Best Bike Helmets

Top bicycle helmets for recreational cyclists

The two most well-known helmet brands in the U.S. -- Bell and Giro -- dominate reviews. Bell owns the Giro helmet brand, but they maintain separate product lines and websites. The bike helmets covered here are a good fit for recreational cyclists, but they are bulkier and have less ventilation than the pricey, performance-focused helmets reviewed below. Those helmets are much lighter and have more vents, which is important if you ride your bike for several hours at a time. More expensive helmets also come in several sizes, while most of the bicycle helmets discussed below come in one universal adult size. Even so, a $30 helmet still meets the same safety standards as a helmet that costs more than $200, so it will protect your head just as well.

The Bell Slant (*Est. $55) is one value-priced bike helmet that gets high marks from users and experts. The helmet is suitable for road or off-road use, as it includes a removable visor to shield your eyes from the sun and debris from the trail. The Slant bicycle helmet uses Bell's ErgoDial adjustment system, so you can adjust the interior fit with a turn of the dial, and it has 21-channeled vents and weighs 11.8 ounces. Like most bike helmets in this price range, the Bell Slant comes in one universal size that fits heads from 21.25 inches to 24 inches.

Reviewers say the Bell Slant is a versatile bike helmet, and it can easily be used for both road and mountain biking. In a test of nine bike helmets conducted by Mountain Bike Rider magazine, the Bell Slant is the only one to score a perfect rating of 10 out of 10. Testers rave that the Slant keeps heads cooler than any of the other tested helmets, and the dial adjustment system is easy to use. "The materials are great, the finish is spot on and the graphics got the thumbs up from just about everyone who tested it," the editors write. The Bell Slant also gets high marks for value -- Men's Health South Africa calls it a "bargain buy" -- and its easy-to-adjust fit system. However, some users at Amazon.com say the straps are stiff and don't always lie flat.

Experts say there's no structural difference between men's and women's helmets. However, some women's helmets are designed to fit smaller heads, including the Giro Skyla (*Est. $40). It comes in a universal women's size that fits heads between 19.75 to 22.5 inches; the Acu Dial fit system is also designed to accommodate ponytails. Like the Bell Slant, the Giro Skyla has a removable visor and is suitable for road or mountain biking.

Nearly 50 reviews at Amazon.com combine to give the Giro Skyla bicycle helmet a 4.5-star rating (out of 5). Most female reviewers say the Skyla is a great entry-level helmet, and they praise its comfortable and well-ventilated design. "This helmet is so comfortable and you can change the size of the helmet in an instant," one owner writes. Users also say the bike helmet is well ventilated, even on hot days. However, numerous women complain that the helmet is too small for them, so it makes sense to measure your head before buying the Skyla helmet. If it's too small, the Bell Slant accommodates larger head sizes.

Bell also gets high marks for the Influx helmet (*Est. $60), especially from those who have problems getting a good fit with traditional one-size-fits-all bike helmets. This 11.1-ounce bicycle helmet has 18 large vents and a removable visor, and it comes in three sizes to accommodate head sizes from 20 to 24.75 inches. It uses Bell's GPS fit system, which has a sliding dial in the rear that can be adjusted with one hand. Users at Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com have good things to say about the Bell Influx, especially the one-handed fit system. "It's comfortable, decently ventilated, has a number of reasonably attractive color options and is easy to adjust, put on and take off," says one owner at Amazon.com. A number of users say the bike helmet protected them during a crash. However, a few owners say the helmet is too big, although they did not specify which size they purchased.

The Bell Citi is a long-time favorite of reviewers for its impact protection and overall value, but it has been replaced in 2011 by a new helmet, the Bell Muni (*Est. $65). The Bell Muni continues the Citi's rounded, urban-influenced styling, but it adds additional commuting features and more vents for improved ventilation. The 10.2-ounce helmet has a rounded silhouette, removable visor and 21 vents (five more than the Bell Citi). It comes in one size that fits heads from 21.25 inches to 24 inches, and it uses Bell's new OneStep Plus fit system, which has an adjustable strap inside the helmet for a precise fit. A women's version, the Bell Arella (*Est. $65) is also available; it fits head sizes from 19.6 inches to 22.45 inches.

Bell has added a number of features to its helmets that appeal to bicycle commuters. For instance, the Bell Slant has a front light and flashing red lights in the rear for added visibility, and the redesigned visor has a flip-down mirror that comes in handy when riding in traffic. We haven't seen many reviews for these new helmets, but Road.cc gives both the Muni and Arella helmets a positive review. Although ventilation can't compare to more expensive helmets, Shaun Audane of Road.cc says the Bell Muni has a comfortable fit, and he loves the numerous commuting accessories. "Comprehensive, integrated features and sound design sets the standard for commuter orientated helmets," he says. Leonie Jennings at Road.cc has a similar opinion about the women's Arella helmet. "Good value for money, fairly lightweight commuter helmet with excellent features," she says. However, the Bell Arella helmet fits rather snugly, so it may be too small for women with larger heads.

Feedback is also excellent for the Giro Indicator (*Est. $40), a versatile on- or off-road helmet with a removable visor and 20 vents. The helmet is available in one universal size that fits heads from 21.25 inches to 24 inches. The Indicator helmet uses Giro's single-handed Acu Dial adjustment system and an interior fit band to achieve a snug fit.

Users give the Giro Indicator above-average ratings in more than 150 reviews on Amazon.com. Reviewers say the bike helmet is comfortable and easy to adjust. "It's light, comfortable and has enough ventilation to keep my head cool on the hottest days," one owner writes. Users are impressed with the value, and many comment that the Giro Indicator looks more stylish and less bulky than many affordable bike helmets. On a negative note, some owners have trouble getting a precise fit, and several others note that the straps do not lie flat on the side of the face. "First thing I noticed was that the reviews about the twist in the chin straps were right, very uncomfortable," says one owner.

Many mountain bike riders (as well as commuters) like skate- or BMX-style helmets because they are more stylish and less bulky than traditional helmets. In comparison to traditional bike helmets, skate-style helmets have a much rounder profile and fewer vents. The Giro Section (*Est. $55) and Giro Surface (*Est. $50) are examples of this style. Both helmets come in three sizes (which fit head sizes from 20 to 24.75 inches), but they don't provide much ventilation -- the Section helmet has eight vents, while the Giro Surface bike helmet has only six.

Outside magazine says the Giro Surface is a good fit for commuters who want a stylish bike helmet. Testers love the internal adjustment system and overall comfortable fit. "Giro's six-vent Surface helmet delivers; a quick spin of the dial is all it takes to snug it up," says Outside's Jeremy Spencer. Road.cc has similar feedback about the Giro Section, giving it high marks for style. However, ventilation may be a concern, especially in the summer. T.R. McGowran says: "This lid gets pretty warm if you like to work the pedals but the generous soft foam padding inserts do a good job of mopping up your sweat."