Best Road Bike Helmets
Primarily, bike helmets should offer protection to the riders’ heads, but nowadays, helmets have advanced in terms of the design and the features used to make them.
If you are looking to transform your cycling experience, a good helmet will do the trick. It incorporates comfort, ventilation, aerodynamic, and protection all in one.
I have covered all the best road bike helmets to ensure you have the most advanced helmet. Whether on a budget or not, you will find something that will perfectly suit you. I have also covered the various types of bike helmets to ensure you choose the right kind.
Giro Cinder MIPS
Pro
Budget-friendly
Has incorporated the latest technology for maximum protection
Very comfortable
Cons
Large sizes are big and bulky.
The Giro Cinder is the best helmet when you are on a budget. The helmet uses Roc Loc technology that keeps it slightly suspended on top of the skull. This allows airflow in the helmet, which enhances the ventilation system. The feature also keeps the Giro locked on your head.
The Giro Cinder has fused the light polycarbonate skeleton with a foam liner that absorbs all the impact. The foam liner acts as a second shell amour. The layer makes the design more structural fitting and reduces penetration to make it safer without compromising the Giro cider’s ventilation system.
The design has fitted vents and exhaust channels into the helmet. The vents enhance cooling airflow around the rider’s head, thus giving out a cooling effect. The in-mold construction process makes the Giro lighter and safer than other traditional helmets.
POC Ventral Air
Pros
Light and comfortable
Adjustable to fit any head size
Cons
Slightly expensive
The POC ventral air offers the best ventilation system. It has ports that are strategically placed to allow for air intake and outtake. The channels control the airflow speed according to each situation, giving the rider a super cooling effect. It is suitable for longer rides in the saddles or the mountains
The Ventral air features a shearing pad inside to make the helmet safer and comfortable. The crash technological system causes the helmet to rotate when a crush happens to reduce the rider’s direct impact. The system has been developed in a way that does not compromise the weight of the helmet.
Lastly, the POC ventral air has an EPS liner wrapped in the shell layer with adjustable straps to fit any size. The bright colors of the helmet make the rider visible even from afar distant.
Kask Protone
Pros
Lightweight
Elegant polished, sleek design
Riders no longer have to worry about looking good while being safe. The kast Protone has been carefully handcrafted using the best-known materials to make the best looking helmet for riders. The helmet also has a range of colors that you can choose from.
Despite the elegant look, the helmet is designed to offer safety first. The Protone has a reinforced frame that prevents the helmet from breaking into pieces in case of a crash. The Kasks incorporates polycarbonate covers that act as shock absorbers during an impact.
Kask added a Micro fit adjuster to the Protone that can be adjusted to fit perfectly in the rider’s head. It has internal gel pads that can be removed and cleaned. The chain strips are also eco friendly to prevent any skin irritation.
The Kask Protone has become popular among many riders because it is versatile to most occasions.
Bell Stratus MIPS
pros
It is Uni-sex
Lightweight and comfortable
cons
the straps quickly lose grip
for comfortability, the stratus utilizes a float fit system that is fitted with rubbers that quickly rotate, making it easier to adjust to any position the rider desires. The rubber fasteners help keep the helmet in place when riding.
The bell stratus IS MIPS equipped to reduce the rotational forces that happen during specific impacts. It also has a foam liner and a polycarbonate shell that reduces the impact during any crash. The safety features are very light, thus the helmet lightweight and safe.
If you are riding on hot days, the Bell Stratus MIPS has sweat pads that absorb moisture away from the rider. The overbrow ventilation also makes the helmet cool.
Kask Mojito X
Pros
Washable chin straps
Comfortable fit system
Cons
No space to store shades
The mojito x is just like the Kask Protone, but it is slightly cheaper. The mojito x is an upgrade of the Kask mojito that has been riders’ preference for many years. The EPS foam liner reduces the impact on the rider in case of a crash.
The Mojito has 26 vents that allow air to flow in and out at a controlled speed to keep the rider feeling cool even on hotter summer days.
Kask added a Micro fit adjuster to the Mojito X that can be adjusted to fit perfectly in the rider’s head. It has internal gel pads that can be removed and cleaned. The chain strips are also eco friendly to prevent any skin irritation.
The upgraded Kask mojito X has in-mold construction to make it comfortable while maintaining the safety of the rider.
Bontrager Starvos MIPS
Pros
Very budget-friendly
Free Replacement in case of a crash
Cons
It is slightly heavier
Bontrager Starvos MIPS has air vents that are fixed in the helmets to allow proper airflow. The features enable the rider to have a cooling effect even when riding in hot conditions. The inside pads are also moisture absorbing to absorbs sweat while making the helmet comfortable.
For safety purposes, Starvos is MIPS equipped to reduce the rotational forces that happen during specific impacts. It also has a foam liner and a polycarbonate shell that reduces the impact during any crash. The safety features are very light, thus the helmet lightweight and safe.
Besides being safe and comfortable, the helmet has a dial rear to tighten the helmet quickly. The straps have dividers to make them straight and misaligned. The head helmet has different colors that a rider can choose from.
Giro Aether MIPS
Pros
Sleek design
Comfortable
Cons
It is expensive
The helmet is one of the most advanced bike gear with significant innovations designs to make it safer and more comfortable. The features are enhanced to meet the racer’s demands in terms of aerodynamics, ventilation, and weight.
As the name suggests, the Aether has MIPS technology with an enhanced plastic liner that smoothly rotates during a crash to reduce the rider’s impact. The outside layers have been enhanced to give the helmet mechanical strength.
The Giro Aethers MIPS has 11 large vents to allow unparalleled airflow into the helmet. The feature makes the rider cool in hot conditions. The head helmet has dedicated slots that are meant to store sunglasses when not in use.
