Finding the best road cycling helmet isn’t easy. You have to decide what type of helmet you want, what price bracket you’re looking at and get one that fits both your head and your needs. If being fast is your main priority, then maybe you’ll want a more aerodynamic helmet. If you ride in warmer climates or have a tendency to overheat, ventilation will be key. Sometimes it’s just about budget and getting the best helmet at the price you can afford.
While priorities may vary, there are some things a good helmet always needs. It has to have a reliable and effective impact protection system and needs to fit you well, with some riders suiting different shapes better than others. There’s a lot of options to choose from so we’ve collated the best of our tried and tested road cycling helmets to help you find the right one. Stick around ’til the end to read our in-depth buying advice.
Best road bike helmets under £100
- Giro Agilis Mips – Buy Now : £89 (RRP £99)
- Met Vinci Mips – Buy Now : £70 (RRP £100)
- Lazer Strada Kineticore – Buy Now : £69 (RRP £99)
- Mavic Aksium Elite – Buy Now : £45.49 (RRP £69)
Best road bike helmets
- Abus Airbreaker – Buy Now : £162 (RRP £240)
- Specialized Evade 3 – Buy Now : £248 (RRP £275)
- Poc Omne Air Mips – Buy Now : £110 (RRP £150)
- Bell Falcon XR – Buy Now : £86.24 (RRP £129.99)
- Abus Gamechanger – Buy Now : £134.99 (RRP £190)
- Giro Synthe Mips II – Buy Now : £121.95 (RRP £189.99)
How we test and why you should trust our advice
As part of our job, we at Cyclist are testing bikes all year round, come rain or shine. We’re pretty keen on keeping our heads safe so we’re putting helmets through their paces in all of those conditions as well. Trust us when we say we understand how annoying an ill-fitting lid can be or how frustrating it is to have sweat streaming into your eyes during a ride.
Our team of reviewers, led by tech editor Sam Challis and website editor Matthew Loveridge, are here to give you an honest opinion of what we thinks work and what we think isn’t worth the money. Everything in this guide has been reviewed by us.
Cheap helmets: Best road bike helmets under £100
Giro Agilis Mips
RRP: £99.99
Highlights: Brilliant ventilation, secure fit
Weight: 280g (medium) Sizes available: S, M, L
Safety tech highlights: Mips Virginia Tech score: N/A
The Agilis Mips is one of Giro’s mid-tier road helmets, with a deep fit and Roc Loc 5.5 adjustment system. The helmet provides the excellent ventilation associated with more premium products at a shade under £100, with 32 air vents allowing for excellent airflow – you might even need a cap underneath in cooler weather.
This version of the helmet also features integrated Mips crash protection, an added bonus for this price range. The Coolfit antimicrobial padding provides ample sweat absorption and the wrap-around fit gives a reassuringly secure fit.
- Read our full Giro Agilis Mips review
Met Vinci Mips
RRP: £100
Highlights: Deep fit, great colour options, Well ventilated
Weight: 273g (medium) Sizes available: S, M, L
Safety tech highlights: Mips-C2 Virginia Tech score: 5 stars
Pitched as an everyday all-rounder, the Met Vinci Mips excels in comfort and ventilation. The helmet has 16 vents connected by an internal channel, accompanied by soft padding that can be switched out for Met’s Dual Gel pads for increased sweat absorption.
The helmet has a 5-star Virginia Tech score and uses the Mips-C2 impact system for protection from rotational impacts. The Met Vinci Mips comes in several bright colours which provide a visibility bump, great for commuting and road riding alike.
- Read our full Met Vinci Mips review
Lazer Strada Kineticore
RRP: £89.99
Highlights: Effective belt adjustment system, Soft padding, XL size option
Weight: 291g (medium) Sizes available: S, M, L, XL
Safety tech highlights: Kineticore Virginia Tech score: 5 stars
One of Lazer’s mid-tier helmets, the Strada Kineticore uses the interesting and effective ScrollSys adjustment system. Operated by a rollable belt at the back, the system is easy to operate on the fly and a fun take on the traditional adjustment dial.
The Strada uses Lazer’s proprietary Kineticore impact protection system and scored 5 stars from Virginia Tech. It’s marginally heavier than its competitors but delivers on comfort with its super soft padding. The XL sizing – not common on most helmets – is an added bonus.
- Read our full Lazer Strada Kineticore review
Mavic Aksium Elite
RRP: £75
Highlights: Price, Lots of strap adjustments
Weight: 237g (medium) Sizes available: S, M, L
Safety tech highlights: N/A Virginia Tech score: N/A
The Aksium Elite is Mavic’s entry-level helmet, focussed on delivering protection at an affordable price. It uses in-house ’37.5 padding’ with charcoal treatment and Ergo Hold SL retention system, where each strap can be individually adjusted for a well-tailored fit.
The front vents also incorporate an anti-mosquito net to prevent unwelcome hitchhikers. While the Aksium Elite doesn’t feature any additional impact protection, it meets all necessary safety regulations and helps keep the overall price and weight down.
