trek cycle helmet

• Trek Rally WaveCel Mountain Bike Helmet

How to ride safer

Want to do more than wear a helmet? Check out this guide to riding safer.

How to clean your bike helmet

To ensure your bike helmet looks and performs its best, it's important to properly clean and care for it. Check out our simple guide to learn how to maintain your bike helmet. It's easy to do and takes little time!

Product features

Rally wavecel mountain bike helmet.

An off-road helmet with WaveCel technology that balances comfort and performance for trail riders who value safety.

What is WaveCel?

WaveCel is a collapsible cellular structure that lines the inside of your helmet. It works like a crumple zone that absorbs the force of an impact before it reaches your head. Read the study to learn more. You’ll never want to ride anything else again.

Virginia Tech validation

All WaveCel helmets received the highest rating from Virginia Tech's third-party testing facility. This unbiased assessment proved WaveCel helmets to be among the highest level of protection available to cyclists with a 5-STAR rating.

BOA® fit system

Easily secure and adjust the helmet fit with just one hand.

Drop-in coverage

Extended, back-of-helmet shell offers additional rear protection.

LockDown strap dividers

Easily adjust straps to fit perfectly with adjustable, lightweight strap dividers.

Soft helmet pads

Super comfortable internal pads wick moisture on hot days and hard efforts and are easy to wash after a full day of fun.

A TIME Magazine Invention of the Year

Trek's breakthrough technology was named to TIME Magazine's list of 100 Best Inventions making the world better, smarter, and even a bit more fun.From TIME ©2020 TIME USA LLC. All rights reserved. Used under license

Crash Replacement Guarantee

With our Crash Replacement Guarantee, we will provide you with a free replacement helmet if it is involved in a crash within the first year of ownership. Simply contact us or your local retailer with the crashed helmet, original sales receipt, details of the incident, and a return address for your replacement.

30-Day Unconditional Guarantee

If for any reason you're not satisfied with a Bontrager or Trek aftermarket purchase, return the item, along with the original sales receipt to the original place of purchase within 30 days for an exchange or refund. Think of it as a 30-day test ride.

Helmet Fit and Sizing

For your helmet to do its job, it's important that it's sized properly and fits well. Reference our sizing guide at the link below to find your ideal size and see how Bontrager helmets are intended to fit.

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Best bike helmets for road cyclists 2024: lightweight, aero and all-rounder lids for every rider

We've put dozens of helmets to the test - and have rounded up the best of the bunch right here

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The Quick List

• 1. Best overall
• 2. Best lightweight
• 3. Best aero helmet
• 4. Best budget
• 5. Best all-rounder
• 6. Best TT helmet

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Meet the testers.

• How to choose a helmet

How we test

Best road bike helmets 2023: jump menu.

The list in brief ↴

1. Best overall 2. Best lightweight 3. Best aero 4. Best budget 5. Best all-rounder 6. Best TT

Advice How to choose a bike helmet How we test

The primary purpose of a cycling helmet is to protect your head in the event of an accident. To this end, all helmets sold in the UK, USA and Europe have to pass stringent safety tests before they can be put on the market.

However, recent technological advancements mean that many helmets offer extra systems that provide even greater protection. MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) , for example, is designed to prevent damage caused by oblique or glancing blows that rotate the skull around the brain. 

Safety isn’t the only consideration though. We always take into account weight, aerodynamics and ventilation when we're reviewing helmets but with an understanding that not everyone's priorities are the same.In short, we'd advise you to think carefully about how, where and when you are going to use the helmet. 

Likewise, having tested hundreds of helmets over the years, we'd always recommend trying a few options on to see which suits your head shape and size. There is more information about these below in the ' How to choose a helmet ' section.

There are wide price differences between helmets, so if you are operating on a budget, then visit our best budget bike helmets page, or if you commute regularly by bike then have a look at our best commuter bike helmets article. 

Best overall

Comfy, fast and safe - Giro's Eclipse Spherical covers all the bases well. It includes MIPS for extra protection and despite its aero credentials, it doesn't scrimp on ventilation. Its only downside is that it can look a little bulbous on some folk.

Read more here

Best lightweight

The Ventral is one of the lightest helmets available, making it ideal for those who measure rides in vertical metres rather than horizontal kilometres. Excellent ventilation helps in the heat but the adjustment mechanism is a bit basic and there is no MIPS to save weight.

Despite its undeniable aero aesthetic, the Ballista can still be used as an everyday road helmet thanks to good ventilation and easy BOA adjustment. It includes MIPS-style technology and is even suitable for riders with ponytails.

Best budget

Sitting at the lower end of Kask's range, the Sintesi is a great choice for riders on a bit of a budget. It is suitable for road, gravel and commuting thanks to its non-specific style and it benefits from Kask's own WG11 rotational impact protection for an extra layer of safety.

Best all-rounder

A long-term favourite with excellent all-round performance, Giro's Aether definitely deserves consideration. It is light, airy and includes MIPS along with extra reinforcement in its construction. There are loads of colour options to choose from and it's very comfortable to wear.

A dedicated TT helmet, the Codatronca proved itself to be very comfortable in use with decent ventilation. This, coupled with the stubby aero design, makes it well-suited to sporting courses that entail changes of head and body position to cope with the hills and corners whilst remaining aerodynamic.

Best overall road bike helmet

Giro Eclipse Spherical 

1. Giro Eclipse Spherical bike helmet

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

The Giro Eclipse Spherical helmet uses Giro's MIPS Spherical tech, where MIPS forms the filling in a sandwich between two EPS foam layers. 

We found the helmet to be really comfortable, with an unrestrictive feel and fit. Airflow was impressive and kept us comfortable even in 35C-plus heat. We also appreciated the little details, which are sometimes missing in other helmets - here the straps fit well without flapping and there's space to insert your sunglasses in the front vents.

Giro claims that the Eclipse is the fastest-ever aero helmet (non TT) - which we aren't able to verify, although our tester did achieve his fastest-ever downhill speed and upped his average overall while wearing it.

Read more: Giro Eclipse Spherical cycling helmet full review

Best lightweight helmet

Rapha + POC Ventral Lite bike helmet

2. Rapha + POC Ventral Lite bike helmet

The Ventral Lite is both super-lightweight and super-airy. Our test model in a small weighed in at just 170g (the claimed weight for the medium is 200g). We certainly found that this translated to a featherweight feel on the head, with the ventilation adding to the general comfort.

Fit adjustment is via a 360° nylon string retention, operated by a rear dial which is easy to adjust and very effective. To keep the weight to a minimum,  there's only a little adjustment on the straps, with a single slide adjuster on the chin buckle. We did find this a bit restrictive but appreciated that the helmet is offered in two widths, which helped us dial in the fit a little more.

To keep the weight as low as possible, the helmet doesn't feature any additional safety features such as MIPS, although other versions of the Ventral do.

Read more: Rapha + POC Ventral Lite bike helmet full review

Best aero helmet

Trek Ballista MIPS bike helmet

3. Trek Ballista MIPS bike helmet

Trek has revamped its racing helmet lines, with the aero Ballista MIPS now including MIPS Air sliding plane tech which doesn't need a separate internal liner. It's an interesting-looking design, with its dropped tail. 

It's tightened with a wire and BOA dial system at the rear, which gives a secure, stable fit. There's low profile padding and the straps are soft and easy to adjust. 

On the bike, we were impressed by the airflow as well, which works better than some more obviously vented helmets, despite there only being two front-facing vents. We also rated the ponytail-friendliness, although adjusting the cradle height at the rear is a little fiddly.

Read more: Trek Ballista MIPS bike helmet full review

Best budget helmet

Kask Sintesi is a lightweight offering, weighing just 230g in a size medium

4. Kask Sintesi bike helmet

Kask designed the Sintesi to be a single, mid-priced helmet that worked as well for recreational road cyclists, commuters and gravel riders. It comes in a wide range of colors and is affordably priced.

Kask uses its Ergo Fit retention system, which allows wide vertical and circumference adjustment of the rear of the cradle, allowing two sizes to suit most head sizes, and there is a comfortable synthetic leather chin strap. Rather than an additional layer like MIPS, Kask uses the WG11 protocol to test its helmets for rotational impact protection. 

On test, we found that the Sintesi provided good airflow and kept our head cool, although the 13 vents don't offer anywhere to perch a pair of glasses.

Read more: Kask Sintesi helmet full review

Giro Aether MIPS helmet

5. Giro Aether MIPS bike helmet

An absolute favourite road bike helmet for us is the Giro Aether MIPS. On test we called it a game-changer of a road bike helmet due to its unrivalled all-around performance. 

During the review period, we found this helmet to be exceptional in its ventilation ability and at the cutting edge for safety features. While there are slightly lighter helmets, such as the Kask Protone helmet, it was still an impressively low weight at just 269g (for a size small).

Packaged in a sleek-looking design, with lots of colors to choose from, it's really easy to wear for any style of riding making it all-round the best road bike helmet out there. In fact, we loved the Giro Aether MIPS so much, that we gave it a five out of five stars and a Cycling Weekly Editor's Choice Award. The only reason why you wouldn't want to buy it is if your head fundamentally didn't fit any of the size options. 

Read more: Giro Aether MIPS helmet full review

Best TT helmet

MET's Codatronca features a short tail making it a versatile offering

6. Met Codatronca bike helmet

With its short tail, the MET Codatronca has an advantage which makes it a more versatile time trial helmet for most riders. Riders will still get significant aero gains but without having to worry that they are always in a perfect optimum "turtle" position - this is particularly relevant when faced with sporting courses.

We found it was a very comfortable lid, which provided a close fit with Met's 'Safe-T Orbital' fit system with retention dial. It also had sufficient ventilation thanks to its three small vents on the front and further two 'exhaust' holes at the rear - included to channel air out the back. It has a clever magnetic visor system, but bear in mind the visor is quite long and therefore may take some time to get used to.

It's got a rather large price tag, but it's well in keeping with the likes of the Giro Aerohead MIPS helmet, so seems about right. 

The only downside is that Met helmets aren't currently available in or allowed to ship to the US.

Read more: MET Codatronca full review

Kask Protone Helmet

7. Kask Protone helmet

Weighing just an incredibly 220g/ 7.7oz for a size medium, the Kask Protone helmet offers, according to the brand, one of the lowest drag and fastest heat dissipation options on the market.  

We found the Protone to be one of the most comfortable helmets we'd ever tested, and indeed one of the lightest, beating the Giro Synthe by 20g (0.7oz).  

The semi-aero lid did suffer a little with breathability however, and while the ventilation was very good, on the hottest of riding days it could have done with the ability to suck even more cool air in. or exhaust more heat out. That said, on the sweatiest of days in the saddle, we found that the Protone's water irrigation design is top-notch, managing to avoid channelling sweat down onto sunglasses or into eyes. 

The Protone features a reinforced internal plastic sub-structure, which has been certified in passing the Kask Rotational Impact WG11 Test, the brand’s protocol on rotational impact.

Read more: Kask Protone Helmet full review 

Lazer G1 Genesis

8. Lazer G1 Genesis helmet

The featherlight and comfortable Lazer G1 Genesis helmet feels secure when on and boasts a simple, stylish look. To fit your individual head shape the rear barrel retention cradle has a large amount of vertical adjustment, but as with the Lazer Blade+ MIPS Helmet, this doesn't provide much in the way of horizontal adjustment, so not as fine-tuneable as any of the Giro helmet offerings. 

That said, it's still a comfortable road bike helmet and one that is very lightweight, in fact at 205g for a sized medium on our test scales, one of the lightest helmets we've seen, and around 55g lighter than the Giro Helios Spherical MIPS Helmet. 

You do need to "shell" out for the additional aftermarket aero layer, it's not a big outlay, and if you want to harness the helmet's go-faster properties, it's a minimal weight penalty, and would make it a very lightweight, aero-specific road bike helmet too.

Read more: Lazer G1 Genesis cycling helmet full review

Lazer Vento KinetiCore road bike helmet

9. Lazer Vento KinetiCore bike helmet

The Lazer Vento is designed as an aero helmet, so ventilation is somewhat sacrificed for speed. That said, this helmet still compares very favourably to other aero helmets with regards to keeping your head cool. Although we couldn’t test the aerodynamic qualities of this against other helmets, it did feel fast when putting our head down and throughout the test loops we did.

The helmet looks rather good too, having quite a low profile and not being too bulbous. It was also very comfortable and the new retention system is a massive improvement on Lazer’s previous design – although still not as easy to use as a regular dial. However, this new system does promise to be ponytail-friendly. The glasses port, sadly, is not particularly good as it is too wide to accommodate most sunglasses.

The helmet is definitely towards the more expensive end of the market and is also not the lightest at 291g for size medium. However, the weight is not something that we noticed when wearing it.

Read more: Lazer Vento KinetiCore helmet full review

POC Ventral Spin helmet

10. POC Ventral Spin helmet

On test we absolutely loved the POC Ventral Spin, finding it the best road bike helmet for aerodynamic features without sacrificing breathability. 

Its large air ports mean that it also doesn't take the usual guise of an aero helmet, which tend to have a more solid appearance. The aero lid uses POC's own SPIN (Shearing Pad INside) safety feature, which combines silicone bladders and pads to help dissipate rotation impacts.

While seemingly superficial, anyone who has ridden with an aero lid will know the challenge of trying to stow sunglasses when they're not on your face. The fully wrapped EPS POC Ventral SPIN however includes sunglass grippers. They're meant to be best compatible with POC's own brand sunnies, but we teamed the helmet with a whole host of brands and found them to hold tight to every single pair.

Read more: POC Ventral SPIN cycling helmet full review

Specialized Evade 3

11. Specialized Evade 3 helmet

Now in its third iteration, the Specialized S-Works Evade 3 helmet improves on its predecessors with better airflow and comfort, without sacrificing aerodynamic slipperiness. 

It comes with larger front vents and a drag-defeating "diffuser" with wide vents at the rear.  Specialized has also made the straps thinner, used a standard buckle and included MIPS Air Node, which is integrated into the internal padding, making it less intrusive than the more normal plastic liner.

The helmet is compatible with the ANGi crash sensor, although Specialized doesn't include this. 

We found the Evade 3 comfortable even on hot, dry summer rides and comfortable, if a little narrow on the sides. The narrower straps generated less wind flap too. 

Read more: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 full review

Kask Utopia Y bike helmet

12. Kask Utopia Y road bike helmet

Combining aerodynamics with aesthetically pleasing looks and improved comfort, we found the recently revised Kask Utopia Y helmet to be one of the best road bike helmets.