Bell Z20 MIPS Aero
Pros
Sleek design
Lightweight
Cons
It is expensive
The approach to this helmet is to make it safe, comfortable, and have a sleek appearance. The bell Z20 is full of desirable features for reliable performance in keeping the rider safe and healthy.
The helmet uses Roc Loc technology that keeps it slightly suspended on top of the skull. The system keeps the helmet firmly locked on your head to the point where you can forget it is still there. It is also MIPS equipped to reduce rotational impacts during a crash.
The ventilation system in the Bell Z20 MIPS Aero enhances airflow to give the rider that cooling effect even at low speeds. The inner pad absorbs sweats away from the eyewear.
Types of Bike Helmets
Bike helmets keep you safe by reducing the impact of a rider’s crash, but different occasions call for different head helmets. The common types are
Road Bike Helmets
They are the most used helmets in the world. They have large air vents to keep the rider cool on a hot day. An excellent example of the road bike helmet is the POC Ventral Air. The design mainly focuses on keeping the rider safe and comfortable.
Time Trial Helmet
The head helmet is elongated at the back to give the rider maximum aerodynamic gain. The pros mostly wear them during a time trial in the grand tours. The head helmets are lack proper ventilation and can be uncomfortable to a non-cyclist.
Commuter Helmets
they are mostly used for daily commute in the city, thus commonly referred to city helmets. The design and ventilation system is fundamental since it is meant to handle moderate cycling. They are sleek in appearance and are available in different colors to suit the commuter’s preference.
Mountain Bike Helmet
The head helmets are designed to protect the rider from all directions; thus, they are beefier on all sides. It has a front visor that helps protect bike riders from the sun as most of them prefer not to wear sunglasses. The ventilation system is enhanced to keep the rider cool and comfortable.
BMX / Downhill Helmet
The BMX helmets are meant to handle the fast and extreme downhill cycling. Unlike other types of cycling, the downhill is unpredictable, and a fall can happen at any time. The helmets have a similar design to the motorbike helmets but are lighter. They offer full head protection, including the face.
Kids Helmets
Kids helmets have basic features to keep the kid comfortable when bike riding. They come in small sizes to perfectly fit all kids, depending on their age. To make them more appealing, they can be customized into cartoon characters, superheroes, or any design that the kids enjoy.
Safety Standards for Bike Helmets
Some countries have laid up standards that safety bikes helmets should meet so that they can qualify to enter the market. Countries in the world, especially the united states, Europe, and Australia, dictates precisely how they want the helmets to be.
The helmets manufacturing company must comply with laid down guidelines that mostly depict the amount of impact and stress head helmet should be able to handle to keep the riders safe.
A global standard helmet is rigorously tested to determine the amount of impact it can handle and how much impact it absorbs to cushion the cyclist. How well the head helmet stays attached to the head is also considered when carrying out the tests. Below are the different standards set in different countries.
Australia
Australia has the strictest bike helmets standards in the world. The manufacturers have to comply with the safety standard guideline or risk the compliance body while disregarding the helmets. The government has also ensured that cyclists buy a helmet that is compliant with the safety act.
The safety body adequately examines the helmets to make sure they can offer maximum protection to the cyclist.
European Union and The United States
In both countries, the standards are almost similar and used in many countries. The act depicts that the helmet covers the rider’s head entirely and absorb much of the impact when a cyclist is involved in a crash.
The helmets undergo lab testing before being dispatched in the market. The compliant helmets are marked so that cyclists can counter check before making any purchases.
Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS)
Perhaps you are wondering why the head helmet with MIPS is slightly expensive than the standard helmet, but the simple answer is that the two are very different. The MIPS technology system protects your head from the impact caused by rotational forces when a crash happens.
The advanced helmet has two layers that rotate slightly during impact. The process helps to reduce the force significantly that could have resulted in brain injury or head concussion.
Helmets that incorporates the MIPS technology keep you safe during substantial impacts that can happen to a cyclist when intensively cycling. Despite the effects kinds not being common, it is advisable to have a helmet equipped with MIPS
Bike Helmet Sizing
Our heads are shaped differently, and so are the different helmets. Getting the correct fit will ensure you have an enjoyable experience when bike riding. The manufacturers offer a fitting guide; thus, it is essential to check a helmet properly before deciding to buy it.
Other features that make the helmet more comfortable are,
Padding System
Padding system varies depending on the materials used to make the helmet. Some use proprietary pads while others use Coolmax paddings. The padding may feel irritating to the skin, making you uncomfortable. That is why you should consider the materials before making the purchase.
A helmet structure will also determine how it fits the head and weather it cradle on your head, making you more secure. Brands have, however, designed helmets that can be adjusted to fit different sizes of heads. It is good to try a helmet, though.
When to Replace Your Road Bike Helmet
Most people ignore the fact that helmets need to be replaced now and then to ensure that they continue to serve you properly. Some incidences that can help you decide to change your helmet are
After A Crash
The helmet absorbs most of the impact after you have crushed, and even though it may not show any signs of damage, it is crucial to replace the helmet. The crash may cause small injuries to the helmet that may compromise the functions of the helmet.
When The Helmet Get Old
Each day, helmets advance the systems used to make it more comfortable and safer. If you have a helmet that is older than three years, you should consider replacing it with a new advanced model.
Some older helmets may not have the latest technology like the MIPS system that is designed to keep you safe. Always check to ensure that the helmet complies with the safety act.
After Any Sign of Damage
You should inspect your helmet regularly to makes sure it has no signs of damage. Some warning signs that could mean your helmet is compromised include dents, torn inner lining, cracks, and any sort of splits.
Replace the helmet when you notice such kind of sighs as they could mean that the helmet is damaged and can adequately perform.