When it comes to finding yourself a road cycle helmet like the perfect cycle, there are a few factors to consider: safety, fit, ventilation, and, if you're after that extra bit of time, gains aerodynamics. If you are considering sticking to a budget, your utmost priority is safety. It's best not to be tempted by the super cheap and super-light helmets that favour form over function. But by the same token, don't just fork out for an expensive helmet without checking its credentials.
If you are willing to spend around £40 or £50, you can start to get a noticeable improvement in quality that will incorporate style and safety. Up to £100, you will begin to get into helmets that combine clever designs that improve aerodynamics and bring the weight down further while remaining, or even improving in, strength. Beyond £100, you should expect top aerodynamics, superb ventilation, incredible lightness and the best safety features.
The best road cycle helmets, at a glance
• Best overall road cycle helmet: Kask Protone Road Cycling Helmet - View on Merlin Cycles
• Best budget road cycle helmet: Specialized Align II MIPS Helmet - View on Specialized
• Best Best road cycle helmet for pro-level performance: HJC Valeco Road Cycling Helmet - View on Merlin Cycles
Don't forget bike helmets and mountain bike helmets have a use-by date - no, they don't go off if you don't fit them to your head after three weeks of purchasing, but they have a date on them, usually on the inside a recommended replacement date. This is for safety reasons, as helmets get dropped over time, and the materials can be prone to corrosion over time. As a rule of thumb, updating your helmet every five years or after an incident is probably a good idea.
SHOP: The best road cycle helmets
Please note: All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best overall road cycle helmet
Merlin Cycleswww.merlincycles.com
The KASK Protone has long been considered one of the best road bike helmets in the world. Not only does it fit like a glove (except on your head, not your hand), but it has fantastic ventilation, and significant weight, takes comfort beyond the helmet on your head and features a lovely Italian leather strap under your chin.
The Protone Road Cycling Helmet has a revolutionary design that combines the best of both worlds. Originally developed and extensively wind-tunnel tested together with Team Sky (Now Team INEOS), the Protone delivers professional performance in a sleek and stylish package.
Pros
- Looks great
- Nice colour options
- The leather chin strap is a glorious touch
Cons
- While it's very safe, some sort of MIPS would be nice
| Weight: | 215g |
| Discipline: | Road |
| Number of vents: | 14 |
| Safety features: | Passes the stringent WG11 test |
- Customer review: "Just what I was looking for. The Protone helmet is auper light and has a ponytail hole at the back which I like. The chin strap is a nice touch too."
Best budget road cycle helmet
Specializedwww.specialized.com
This helmet is cheap because it's designed to be a bit of a multi-purpose helmet—a jack of all trades and a master of none. However, the low price and spread of use doesn't mean it's bad at what it does. It offers MIPS an excellent fit and is stylish to boot. It is slightly heavy, though.
Pros
- Respected brand
- Low price
- MIPS
Cons
- Touch on the heavy side
| Weight: | 369g |
| Discipline: | Road, Commuting, Touring & Cyclocross |
| Number of vents: | 12 |
| Safety features: | MIPS |
- Customer review: "The Specialized Align II helmet is one of the best I own. So comfortable and the padding is really nice! I would recommend this helmet for sure!"
Best road cycle helmet for pro-level performance
Merlin Cycleswww.merlincycles.com
The HJC Valeco is the helmet that sits just below their high-end helmets, offering the privateer racer and keen cyclist pro-level performance at a more affordable price. It still benefits from wind tunnel development, so it keeps you safer on the bike and is fast too.
Airflow into the helmet has also been fully optimised. This HJC calls Ventury Dynamics. Using the pressure difference between the front and rear of the helmet, the air is actively drawn inside via copious vents, 12 in total, circulates through the helmet along carefully designed channels and exits through the rear exhaust vents. This dissipates the heat you build up, cools your head and boosts comfort on the bike.
Pros
- Looks good
- Well ventilated
- Pro-level performance
Cons
- Would expect MIPS or similar
| Weight: | 220g |
| Discipline: | Road |
| Number of vents: | 12 |
| Safety features: | Shock-absorbing EPS foam liner |
- Customer review: "Merlin Cycles are my go to on line cycle shop great products at fantastic prices five stars all the way."
Best value road cycling helmet
Decathlonwww.decathlon.co.uk
The Van Rysel helmet is a pinnacle of safety and style in the world of road cycling helmets. Designed with MIPS, it ensures an extra layer of safeguarding against rotational forces during impacts, providing peace of mind on every ride. Plus, the engineers at Aerofit 900 have made this helmet to be more comfortable than previous iterations.
With great features like a grille and inner channels that facilitate continuous air flow, new turn-ring system and light feel, this helmet leaves you to focus solely on the thrill of the open road ahead.