Despite its closed-off silhouette, the deep channelling and vents under the brow keep your noggin cool and your sunglasses free of sunscreen-infused sweat. You can adjust the retention band down to the millimetre, giving the helmet an excellent snug - yet comfortable - fit. This comfort is further boosted by the addition of thick interior padding, which is very soft against the skin. 

Weighing in at only 260g in a size medium, the Utopia Y is also impressively light, especially for an aero road helmet - we found that it really did disappear on our head once we'd strapped it on.

Unlike some other aero lids, the Utopia Y is not bulky looking, and it also comes in a wide range of nine colors so you'll be able to find a look that suits your individual style or matches your bike. 

Read more: Kask Utopia Y cycling helmet full review

Smith Ignite bike helmet

13. Smith Ignite helmet

Comfortable, undoubtedly slippery through the air and packed to the rafters with safety features including Koroyd (the plastic straw looking impact absorption feature) and helmet safety gold standard MIPS, the Smith Ignite helmet is right up there with the safest road bike helmets on the market.

It has Smith's VaporFit retention system, which can be adjusted vertically and horizontally to allow for a snuggly fit for all head shapes, which is a rare feature, especially in aero-focused helmet options.

Smith's Ignite should certainly be a first choice helmet for those riders looking for an aero advantage without the drawbacks, although we found that the matt finish tends to look a little grubby quite quickly - so no chucking in the kit bag post-ride if you want to keep it looking shipshape for as long as possible. 

Read more: Smith Ignite cycling helmet full review

Giro Helios Spherical MIPS helmet features MIPS technology

14. Giro Helios Spherical MIPS cycling helmet

We absolutely loved the Giro Helios Spherical MIPS helmet finding it to be the best do-all helmet out there. 

Bridging the gap between road and off-road adventures, the lightweight helmet uses the same Spherical MIPS protection as the Giro Aether, which isn't the only way this lower price offering challenges its more expensive sibling. 

There's also a 10-gram weight, saving to be had on a like-for-like size, with the brand putting this weight saving down to the Helios Spherical helmet having less technical ventilation structure than the Aether. I found it a barely noticeable difference having ridden both helmets, with the two equally as comfortable as each other. 

The only thing it does lack is an eyewear doc feature; we struggled to find suitable holes to pop sunglasses arms through, but if you're looking for a great value all-rounder option, then this is one of the best road bike helmets out there.  

Read more: Giro Helios Spherical MIPS cycling helmet full review

The Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 is designed for optimal ventilation

15. Specialized S-Works Prevail 3

Specialized's updated S-Works Prevail 3 helmet is designed to be both airier and safer than the outgoing model. 

By using its Air Cage design, it's been able to strip down the usual foam bridges to help increase ventilation by almost 25% when compared to the Prevail 2 without compromising safety. Essentially the cage design acts like a suspension bridge, distributing the forces of an impact across the entire helmet. 

The Prevail 3 also uses MIPS AirNode, which integrates the MIPS system, designed to protect against rotational forces during a crash, directly into the helmet padding to reduce weight and  improve ventilation.

We found that  the large vents did their job with great success. Even when temperatures hit 32 degrees centigrade the air flow through the helmet kept our head cool. 

At 280 grams, the S-Works Prevail 3 is light but certainly not the lightest in class, but for those who ride often in hot climates the supreme ventilation is likely to make it worthy of consideration.

Read more: Specialized S-Works Prevail 3 full review

Bell's XR Spherical MIPS helmet boasts 14 vents for improved airflow

16. Bell XR Spherical MIPS

Bell's XR helmet is aimed at cyclists who like to ride both on and off-road and require a helmet to cover both terrains.

To achieve this the XR uses a compact shape that's well-vented, with 14 large vents that allow for plenty of airflow. The inner shell extends further down the back of the head than regular road lids, something which gravel riders will appreciate.

Other safety features include the Spherical MIPS system, with the outer and inner shell capable of moving independently during an impact. The idea here is to better protect against rotational impacts, while the outer shell can absorb glancing blows.

The XR uses Bell's Float Fit system, which we found simple to use and is paired with a comfortable strap and magnetic buckle. Combined, they allow for a stable fit that we found added to the helmet's high level of comfort -  as did the great ventilation.

Perhaps due to the extra protection, the Bell XR isn't the lightest in class - a medium has a claimed weight of 285g while our large test helmet tipped the scales at 317g.

Read more: Bell XR Spherical MIPS cycling helmet full review

MET's Rivale road helmet features MIPS technology 

17. MET Rivale MIPS helmet

The MET Rivale MIPS combines aero and ventilation features for an all-road road helmet. It has 18 vents which are predominately at the front to keep the air flowing. The shaping of the vents at the back and a more enclosed rear keep the drag low. Whilst we can't vouch for the added watts this design certainly does provide really good airflow through the helmet in our experience. 

The Rivale also has a MIPS liner for added safety. We found the fitting system to be effective and comfortable with a good amount of adjustability.  

On the scales it's pretty similar to some of our other lightweight helmets, coming in at 242g for the medium. What's different from lots of other helmets in this guide is the price, it's a good $100 cheaper than many of its competitors. 

Read more: MET Rivale MIPS full review

18. POC Ventral Tempus MIPS helmet

The POC Ventral Tempus helmet is designed for riding in dark, wet conditions - you can tell that POC is based in Sweden. It's based on POC's helmets for warmer climes, but with an enclosed shell design, an orange colorway and added 360° visible reflective details

There's a new MIPS iteration that's more comfortable than the original version and the helmet has a compact shape that fends off the weather without overheating. 

We found it comfortable for cooler weather riding and the enclosed design does work in the rain although the slightly bulky shape might not suit everyone. Certainly, if you're riding regularly in a colder region, or commute year round, then it's a lid we suggest you take a look at.

Read more: POC Ventral Tempus MIPS helmet full review

Giro's Aerohead Ultimate TT helmet offers an impressive field of view

19. Giro Aerohead MIPS TT helmet

The wind-cheating silhouette of the Giro Ultimate Aerohead will maximise your performance with its excellent aerodynamic design which also boosts plenty of ventilation with its four Wind Tunnel vents. Don't by any means expect it to be highly breathable though. 

On test, we actually used the even more aerodynamic Aerohead Ultimate, but with the same fit, it is an almost like-for-like comparison, and we are confident when saying this version is still one of the best road bike helmets in the time trial category.

It's rare to find a time Trial / track helmet that not only offers MIPS but also an impressive field of view, thanks to the wrap-around eye shield made by ZEISS Optics. The shield is kept secure with a magnetic anchor attachment and it can also be stored in a flipped-up position.

Read more: Giro Ultimate Aerohead MIPS full review

The Lazer Volante boasts a wraparound visor to improve vision 

20. Lazer Volante

With Primož Roglič wearing the Volante to Olympic gold in Tokyo, this helmet has proved its credentials. 

We found it comfortable and easy to adjust so that it sits well on your head. There's a very deep, wide visor, so you get a really good view of the road and behind you as you ride and it curves in to hug the sides of your face. The pointy shape is pure time trial, so it won't be much use on the Sunday club run, but it certainly looks fast.

There's little venting though, with the visor covering the two small slot vents in the front of the shell, making for a warm, but manageable ride. It also lacks some of the more modern safety features, with no MIPS or MIPS equivalent technology included.

Read more: Lazer Volante full review

Originally from The Netherlands, Anne-Marije started bike racing in her early twenties while living in Seattle, WA alongside working as a bike messenger. Strengthened by the many miles spent darting around Seattle's hilly streets on a steel single speed, her progression in the sport was a quick one. As she competed at the elite level, her journalism career followed, and soon she became a full-time cycling journalist, a career she's now had for 11 years.

Rachel has been writing about and reviewing bike tech for the last 10 years. While her first riding love is mountain biking ,where she's been European and UK 24hr Champion on more than one occasion, she's not just confined to the trails and regularly rides - and occasionally races - on gravel and road too.

Buyer's guide to choosing the best road bike helmets

What is the safest road bike helmet.

The primary function of a cycling helmet is to protect your head - and all helmets will meet the minimum standards set out by the safety authority in the country of sale.

If you choose to spend more, the helmet won't necessarily be safer but instead may be lighter, and more breathable. The retention system often becomes more comfortable and adjustable on a more expensive helmet too.

A recently developed safety system called MIPS, Multi-directional Impact Protection System, will often be referred to when discussing the level of protection provided by a helmet. It's considered the industry gold standard and you can read all about it below.

If you're looking specifically to save some money then you might want to check out our guide on the Best cheap and budget friendly bike helmets to get the best without breaking the bank.

If you have a budding bike rider in your life then our guide to the Best kids' bike helmets will give you all the important information for how to help you keep their heads safe when riding.

How do I know if a helmet is safe?

Always check that the helmet you are buying is tested to the standard relevant to where you live: CPSC for the US, EN 1078 sticker for the UK, and Europe. 

This means that the helmet has passed several tests that look at the helmet's construction, field of vision, impact absorption, retention system, chin strap and buckle. In order to ride in races, sportives, gran fondos and triathlons it is often a requirement to have a helmet that adheres to the relevant local standard.

Tom Dumoulin at the 2020 Tour de France (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

What is MIPS and do I need it?

In recent years, we've seen more and more bike helmet brands adopt MIPS . MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System; MIPS is actually a brand in itself, and helmet providers using it build the layer into their own helmets. Some brands like Bontrager have their own similar systems.

The MIPS liner is designed to reduce rotational forces on the brain that can occur in the event of a crash. It creates a slip plane to mimic and amplify the brain's protection system to minimize the force transmitted to the brain in the event of an impact.

Helmets with MIPS layers often cost a little more - but there is some evidence to suggest the layer is effective in reducing injury in certain types of crashes.

How should a road bike helmet fit?

How to measure for a helmet and make sure it fits your head.

If a helmet doesn't fit properly then it will not do the job it is designed for. Helmets are often available in different sizes relating to the circumference of your head. 

All helmet manufacturers will have a size guide on their websites, and we highly recommend following each brand's recommendations of how to measure for its helmets before investing in a purchase. 

If you are measuring at home, place the tape measure about 25mm (roughly two fingers width) above your eyebrows, and as you wrap it around your head, make sure that it's about 15mm above the top of your ear (about a thumb width) ensuring that you measure around the widest part of your head at the back - think cap, not bonnet. 

If you aren't confident in doing this, then pop into your local bike shop to get them to help you do this. This also gives you the chance to try before you buy to check for comfort. 

You are going to be wearing the helmet a lot, potentially for many hours at a time, so it's imperative that the fit suits your particular head shape, no matter what a review says. It is also advisable to try on a variety of makes and models to see which is most comfortable and the best road bike helmet for you, as they are often different shapes internally. You may find pressure points on a helmet even if it's technically the right size for you.

Some helmets are women's specific and even feature a special gap to allow for a ponytail, such as Specialized's Hair Port system. However, most helmets are unisex and will fit both men and women.

The best road bike helmets come with practical design features such as a ponytail port

Can I adjust the size of a road bike helmet?

Yes. A retention system is used to adjust the fit of the helmet to your specific head size. These are commonly adjusted by a dial or some kind of ratchet system. The best road bike helmets can be operated with a single hand, which is useful for making slight adjustments on the move.

It should be possible to loosen the retention system on a helmet to allow for a thermal skull cap or cycling cap to be worn underneath. This is done for added warmth, and the bill of a cycling cap can be useful for deflecting rain from the eyes. Because of this, caps are a common sight in the spring classics, such as Paris-Roubaix. If when you try on a helmet the retention system is at either end of limit, it is probably the wrong size for you.

Should a road bike helmet feature padding?

Yes. Padding makes a helmet more comfortable but also helps to wick sweat away from your head. An ideal road bike helmet design will feature padding that can be removed for washing and replacement. The style and thickness of padding varies between helmets, so again, it's worth trying a few models on to see which works the best for you.

The best cycling helmets come with removable padding so they can be washed. 

Should a road bike helmet be vented?

Vents are holes in the shell of the helmet. They have two functions – to reduce the weight of the helmet, and also to add ventilation. Helmets with fewer or no vents are usually considerably warmer, though the latest crop of aero lids has shown the value of well-designed internal channelling. This might not be obvious when you try one on in a shop, but once you start working up a sweat climbing a big hill when hot weather cycling , it becomes invaluable.

Is a lighter road bike helmet better?

As is common with cycling kit, as weight decreases price tends to increase. The best road bike helmets will be lightest in their given category, making them the most comfortable option because they place less strain on your neck.

 If you're a competing cyclist the other advantage of a lighter helmet is increasing your power-to-weight ratio, 50g might not make much difference to most of us mortals, but to a top professional looking for any marginal gain, it becomes significant.

When should I replace a road bike helmet?

Is it only after an impact or do road bike helmets expire?

If you suffer the misfortune of falling off your bike and taking a head impact, the chances are that the damage to your helmet will be visually obvious, leaving no question about the need to replace it. 

However, it's really important that even the best road bike helmets are replaced even if it looks like just a minor scuff on the outer casing. This is because the integrity of the EPS, and other safety features which are designed to absorb the impact are highly likely to have been damaged by doing their job perfectly. This means that the next time you crash, there won't be anywhere for the energy to go, making a head injury more likely. 

While the EPS foam in a bike helmet won't just deteriorate with age, it's over that time span that it will suffer with minor knocks and bumps from being stored, dropped from handlebars or popped in a kit bag. The aggregation will add up to volume loss and require a new helmet to be purchased. 

It's for this 'EPS volume loss' reason that most helmet manufacturers will also recommend replacing a road bike helmet every three to five years. 

Over this time frame, it's also likely that it will be exposed to a lot of UV rays, which can weaken the plastic shell of a helmet too, compromising its safety.

Extreme temperatures can affect the plastic shell too, and while the safety standards will mean it's been tested to the unlikely riding conditions which are as high as around 122 ° F / 50 ° C, and as low as -4 ° F/ -20 ° C, it could be more likely in places that you store your helmet. 

So bear these facts in mind when not wearing your road bike helmet, and doing things like using a case when not wearing it, not storing it in the window with the sun directly on it or in the shed in a really cold winter. 

Where we've been able to link to a review, it means that we've put the head protection through its paces. All of the members of the Cycling Weekly Tech Team have years of experience in riding bikes in all disciplines and have a huge wealth of knowledge and wear helmets almost every time we ride. 

We know that what might not fit one of us, might fit another team member better, meaning that this best road bike helmets buyers guide has depth and breadth in terms of recommendations. 

Where we haven't yet had the chance to review an item, we're still confident in recommending it as one of the best, because we either know the brand well, and have probably tested another product or the previous version and can still happily recommend it. 

