Bicycle Helmets Reviews

Consumer Reports magazine currently has the best bike-helmet review, covering 28 bicycle helmets for kids and adults. Editors perform their own impact testing to determine the degree to which helmets exceed safety parameters set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), along with important factors such as secure straps, venting and ease of use. We found another helpful bike-helmet review at Choice magazine, Australia's equivalent to Consumer Reports. Although this review is now over two years old, bike helmet technology is slow to change, so the article is still useful. Editors at Choice test eleven children's bicycle helmets for impact protection and fit. U.K.-based Which? magazine tests 14 bike helmets for impact absorption, retention and fit, but it disagrees in some respects with Consumer Reports' findings. These are the only three reviews we found that use independent impact tests as the basis for testing. Other bicycle-helmet reviews from Bicycling magazine and additional sources focus more on fit, comfort and ventilation.

We also found an excellent resource in the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute (BHSI). Although this organization doesn't crash-test helmets, all other facets -- including design, fit and venting -- are covered extensively for virtually every bike helmet on the market. Editors here applaud this year's more rounded, compact style of bicycle helmets, which have fewer snag points (these can catch on pavement during a crash). There are also many articles here on how to get the right fit (including suggestions for those who have small or large heads). Because every bike helmet sold in the U.S. must meet CPSC safety standards, we considered owner reviews for comfort, ventilation and fit, from websites such as MountainBikeReview.com.

75% of bicycle-related deaths are due to head injuries, and 88% of head injuries by bicyclists could be prevented by a helmet that is well-designed and fits properly. There are no federal laws requiring the use of helmets. As a result of these injuries, however, laws in 21 states and upwards of 84 localities require cyclists to wear helmets. Primarily, these laws apply to children under 18, though some localities do require adults to wear helmets, as well. The law aside, wearing a helmet just makes good sense as a preventative measure.

Our Consensus Report shows how many times products are top-ranked by reviewers included in our
All The Reviews Reviewed chart.

The Giro Xen, Bell Citi and Giro Pneumo are the most reviewed helmets, cited for their good impact performance and good ratings by consumers and experts. The far less expensive Bell Citi is also recommended for its value, appealing to those on a budget. Because of its price and more general use, we chose to place the Bell Citi in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers. For youth, the Bell Trigger was well-liked for its cool design, ErgoDial Fit System and how well it scored on impact absorption tests. Several toddler helmets performed well in impact tests, but the Bell Boomerang ranked the highest, earning it a spot in ConsumerSearch Fast Answers.