with a crash. The Livall BH60SE Smart Helmet is mind-blowingly impressive. Combined, these two features make the Specialized Evade one of the best road bike helmets for safety features. But if it was my money, or a friend's, I'd certainly be happy to lay it out on this, or recommend that they did, if they were looking for an inexpensive road helmet that put in a solid performance. The Mips insert is carefully cut and arranged to make the most of all that venting, too. Bern says it boasts 11 vents with enhanced airflow throughout the helmet, and features the brand's compass fit system so you can dial-in on your perfect fit. It's a comfortable, stylish and well-priced lid., Read our review of the Giro Syntax Mips It offers good eye coverage and excellent vision. CW's top pick | Aero helmets | Lightweight helmets | TThelmets | Commuterhelmets. Price wise, it's probably most in competition with the Giro Aether MIPS, but you do get full on aero features with the POC. The Kask Valegro is a lightweight and well-ventilated helmet with a fairly low profile. The Hvding cycling airbag is a radically different approach to head protection. The only real issue I had was that the pressure didn't feel as comfortably distributed on my head as with other helmets in Kask's range, despite an excellent fit system, although other people didn't find the same thing. Find a Met dealer. Mips stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System, and it's a feature we're seeing more and more on the best cycling helmets. POC say the unique design used optimised CFD (computational fluid dynamic) testing which enhances aerodynamics performance by reducing drag and minimalizing air turbulence with the goal of helping you ride as fast as possible. The price is high, but there are others out there that cost more.. The helmet now comes with Specialized's ANGi crash sensor mounted on the back of the helmet, which will automatically send an SoS to your nominated contact (phone signal depending) and features MIPS. I did find that it sat quite low on my head, with more temple coverage than many helmets I have tested. The padding at the front includes a bug net for the five forward-facing vents, leaving the largest central vent open. Their shape has earned these helmets the nickname 'sperm hats'. Its in-mold construction means the two layers are permanently bonded together. Best commuting road bike helmet for packing away. Large vents bode well for airflow and the design allows easy exit for pony tails. Personally found it a barely noticeable difference having ridden both helmets, with the two equally as comfortable. The protection of the Mips (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) comes on a comfortable lid with ample adjustability, at a cheaper price. Big vents in modern helmets help keep your head cool. It's only overwhelmed by a particularly humid warmth or when temperatures on the road start edging towards the high 20s. You can also find further guides on our sister sites off.road.cc and ebiketips. This vent is the main source of airflow through the lid; it's shaped at its rear end to channel the flow through and away. There's lots of ventilation here, too. There is millimetre size adjustment capability, giving it an excellent snug, yet comfortable fit. Requires aftermarket aeroshell to gain aero advantages. Find an Abus dealer, Buy Now for 127.49 from Winstanleys Bikes. While it's not cheap, it is very well finished. I've never seen the point of counting vents, but for the record you get 37 here. It also had sufficient ventilation thanks to its three small vents on the front and further two 'exhaust' holes at the rear - included to channel air out the back. That works out to 9 and a bit years. A safety system called MIPS, Multi-directional Impact Protection System, will often be referred to when discussing the level of protection. Extreme temperatures can affect the plastic shell too, and while the safety standards will mean it's been tested to the unlikely riding conditions which are as high as around 122F / 50C, and as low as -4F/ -20C, it could be more likely in places that you store your helmet. Sunglasses fit neatly into the vents and sit securely, too, which is a bonus., Read our review of the Abus StormChaser