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Bicycle Helmet Ratings

In collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, we have rated a total of 54 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:

  • Bontrager Specter WaveCel

    Bontrager Specter helmet

    Cost: $150

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 10.8

  • Bontrager Ballista MIPS

    Bontrager Ballista MIPS helmet

    Cost: $200

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 10.9

  • Bontrager XXX WaveCel

    Bontrager XXX helmet

    Cost: $300

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 11.8

  • Lazer Z1 MIPS

    Lazer Z1 MIPS helmet

    Cost: $255

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 12.2

  • Rudy Project Racemaster MIPS

    Rudy Project Racemaster MIPS helmet

    Cost: $350

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 12.3

  • Louis Garneau Raid MIPS

    Louis Garneau Raid MIPS helmet

    Cost: $120

    Style: Mountain

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 12.3

  • Bern Union MIPS

    Bern Union MIPS helmet

    Cost: $110

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 12.6

  • Bell Stratus MIPS

    Bell Stratus MIPS helmet

    Cost: $150

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 12.9

  • Giro Synthe MIPS

    Giro Synthe MIPS helmet

    Cost: $270

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 13.0

  • Specialized Chamonix MIPS

    Specialized Chamonix MIPS helmet

    Cost: $75

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 13.1

  • Bontrager Blaze WaveCel

    Bontrager Blaze helmet

    Cost: $300

    Style: Mountain

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 13.2

  • Bontrager Charge WaveCel

    Bontrager Charge helmet

    Cost: $150

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 13.6

  • Giro Chronicle MIPS

    Giro Chronicle MIPS helmet

    Cost: $100

    Style: Mountain

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 13.7

  • Smith Route MIPS

    Smith Route MIPS helmet

    Cost: $105

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 14.0

  • Bontrager Circuit MIPS

    Bontrager Circuit MIPS helmet

    Cost: $90

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 14.0

  • SCOTT Arx PLUS (MIPS)

    SCOTT Arx PLUS (MIPS) helmet

    Cost: $100

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 14.3

  • Bontrager Quantum MIPS

    Bontrager Quantum MIPS helmet

    Cost: $100

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 14.3

  • Specialized S-Works Prevail II

    Specialized S-Works Prevail II helmet

    Cost: $225

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 14.8

  • Smith Optics Overtake

    Smith Optics Overtake helmet

    Cost: $163

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 15.0

  • Giro Savant

    Giro Savant helmet

    Cost: $100

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 15.5

  • Bell Sixer MIPS

    Bell Sixer MIPS helmet

    Cost: $150

    Style: Mountain

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 15.6

  • Cannondale Ryker AM (MIPS)

    Cannondale Ryker AM (MIPS) helmet

    Cost: $100

    Style: Mountain

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 15.6

  • Bell Draft MIPS

    Bell Draft MIPS helmet

    Cost: $60

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 15.6

  • POC Octal

    POC Octal helmet

    Cost: $200

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 16.1

  • POC Tectal

    POC Tectal helmet

    Cost: $190

    Style: Mountain

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 16.4

  • Giro Foray MIPS

    Giro Foray MIPS helmet

    Cost: $85

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 16.5

  • Schwinn Intercept

    Schwinn Intercept helmet

    Cost: $18

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 16.9

  • Giro Synthe

    Giro Synthe helmet

    Cost: $250

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 17.0

  • Giro Register

    Giro Register helmet

    Cost: $45

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 17.1

  • SCOTT Cadence PLUS (MIPS)

    SCOTT Cadence PLUS (MIPS) helmet

    Cost: $250

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 17.2

  • Giro Sutton MIPS

    Giro Sutton MIPS helmet

    Cost: $100

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 18.1

  • Kali Therapy

    Kali Therapy helmet

    Cost: $100

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 18.2

  • Specialized S-Works Evade II

    Specialized S-Works Evade II helmet

    Cost: $250

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 18.5

  • Louis Garneau Le Tour II

    Louis Garneau Le Tour II helmet

    Cost: $50

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 18.8

  • Bell Adrenaline

    Bell Adrenaline helmet

    Cost: $23

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 18.9

  • Triple 8 Dual Certified MIPS

    Triple 8 Dual Certified MIPS helmet

    Cost: $75

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC, Skate

    Score: 19.0

  • Garneau Eagle

    Garneau Eagle helmet

    Cost: $40

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 19.1

  • Lazer Blade

    Lazer Blade helmet

    Cost: $95

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 19.2

  • Kask Valegro

    Kask Valegro helmet

    Cost: $185

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 19.6

  • Bell Reflex

    Bell Reflex helmet

    Cost: $10

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 19.9

  • Bontrager Solstice

    Bontrager Solstice helmet

    Cost: $40

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 19.9

  • Bern Brentwood

    Bern Brentwood helmet

    Cost: $70

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 19.9

  • Bell Division

    Bell Division helmet

    Cost: $40

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC, Skate

    Score: 20.1

  • Schwinn Thrasher

    Schwinn Thrasher helmet

    Cost: $14

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 20.1

  • Giro Revel

    Giro Revel helmet

    Cost: $45

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 20.9

  • Schwinn Flash

    Schwinn Flash helmet

    Cost: $30

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 21.0

  • Kali City

    Kali City helmet

    Cost: $125

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 22.5

  • Nutcase Street

    Nutcase Street helmet

    Cost: $70

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC, Skate

    Score: 22.7

  • Specialized Centro

    Specialized Centro helmet

    Cost: $60

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 22.8

  • Electra Helmet

    Electra Helmet

    Cost: $70

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 23.3

  • Cannondale Quick

    Cannondale Quick helmet

    Cost: $40

    Style: Multi-sport

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 24.2

  • Lazer Genesis

    Lazer Genesis helmet

    Cost: $100

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 24.3

  • Specialized Echelon II

    Specialized Echelon II helmet

    Cost: $70

    Style: Road

    Certifications: CPSC

    Score: 25.2

  • Bern Watts

    Bern Watts helmet

    Cost: $60

    Style: Urban

    Certifications: CPSC, Snow

    Score: 25.3

  • No Helmet

    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.