Bicycle Helmet Ratings
In collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, we have rated a total of 30 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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Bontrager Ballista MIPS
Cost: $200
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 10.9
-
Louis Garneau Raid MIPS
Cost: $120
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.3
-
Bell Stratus MIPS
Cost: $150
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 12.9
-
Specialized Chamonix MIPS
Cost: $75
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 13.1
-
SCOTT Arx PLUS (MIPS)
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.3
-
Bontrager Quantum MIPS
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.3
-
Specialized S-Works Prevail II
Cost: $225
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 14.8
-
Smith Optics Overtake
Cost: $163
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.0
-
Giro Savant
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.5
-
Bell Draft MIPS
Cost: $60
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 15.6
-
POC Octal
Cost: $200
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 16.1
-
Giro Foray MIPS
Cost: $85
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 16.5
-
Giro Synthe
Cost: $250
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 17.0
-
Giro Sutton MIPS
Cost: $100
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.1
-
Specialized S-Works Evade II
Cost: $250
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.5
-
Louis Garneau Le Tour II
Cost: $50
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 18.8
-
Triple 8 Dual Certified MIPS
Cost: $75
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC, Skate
Score: 19.0
-
Bell Reflex
Cost: $10
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 19.9
-
Bontrager Solstice
Cost: $40
Style: Road
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: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 20.1
-
Giro Revel
Cost: $45
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 20.9
-
Schwinn Flash
Cost: $30
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 21.0
-
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: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 22.8
-
Electra Helmet
Cost: $70
Style: Urban
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 23.3
-
Lazer Genesis
Cost: $100
Style: Road
Certifications: CPSC
Score: 24.3
-
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.
Road helmets with visors are also often advertised as mountain bike or commuter helmets.
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 optional US standards as well. The ratings indicate helmets that pass the Snell standard (B95, higher severity impacts than CPSC), standards for snow sports (ASTM F2040), or standards for 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.