Only buy a cheap helmet if you have a cheap head – or so the saying goes. Like all protective equipment, the modern cyclist’s lid has come a very long way since the sport’s ancient roots, and the kit you can go out and buy today is unrecognisable from what used to be available - only by the fact it sits on top of your head.
Related: The best entry-level road bikes
The minimalist leather caps worn by bicycle racers in the first half of the 1900s gave way to the design we use today – made up of expanded polystyrene to cushion impacts between your head and a hard object, and a stiff outer shell to protect the helmet from knocks and scrapes.
Fastenings (or a retention system as it’s now known) usually involve an inner fitment that can be tightened or loosened to get a precise fit on your skull and a strap that does up under your chin. But that’s about the only thing shared by the helmets in this list.
That’s because, like all things cycling, things start to diverge depending on the discipline. Beyond the simple split of mountain bike helmets having a peak, there's a huge spectrum of designs to suit your style of riding, from lightweight aero skullcaps for the road, to hulking great full-face helmets for the most extreme downhill mountain bike trails.
Ultimately this is an area where you don’t want to scrimp and save, but rest assured that all cycling helmets have to pass a minimum standard, so as long as you buy from a reputable manufacturer, you shouldn’t go too far wrong. Any extra budget will go on additional features or high-tech materials, or indeed the inclusion of a rotational force-limiting system (such as MIPS).
What is MIPS? (baby don’t hurt me)*
A helmet with a Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) has an additional layer of defence for your brain.
Basically, when you fall off a bike, your head will probably hit the ground at an angle, causing rotational forces inside your skull. This is bad. Your brain does not respond well to this.
MIPS allows the head to rotate slightly within the helmet by 10-15mm to reduce these forces on the brain, while still remaining tightly secured to your head. Sometimes, helmet makers have their own version with a different name.
The downsides (if you can call them that) are a bit of extra weight, and the fact MIPS helmets can cost more than their standard equivalents.
*Ed's note: You'll get it if you sing it out loud
Related: The best road cycle helmets
Best for aero
AmazonYour head may well be a marvel of human evolution but one thing it is not, is aerodynamic. Thankfully, there's a simple solution for this in the form of the Giro Aerohead helmet. It offers a much more streamlined profile for TT riding with decent ventilation and crystal clear ZEISS Optics.
Best budget road
tredzwww.tredz.co.uk
The Echelon II isn't just here because it boasts MIPS, despite being on the cheaper end of the spectrum - it's also a great all-round buy with loads of vents, a very adjustable retention system and reasonable overall weight, too. Also, not that this feature will do you much good in a crash, but it looks great and comes in a variety of attractive colours.
Best budget MTB
Halfordswww.halfords.com
The styling might be a bit plain and a fixed peak means nowhere to put your goggles (if that's a concern for you) but there's no ignoring the fact this is a fully featured, MIPS-equipped trail lid that sits firmly within the budget category. With a secure fit and plenty of vents, this is the one to go for if you want maximum bang for your buck.
Best off-road
tredzRrp: $199.95
The design may polarise opinion, but if you want maximum coverage from an open face helmet instead of resorting to a full face, then something like this Fox Dropframe is ideal because it sits neatly between the two in terms of size. It's not cheap and all that extra material does mean more weight, but this lid will suit a wide range of riders, from trail to enduro.
Best for weight
AmazonThere can be few finer endorsements than seeing your helmet on top of a pro rider's head during a Grand Tour, and with the Z1 that's just what you get. That distraction aside though, this massively ventilated, super-lightweight helmet also packs a MIPS protection system to help mitigate rotation forces during a crash.
Best full face
No surprises here really - the Proframe is a real no-brainer when it comes to picking a full-face helmet for aggressive riding. No doubt you've noticed the huge vents all over this lid, and these are key to its lightweight and breathable appeal. Particularly notable are the ones on the chin bar that help avoid the feeling of riding your bike with a balaclava on.
LIVALL Smart Helmet
Best computer helmet
AmazonA clear winner for two reasons - it's covered in lights and makes an automatic SOS call if you're involved in a crash. The former includes a set of head and tail lights, plus indicators that you control with a button on your bars. The latter uses a special sensor to detect a large deceleration, when it will send your GPS location to an emergency contact.