Pros
- New turn-ring system
- Well-ventilated
- Light In-Mold helmet
Cons
- Only available in black
| Weight: | 330g |
| Discipline: | Road - not suitable for motor sports |
| Number of vents: | 16 |
| Safety features: | MIPS |
- Customer review: "Highly recommend. Although pricier than other helmets, this is one of the cheapest MIPS helmet in the market. I've used it for several months now, and two days ago, had a terrible crash and landed on my head. Suffered injury to pretty much everywhere on my body, but surprisingly, my head and neck had no injury at all. I like to think that the MIPS really played a large part here. You can't really put a price on that."
Best aerodynamic road cycling helmet
Oakleywww.oakley.com
Oakley doesn't just make sunglasses. They make bike helmets, too. The latest head protection technology and sublime streamlined aerodynamics with the Oakley ARO5 2.0 Helmet. This cycle helmet is built for speed yet offers the finest protection possible while minimising weight and optimising comfort.
Oakley has exceeded expectations with the creation of the ARO5 helmet. Redefining the way you ride with its high-end protection and brilliant features, this stylish helmet will surely be a regular feature on podiums and your local training roads in no time.
Pros
- Respected brand
- MIPS safety system
- Looks great
Cons
- Slightly heavy
| Weight: | 303g in Medium |
| Discipline: | Road |
| Number of vents: | 19 |
| Safety features: | MIPS |
Best high-end road cycle helmet
www.halfords.com
A premium choice for discerning cyclists, the Lazer Vento KinetiCore Helmet is engineered for uncompromising speed, delivering superior aerodynamic performance and comfort to your road rides. Optimised for a sprinting position, the design sees a 15° angle and reduced frontal surface to shave off valuable time. The ScrollSys system is simple to adjust, letting you dial in your preferred settings, even on the move, and an eyewear dock allows for safe storage of your optics.
Pros
- Optimised for sprinting
- Ventilation is discrete
- Looks cool
Cons
- No specific safety feature
| Weight: | 290g |
| Discipline: | Road |
| Number of vents: | 12 |
| Safety: | KinetiCore |
Best road cycle helmet with Koroyd technology
www.endurasport.com
Crafted with the innovative Koroyd technology, the Pro SL Helmet from Endura redefines how we ride the road. Giving you the upper hand over your rivals, the outstanding shock absorption and the lightweight performance of this classically designed lid ensure that professional performance levels are simple.
Pros
- Good weight
- Well ventilated
- Smart Koroyd tech
Cons
- The structure of the Koroyd tech reduces the airflow
| Weight | 238g |
| Discipline | Road |
| Number of vents | 14 |
| Safety | Koroyd® Technology |
- Customer review: "This is a comfortable lightweight Endura helmet that feels safe and secure. I have road-tested it for some time and have had one fall with a pretty big bang to the head - I lived to tell the tale. The buckle isn't brilliant as noted elsewhere but I've not really had much of an issue with it and I do find the protection stats impressive (basically better. Looks pretty good too."
A buyer's guide to the best road cycle helmets
What is MIPS?
When shopping around, you will inevitably come across this acronym, so knowing what it means is handy. MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection Systems. Why does it exist?
Our brains are susceptible to rotational impacts, which cause strain on the brain tissue. Rotational impacts are the most common type of impact that comes from cycling falls. This is because when we fall off our bikes, it's most frequently at an angle.
MIPS protection is explicitly designed to address this issue and mitigate the risk of brain injury from such accidents. In cycling helmets with MIPS, between the padding and the expanded polystyrene (EPS), the MIPS Brain Protection System allows the head to move slightly inside the helmet, which helps reduce the rotational impact that the brain would otherwise soak up.
MIPS helmets have an extra layer of protection that will bring you added peace of mind while out riding. As MIPS becomes more commonplace in helmets, we see it increasingly in the lower cost bracket.
So what is SPIN?
Unlike most of its rivals who deploy the popular MIPS technology, POC has created their protective system known as SPIN, a patent-pending rotational impact protection system that reduces the effects of an oblique fall by limiting the amount of force transmitted to the head and brain. Using an innovative and unique pad technology to keep you safe, you'll be protected from unexpected falls, hopefully keeping your brain in check.
Ok, but what's Koroyd?
Tens of thousands of co-polymer extruded tubes are thermally welded to create an unparalleled consistent, fully engineered core, ready to be cut, shaped, CNC-ed, thermoformed or laminated and further, integrated into the best sport and protection products that give you the edge. The cores plastically deform for higher-speed impacts, absorbing energy linearly. Up to 84% of the material thickness can be utilised in case of an accident. Existing energy absorbers densify around 60%.
Myles Warwood is a Autos & Fitness Product Writer for What's The Best, Parkers and CAR. His areas of expertise include cycling, fitness tech and hot hatches.
Subscribe to the What's The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the What's The Best team.