Top 5 compared
The best bike helmets
A snug, comfortable helmet that protects your head on the commute, the bike path or a ride around the block.
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The top 5 at a glance
A bike helmet is a foam liner under a thin plastic shell, and it does its job sitting level on the head, about two fingers above the eyebrows, with the straps snug. Vented road helmets are the lightest and airiest for long, warm rides; rounder hard-shell helmets suit commuting and double for scooters and skateboards; some skate-style helmets for kids are certified for the bike and the skatepark alike.
Since 1999, every helmet sold for cycling in the US has had to meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standard. Beyond that, it’s fit and extras: a dial at the back that sets the fit one-handed, a visor for low sun and rain, lights for the commute home, and Mips, a slip layer Giro says is meant to reduce rotational forces in a crash.
What matters
- Go by a head measured just above the eyebrows, not by age.
- One-size helmets cover a limited range; small heads need a sized one.
- Side straps meeting in a V just below each ear.
- Pads that lift out to wash, after hot rides.
#1Schwinn Thrasher Adult Bike Helmet
$20–$30
A sporty, lightweight microshell helmet for everyday and fitness rides, with a dial at the back and adjustable side and chin straps for the fit, 20 vents, and a visor that snaps off when it isn’t wanted. Schwinn says it meets the CPSC standard for bike helmets, extended head coverage included.
What owners say: Riders like the dial and chin strap for getting the fit right, find it light enough to forget about, and rate the look, the protection and the price, though a few had plastic parts come loose over time.
Heads up: It’s one size, for heads of 22.8 to 24.4 in, so a smaller head will do better in a sized helmet such as the Giro, whose small starts at 20.1 in.
A closer look: Set the fit before the first ride: it should sit level and low on the forehead, with the dial turned until the helmet stays put when you shake your head, and the side straps meeting in a V just below each ear. The pads lift out for washing after hot rides.
- 20 vents
- Dial fit, adjustable straps
- Removable, washable pads
- Meets the CPSC standard
- Limited lifetime warranty
Best for: Adults riding for fitness
- Head sizes
- 22.8–24.4 in, one size
- Rotational impact system
- No
- Visor
- Removable visor
- Built-in lights
- No
- Weight
- 13 oz
#2Findway Pro Bike Helmet
$30–$50
A rounded, low-key urban helmet rather than a racy vented one, with an ABS shell over dense EPS foam, 14 vents, a built-in visor for low sun and a dial at the back that takes it from 21.3 to 24.2 in. Findway says it meets the CPSC standard as well as ASTM and EN 1078, and it works for scooters and skateboards too.
What owners say: Well made and well designed, by owners’ accounts, with a dial that gets the fit just so; they find it light but reassuringly solid, one likening it to a motorcycle helmet, and like that it doesn’t look like a neon plastic hat.
A closer look: Turn the dial until the helmet stays put with a shake of the head, then set the chin strap so a finger fits under it. The pads lift out and dry quickly after a sweaty commute, and the visor is part of the shell, so there’s nothing to snap off or lose when it’s hung on the bars.
- 14 vents
- Hard shell over dense foam
- Quick-drying washable pads
- Meets the CPSC safety standard
- For scooters and skateboards too
Best for: Commuting in a low-key hard shell
- Head sizes
- 21.3–24.2 in, one size
- Rotational impact system
- No
- Visor
- Built-in visor
- Built-in lights
- No
- Weight
- 16.6 oz
#3Giro Agilis MIPS
$100–$150
A road helmet for long, warm rides: 32 vents pull air over the head, Mips is built into the shell, and the Roc Loc dial tunes both the tension and the angle of the helmet with one hand.
What owners say: Owners find it comfortable and light, with plenty of airflow, and like how finely the rear dial tunes the fit; it suits larger heads well, and it looks and feels like a high-end helmet.
A closer look: It comes in three sizes, and Giro’s medium covers about 21.7 to 23.2 in, so a quick measure around the head just above the eyebrows settles which. The lower edge is wrapped in polycarbonate fused to the liner, which Giro adds for durability: handy for a helmet that gets hung on handlebars and set down on coffee-shop tables.
- 32 vents
- Dial sets tension and tilt
- Wrapped lower edge for durability
Best for: Long road rides
- Head sizes
- 20–25 in, in 3 sizes
- Rotational impact system
- Mips
- Visor
- No
- Built-in lights
- No
- Weight
- 9.9 oz (M)
#480SIX Triple-Certified Multisport Helmet
$20–$30
A skate-style helmet for kids, teens and smaller adults, certified for biking, skateboarding and roller skating alike, so one helmet covers the bike, the scooter and the skatepark. It comes in three sizes from age 5, with an ABS shell over an EPS liner.
What owners say: Parents and riders call it comfortable and solidly protective, say it looks like real skate gear, and like that one helmet covers every wheeled hobby.
Heads up: Some owners find it runs small, so go by a measured head rather than by age.
A closer look: Measure around the head about an inch above the eyebrows and choose from the 5+, 8+ and 14+ sizes by that number. The side-release buckle is quick for small hands, and the foam pads mold to the head over the first few weeks of wear, so it should feel snug, not loose, on day one.
- Certified for bike and skate
- Side-release chin buckle
- Pads mold to the head
- Hard shell over foam liner
Best for: Young skaters, scooter riders and cyclists
- Head sizes
- 19.5–22.75 in, in 3 sizes
- Rotational impact system
- No
- Visor
- No
- Built-in lights
- No
- Weight
- 14 oz
#5ILM E3-10L Bike Helmet with LED Lights
$50–$75
Made for commuting after dark: rechargeable LED lights front and back with three modes, a detachable tinted lens that keeps wind, dust and sun out of the eyes and fits over glasses, and a PC shell over EPS foam that ILM certifies to CPSC, ASTM and EN 1078.
What owners say: Comfortable, with lights that stand out even in daylight, owners say; the lens keeps wind and sun off, at up to 40 mph by one owner’s account, and they like how it looks.
A closer look: Charge the lights by USB before the first ride, then use a flashing mode in traffic and the steady one on dark paths. The lens unclips for cloudy days. The linked listing is the L–XL size, so compare a measured head with the listing’s size chart before ordering.
- Lens fits over glasses
- USB-rechargeable lights, 3 modes
- 10 vents
- Washable removable lining
- 5-year warranty
Best for: Riding home after dark
- Head sizes
- L–XL (linked size)
- Rotational impact system
- No
- Visor
- Tinted lens
- Built-in lights
- Front and rear
- Weight
- 14.9 oz
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Schwinn Thrasher | #2Findway Pro | #3Giro Agilis MIPS | #480SIX Multisport | #5ILM E3-10L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best premium | Best for kids and teens | Best with lights | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.2 |
| Price | $20–$30 | $30–$50 | $100–$150 | $20–$30 | $50–$75 |
| Head sizes | 22.8–24.4 in, one size | 21.3–24.2 in, one size | 20–25 in, in 3 sizes | 19.5–22.75 in, in 3 sizes | L–XL (linked size) |
| Rotational impact system | No | No | Mips | No | No |
| Visor | Removable visor | Built-in visor | No | No | Tinted lens |
| Built-in lights | No | No | No | No | Front and rear |
| Weight | 13 oz | 16.6 oz | 9.9 oz (M) | 14 oz | 14.9 oz |
| Best for | Adults riding for fitness | Commuting in a low-key hard shell | Long road rides | Young skaters, scooter riders and cyclists | Riding home after dark |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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