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Hannah is Cycling Weekly’s longest-serving tech writer, having started with the magazine back in 2011. She has covered all things technical for both print and digital over multiple seasons representing CW at spring Classics, and Grand Tours and all races in between.

Hannah was a successful road and track racer herself, competing in UCI races all over Europe as well as in China, Pakistan and New Zealand.

For fun, she's ridden LEJOG unaided, a lap of Majorca in a day, won a 24-hour mountain bike race and tackled famous mountain passes in the French Alps, Pyrenees, Dolomites and Himalayas. 

She lives just outside the Peak District National Park near Manchester UK with her partner, daughter and a small but beautifully formed bike collection. 

Meet the Eritrean rider making history with two Tour de France stage wins to his name and wearing the green jersey

By Kristin Jenny Published 9 July 24

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The 19 Best Bike Helmets of 2024, According to Our Test Editors

Protecting your brain—on the road or on the trail—has never felt, fit, or looked so good.

Gear-obsessed editors choose every product we review. We may earn commission if you buy from a link. How we test gear.

If there’s one piece of non-negotiable equipment for cycling, it’s a helmet. If you haven’t purchased one in a while, you might be in for some real surprises in terms of the newest materials, features, styles, and prices. Like almost everything in cycling, helmets have gotten more and more specialized over the years.

You may already know what “kind” of rider you are, or at least what type of riding you’ll be doing, and narrowing that down will greatly aid in your shopping process. It’s usually the first question you are asked when shopping in a bike shop.

What you might not know if you’re just getting started is what makes a gravel helmet a gravel helmet, or a road helmet a road helmet, and so on. Don’t get too hung up on these categorizations: All the helmets sold in the United States must pass the same minimum standards. Plus, a lot of the features that make a helmet an “X” specific helmet are often just visual cues.

You can go down the rabbit hole with aerodynamics or goggle compatibility if you want, but at the end of the day any helmet that you like the look of, fits you comfortably, and is in your price range is the best helmet for whatever kind of riding that you do.

Ready to ride? Let’s dive into some of the best helmets out this season and the pros and cons of each, as well as how to decide which is best for you.

See our top picks below, then scroll down for more in-depth reviews of these helmets and other great options, as well as helpful buying tips and advice.

The Best Helmets You Can Buy Right Now

• Best Budget Bike Helmet: Schwinn Intercept
• Best Mountain Bike Helmet: Lazer Coyote KinetiCore
• Best Racing Bike Helmet: Giro Aries Spherical
• Best Budget Trail Bike Helmet: Specialized Tactic
• Best Commuter Bike Helmet: Heritage 2.0

What to Consider When Buying a Bike Helmet

Why you should trust us, how we tested bike helmets, best tested helmets, 4 helmet safety technologies explained, safety and standards, more about full face helmets, how to ensure a proper fit, is there an e-bike specific helmet, q&a with our expert, ventilation.

Road helmets will typically be the lightest and most-ventilated helmets out there, and in some cases, they not only vent well, but enhance cooling (over wearing no helmet at all) by directing airflow through carefully designed shapes and vents and over your head. This also reduces sunglass fogging. Other helmets with increased coverage, like full face and mountain bike helmets, often have fewer vents.

Don’t be fooled by the “more vents are better” mantra. You can’t judge a helmet’s cooling ability simply by how many vents it has. The Giro Synthe , for example, has only 19 vents but is widely regarded as a well-ventilated helmet, while the Kask Valegro has a whopping 37 vents. Size and design of the vents, plus thoughtful internal channels, are more important than the quantity.

Weight needn't be your biggest concern because when it comes to a helmet, the one you wear will always win out over the one you don’t. It comes down to comfort—you’re more likely to wear a helmet that won’t get in the way or weigh you down.

Lightweight helmets tend to feel more comfortable, especially on long or challenging rides. Both material choices and design aspects contribute to weight savings. High-tech helmets will usually spare you a few grams by incorporating intricate internal bridges and supports that allow gaping vents but keep the helmet together in an impact. Just be prepared to pay a higher price for these innovations. Opting out of “extras” like visors and mounts will also cut down on weight.

Most modern helmets come equipped with added safety technology like MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System), WaveCel, SHIN (Shearing Pads Inside), Koroyd, and KinetiCore.

Each of these technologies should help further reduce the forces transmitted to your brain from impacts and collisions in different ways, even if they cannot guarantee a better outcome in a specific situation.

For starters, choose a helmet with a well-respected, time-tested safety system with a lot of positive reviews. Consider both rotational and direct impact forces when looking into the kind of protection a helmet offers. Full-spectrum protection might cost more than the most bare-bones helmet, but it’s worth the price for frequent riders and anyone who ventures off the beaten path onto gnarly singletrack or into heavy traffic.

While we don’t recommend adorning your helmet with too many accessories, extras such as visors, GoPro mounts, and lights certainly have their place and time.

If you find yourself riding in the dark, light mounts can make your life easier and safer by illuminating the path ahead, and providing another rear facing blinker light to help drivers see you in low light. Bike commuters especially should consider light mounts to make the morning and evening transitions as smooth as possible. Helmet-mounted bike lights work great in conjunction with handlebar mounted lights because they move with you when you turn your head.

For those who ride during daylight, visors provide a built-in sun shield, especially for mountain bikers or rec riders. Road riders may choose a cycling cap under the helmet and eschew any helmet related extras.

For the Instafamous: GoPro and other camera mounts give thrill-seekers and explorers the ability to document their first-person POV experience.

At Bicycling, we’ve been vetting and reviewing bikes, gear, and accessories for more than 50 years. Recommendations are based on the extensive work of the test team: Deputy Editor Tara Seplavy, Senior Test Editor Matt Phillips, Test Editor Dan Chabonov, and Maintenance Editor Gabe Ortiz. Together, they have more than 60 years of ride-testing experience and insight that is brought to every recommendation made.

For these helmet selections, Matt Phillips and Dan Chabanov tested a wide range of options and chose the ones included here based on their experience, deep familiarity of the brands, and extensive industry knowledge.

Further supporting their efforts, expert Aaron Bible added additional insight and further detail based on his industry background coupled with comprehensive research of the current offerings in the market by top brands.

Aaron Bible has made a lifelong career of testing and writing about new products in the outdoor world. He is an award-winning writer, photographer, and multimedia producer with three decades of experience contributing to publications including SKI, Freeskier , Men’s Health , Sunset , Gear Junkie , 5280 , Elevation Outdoors , Runner's World , Bicycling , and more. He’s been racing bikes on dirt and road for 20-plus years and has tested dozens of brain buckets over that time. When not hammering away on his computer, Bible can be found hammering out miles on the gravel trails surrounding his home in the Pike’s Peak region of Colorado. Follow along for more adventures on Instagram at @definitelywild .

Every helmet in this roundup has been thoroughly evaluated and considered by our team of test editors. We research the market, survey user reviews, speak with product managers and engineers, and use our own experience riding in these helmets—and even crashing in some of them—to determine the best options.

Our team of experienced testers spent many hours and miles wearing these helmets on the road, on the trail, on commutes, and at the bike park. We evaluated them on performance, value, fit, comfort, ventilation, aerodynamics, adjustability, and aesthetics to come up with the models that best serve every budget and every kind of rider.

Schwinn Intercept

The Schwinn Intercept is a $25 helmet that ranked four stars in Virginia Tech’s STAR testing. That’s a higher ranking than several helmets VT tested that cost hundreds of dollars more. Though it is an inexpensive helmet, it still features a dial-adjustable fit system and a removable visor.

The Intercept is a one-size-fits-most helmet with a claimed weight of about 350 grams—surprisingly light for such an affordable helmet. Note that the Intercept has fewer and smaller vents than higher-end helmets, so it likely won't be as cool as some other options.

Lazer Coyote KinetiCore

Lazer’s Coyote is a $110 helmet that looks, fits, and feels like it is much pricier. In fact, having ridden in both we say it’s superior to Lazer’s $220 Jackal KinetiCore. At 340 grams (our scale, size medium), the Coyote is quite light for a modern mountain bike helmet. One reason: No MIPS. Instead of MIPS, the Coyote uses Lazer’s KinetiCore, which consists of “controlled crumple zones” built into the EPS foam to mitigate rotational impacts.

An additional benefit is the raised foam blocks that make up the crumple zones create lots of internal channeling, perhaps a reason why this helmet feels so cool and airy.

Lazer Lupo KinetiCore

For cost-conscious off-road riding, the Lazer Lupo combines KinetiCore technology with true mountain style. And for a one-size-fits-all helmet, it's surprisingly customizable. The turn dial adjusts fit in both width and height, and the relatively low-profile shell allows for a range of fits without too much extra volume.

The fully integrated KinetiCore protection system also cuts down on volume. Those with especially large heads may find the fit a bit restrictive, but the majority of riders will appreciate a helmet that feels stable, secure, and sleek across all sizes. The sturdy visor won’t budge no matter how bumpy the ride gets either. Five stars from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab makes this the safest helmet you can buy for a mere $70.

Bell Spark MIPS

Bell introduced this entry-level mountain bike helmet at a lower price than its previous comparable models. Meant to be beginner and budget-friendly, the Spark is made with a single layer of EPS foam and uses a MIPS system. It comes in two universal sizes—adult and youth/women’s (same size range but different colors).

The visor is fixed in a functional, low position to minimize adjustment distractions. Built to be simple and affordable yet long-lasting, the helmet has edges that aren’t coated with the hard outer shell that covers the rest of it. But the contact points where it touches the ground (also where the chin strap attaches) are reinforced with rubber bumpers to protect the exposed EPS foam from cracking or wearing down.

Specialized Echelon II

The Echelon II is the latest incarnation of the tried-and-true Echelon, which has been a staple of the Specialized helmet line for years. Although it’s labeled as a road helmet—in Specialized-speak that means there is no visor—it’s perfectly suited to trail riding as well.

Like its more expensive sibling (the Prevail II), the Echelon II features the Hairport fit system. It comes in a unisex model so ponytails and bronytails will fit comfortably in the updated retention system. The Tri-Fix web splitters aren’t adjustable, but the straps stay well away from the ears, and reflective details are found in the webbing and in stickers on the helmet’s surface.

Giro Aries Spherical

The Aries is Giro’s best-ventilated and most protective road helmet to date. The new model replaces the Aether and takes the position as the brand’s premier road helmet. What’s new is that five years of experience with Spherical and Aura, along with the constant march of technology, allowed Giro to build a helmet that, on paper, exceeds the Aether in almost every way. It's also currently the best helmet that Virginia Tech has tested and rated .

READ FULL REVIEW

Specialized Propero 4

When it comes to gravel or road racing, the Specialized Propero finds middle ground between comfort and aerodynamic advantage, as the Propero 4 prioritizes ventilation with “Micro-Channels” that make the most of minimal vents by funneling air more effectively through the helmet, which maximizes cooling.

Regarding aerodynamics, wind tunnel testing clocked the Propero 4 as 4 watts faster than the S-Works Prevail 3—the helmet that inspired the ventilation tactics used on the Propero 4—so you get the best of both worlds. Tack on MIPS and you’ve got great value in a lightweight helmet from a trusted brand.

Scott Cadence Plus (CPSC) Helmet

Comfort isn’t always the top priority in aero helmets, but the Cadence Plus does a respectable job of balancing that with speed-centric features. This helmet keeps the exterior sleek and unadorned for the sake of minimizing drag, but the orientation of its few front vents allows for comprehensive cooling, with the option to plug them up for increased aerodynamics. These plugs are sold separately from the helmet, but unlike aero covers of the past, these are small enough to fit in a jersey pocket. Which is handy if the day turns warm.

MIPS technology adds reliable rotational impact protection without bulk. Additional features like the rear light mount, magnetic strap buckle, and secure sunglass stowage streamline your experience with the Cadence Plus, so you don’t have to sacrifice ease of use for speed.

The only situation in which the Cadence Plus doesn't shine is on very steep, slow-speed climbs, particularly if you live somewhere hot and humid. When the speed drops, you quickly notice the lack of air moving through the helmet. But if you're looking for an aero helmet that's at home in World Tour races but still has all the usable everyday features needed by riders, the Cadence Plus is an excellent option.

Trek Ballista Mips

Aerodynamic helmets divide cyclists based on their looks. But while they continue to divide because of their looks, the comfort, weight, and ventilation of the best aero road helmets have improved greatly in recent years.

A prime example is Trek’s latest Ballista. Yeah, it kinda looks like a horseshoe crab. However, several Bicycling editors have tried this version, and all give it very high marks for comfort. It’s also quite light. On our scale, a size medium came in at 276 grams. That’s lighter than the Specialized S-Works Evade 3 (318 grams, medium) and even more “normal” looking helmets like the Giro Aires (284g grams, medium).

Ventilation is quite good too, with a noticeable rush of air streaming through the helmet. Other standout features: it’s quiet— an indication of how well it cuts through the air— and the folding fit system makes storing and packing the Ballista for travel easier.

Specialized Tactic

For its price, the Tactic is a great trail helmet that’s competitive with the best in the category. This well-made helmet has an integrated MIPS liner and slightly extended coverage at the temples and down the back of the head. The weight (380g, medium, our scale) is a touch heavy, but competitive.

It’s quite comfortable, too: The pads are plush and don’t irritate bare skin, the chin strap is supple, and the dial-fit system (horizontally and vertically adjustable) wraps the head without pressure points. High-speed ventilation and low-speed breathability are both very good.

The visor looks huge, but it doesn’t project into the field of vision much—a potential downside for riding when the sun is low. The Roam is goggle friendly, with integrated guides and room to dock the goggles under the visor. If you prefer glasses, the forward vents offer a place to stash them. With comfort, performance, and quality, the Tactic is one of our favorite trail helmets.

Heritage 2.0 Bike & Skate Helmet

Inspired by vintage motorcycle helmets, the trendy, comfortable Thousand Heritage was a favorite when it launched and we're glad to see it get an update. It still has a faux leather strap, but now features larger vents both on the top and in the back to keep you cool.

The logo in the rear pops off to reveal a small channel through which you can run your lock to secure the helmet. This is handy if you don't want to carry it around with you once you're at your destination. An adjustable dial allows you to adjust the fit, and we had no trouble managing the magnetic buckle with just one hand.

Smith Network

The Smith Network has many of the features of the company's pricier models, along with some truly novel ones. It retains the panels of a honeycomb-like material called Koroyd that is said to increase airflow, and along with the EPS foam, absorbs more energy upon impact. Plus the Network has great eyewear integration and an optional fabric visor that adds the convenience of a cycling cap without the added bulk.

