Bicycle Helmet Ratings
In collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, we have rated a total of 113 bike helmets using the STAR evaluation system. Our bicycle helmet impact tests evaluate a helmet's ability to reduce linear acceleration and rotational velocity of the head resulting from a range of impacts a cyclist might experience. Helmets with more stars provide a reduction in concussion risk for these impacts compared to helmets with less stars.
Wearing a helmet is most important and can be the difference between life and death in the event of a crash. These ratings supplement standards by providing additional information on which helmets best reduce concussion risk. For bike helmets, we recommend any 4 or 5 star helmet. While there are some differences in impact performance within these groups, other factors such as cost, fit, and comfort should be considered when purchasing a helmet.
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: Best Available
: Very Good
: Good
: Adequate
: Marginal
: Not Recommended
A lower score offers better protection.
Cost shown is MSRP at the time of testing.
See our test methodology.
Only show helmets that are:
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Fox Dropframe Pro (MIPS)
Cost: $200
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 8.9
-
Lazer G1 MIPS
Cost: $240
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 9.2
-
Bontrager Rally MIPS
Cost: $150
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 9.3
-
Specialized Align II (MIPS)
Cost: $50
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 9.6
-
Troy Lee Designs A2 MIPS Decoy
Cost: $179
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.0
-
Lazer Century MIPS
Cost: $180
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.0
-
SCOTT Centric Plus (MIPS)
Cost: $200
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.2
-
Lazer Sphere MIPS
Cost: $160
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.3
-
Lazer Cyclone MIPS
Cost: $75
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.5
-
POC Octal X SPIN
Cost: $250
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.6
-
SCOTT ARX PLUS (MIPS) 2020
Cost: $100
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.7
-
Bontrager Specter WaveCel
Cost: $150
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.8
-
Fox Speedframe Pro (MIPS)
Cost: $160
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.8
-
Bontrager Ballista MIPS
Cost: $200
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.9
-
Lazer Anverz NTA MIPS
Cost: $200
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.0
-
Troy Lee Designs A3 MIPS
Cost: $220
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.0
-
Lazer Jackal MIPS
Cost: $200
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.2
-
Bontrager Starvos WaveCel
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.2
-
Giro Tyrant Spherical
Cost: $170
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.2
-
Bell Z20 MIPS
Cost: $230
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.2
-
Bontrager Solstice MIPS
Cost: $65
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.5
-
Troy Lee Designs A1 Classic MIPS
Cost: $139
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.7
-
POC Tectal Race Spin
Cost: $220
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.7
-
Bontrager XXX WaveCel
Cost: $300
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.8
-
Bell Formula MIPS
Cost: $95
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 11.9
-
Bontrager Rally WaveCel
Cost: $150
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.1
-
Lazer Z1 MIPS
Cost: $255
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.2
-
Giro Manifest Spherical
Cost: $260
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.2
-
Specialized Echelon II MIPS
Cost: $90
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.2
-
Bontrager Velocis MIPS
Cost: $210
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.3
-
Rudy Project Racemaster MIPS
Cost: $350
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.3
-
Lazer BLADE+ MIPS
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.3
-
Louis Garneau Raid MIPS
Cost: $120
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.3
-
Bell Z20 Aero MIPS
Cost: $250
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.4
-
Giro Aether Spherical
Cost: $325
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.5
-
Bern Union MIPS
Cost: $110
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.6
-
Specialized S-Works Prevail II (MIPS)
Cost: $250
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.7
-
Bell Stratus MIPS
Cost: $150
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.9
-
Giro Synthe MIPS
Cost: $270
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 13.0
-
Lazer Chiru MIPS
Cost: $55
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 13.0
-
Specialized Chamonix MIPS
Cost: $75
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 13.1
-
Bontrager Blaze WaveCel
Cost: $300
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 13.2
-
Giro Syntax MIPS
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 13.4
-
Bontrager Charge WaveCel
Cost: $150
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 13.6
-
Giro Chronicle MIPS
Cost: $100
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 13.7
-
Lazer Impala MIPS
Cost: $140
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 13.8
-
Specialized Ambush (MIPS)
Cost: $200
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.0
-
Smith Route MIPS
Cost: $105
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.0
-
Lazer Compact DLX MIPS
Cost: $60
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.0
-
Bontrager Circuit MIPS
Cost: $90
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.0
-
Giro Caden MIPS
Cost: $95
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.2
-
SCOTT ARX PLUS (MIPS)
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.3
-
Bontrager Quantum MIPS
Cost: $100
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.3
-
Specialized S-Works Evade II (MIPS)
Cost: $275
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.4
-
Bell Annex MIPS
Cost: $125
