Women's Bike Helmets

The Giro Skyla is a great everyday helmet for petite heads

Having proven itself year after year to a large group of satisfied owners and reviewers, the Giro Skyla (Est. $40) earns our Best Reviewed pick for women's helmets. The Skyla is an inexpensive choice that delivers great value to riders looking for a smaller-sized helmet.

Buyers looking for female-specific helmets are usually shying away from unisex headgear because of fit or fashion. Two things to consider when shopping for fit: You might need a smaller helmet to ensure comfort and proper safety, and a ponytail-friendly model may be appropriate for your hairstyle. If the top priority is fashion, many women's helmets, the Skyla included, have subtly feminine designs incorporated into the colored shells.

Reviewers say the Skyla combines fit and fashion, offering light weight, adequate ventilation and superior comfort. The Specialized Andorra (Est. $75) , may be Skyla's closest competitor, judging from the specs and a good review from BikeMagic.com. Reviewer Jennifer Stuart-Smith takes a careful look at the Andorra, focusing on Specialized's Hairport ponytail feature, and she concludes it's "a great day-to-day helmet." However, the Skyla, at $40 and 270 grams, beats the 310-gram Andorra in weight and price.

The Skyla also meets competition from some unisex helmets, such as the Giro Stylus (Est. $85) . The Stylus attracts female riders with color and pattern options and its 26 air vents, which offer superior ventilation to the Skyla. However, the Stylus is heavier, has no special accommodation for long-haired riders and has received complaints from Amazon contributors concerning its adjustment system and chinstraps.