POC Omne Air Spin

The POC Omne Air Spin looks like it should be a lot more expensive than it is. In the not-so-distant past, cheaper helmets looked, well, cheap. Straps were tough to adjust, retention systems were subpar, and there was less ventilation. In short, they were clunky.

The Omne, on the other hand, is far from clunky. It boasts extensive ventilation, a polycarbonate shell bonded to an optimized-density EPS foam liner, and POC's SPIN technology that reduces rotational forces from angled impacts (similar to MIPS). Add in the 360-degree size adjustment retention system and this helmet looks, feels, and performs just like many helmets that are double the price.

The ventilation is more than adequate to keep you from overheating, and despite the extra coverage in the back, it doesn’t feel excessive for road riding. Additionally, gravel and cross country racers who don’t like the full coverage of traditional trail helmets might enjoy this helmet.

Lazer Verde KinetiCore

Helmets don’t last forever, which is ok, as technology advances and plastics break down over time, but also because it motivates you to upgrade your head protection. As you retire an older helmet, there is also the environmental impact that many are thinking about nowadays.

Enter the Lazer Verde KinetiCore which makes discarding a helmet easier on your conscience. It’s made from 70 percent recycled material without using glue to piece components together, so you can continue the cycle by deconstructing and recycling this helmet once its riding days are over.

The Verde uses a relatively new rotational protection system, KinetiCore, that’s already earned a four-star rating from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab. Its safety ratings extend to the e-bike realm, too, for use at high speeds.

Specialized S-Works Prevail 3

Specialized claims its new Prevail is the most ventilated helmet the brand has ever made, and it’s easy to see why. Looking at the helmet from the front, Specialized has eliminated many of the traditional “foam bridges” that typically create all of the little vents on a helmet, replacing them with its new Air Cage design. It makes for five massive vents and provides a nearly helmet-free feeling on your head.

Giro Helios Spherical

The Helios is the latest in Giro’s line of Spherical helmets. Debuting with the Aether , Giro’s Spherical helmets feature a slip plane claimed to reduce rotational forces on the brain in some impacts.

Though it employs the same design, the Helios does not use the Aura polyamide reinforcing ring used by the Aether and Manifest . Without Aura, the Helios’s vents can’t be as large as the helmets with the reinforcement, which knocks ventilation down a peg. It's by no means hot or stuffy—it has internal channeling, and air moves through it well—but, compared to the Aether, ventilation felt only average.

Aimed at the gravel/all-road crowd, the Helios is a rounder, smoother-looking helmet: One that doesn’t shout, “I RACE!” Coverage also drops slightly lower in the rear, so the Helios covers more of the skull and provides additional protection if the rider falls backward.

Lumos Ultra

At 415 grams, the Ultra is no flyweight helmet, but it offers a ton of functionality that other helmets at the $120 price do not. The Ultra has all of the functionality of Lumos’ original offering, while also incorporating Mips technology and conveniently charging with a USB-C cable.

The downsides of the Lumos are the lack of e-bike certification, one-size-fits-most sizing, and that it’s a bit of a tight head-fit if you wear a ponytail. But if the sizing works for you, the added visibility on congested roads or when riding at night is appealing. A full charge can get you through about 10 hours of riding before needing to be topped off.

Specialized Mode

If you prefer the look of a skate helmet but are in search of something a bit more refined, the Mode is a great option. It’s priced well, looks right, and has some thoughtful details. The hard plastic outer shell and urethane edge bumper protect the foam against everyday knocks, so you don’t need to handle this helmet as delicately as a lightweight model. The MIPS liner is nicely integrated and should help with some impacts, and the padding is comfortable.

Ventilation is better than most helmets like this as there is channeling inside the helmet. Still, the vents are small, so don't expect road helmet levels of ventilation. Additionally, the Mode passes the Dutch e-bike helmet standard for added peace of mind.

Specialized Mio 2

Unlike the old days, kids should be, and are, wearing helmets from day one on bikes. But finding a helmet that’s effective and actually worth the money isn’t an easy task. The Specialized Mio 2 removes the guesswork. It’s top-rated safety comes out of a collaboration between the KTH Royal Institute of Technology and MIPS, for a helmet specifically designed to protect the soft skulls of young riders while reducing overall helmet size.

A kid-specific headset ensures that you can fine-tune the fit so toddlers of all sizes can wear it properly and open it up as their heads grow. Details like the tri-fix web splitter simplify size adjustments to reduce frustration on both sides. The Mio 2 comes in four fun colors and patterns with an included sticker pack.

Another great option for toddlers is Thousand , a kids brand that only makes helmets and helmet accessories. The Heritage 2.0 is a classic shell design with great ventilation, little weight, comfortable padding with a fully adjustable chin harness, lots of color options (rad sticker pack also included), and an option for a magnetic tail light. They also have a MIPS option. ($75 - $145)

(Multi-Directional Impact Protection System) comes in several versions. The most common uses a liner inside the helmet that allows your head and helmet to move relative to each other in the event of a crash.

Upon impact, the helmet can move a little without pulling on your head, which is claimed to reduce brain trauma. MIPS Spherical, shown here in the Giro Aether helmet , is another variant, as are the MIPS SL pads in the Specialized Prevail III helmet.

Specialized ANGi

A small electronic sensor will automatically signal your phone to send out a call for help—along with your GPS coordinates—to selected contacts if you crash and can’t do so on your own.

Smith Koroyd

While Specialized is no longer supporting its ANGi technology released a few years ago, a new and similar system called Aleck is now available in two Smith bike helmets: The Payroll and the Triad . Both also have Koroyd. The technology behind Koroyd involves miniature tubes thermo-welded together to create what looks like drinking straws or honeycomb if you were to look straight down on them.

The material crumples in on itself given a certain amount of force upon impact. Smith typically applies Koroyd in a zonal manner, built into particular places on the helmet to optimize weight and space savings while protecting the most vulnerable parts of your head. One of Smith’s newest bike helmet models, the Triad, utilizes Koroyd in combination with MIPS for a double dose of leading-edge protection.

The new Triad also includes Aleck “intelligent impact” crash sensors, which detect the amount of impact absorbed by the Koroyd technology, and can send out an emergency GPS signal to select contacts if the crash is severe.

The Triad (Weight: 290g; $210) also features an integrated skeletal structure, creating a “roll cage” for added strength and impact protection, and it crosses over from mountain to gravel to road. Smith’s VaporFit system provides 270-degree fit adjustment so riders can fine-tune comfort on the go, while 19 fixed vents provide consistent airflow.

Its AirEvac ventilation system integrates with Smith eyewear to reduce lens fogging, and front and rear channels in the helmet are there to store sunglasses when needed.

Bontrager Wavecel

Wavecel is a 15mm-thick grid of layered polyester that can crumple, flex, and glide on impact, reducing forces.

All helmets sold in the U.S. must meet a Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) standard . However, the standard is old (adopted in 1998), and does not, for example, contain any language about mitigating rotational forces on the brain, nor does it lay down any standards for a full-face helmet’s chin bar. Given all we’ve learned about brain injuries in the past 20+ years, the CPSC test is in desperate need of an update.

There are voluntary and third-party tests outside of the CPSC test. Of them, we like Virginia Tech’s STAR tests , which were developed with a more modern understanding of head injuries than the CPSC’s test.

VT’s protocols evaluate a helmet’s ability to mitigate linear acceleration and rotational velocity, then assigns a ranking of zero to five stars. A helmet gets more stars if the testing indicates it does a better job of reducing injury. Virginia Tech only recommends helmets that receive four or five stars.

Outside of CPSC and VT’s STAR, most reputable helmet makers have their own in-house test protocols. The specifics of those tests and the results are often proprietary and not shared with the public.

However, no controlled test can replicate every possible real-world crash. But wearing a helmet is always better than not wearing a helmet, and our understanding of what makes an effective helmet, and the associated testing, improves every day. And that means helmets are always improving.

Most of the helmets shown here are “half-lids.” These helmets cover the top of the head with coverage ending around the eyebrows and top of the ears, though some—particularly mountain bike helmets—offer extended coverage at the back of the rider’s head.

Another style of helmet is the full face. As the name suggests, this style of helmet covers the majority of a rider’s head and face. In addition to the chin bar that juts out in front of the rider’s jaw, a full face covers a rider’s ears and the back of their head with the large opening in front providing room for goggles.

As you can guess, full face helmets protect more of the rider—particularly the mouth and jaw—but are heavier and less ventilated than a half lid. Full face helmets are primarily used by mountain bikers—especially downhill and enduro racers—but all riders can benefit from the extra protection they provide.

Full face helmets generally fall into two categories.

A heavy-duty full face—typically used for downhill racing—has the most coverage of any type of bicycle helmet. They also have fewer vents, thicker foam, and a larger visor. Inside, a heavy-duty full-face helmet usually has thick pads that squeeze a rider’s cheeks, which helps keep the helmet in place and prevents it from wobbling.

Heavy-duty full-face helmets typically do not have any sort of dial-adjustable fit system, but instead rely on padding thickness to adjust fit. At the high end, these helmets often use a carbon fiber shell to shave weight. Specialized’s $500 Dissident 2 is a perfect example of a modern downhill race helmet.

Because they have the most coverage and the thickest foam, a heavy-duty full face should offer the most protection and energy attenuation of any bicycle helmet. But, as it is in every case, it comes down to the individual helmet and the specific impact.

A different take on the full face—and one that’s seeing increased popularity—is the lightweight full face like Fox’s Proframe RS. The promise of this style is the increased coverage and protection of a full face, but in a lighter and better ventilated (uphill friendly) format.

In contrast to the almost completely solid shell of a heavy-duty full face, a lightweight full face has numerous and large vents in the shell. A lightweight full face’s interior is like a half lid with less padding and lighter and thinner straps than a heavy-duty full face, and a dial-adjustable fit system.

Most full-face helmets are one piece, but a few helmets that have a removable chin bar. This allows the rider to have extra protection when they need it, with the option to ride in a lighter and better ventilated helmet when the extra protection is less critical. Examples include the Giro Switchblade , MET Parachute MCR , and Bell Super .

So, does crashing in a full-face helmet guarantee a better outcome than crashing in a half lid? That’s hard to say. As a bicycle helmet, the only mandatory (minimum) standard a full-face helmet needs to pass to sell in the USA is the same as a half lid ( CPSC 1203 ). That means that even though a full face offers more coverage than a half lid, that increased coverage is not subjected to any mandatory minimums testing.

However, there is a voluntary standard ( ASTM F1952 ) that subjects helmets to more severe impacts, tests more of the helmets surface area (lower test lines), and has minimum chin-bar impact requirements. That’s why we typically recommend only buying full face helmets that meet this voluntary standard.

“ A helmet will protect you only if it fits correctly ,” says John Thompson, Scott’s helmet product manager.

Sizes vary by brand, and most companies offer a fit guide to help you determine which size is best for your head. Measure the circumference of your head to determine the best size; if you fall between sizes, go by comfort.

Only the Netherlands has an e-bike-specific helmet standard (which was adopted there in 2017). NTA 8776 is a standard designed around protecting against higher impact speeds and covers a slightly larger part of the head.

In the U.S., there are currently no helmet requirements specific to e-bike use. But several manufacturers sell commuter helmets built to the NTA 8776 standard. Two of our favorites are the Specialized Mode and Smith Dispatch .

Expert Aaron Bible With More on Protecting Your Melon

.css-1dxgn05{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;background-color:#ffffff;border:0;border-bottom:none;border-top:0.0625rem solid #e5e5e5;color:#000;cursor:pointer;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;font-style:inherit;font-weight:inherit;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;padding-bottom:0.3125rem;padding-top:0.3125rem;scroll-margin-top:0rem;text-align:left;width:100%;}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1dxgn05{scroll-margin-top:3.375rem;}} .css-b4ahb2{border-radius:50%;width:1.875rem;border:thin solid #737373;height:1.875rem;padding:0.4rem;margin-right:0.625rem;} .css-jlx6sx{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;width:0.9375rem;height:0.9375rem;margin-right:0.625rem;-webkit-transform:rotate(90deg);-moz-transform:rotate(90deg);-ms-transform:rotate(90deg);transform:rotate(90deg);-webkit-transition:-webkit-transform 250ms ease-in-out;transition:transform 250ms ease-in-out;} what is strap creep.

If you don’t take the time to properly adjust the straps when you take your helmet out of the box and after the first ride, straps can impose on your chin and ears. This is pretty typical, but straps are almost infinitely adjustable, so read your manual and take the time to get the fit perfect. 

If your strap comes out from under your chin, the helmet can fly off and will be worthless in a crash.

How often do you need to replace your helmet?

Every time you take an impact to your helmet, it should be replaced, whether you drop it from the back of a pickup or tip over on the trail. If it’s dented or cracked at all, replace it. If you’re unsure, replace it. 

Also if it is exposed to wide ranges or hot or cold or sits out in the sun, replace it. Otherwise, replace every five years…hopefully it will be so sweaty, dirty, and gross before then you’ll want to replace it or upgrade anyway.

Do e-Bike helmets have different standards?

No, see above. However, if you are commuting on an e-bike on busy roadways, go with the best, most full-coverage helmet you can find.

When it comes to gear, few have made a lifelong career of testing and writing about new products in the outdoor world the way Aaron H Bible has. With three decades of experience as a content specialist, creative director, and journalist, Bible is an award-winning writer, photographer, and multimedia producer. In addition to outdoor gear, Bible has written about everything from technology and home electronics to healthcare and home furnishings. He is a contributing writer, editor, and photographer to publications including SKI, Freeskier , Men’s Health , Sunset , Gear Junkie , 5280 , Elevation Outdoors , Vanish , Runner's World , Bicycling , and more. Bible holds an MFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art & Design, and has worked as a photographer, gallery director, and educator. A ski bum at heart, he lives with his family in the high-country of Colorado where he and his wife are raising two girls to love thin air, fresh pow, and the flow state.  

A gear editor for his entire career, Matt’s journey to becoming a leading cycling tech journalist started in 1995, and he’s been at it ever since; likely riding more cycling equipment than anyone on the planet along the way. Previous to his time with Bicycling , Matt worked in bike shops as a service manager, mechanic, and sales person. Based in Durango, Colorado, he enjoys riding and testing any and all kinds of bikes, so you’re just as likely to see him on a road bike dressed in Lycra at a Tuesday night worlds ride as you are to find him dressed in a full face helmet and pads riding a bike park on an enduro bike. He doesn’t race often, but he’s game for anything; having entered road races, criteriums, trials competitions, dual slalom, downhill races, enduros, stage races, short track, time trials, and gran fondos. Next up on his to-do list: a multi day bikepacking trip, and an e-bike race. 

Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer. 

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Tested: Lazer's New Sphere MIPS Road Helmet

Giro Helios: Light and Aero with Spherical Tech

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Bontrager XXX WaveCel Helmet

The biggest advancement in the protection against cycling concussions

Bontrager XXX WaveCel delivers high-performance protection and the best in aerodynamics and comfort. Built by Bontrager’s best minds and raced by the pro athletes of the Trek-Segafredo men’s and women teams to stay safe when speeds increase and the finish line comes closer. It is the choice for riders looking for the absolute best in cycling performance.

WaveCel is a collapsible cellular structure that lines the inside of your helmet. It works like a crumple zone that absorbs the force of an impact before it reaches your head. You’ll never want to ride anything else again.

Each component of the XXX helmet was scrutinized and evaluated to make the helmet as light as possible without sacrificing protection or aerodynamic performance. The XXX helmet has found the ideal balance between protection, aerodynamics and weight to make sure your head and safety is priority #1.

Who doesn’t love stickers, with stickers?! With select colorways you can look so pro by adding official Trek-Segafredo decals to your red, white, and visibility yellow XXX WaveCel helmets.

All WaveCel helmets received the highest rating from Virginia Tech’s third-party testing facility. This unbiased assessment proved Bontrager’s WaveCel helmets to be among the highest level of protection available to cyclists with a 5-STAR rating.

XXX WaveCel Helmet

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The Best Bike Helmet for Commuters

By Lindsay Warner

No one ever plans on crashing their bike.

But if you ride long enough, even the most casual commuter will take a tumble, which is why you should always wear a helmet. (Case in point: I crashed six times while working on this guide.)

Over the past nine years, we’ve tested more than 30 helmets to determine that the Met Downtown Mips is the best bike helmet for most commuters.

Everything we recommend

Met Downtown Mips

The best commuter helmet.

Our top pick for most commuters, this decently priced helmet is comfortable and versatile, and it scores well in safety tests. But it comes in only two sizes (fewer than our other picks offer).

Buying Options

Trek Starvos WaveCel Cycling Helmet

Less versatile, but generous crash replacement.

This lightweight, aerodynamic helmet has good ventilation and an excellent crash-replacement policy. It’s best for riders on drop-bar bikes.

Upgrade pick

Giro Aries Spherical

For ultra-serious road cyclists.

This is the top-rated helmet in Virginia Tech’s safety tests, and it’s the lightest, best-ventilated helmet we tested. It’s also the most expensive by far. If you’re a committed roadie—or extremely concerned about concussions—it may be worth considering.

Specialized Mode

For city streets.

Designed for upright riding, this helmet is meant to appeal to commuters who dress in street clothes, not spandex. Yet it outperforms other urban-style helmets we’ve tested, and it scored exceptionally well on Virginia Tech’s crash tests.

Price includes shipping (limited colors and sizes)

Sweet Protection Trailblazer Mips

For all-around mountain biking.

Another stellar performer in Virginia Tech’s safety tests, this helmet is intended for use on mountain-bike trails. That means it provides more coverage to the back of your head than our top pick. It also weighs more.

The Met Downtown Mips is a lightweight and comfortable helmet that scores well in safety tests conducted by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab. With its low-key style and removable visor, it’s a versatile choice for casual commuters on hybrid bikes, as well as for weekend warriors on drop-bar road or gravel bikes.

The Met Downtown Mips is one of the least expensive helmets to make Virginia Tech’s top-25 list in 2023 (the average price for a helmet on that list is $180). But this helmet’s fit and features feel uncompromised by price. The buckle and adjustable chin straps, which keep the Downtown helmet on your head, are among the slimmest and most user-friendly of those I tested.

Seventeen vents move air through the helmet, and the sweat pads are robust enough to keep the anti-rotational Mips liner from snagging your hair. However, this helmet comes in only two sizes (the fewest of all our picks), and Met’s crash-placement policy is good but not great.

The proprietary liner on the Trek Starvos WaveCel Cycling Helmet —a wave-shaped cellular co-polymer insert called WaveCel—is a funky-looking take on anti-rotational technology. Yet this helmet breathes well (if you’re on a road bike) and tests well, and it eliminates the standard plastic Mips slip-plane liner.

Due to the angle of its vents, though, this helmet doesn’t breathe as well when you’re riding in a more-upright position. So it’s a less versatile choice than the Met Downtown Mips if you swap between a drop-bar bike and a city cruiser. (If you ride only hybrids or upright ebikes, consider our also-great pick for city riding .)

Of the companies whose helmets I tested, Trek has one of the best crash-replacement policies—free replacement for one year after purchase. So that helps to offset its higher price.

The Giro Aries Spherical is the most expensive helmet we tested, but it’s also the lightest and most comfortable. And it was the highest-rated helmet in the 2023 Virginia Tech helmet safety ratings (out of a total of 217 helmets).

This helmet has an unusual ball-and-socket design, which uses a sleeker, better-integrated version of Mips technology, and it also features adjustable chin straps and a low-profile buckle. The result is a helmet that’s so light and comfortable you almost forget you’re wearing it at all.

Generous vents on the outside and cut-in airflow channels on the inside keep your head cool. And a triangle of reflective tape adds visibility to the back, making us wonder why all helmets don’t come standard with reflective details. Given this helmet’s high price, though, the crash-replacement policy seems skimpy.

The Specialized Mode looks like one of the many bucket-style helmets that have become popular with kids and casual riders—almost more like a skateboarding helmet than what you’d see on a bike racer. These helmets tend to have fewer vents, so they can be hot, and they also tend to score poorly in Virginia Tech’s tests.

The Mode, however, bucks those expectations, with cleverly designed vents and an impressive sixth-place spot on VT’s list. But this helmet is less versatile than our top pick—its ventilation system doesn’t work well on road bikes. And its crash-replacement policy is less generous than those of our other picks.

If you tend to spend more of your time on trails than on pavement, the Sweet Protection Trailblazer Mips helmet could be worth a look. It also scored very highly in the Virginia Tech tests. And, like most mountain-bike helmets, it provides more coverage for the back of the head than road-bike helmets do. The flip side is that it’s heavier than our top pick, and the visor doesn’t come off.

As someone who rides all kinds of bikes, I appreciated the easy-breezy attitude the Trailblazer helmet gave off, and I felt just a tad less dorky traversing the streets while wearing it. (Buy the helmet you like best, and you’ll wear it more often!)

The research

Why you should trust us, who this is for, how we picked, how we tested, our pick: met downtown mips, runner-up: trek starvos wavecel cycling helmet, upgrade pick: giro aries spherical, also great for city streets: specialized mode, also great for mountain bikers: sweet protection trailblazer mips, other good bike helmets, the competition.

I’ve been writing about cycling gear for more than a decade. I’m also a frequent crasher. I managed to avoid being hit by a car as a bike commuter during my five years in Philadelphia. Yet when I moved to Vermont in 2011 and started racing bikes, I began logging crashes regularly.

Sometimes it’s unavoidable; if someone riding in front of you goes down, chances are good that you’re going down, too. But I’m also guilty of riding a bit beyond my skill level, particularly when I’m mountain biking on rougher terrain. (For example: I crashed six times while testing helmets for this guide.) I’ve damaged—and replaced—a lot of helmets over the years.

This is a guide for commuters—people who bike for utility and transportation, rather than for sports, such as mountain biking or road racing. Still, though someone who rides four blocks to school is as much of a bike commuter as the rider who logs 20-plus miles getting to work, their needs may be different.

We’ve included picks for those riding upright-style bikes (such as a basic hybrid or a folding bike or even one you’d rent from a city bike-share program). We’ve also included helmets for those on road or gravel bikes; these riders tend to bike in a more aerodynamic position, bent low over their drop handlebars. And we have an upgrade pick that’s light and well ventilated enough to use on epic weekend adventures.

Aesthetics and style are important, up to a point. You’re more likely to wear a helmet you like, for example, but the primary reason for any rider to wear a helmet is safety. So for this version of the guide, we leaned heavily on the ratings produced by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab , which tests for peak linear acceleration and rotational velocity in helmets. Those two things are important because both are directly linked to concussion risk.

Other testing labs do exist (many helmet companies have in-house labs, for example). But Virginia Tech is an independent third-party testing facility, with 10 years of experience in ferreting out the factors that contribute to head injuries. And it then builds sport-specific impact-testing rigs to replicate those scenarios. Virginia Tech is also the only testing facility that compares and ranks helmets, making it easier for people to perform apples-to-apples comparisons when shopping for a new helmet.

We also looked at helmet reviews published on various websites, including Bicycling , Gear Lab , and Bike Exchange , in order to get a sense of what other reviewers liked in terms of ventilation and fit. We consulted Helmets.org , the website of the Bicycle Safety Helmet Institute, a nonprofit advocacy group of volunteers who serve on ASTM International , a global standards development organization. ASTM, along with the Snell Foundation (another nonprofit devoted to preventing head injuries), created the standards for crash-test procedures that the federal Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) uses today.

After all of that research, we came up with the criteria that each helmet we tested must meet:

• A five-star rating from Virginia Tech: In the US, every helmet that’s sold must pass the CPSC’s crash tests. But they measure whether a helmet can resist a direct blow and whether the harness keeps the helmet on your head. Those are important things, for sure. However, the testing at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab also attempts to evaluate a helmet’s ability to protect your head from concussions. Virginia Tech rates helmets from one star to five stars 1 . While the technical documents behind the rating system go deep into things like linear and rotational kinematics, all you really need to know is that wearing a five-star helmet reduces risk of concussion by at least 70% , compared with not wearing a helmet. A one-star helmet reduces risk by 40%. (Of the 217 helmets that Virginia Tech tested in 2023, 128 were rated five stars.)
• A rating of 12.08 or below from Virginia Tech: VT engineers multiply concussion risk by the likelihood of a cyclist experiencing a similar impact. (A lower score is better.) Using the Virginia Tech ratings scale , we capped our testing at 12.08 or below, which is associated with a 75% reduction in the risk of concussion. That still left us with a whopping 75 helmets eligible for testing.
• Mips or other anti-rotational technology: While experts are still divided on whether Mips technology 2 (or something similar) helps reduce the risk of concussions , seeing that 73 of the top-rated 75 helmets tested by Virginia Tech had some such technology was enough to convince us that it helps.
• A crash-replacement program: Bike helmets are single-crash-only items. If you hit your head once, you should retire the helmet. Some companies offer a discount to encourage you to replace a helmet that might have been damaged in a crash. For this version of the guide, we took a hard line: If a company didn’t offer a significant crash-replacement policy, we wouldn’t test its helmets. Discounts range from 20% off to a completely free new helmet, and there can be a number of hoops you have to jump through to claim them.
• Good (or good enough) ventilation: If you typically travel at slow speeds and/or live somewhere cool (or damp), the popular WWII-style urban helmets may work for you. Still, we preferred helmets that weighed less and had plenty of air circulation.
• An adjustable fit: According to both the CPSC and Snell , a helmet must fit properly to work properly. Most helmets now incorporate an adjustable retention system, which ratchets the helmet onto your head more firmly than the old elastic systems did—a helmet that flies off upon impact will do you no good. We tested only helmets available in multiple sizes, and we preferred those with adjustable (versus fixed) chin straps.
• A reasonable price: A safe, highly rated bike helmet that meets all of the above criteria can cost as little as $55. The most expensive helmet we tested was $300 (it was full of features that differentiated it from cheaper models, as well as being the top-rated helmet by Virginia Tech). We think the sweet spot is around $100, although a robust crash-replacement policy may help you justify spending a little extra.
• A not-too-extreme look: You’re more likely to wear a helmet that you like. “Your typical bike commuter doesn’t want to look like Lance Armstrong,” said Kip Roberts, owner of Onion River Outdoors in Montpelier, Vermont. “Commuters are looking for something that looks less racy and more urban.” We kept this in mind while we were narrowing down our list, and we tried to include a variety of styles, color options, and shapes. While we tested only five-star helmets, any helmet is better than no helmet if it means you’ll wear it. So pick one that suits your typical style.

Short of installing a crash-testing rig in the basement (we decided to leave that to the pros), the next best way to test a bike helmet is to use it. Over the years, we’ve tested more than 30 helmets by examining ventilation, comfort, chin straps, extra features, retention systems, and how they look and fit. And, of course, we ride in them.

For this version of the guide, I logged more than 1,300 miles testing 11 helmets on roads, bike paths, mountain-bike trails, and in local cyclocross races. I paid special attention to how each helmet’s balance and venting systems varied across different types of bikes—from mountain bikes to road/gravel bikes with drop handlebars to an upright-style city commuter. And I rode in weather ranging from 45 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Met Downtown Mips helmet is our top pick for most commuters. This comfortable and versatile helmet is highly rated by Virginia Tech, and it comes in five colors.

It scored higher in Virginia Tech’s tests than many pricier helmets. The Downtown Mips helmet was one of only three helmets under $80 to place in Virginia Tech’s top 25 helmets. (The average price of the other helmets is $180.) Of the three helmets priced under $80, I tested—and liked—the $65 Giant Rev Comp Mips, but it’s soon to be discontinued. I also tested the $55 Specialized Align II , a former budget pick that’s still a good helmet for the price. But I thought the Downtown Mips helmet’s slimmer profile, adjustable chin straps, and better crash-replacement policy outperformed the Align II’s features enough to justify paying more.

The fully adjustable straps let you fine-tune its fit. Like all of the helmets I tested, the Downtown helmet has an adjustable buckle, under the chin, that lets you tighten or loosen the chin strap. And it has a ratcheting retention system (that is, the harness that circles your head) to keep the helmet snug. On this helmet, though, you can also adjust how the chin straps fit around your ear. (Fixed straps always seem to leave me looking like a sentry at Buckingham Palace !)

Just like the straps on our upgrade pick , these straps are smooth, lightweight, and routed through a simple V-shaped sliding buckle. You can’t quite adjust the sliders while riding, unless you’re comfortable taking both hands off of your handlebars, which is not always wise. But the system works well, and it eliminates fiddly extra hardware. Plus, the sliders allow me to tweak the fit depending on my riding position. When swapping between drop-bar and flat-bar bikes, I nearly always needed to adjust the slider so the straps lie flat across my cheek.