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.5
-
Lazer Coyote MIPS
Cost: $100
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.8
-
Specialized Centro (MIPS)
Cost: $65
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.8
-
Specialized S-Works Prevail II
Cost: $225
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.8
-
Smith Overtake
Cost: $163
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.0
-
SCOTT Vivo PLUS (MIPS)
Cost: $130
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.4
-
Catlike Whisper
Cost: $130
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.4
-
Giro Savant
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.5
-
Bell Sixer MIPS
Cost: $150
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.6
-
Cannondale Ryker AM (MIPS)
Cost: $100
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.6
-
Bell Draft MIPS
Cost: $60
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.6
-
Specialized Ambush (non-MIPS)
Cost: $180
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.7
-
POC Octal
Cost: $200
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 16.1
-
POC Omne Air SPIN
Cost: $150
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 16.4
-
POC Tectal
Cost: $190
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 16.4
-
Giro Foray MIPS
Cost: $85
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 16.5
-
Louis Garneau Course
Cost: $180
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 16.8
-
Schwinn Intercept
Cost: $18
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 16.9
-
Giro Synthe
Cost: $250
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 17.0
-
Giro Register
Cost: $45
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 17.1
-
SCOTT Cadence PLUS (MIPS)
Cost: $250
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 17.2
-
6D ATB-1T EVO
Cost: $210
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 17.4
-
Giro Fixture MIPS
Cost: $65
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 17.8
-
S1 Lifer
Cost: $65
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC, Skate
Score: 17.8
-
Giro Sutton MIPS
Cost: $100
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.1
-
Kali Therapy
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.2
-
LEATT DBX 3.0 All Mountain V19.2
Cost: $170
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.3
-
Specialized S-Works Evade II
Cost: $250
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.5
-
Smith Forefront
Cost: $100
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.6
-
Louis Garneau Le Tour II
Cost: $50
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.8
-
Bell Adrenaline
Cost: $23
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.9
-
Triple 8 Dual Certified MIPS
Cost: $75
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC, Skate
Score: 19.0
-
Garneau Eagle
Cost: $40
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.1
-
Lazer Blade
Cost: $95
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.2
-
Troy Lee Designs A1 Drone
Cost: $99
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.3
-
Schwinn Excursion
Cost: $25
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.4
-
Bern Allston
Cost: $80
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.4
-
Giro Hex
Cost: $80
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.5
-
Kask Valegro
Cost: $185
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.6
-
Kali Interceptor
Cost: $180
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.6
-
Kali Maya 2.0
Cost: $100
Style: Mountain
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.7
-
Bell Reflex
Cost: $10
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.9
-
Bontrager Solstice
Cost: $40
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.9
-
Bern Brentwood
Cost: $70
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.9
-
Bell Division
Cost: $40
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC, Skate
Score: 20.1
-
Schwinn Thrasher
Cost: $14
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 20.1
-
Giro Revel
Cost: $45
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 20.9
-
Schwinn Flash
Cost: $30
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 21.0
-
Smith Holt
Cost: $70
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC, Snow
Score: 22.0
-
Kali Tava
Cost: $240
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 22.3
-
Kali City
Cost: $125
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 22.5
-
Nutcase Street
Cost: $70
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC, Skate
Score: 22.7
-
Specialized Centro
Cost: $60
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 22.8
-
Schwinn Chic
Cost: $25
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 22.9
-
Electra Helmet
Cost: $70
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 23.3
-
Cannondale Quick
Cost: $40
Style: Multi-sport
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 24.2
-
Lazer Genesis
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 24.3
-
Specialized Echelon II
Cost: $70
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 25.2
-
Bern Watts
Cost: $60
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC, Snow
Score: 25.3
-
No Helmet
Not wearing a helmet poses extreme risk of injury compared to wearing any helmet.
Notes
A lower score offers better protection.
Cost shown is MSRP for the helmets at the time of testing.
For proper fit, cyclists should position the helmet rim 1-2 fingers' width above the browline and tighten the fit system to minimize movement of the helmet on the head.
All helmets sold in the US must be CPSC-certified. This standard requires protection against catastrophic injuries in extremely severe impacts, which are rare. Several helmets are certified by additional US standards. The ratings indicate helmets that pass standards for snow sports (ASTM F2040) or skate sports (ASTM F1492).
Documents
See our test methodology.
*Anyone can sustain a head injury with even the very best head protection. This analysis is based on data trends and probabilities, and therefore a specific person’s risk may vary. This variation is likely dominated by genetic differences, health history, and impact factors such as muscle activation.