- Read our full Mavic Aksium Elite review
Best road bike helmets
Abus Airbreaker
RRP: £240
Highlights: Very light, Low profile, Lots of colour options
Weight: 219g (medium) Sizes available: S, M, L
Safety tech highlights: ActiCage Lite Virginia Tech score: n/a
The Abus Airbreaker is one of the lightest helmets we’ve tested, coming in at 219g. While weight isn’t everything, combined with the low profile and minimalist padding, the Airbreaker is one of those fit-and-forget helmets. The shape can take some getting used to, as the padding is very slim, but this should only take a ride or two.
The helmet features Abus’ ActiCage Lite impact protection system and Zoom Ace adjustment, with 14 vents providing decent ventilation. It’s definitely on the premium end of the spectrum but is worth it for those able to invest. It’s also available in 24 colours which is a nice touch.
- Read our full Abus Airbreaker review
Specialized Evade 3
RRP: £275
Highlights: Aero claims, Good ventilation, Comfortable fit
Weight: 276g (medium) Sizes available: S, M, L
Safety tech highlights: Mips Air Node Virginia Tech score: 5 stars
The third edition of the Specialized Evade helmet improves on its predecessors largely in terms of the ventilation. The large front port allows high airflow, channelling round the sides of the head to keep you cool in most conditions. The Mips Air Node impact system forms the base for the helmet’s padding as well as protecting from rotational impacts, and is soft against the skin with good sweat-wicking properties.
Designed for the elite peloton, Specialized claims that it’s ‘the most aero road helmet’ out there so, while it’s not the lightest, it comes with some bold marginal gain claims. These elite credentials are demonstrated in the price and is tailored towards performance rather than affordability.
- Read our full Specialized Evade 3 review
Poc Omne Air Mips
RRP: £150
Highlights: Excellent ventilation, Sweat-wicking padding, Low profile
Weight: 324g (medium) Sizes available: S, M, L
Safety tech highlights: Mips Integra Virginia Tech score: n/a
The Omne Air Mips is the entry-point into Poc’s road helmet range but it’s by no means entry-level quality. With the clue in the name, the Omne Air Mips provided some of the best ventilation among the helmets we’ve tested, with any sweat produced efficiently wicked away by the soft padding.
On paper it’s not a light helmet at 324g but it’s not a discernible weight when actually worn. At £150, the Omne Air Mips provides top-tier ventilation and comfort at a more affordable price than many of its competitors.
- Read our full Poc Omne Air Mips review
Bell Falcon XR
RRP: £129.99
Highlights: Inbuilt light, Magnetic buckle, Deep fit
Weight: 338g (medium, excl. light) Sizes available: S, M, L
Safety tech highlights: Mips Evolve Virginia Tech score: N/A
The Bell Falcon XR is incredibly practical. It has an integrated, rechargeable LED rear light for high visibility while out riding. In keeping with the safety theme, the helmet uses Mips Evolve impact protection that sits between the external material and internal padding.
The Falcon XR uses a magnetic Fidlock buckle for the chin strap which is a nifty system that only requires one hand to operate. All these features do add up to a bulkier helmet than a traditional roadie may like at 338g excluding the light, though the weight isn’t noticeable when worn and the perks will be worth the penalty for most.
- Read our full Bell Falcon XR review
Abus Gamechanger
RRP: £190
Highlights: Aero claims, Eyewear dock, Low profile
Weight: 260g (medium, claimed weight) Sizes available: S, M, L
Safety tech highlights: Multi Shell In Mold Virginia Tech score: N/A
The Abus Gamechanger is a fully charged aero helmet, aimed at performance gains without compromising on aesthetics. Its sleek, slim profile comes with aerodynamic promises from Abus, which certainly feel slippery when on even if we haven’t been able to test it for numbers.
The Gamechanger features large ‘Forced Air Cooling Technology’ ports which provide high airflow to keep the head cool as well providing dedicated and secure sunglasses storage. The helmet uses Abus’ Zoom Ace adjustment system and, while it doesn’t feature any additional impact protection, it meets all the required safety standards and is deemed good enough for the likes of the Movistar pro team.
A new model of the Gamechanger has recently been released with Mips protection.
- Read our full Abus Gamechanger review
Giro Synthe Mips II
RRP: £189.99
Highlights: Effective adjustment system, Quality airflow
Weight: 277g (medium) Sizes available: S, M, L
Safety tech highlights: Mips Virginia Tech score: N/A
The second iteration of Giro’s Synthe Mips helmet provides better ventilation and a greater focus on comfort. The helmet uses 19 vents connected by an inner channel to provide generous airflow and keep the head cool, with Ionic+ antimicrobial padding minimally placed at the front and rear.
The Synthe Mips II uses integrated Mips crash protection combined with an internal ‘Roll Cage’ and a Roc Loc 5 Air Fit system, with lots of possible adjustments for a tailored position. It has a shallower fit than other allrounder helmets, which will suit some more than others.