A light weight + a removable visor + lots of vents = greater comfort. Weighing 302 grams, the Downtown Mips helmet is one of the lightest ones I tested—bested only by our much-pricier upgrade pick (260 grams). When you remove the visor, the Downtown helmet weighs only 282 grams, which is helpful if you tend to ride down in your drop bars (then the full weight of your helmet will be supported by your extended neck).

However, if your bike has flat handlebars and a more-relaxed geometry, weight matters less—the helmet is centered over your more-upright body. Likewise, a visor may catch the wind and impede your vision while you’re beetling along on a drop-bar road bike. But it can really help keep the sun (or rain) out of your face on a flat-bar bike. I tested two other helmets with removable visors that were $10 cheaper than the Downtown, but this helmet had a higher safety rating and was more comfortable.

The Met Downtown Mips has 17 vents, which provided enough airflow no matter where or in what position I was riding. The removable (and washable) pads attached to the plastic Mips liner managed to prevent my hair from getting caught in the liner (a common complaint).

It works as well on the trail (or beach) as it does on the road. We hadn’t included versatility on our list of criteria. But the Met Downtown Mips helmet turned out to be an excellent choice for most bikes and most adventures. With its visor in place, this helmet kept the sun out of my eyes on a beach-cruiser ride in South Carolina. Back home in Vermont, I popped the visor off, and I was ready to shred at my local cyclocross race series.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• If you crash while wearing this helmet (like I did—twice), know that Met offers a 50% crash-replacement discount for the first two years after purchase. That isn’t quite as good as our runner-up pick ’s, but half off should be enough to spur most riders to replace a compromised helmet.
• The Met Downtown Mips helmet comes in two sizes, small/medium and medium/large. That’s better than one-size-fits-all, but it’s not as good as what’s offered by our other picks (which come in as many as five sizes).
• This was the only road helmet I tested that didn’t have enough space between its ratchet dial and the back of the helmet to comfortably pull a ponytail through. That meant I had to ride with sweaty hair on my neck.
• The Mips slip-plane liner, which is the Mips company’s most popular system, is also its clunkiest—basically a thin plastic shield attached to the inside of the helmet. The anti-rotational systems of our runner-up and upgrade picks are more seamlessly integrated.

With its aerodynamic shape, the Trek Starvos WaveCel Cycling Helmet looks sleek and downright racy. It’s also comfortable, but it lacks the versatility to easily transition between a drop-bar road (or gravel) bike and a flat-bar bike. It comes in four colors.

This helmet’s protective features make it less versatile than our top pick. WaveCel is Trek’s (proprietary) take on anti-rotational technology. Unlike the slip-plane system used by Mips, WaveCel is a wave-shaped cellular co-polymer insert that’s designed to flex, crumple, and shear upon impact, to help absorb and slow rotational forces.

And it tests well—seven helmets with WaveCel, including the Starvos I tested (number 51), made it into the Virginia Tech top 75. But the angle at which the liner is suspended in the helmet differs whether it’s a road, mountain bike, or commuter helmet. The Starvos is a road helmet. And when I was tucked low over my handlebars on my road bike, a cool breeze whooshed straight through the cells. But as soon as I swapped over to my around-town commuter bike—a flat-bar cruiser with a comfortable, upright riding position—the air stopped traveling through the helmet and instead rushed over and around it, deflected by the angle of the cells, leaving my head sweaty. That makes the Starvos helmet less versatile than our top pick , which performed equally well on bike paths and cyclocross courses.

If you mostly ride bikes with drop handlebars, however, the Starvos helmet is very comfortable. In a more-aerodynamic riding position, air passes freely through all parts of the helmet. Because there’s no plastic slip-plane liner to work around, designers could attach the one-piece removable helmet pads directly to the WaveCel insert; this helped mitigate sweat dripping into my eyes, even when I was slogging up a steep trail on a muggy summer misadventure. The helmet also had room above the ratcheting dial for me to tuck a ponytail. At 301 grams, this helmet is the second-lightest one I tested, bested only by our upgrade pick , at 260 grams.

It’s likely to fit most people. The Starvos helmet comes in five sizes—more than any of our other picks—as well as a version designed for people with rounder heads (that one comes in only two sizes). Plus, the Starvos helmet’s chin strap is fully adjustable (like our top pick’s chin strap), and I could also adjust it one-handed while riding.

Trek has one of the most generous crash-replacement policies we’ve seen. If you crash within the first year after purchase, your replacement helmet is free . And that’s important, since bike helmets need to be replaced any time you think you’ve hit your head. Unlike multi-impact helmets (like skateboard helmets), bike helmets are designed to “crush, crumble, and break upon impact,” according to Barry Miller, director of outreach and business development at the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab.

“We want the helmet to absorb energy and move independently of your head even for a single millisecond, because that can lower peak acceleration numbers,” Miller said. “If we can better attenuate and slow down rapid head movement, we can reduce concussion risk.”

But the helmet costs more and scores lower than our top pick . The Starvos helmet is more expensive than the Met Downtown helmet, and it didn’t score as well in Virginia Tech’s testing. And with its WaveCel liner peeking through the vents of its shell, it’s not very subtle going down the road.

If you subscribe to the belief that the best helmet to buy is the one you forget you’re wearing, the Giro Aries Spherical is our recommendation. It comes in eight colors, all of which include a triangle of reflective safety tape on the helmet’s back.

It costs a lot. At $300, the Aries Spherical is the most expensive helmet we tested. Given the price, we wish Giro offered a more-generous crash-replacement policy . (You get 30% off a new helmet, with a limit of one replacement per year.)

But this helmet is Virginia Tech’s top-rated model. It carries an 82.3% reduction of concussion risk and a score of 8.4 . (It tested so well, in fact, that VT’s Barry Miller and his team have plans to rescale the thresholds they use for assigning concussion risk.)

Curiously, neither Miller nor the Snell Foundation’s Hong Zhang nor Marcus Seyffarth (head of implementation at the Mips headquarters in Stockholm) could tell me which features will make a helmet test well, at least not just from looking at it. The thickness and density of the EPS foam may have an impact, they theorize. And a hard outer shell that slides—rather than halts—forward motion upon impact can also help. Or, as Zhang notes: “We can guess at the things you can’t see. But only the dummy [headform] can really tell us what’s inside.”

The Aries’ anti-rotation system was the slickest and most well integrated one I tested. Instead of a visible slip-plane layer that sits between the pads and the EPS foam of the helmet—like on our top pick —the Aries’ ball-and-socket design uses the entire helmet, with an outer foam layer suspended over an inner foam layer. Animated by a near-invisible Mips elastomer, the dual-density foam layers glide smoothly over each other, like a hip joint in its socket. And I couldn’t resist twisting the helmet between my hands every time I pulled it off its peg in the garage, simply because it’s neat to see and feel the system move.

It’s the most comfortable helmet I tested. The Spherical design (a collaboration between Giro and Mips) eliminates the plastic layer used in the Mips system found in most of the other helmets I tested. This gives Giro designers the freedom to cut wind channels into the part of the foam that goes against your scalp, and they can pad the helmet without needing to work within the parameters of a slip-plane liner.

The Aries is the first helmet in Giro’s Spherical line to debut a new sweat-management system, with a silicone bead in the front of the headband that supposedly redirects sweat from the forehead to the temples. Although it’s hard to quantify that claim, I never had sweat drip into my eyes while wearing the Aries. (The generously sized central vent sitting squarely over my forehead likely also played a role in sweat management.)

At just 240 grams—the lightest helmet in the test—it doesn’t weigh you down or feel clunky. Testing the Aries is perhaps best summed up by my friend Rachel, who gave it a test run on a hot, 45-mile gravel ride we did together. Her verdict: “It feels like wearing nothing. ” For a helmet, this is high praise.

It’s easy to adjust and versatile. This helmet comes in three sizes (there’s no version for people with round heads, though). It includes a simple, lightweight harness adjuster—which uses the same V-shaped slider as our top pick —and it has the slimmest, least-cumbersome chin buckle of those I tested. Plus, its harness accommodates a ponytail better than any of our other picks.

Shorter-distance commuters may find some of the Aries helmet’s features to be overkill. But this model performs equally well on drop-bar and flat-bar bikes, so it’s a good, albeit expensive, choice if you’re swapping among different styles of bikes.

Of all the helmets in this test, the Specialized Mode helmet was the one that snuck up on me. It’s modeled after those popular half-dome, WWII-style helmets you see everywhere in cities, and it’s clearly aimed at riders who prefer a less-sporty style. But it performs much, much better than other helmets of its type. It comes in five earth-tone colors.

The Mode is surprisingly comfortable, with great ventilation. At 397 grams, it’s the heaviest helmet I tried, and it doesn’t appear to have any visible venting system. But flip the Mode over, and you can see that it’s a double-layer shell with eight vents sandwiched between the shell and the liner. Its ventilation system seems inspired by ram-air intake-cooling systems, similar to those on ’60s hotrods (which use the dynamic air pressure created by forward motion to increase the static air pressure inside the engine, creating more airflow and increasing engine power). So the Mode should keep your noggin cool as you cruise down the road.

On my upright-style kid cruiser, air whooshed through the vents at a pleasantly high volume, keeping me cool even when I was toting my 1-year-old up and down hills. And when I was caught in a surprise shower, the Mode’s smooth, uninterrupted outer shell kept my hair dry (even if the same couldn’t be said of my back or legs). This helmet comes in three sizes, each of them in two head shapes: classic and round fit.

It scored surprisingly well in safety tests. The Mode is sixth in the Virginia Tech helmet ratings, making it the top urban-style helmet on the list; the next-highest (the Lazer Anverz NTA Mips, which isn’t available in the US) was at number 43. Although popular, most urban helmets tend to score very, very low on Virginia Tech’s tests—perhaps due to foam density, Miller surmised.

It’s designed for only one style of riding. The Mode feels predictably heavy and hot on a drop-bar bike, which requires a riding position that renders the helmet’s clever venting system nearly useless. As happens with our runner-up helmet , when you’re tucked low over drop handlebars, the air generated by pedaling zooms over the helmet without moving through the vents. The Mode also has fixed harness straps—though at least they’re fixed in a generally agreeable spot for riding a city cruiser or hybrid bike. (The under-chin buckle does let you shorten or lengthen the chin strap.)

The crash-replacement policy isn’t as robust as we’d like. Specialized gives you 35% off  a new helmet in the first three years , 25% off in the fourth year, and 20% off in the fifth.

The Sweet Protection Trailblazer Mips helmet is a top-rated mountain-bike helmet that comes in lots of cool colors (10 at the time of publication). It has a carefree vibe—suggesting that after you’re done picking up groceries, you’ll be heading to the trailhead to shred some singletrack on your mountain bike. Who can tell?

The Trailblazer helmet also tested well. Outfitted with the standard Mips slip-plane layer, this helmet scored fifth in Virginia Tech’s tests, just ahead of our other also-great pick , the Specialized Mode. Above-average protection is a priority if (like me) you’re someone who hits the dirt regularly. I racked up four crashes while wearing this helmet.

Even if you’re not a mountain biker, and you don’t have a history of crashing, a mountain-bike-style helmet may be something to consider, since they tend to protect the back of your head better than most road-style helmets. Though we didn’t test full-face helmets (like those worn by BMX riders and professional downhill mountain-bike racers), we did take into consideration the protection offered by helmets that extend farther down the back of the skull. Four out of the top 10 helmets rated by Virginia Tech are mountain-bike helmets. And, it’s worth noting, four are made by Sweet Protection, including the Trailblazer helmet I tested.

But road-bike or gravel-bike riders may prefer one of our other picks. Although better head coverage is a good reason to shop for a mountain-bike helmet, its design can have some drawbacks. Mountain-bike helmets tend to be heavier than road-bike lids (this one weighs 374 grams). And most include a visor that may not detach; this one doesn’t. The lack of a visor is no biggie, and it may be an advantage if you ride a flat-bar bike, or you want something you can take to the trails on weekends. Also, the harness straps on the Trailblazer are fixed in a position that’s conducive to mountain biking but less compatible with road or gravel biking. (The chin strap itself can be lengthened or shortened, though.) Like the Specialized Mode , this helmet comes in three sizes—but only one head shape.

The crash-protection discount isn’t as high as those of our top and runner-up picks, but it runs for longer. You get 40% off for the first three years you own the helmet.

If you can’t find our top or runner-up picks: The Bontrager Solstice Mips Bike Helmet was a pick in two previous versions of this guide. And we still like its low price, generous ventilation, easy-adjust chin straps, detachable visor, and five-star rating from Virginia Tech. Trek is currently rebranding its helmets (Bontrager had been the name of Trek’s accessories line). In the process, the new Trek Solstice Mips Bike Helmet (now $70) got a few beneficial tweaks, including a more-comfortable fit, larger vents, a more-seamless visor integration, and slimmer, sleeker chinstraps. Unfortunately, it also dropped 14 spots in the Virginia Tech ratings, to number 75. (The rounder “Asia-fit” version performed better, at number 71.) But the Trek version is still within the safety parameters we set for this guide, and Trek maintains Bontrager’s excellent crash-replacement policy , with free replacement within the first year.

The Bern Major Bike Helmet is a popular commuter-type model that comes in a ton of great colors. We thought the built-in internal visor was cumbersome, and we found this helmet to be less balanced than the Specialized Mode or Thousand Chapter Mips helmet (below).

Compared with our top pick , the Specialized Align II felt bulky and far less versatile. It also has fixed chin straps, which billowed out dangerously far behind my ears during testing; this looked funny and also compromised the safety of the helmet.

The non-Mips version of the Specialized Echelon II was our top pick in the previous edition of this guide. And while we can’t say which type of anti-rotational technology is the best, the Virginia Tech ratings strongly indicate that some type of that technology makes a difference in how helmets perform. For example, the (now-discontinued) non-Mips Echelon has a score of 25.20, ranks number 215, and earned only two stars from Virginia Tech. The Mips version scored 12.21, ranks number 81, and earned five stars. At 12.21, it just missed our cutoff of 12.08, so we didn’t test it this time around.

Like the Echelon II, the Mips version of the hugely popular Thousand Chapter helmet scored far better than its non-Mips alternative—12.91 vs. 24.93. Still, 12.91 didn’t reach our threshold for testing.

We tested the Giant Rev Comp Mips, but then we discovered that it was going to be discontinued.

This article was edited by Christine Ryan.

Although Virginia Tech’s documentation sometimes capitalizes the word STAR when referring to its rating system (the acronym stands for the Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk ), the site more frequently uses a lower-case star when discussing its helmet ratings. We’re sticking with the latter.

Confusingly, Mips is both the name of the Swedish company that developed one of the first helmet systems to protect against rotational impacts and a commonly used shorthand term for that company’s most popular product: the plastic slip-plane liner found in many of the helmets we recommend. (That liner is called the Mips Evolve Core .)

Barry Miller, director of outreach and business development, Virginia Tech Helmet Lab , phone interview , April 26, 2023

Hong Zhang, director of education at Snell Memorial Foundation , phone interview , April 26, 2023

Kip Roberts, owner of Onion River Outdoors in Montpelier, Vermont , phone interview , May 24, 2023

Marcus Seyffarth, head of Implementation, and Madelen Fahlstedt, biomechanical specialist at Mips , phone interview , August 9, 2023

Meet your guide

Lindsay Warner

Lindsay Warner is a freelance writer reporting on cycling gear for Wirecutter. She has written for such publications as Dwell, Outside, National Geographic, and Forbes, and she also works as an occasional copywriter for Ben & Jerry’s. She lives in Vermont, where she enjoys mountain biking, cyclocross, boat camping, and Nordic skiing.

Further reading

The Best Kids Bike Seats

by Caitlin Giddings

A kids seat mounted to your bike is a good way to begin to nurture your child’s own love of riding for transportation—or just for fun.

Gear for Foul-Weather Bike Commuting

by Wirecutter Staff

Hard-core bike commuters share seven items—from storm-worthy gloves to rugged tires—that keep them (and their stuff) safe and dry in the winter.

The Best Bike Panniers

by Eve O'Neill

After spending four years testing dozens of panniers, we’ve chosen six that’ll be great for daily duty no matter what you’re toting or where you’re going.

The Best Commuter Bike Lights

by Lindsay Warner

After testing some 115 lights over the past 10 years, we can recommend the best headlight and the best taillight for most people who commute by bicycle.

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Tech Check: The Helmets of The 2024 Tour de France

Are the helmets in the 2024 tour de france the best on the market or just the companies with the best marketing budget.

Don't miss a moment of the 2024 Tour de France! Get recaps, insights, and exclusive takes with Velo's daily newsletter. >","name":"in-content-cta","type":"link"}}'>Sign up today! .

Bang for your buck helmets are one of the biggest upgrades you can make in the gear you ride with. Like your kit, there’s a fashion element but unlike your kit, you can expect years of use out of a good helmet. If performance is more your game, then a helmet costs a fraction of what a wheelset costs but offers as much aero savings. Of course you might also opt to give up a few watts and get better ventilation. Whatever works for you, there’s a great helmet available.

What about the pro peloton though? Are the helmets in the 2024 Tour de France reflective of the brands that consumers choose? I wanted find out so I went through every team taking a look at what helmet sponsors they are working with.

The final tally is surprising. The brand with the most sponsored teams is Ekoi who sponsors Lotto-Dstny, Israel-PremierTech, Cofidis, and Arkéa-B&B Hotels. Number two with half that is a tie between Specialized and HJC each with two teams. Then the rest are one off sponsorships for another fourteen brands. Some of these are helmets I’ve ridden with extensively and some I’ve never seen. Keep reading to see if there’s something you haven’t seen before.

Team Visma-Lease A Bike – Giro

At the top of the model lineup Giro has the Aries Spherical Helmet and the Eclipse Spherical helmet. As evidenced by the name, both use an exclusive technology from MIPS called Spherical. It’s a ball and socket design that does well with Virginia Tech with the Aries currently sitting as the number one helmet .

Although both helmets are still technically current, the Eclipse looks like it’s not long for this world. It’s been out for two years now and is currently on deep discount. Instead, the Aries is the option that’s seeing promotion by Team Visma-Lease A Bike.

The Aries is also a helmet that represents something like what’s happening in the world of aero frames. Although it’s technically not an aero helmet, Giro touts the aero credentials. It’s also light, at 280 grams, as measured in size medium, and an excellent helmet for the hottest days. If you happen to love Team Visma-Lease A Bike there’s even a replica version available .

UAE Team Emirates – Met

Although we are talking about helmets in the 2024 Tour De France, Met is still remembering the Maglia Rosa. To my eye, the Giro Black and Yellow is maybe not the most exciting thing but bright pink certainly sounds fun. You can choose the Met Trenta 3K Carbon or the Met Manta the Maglia Rosa pink if you think you can pull it off.

If you do want either the ventilated Trenta 3K Carbon or the aero Manta, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. If pink is what you’ve got your heart set on, it’s not available in the US right now. Even if another color is more to your liking, and there is also a UA Team Emirates Edition, they run small. If you are at all close to choosing between sizes, pick the bigger one.

More details are available at met-helmets.com

Team Jayco–AlUla – Giant

Unlike almost every helmet brand on this list, Giant only has a single top model called the Giant Rev Pro. Like the Giro Aries, it seems to be straddling the line between aero and ventilated. Our review of it notes that the main use of CFD during design wasn’t to make it the fastest helmet but rather to make sure that it’s both vented and aero enough. Given that I’ve never touched this helmet, check out the full review for more info .

Ineos Grenadiers – Kask

Unlike Giant, Kask has more top-of-the-range helmets than anyone else and they are all aero optimized. The most expensive helmet in the lineup, and most lineups, is the Kask Elemento which uses a carbon fiber plate. Instead of the typical EPS of most helmets, there’s a 1mm thick carbon plate that will shift and move to absorb energy in the event of an impact. It’s a system that seems to work given the 5-star Virginia Tech rating but Kask is also using it to up airflow through the helmet. Although this is an aero helmet, temperature regulation is the big focus.

If you prefer something a bit more traditional, and cheaper, then the Protone Icon or Utopia Y are the typical vented or aero options. The Protone Icon is virtually unchanged since the days of Team Sky dominance so it’s got good visual recognition as the all-around choice. The Utopia Y meanwhile is less recognizable but still does a good job moving air through it while being fast.

You can check out more info on the Kask Elemento in our full review.

Lidl-Trek – Trek

Not to pick favorites here but Trek has a pair of helmets that I wear more than any others. The Ballista MIPS is a helmet that feels among the fastest I’ve ever worn while also being among the lightest at 260 grams in size medium. It does a decent job staying cool even on hot days but the long tail lets you know when you aren’t in an optimal position on the bike. I recently had to replace it after a crash and I opted for the beatle-esque “purple flip” color.

The only problem with the Ballista is that it’s a bit outrageous. It looks out of place on any ride where you aren’t pushing the pace and I tend to also include gravel rides in that. Instead the Velocis MIPS offers a less dramatic silhouette but still has aero credentials plus even better ventilation. It’s the helmet I used to ride the Traka 360 and I’m a huge fan of the angled brow that gives better visibility.

Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale Team and Total Energies – HJC

I’ve heard of HJC because it’s my job to hear of such things. Otherwise, it’s not a brand I have ever seen anyone wearing and I’ve never touched an HJC helmet. Part of that is undoubtedly because the brand isn’t available in the US and isn’t well known for cycling helmets even abroad. Although HJC dates back to 1971, and makes over a million helmets a year, the vast majority of them are for motorcycles.

Despite that HJC is sponsoring two teams this year and there are replica edition helmets available for both. You can read more details at HJCsports.com

Bahrain Victorious – Rudy Project

Rudy Project is an Italian company with the Rebel and Nytron at the top of the lineup. Of the two, the Nytron is better known partly because it’s been around for a while. Although the Nytro aero helmet is comfortable, it’s also heavy and it appears that this year Rudy Project is adapting.

The latest helmet to break cover is the Rudy Project Rebel. The Rebel drops a bit of weight, though it’s still not challenging for the lightest helmet out there, through the use of carbon fiber. Just like Kask, Rudy Project is using the carbon to reduce the need for EPS but then Rudy Project leans into sustainability. According to the brand, “the Rebel’s shell is crafted from recycled polycarbonate, with straps and padding also made from recycled materials.” You’ll also notice a new Fidlock buckle not yet seen on other helmets.

You can read more about the brand new Rudy Project Rebel at RudyProject.com

Soudal Quick-Step and Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe – Specialized

Specialized is a marketing machine and I’m surprised to learn that the brand is only sponsoring two World Tour teams. Despite that, the two teams have either the S-Works Evade 3 or the S-Works Prevail 3 as options for aero or vented helmets. In both cases, the light and narrow straps are noticeably different from other brands.

Of the two, the aero focused Evade 3 is the most unique because, despite being an aero helmet, it didn’t come to market focused on aerodynamics. The Specialized point of view is that the Evade 2 was already one of the fastest helmets on the market so making it cooler would be the best use of the brand’s design energy. In my own experience, I’d say Specialized was right to lean that direction as one of the most noticeable features of the S-Works Evade 3 is how much air that top vent flows. Every time I put it on I’m amazed at the feeling.

You can read more about Specialized helmets in our launch coverage of the Evade 3 and Prevail 3 .

Groupama-FDJGroupama-FDJ – Julbo

If you noticed a Julbo helmet among the helmets in the 2024 Tour De France and wondered why you’d never heard of it, you aren’t alone. I didn’t know that Julbo made a helmet and it turns out that’s not an oversight. The Julbo Finisher Evo is a brand new helmet announced a week ago. As expected from mid-priced glasses maker Julbo, an integrated eyewear storage system is one of the few bullet point features.

Other than the glasses storage, the Julbo Finisher Evo looks to be more of a ventilated helmet than an aero play. Julbo calls it the “most aerodynamic road helmet on the market” but includes an asterisk. In order to see those aerodynamic advantages you’d need the “modular speedshell” installed and UCI rules are very specific when stating that “Adding a removable cover is not allowed…” and “No material of any kind may be added to the helmet (tape, surface treatments, etc.).”  Still, most of us aren’t governed by the UCI and those kinds of covers are great in the winter.

Adding to the speedshell and glasses storage, the other details are fairly standard. Julbo is using MIPS Air Node for rotational impact protection plus there’s language discussing a 360-degree fit system. What you won’t find, yet, is a price and given that Julbo is often about exceptional value this number could be quite low when it’s revealed.

Check out Julbo.com for more information.

Alpecin-Deceuninck and Movistar – Canyon and Abus

This is a bit of an odd one given that there are two teams with two sponsors clumped together. What’s happening is that Alpecin-Deceuninck is a Canyon sponsored team who uses the Gamechanger 2.0 helmet. Movistar Team on the other hand is an Abus sponsored team who uses the Gamechanger 2.0 helmet. Notice anything odd? Yeah the two teams are both using an Abus helmet called the Gamechanger 2.0. There’s no difference between them despite the Canyon branding on one of them.

In terms of the actual Gamechanger 2.0 helmet, this is one I’d always written off. I’d thought that it was playing at aero looks without any actual aero credentials. Then I spent time riding with one at Sea Otter this year. I also had a chance to talk with Abus about the helmet and I got quite a lesson on the obsessiveness that the designers applied to the aero credentials. The top vent alone went through over a dozen 3D printed prototypes to get it just right. The end result is a comfortable and aero helmet that’s reasonably light as well. The look won’t be for everyone but it’s at least designed that way with purpose.

Check out Abus.com for more info on the Gamechanger 2.0

EF Education-Easypost – POC

POC has been getting a lot of press recently for new and innovative helmets. Lachlan Morton was on the top step of the Unbound 200 podium with the POC Procen Air and I wrote a follow up article about what it’s like to ride in the Proceen Air . This time though, the Proceen Air isn’t getting much use. Instead there’s a brand new helmet from POC that hasn’t seen a wide release so far.

Although my colleague Alvin Holbrook was on-site looking for unrelease tour tech , he wasn’t fast enough to catch a shot of the new POC helmet. The only thing we know is what we can see in pictures that show a slight update to the older POC design language. If you take a POC Ventral MIPS and change up the vents a bit plus add some carbon fiber, you might have something close to the new helmet. Whatever it is, we can only guess for now.

Lotto-Dstny, Israel-PremierTech, Cofidis, Arkéa-B&B Hotels – Ekoi

French brand Ekoi is the company with the most teams sponsored this year. Is that because they are the best helmets around? Hard to tell but the top helmet in the lineup is the Helmet Aerodinamica that came to life with design help from Pininfarina.

This is a helmet that in some ways seems to reference a similar design language as the Trek Ballista MIPS but the two are also quite different. While the Trek is all angles and numbers, the Pininfarina design language is closer to a mid-century modern interpretation of a similar long tail TT ancestor. Ekoi doesn’t give any aero details but is clear that it’s a result of extensive tunnel testing. In my experience wearing it, it’s less likely to catch air with the turn of your head and it’s heavier with more focus on comfort details. The thick straps and magnetic buckle don’t save weight but they do make it a pleasure to wear.

It’s also worth noting that Ekoi is a reliable budget option despite high quality. An aero helmet for the $250 price point that the Helmet Aerodinamica is currently selling at is basically unheard of.

You can find more info at Ekoi.com .

Intermarché-Wanty – Uvex

Don’t tell anyone but I’ve been wearing a Uvex Rise Pro MIPS a ton over the last few months despite it’s lack of availability in the US. If I’m honest I grabbed it initially because I don’t have a lot of white helmets to match white sunglasses. I’ve kept using it because it absolutely does not move on your head. This is similar to the Kask Elemento but without the rather odd front pad that the Kask has. As good as that helmet is though, I suspect it’s not that fast. Get moving quick and it makes a lot of racket in the wind.

It would seem I’m not wrong in that assessment as Intermarché-Wanty has actually been wearing a brand new Uvex helmet called the Uvex Surge Aero MIPS. This is another helmet that seems to run afoul of the UCI rule preventing add-on shells and yet there are pictures with the vents covered. Perhaps there’s some loophole I’m not aware of but either way, the new helmet looks very similar to the Rise Pro.

It would seem that the Surge Aero takes the Rise Pro design and pairs it back plus adds the shell. The Rise Pro uses a bridge through the center which presumably makes it more aero but also less vented. If you reduces that to the bare minimum then added the optional shell, you’d likely end up with the Surge Aero. Given how good the Rise Pro is, I’d call this a good thing. It’s also a bargain if you don’t live in the US and can actually purchase it.

You can find more info at uvex-sports.com

Team DSM Firmenich-Post NL – Scott

The latest Scott helmet you will find lurking with other helmets in the 2024 Tour De France is the Scott Cadence Plus. It’s an aero helmet with a price that even undercuts, slightly, the previously unheard of $250 price point. One of the best features though, isn’t something you’ll see in the tour.

The Scott Cadence Plus is one of only a few helmets available with a quality light that doesn’t get in the way. In the recent review, Alvin Holbrook does a great job summing up the positives and negatives but the arc of the story meant not many words about the light. That happens when you are trying to tell a concise story so I’ll just highlight it here. For the rest of the details, jump over to see what  Holbrook has to say in his full Scott Cadence Plus review .