- Read our full Giro Synthe Mips II review
Bike helmet buying advice: Everything you need to know
How do I choose the right size helmet?
Helmet sizes are based on head circumferences and, while the category will vary from brand to brand, the method of taking the measurement is generally the same. Using a fabric tape measure is easiest but if you don’t have one to hand, you can use anything that you can wrap around your head and then measure it when laid flat.
The rule of thumb is to measure above the eyebrows, keeping the tape measure level all the way around your head, though it’s worth checking individual brands as this sometimes varies. When you have your measurement, try and find the category where your size sits roughly in the middle. This isn’t always possible but it will allow the most amount of adjustment options to tailor the fit to your preference.
While all helmets will have some degree of fit adaptability, we all have different head shapes so it’s always best to try on a helmet in person if possible as some styles will suit you better than others and an ill-fitting helmet will reduce its safety benefits.
What is the best helmet safety system?
All helmets must meet certain minimum standards which vary slightly by territory, but these set the bar relatively low, and it’s up to manufacturers to decide how to make their designs as safe as possible. Many cycling helmets feature specific branded safety tech that aims to improve performance in real-world crash scenarios.
There’s much debate on what the best helmet safety system is, with each brand laying a stake that theirs is among the best. Mips is the most established independent crash protection system but that doesn’t make it the safest by default.
Almost all helmets use an expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam liner with a polycarbonate shell which are designed to break under impact and dissipate the impact away from your head.
Having an additional impact protection system in place builds on this framework. As each brand will understandably say that their system is the best and reviewers can’t test the structural integrity of each helmet, it’s best to rely on independent data like the Virginia Tech scoring system for impartial advice.
For a more in-depth break down, read our guide to the best helmet safety systems.
What is a Virginia Tech score?
Virginia Tech is a public grant research university based in the US that carries out extensive testing on helmets across disciplines ranging from equestrianism to white water rafting to, of course, cycling.
The lab produces independent results based 24 impact tests, where the helmets undergo crash simulation, aiming to reproduce the most common cycling-related accidents. The lower the score, the better the helmet’s performance.
A helmet not having a Virginia Tech score isn’t a reflection on its safety however, it just means it hasn’t been tested yet.
Also, while the scores are a very useful guide, it’s important to note that any testing protocol relies on specific assumptions about what constitutes good performance, and some helmet makers will doubtless disagree with Virginia Tech’s findings.
Do more vents mean better ventilation?
While more vents may seem an easy to way to get better ventilation, there isn’t a direct correlation between the number of ports and their performance. The vents must be the correct size and at the correct angle to allow lots of air into the helmet and they need to be combined with functional internal channels to direct the flow around the head. The helmet also needs efficient rear exhaust ports to dispel the hot air to keep the head cool.
It’s often hard to tell on paper how well a helmet’s ventilation system will perform, which is where reviews come in handy, though checking for the above elements will help give you a general idea.
Do I need an aero helmet?
No one wants to turn down free speed and those that prioritise performance above all else would do well to choose a helmet with aero credentials for those marginal gains. If you’re not racing however, it’s worth weighing up some of the compromises that often come with aero lids. They are typically more expensive and sometimes heavier, due to the larger surface area, and there’s usually at least some ventilation penalty compared to a similar ‘non-aero’ helmet.
The best way to choose is to pick your top priorities, be they keeping cool, buying on a budget, comfort etc, and finding a helmet that promises the best combination of these attributes.
Will spending more money get me a better helmet?
More money doesn’t always equal better performance, as much for helmets as for everything else in life, but it can mean you get a better combination of desirable qualities.
A brand may not be able to include a top-tier impact protection system while keeping the weight down for an entry-level price but can spend more on R&D for a more expensive product.
This is typically common with elements like aerodynamics and ventilation that can counteract each other due to the inherent nature of their design so take more time and money to implement cohesively.
If you want a helmet that does everything to an exceptionally high standard, then you’ll probably have to pay top dollar as a result, but great helmets can be obtained at more affordable prices if you can select the properties that are most important to you and choose accordingly.
Other features to consider
- Weight – anything below 260g for a size medium can be considered lightweight for a road helmet, though weight is largely indiscernible when worn given how small the margins are.
- Strap design – having individual adjustment points for each chin and ear strap will help you tailor the fit to your head shape and stop the straps sitting uncomfortably.
- Padding – working out whether you prefer slimmer or thicker padding will help narrow down your helmet choices. If you run warm, finding good sweat-wicking padding is also key to keeping you comfortable on hot rides.
- Ponytail hole – for anyone with long hair, a helmet with a sufficient ponytail hole is crucial as, without it, your hair can interfere with where the helmet sits on your head or clash uncomfortably with the adjustment system.
- Sunglasses storage – while most vents can serve as some sort of sunglasses storage, dedicated eyewear ports will usually have added features to help hold the glasses in place making them less likely to fall out while riding.
Got your safety sorted and now want to get ready for your next big adventure? See our guide to the best gravel bike upgrades for every budget to get the most out of your setup.