Astana Qazaqstan – Limar

If there’s any helmet among the helmets in the 2024 Tour de France that stand out as special it might be from Limar. Marc Cavendish was wearing the Limar Atlas when he pulled off his historic 35th Tour de France stage victory . It’s a little hard to recognize it because of the Monster energy paint scheme but it’s definitely the one on his head as he raised his hands in victory.

I won’t try to tell you that Cavendish was successful because of the air atlas but it obviously didn’t hurt. For those of us not trying to put our names in the victory books, the Air Atlas is still a great helmet. The most notable detail is the “UFO” which is a clip on tail that extends the rear of the helmet and transforms it from the lightest aero helmet on the market to not quite lights but faster. You can see Cavendish has it installed as he got caught for drafting so it would seem that it is useful.

I’m kind of joking about the UFO. In real life, you likely won’t ever remove it. It takes away nothing from the air flow when it’s installed and while it weighs 26 grams, it only puts the Air Atlas 7 grams over the Trek Ballista MIPS. Limar would likely save more weight getting rid of the padding on the strap and the magnetic buckle but both are details that make this helmet a comfortable aero option.

You can read more at Limar.com .

Uno-X Mobility – Sweet Protection

Whenever I think about Sweet Protection it tends to be in relation to Alexi Vermeulen, who I tend to end up riding with somewhat often, or Pas Normal which makes some of my favorite kits. For most people, Sweet Protection immediately brings visions of uhm… Spaceballs (the kinder shape reference) aero helmets. Sweet Protection doesn’t just make weird TT helmets though. The brand also has an excellent pair of top-shelf road bike helmets.

The Sweet Protection Falconer 2Vi and Falconer Aero 2Vi are really the same helmet. One of them has a number of the vents covered and one of them leaves them open but otherwise, there’s no difference. In both cases, the Sweet Protection helmets fly a bit under the radar. They don’t have standout details in any one specific area and yet the whole design comes together in a cohesive way. They are #2 on the Virginia Tech rankings, do an excellent job at holding glasses stashed on your helmet, and are overall great all-around helmets.

If you care about color choices, that alone might be enough to have you check out the Falconer variants. Sweet protection offers 8 color options and Pas Normal offers another 3. You can check out more details at SweetProtection.com or PASNormalstudios.com

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Rudy Project Nytron helmet

At road.cc every product is thoroughly tested for as long as it takes to get a proper insight into how well it works. Our reviewers are experienced cyclists that we trust to be objective. While we strive to ensure that opinions expressed are backed up by facts, reviews are by their nature an informed opinion, not a definitive verdict. We don't intentionally try to break anything (except locks) but we do try to look for weak points in any design. The overall score is not just an average of the other scores: it reflects both a product's function and value – with value determined by how a product compares with items of similar spec, quality, and price.

Good scores are more common than bad, because fortunately good products are more common than bad.

• Exceptional
• Not so good

The Rudy Project Nytron helmet is comfortable and easy to fit with decent ventilation for an aero helmet. With no obvious reason to disbelieve the claims of its aerodynamic prowess, it shapes up as a solid option if the aesthetics are to your taste.

> Buy now: Rudy Project Nytron helmet for £144.49 from TradeInn

Looks-wise, most aero road helmets are a little idiosyncratic and the Nytron is no exception. Viewing it on myself for the first time, I felt it sat a little high on my head. However, after much swapping between helmets I eventually concluded that this was a bit of an illusion.

Those air vents do a decent of hoovering in a breeze and the helmet is decently open at the rear as well. Aero helmets unavoidably demand at least a little compromise when it comes to ventilation, but the Nytron should prove airy enough for all but the hottest days – unless you're a literal hothead.

The local climate permitted me a couple of rides when the temperature was in the mid-20s and I felt entirely comfortable riding on the flat. Uphill, at slower speeds, heat built a little on these days, but there are a couple of vents on top and a couple on the sides as well, so it's certainly not an oppressive design relative to some others. If the majority of your riding is in the UK, I don't think you'd have too many days a year when you'd be lamenting its shortcomings.

There's a choice of five colours: black, white, red, blue metal (shiny) and pink fluoro. Those last two are pretty bold.

At 282g the Nytron is a smidge heavier than a lot of aero helmets – which tend to be weightier anyway – but I wouldn't say it feels in the least bit hefty and the fit suited me. The size guide suggested I was in the middle of the 'small-medium' size range and looking at where I set the dial fastener, it does indeed look like it would also fit both the fractionally bigger- or smaller-headed. This is the smallest size though (55-58cm) and the only other size is large (59-61cm).

The dial clicks tighter nicely and then sort of gradually releases when you go the other way, eventually expanding without clicks. You also get half a dozen settings for vertical fine-tuning.

The padding within is sufficient without being over-the-top. The strap is pretty basic-feeling though and the fastener, from Fastex, is a fairly typical plastic one. Given the option, I'd prefer a magnetic one, but I can't say two-handed fastening is a real blight on my life. It's no colossal hardship to do this fastener up, and once it's done, it's done.

The dividers below the ears are fairly standard too. They're fine. They work. There are functional sunglasses slots too.

The Nytron is EN 1078 certified, but doesn't feature Mips. It does however pass Rudy Project's own WG11 experimental protocol test.

This WG11 rotational impact test is a protocol adopted 'in cooperation with accredited and notified bodies, to test and measure the performance of the helmets against rotational impacts'.

As Stu has previously reported , this is not a part of either the European or US standards' testing protocols, but Rudy Project says 'it takes inspiration from ECE 22.06 (a new standard for motorcycle helmets) and it is based on real accident data and scientific sources'.

Whether you measure the Nytron's value for money relative to its rivals’ RRPs or what each helmet is actually selling for at any given moment, it’s not bad.

The  Specialized S-Works Evade 3  is, on the face of it, in a different price bracket at £250, but you can buy it for £75 less than that – but then you can also buy the Nytron for around £50 less than its RRP.

At full price the Nytron compares well with the  Met Manta Mips Aero Road helmet at £220 (£195 on eBay), though the Met is a bit lighter and – as you can judge from the name – also features Mips. It’s also cheaper than the Trek Ballista Mips  at £229.99 (£159 on various websites).

The  HJC Furion 2.0 is slightly less at £180, significantly lighter, and boasts a 'Selfit' mechanism to keep the helmet snug to your head without feeling too tight – although it's apparently not the best ventilated. It’s currently available for £122.95 on eBay.

Our  best aero cycling helmets buyer's guide details our favourite lids for slicing your way through the air.

The Rudy Project Nytron is a really nice, comfortable aero helmet. While there's little to quibble with, it isn't perhaps doing an enormous amount to distinguish itself from the pack – unless you're a fan of the look.

> Buy now: Rudy Project Nytron helmet for £144.49 from TradeInn

A solid, comfortable aero helmet suitable for all but the very hottest days.

road.cc test report

Make and model: Rudy Project Nytron helmet

Size tested: Medium

Tell us what the product is for and who it's aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?

Aero road cycling helmet "that combines excellent aerodynamic performance with exceptional comfort".

Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?

"Nytron exceeds the Rudy Project WG11 experimental protocol test. The WG11 rotational impact test is a protocol adopted by Rudy Project, in cooperation with accredited and notified bodies, to test and measure the performance of the helmets against rotational impacts."

Well put-together, but the strap and fastener seem unremarkable for a bike helmet at this price.

Comfortable and easy to fit with decent ventilation for an aero helmet. No obvious reason to disbelieve that it's not aerodynamic.

Not heavy, but there are lighter helmets that are still geared towards aerodynamics.

Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose

Fits well, airy enough and little to go wrong with it – and it certainly looks aero.

Tell us what you particularly liked about the product

Just a solid product with no particular niggles.

How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?

Many aero helmets are more expensive, and while most are actually available for less – so is the Nytron.

Did you enjoy using the product? Yes

Would you consider buying the product? Yes

Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes

Use this box to explain your overall score

A really nice, comfortable aero helmet that isn't perhaps doing an enormous amount to distinguish itself from the pack – unless you're a big fan of the look.

Overall rating: 7 /10

About the tester

Age: 44   Height: 185   Weight: 78

I usually ride: Giant Defy Advanced Pro 3   My best bike is:

I've been riding for: 10-20 years   I ride: A few times a week   I would class myself as: Experienced

I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, E-bike/utility

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Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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Serial Killer Quick Reference Guides

#1 Stranglers

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Sergei Ryakhovsky

The balashikha ripper, the hippopotamus,   active for 6 years (1988-1993) in russia, confirmed victims, possible victims.

• Serial Killer Profile
• Serial Killer Type
• General Information
• Characteristics
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• Boolean Statistical Questions
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Sergei Ryakhovsky (Sergei Vasilyevich Ryakhovsky) a Soviet-Russian serial killer known as the Balashikha Ripper and The Hippopotamus. Ryakhovsky was convicted for the killing of nineteen people in the Moscow area between 1988 and 1993. Ryakhovsky's mainly stabbed or strangulated his victims, he mutilated some bodies, mainly in the genital area. Allegedly Ryakhovsky carried out necrophilic acts on his victims and stole their belongings. Ryakhovsky standing 6’5" tall and weighting 286 pounds, gaining him the nickname, The Hippo. Sergei Ryakhovsky died on January 21st 2005 from untreated tuberculosis while serving his life sentence in prison.

Sergei Ryakhovsky Serial Killer Profile

Serial Killer Sergei Ryakhovsky (aka) the Balashikha Ripper, The Hippopotamus, was active for 6 years between 1988-1993 , known to have ( 19 confirmed / 19 possible ) victims. This serial killer was active in the following countries: Russia

Sergei Ryakhovsky was born on December 29th 1962 in Balashikha, Moscow Oblast, Soviet Union. He had a physically defect. During his education he had academic, social or discipline problems including being teased or picked on.

Sergei Ryakhovsky a necrophile male citizen of Russia.

Prior to his spree he had killed, commited crimes, and served time in jail.

In 1988 (Age 25/26) Sergei Ryakhovsky started his killing spree, during his crimes as a serial killer he was known to rob, commit acts of necrophilia , torture , strangle , rape , mutilate, and murder his victims.

He was arrested on April 13th 1993 (Age 30), sentenced to death by firing squad at a maximum-security penal colony in Solikamsk, Perm Oblast, Russia. He was convicted on charges of murder and other possible charges during his lifetime.

Sergei Ryakhovsky died on January 21st 2005 (Age 42), cause of death: natural causes, untreated tuberculosis at a maximum-security penal colony in Solikamsk, Perm Oblast, Russia.

Profile Completeness: 62%

Sergei Ryakhovsky has been listed on Killer.Cloud since November of 2016 and was last updated 5 years ago.

Sergei Ryakhovsky a known:

( 651 killers ) serial killer.

The unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Serial Killer as defined by the FBI at the 2005 symposium.

( 308 killers ) RAPIST

Rape is usually defined as having sexual intercourse with a person who does not want to, or cannot consent.

( 60 killers ) NECROPHILIAC

Necrophilia, also called thanatophilia, is a sexual attraction or sexual act involving corpses. Serial Killer Necrophiliacs have been known to have sex with the body of their victim(s).

( 89 killers ) TORTURER

Torture is when someone puts another person in pain. This pain may be physical or psychological. Tourturers touture their victims.

( 251 killers ) STRANGLER

Strangulation is death by compressing the neck until the supply of oxygen is cut off. Stranglers kill by Strangulation.

Sergei Ryakhovsky Serial Killer Profile:

Updated: 2019-06-30 collected by killer.cloud, 8 timeline events of serial killer sergei ryakhovsky.

The 8 dates listed below represent a timeline of the life and crimes of serial killer Sergei Ryakhovsky. A complete collection of serial killer events can be found on our Serial Killer Timeline .

Back to top Serial Killers Active During

The following serial killers were active during the same time span as Sergei Ryakhovsky (1988-1993).

Edward Edwards 5 Victims during 20 Years

Patricia allanson 3 victims during 18 years, adolfo constanzo 16 victims during 4 years, robert ben rhoades 3 victims during 16 years, serial killers by active year, books that mention sergei ryakhovsky.

Kevin Smith

Serial killer stranglers.

Serial Killer Rapists

Sergey Kuznetsov

Butterfly skin.

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Believing in russia.

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The new international dictionary of pentecost....

External References

• Sergei Ryakhovsky on en.wikipedia.org , Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018 .
• Juan Ignacio Blanco , Sergei Vasilyevich RYAKHOVSKY on murderpedia.org , Retrieved on Sep 18, 2018 .
• Q372816 on www.wikidata.org , Retrieved on Oct 9, 2018 .

Sergei Ryakhovsky is included in the following pages on Killer.Cloud the Serial Killer Database

• #3 of 45[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers with birthdays in December
• #10 of 60[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Necrophiliacs sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #10 of 29[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killers active in Russia
• #10 of 55[ Page 1 ] of Capricorn Serial Killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #11 of 89[ Page 1 ] of Serial Killer Torturers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #27 of 250[ Page 2 ] of Serial Killer Stranglers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #35 of 307[ Page 3 ] of Serial Killer Rapist sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #63 of 651[ Page 5 ] of serial killers sorted by Confirmed Victims
• #264 of 651[ Page 18 ] of serial killers sorted by Years Active
• #381 of 651[ Page 26 ] of serial killers sorted by Profile Completeness
• #516 of 651[ Page 35 ] of the A-Z List of Serial Killers

40 Facts About Elektrostal

Written by Lanette Mayes

Modified & Updated: 01 Jun 2024

Reviewed by Jessica Corbett

Elektrostal is a vibrant city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia. With a rich history, stunning architecture, and a thriving community, Elektrostal is a city that has much to offer. Whether you are a history buff, nature enthusiast, or simply curious about different cultures, Elektrostal is sure to captivate you.

This article will provide you with 40 fascinating facts about Elektrostal, giving you a better understanding of why this city is worth exploring. From its origins as an industrial hub to its modern-day charm, we will delve into the various aspects that make Elektrostal a unique and must-visit destination.

So, join us as we uncover the hidden treasures of Elektrostal and discover what makes this city a true gem in the heart of Russia.

Key Takeaways:

• Elektrostal, known as the “Motor City of Russia,” is a vibrant and growing city with a rich industrial history, offering diverse cultural experiences and a strong commitment to environmental sustainability.
• With its convenient location near Moscow, Elektrostal provides a picturesque landscape, vibrant nightlife, and a range of recreational activities, making it an ideal destination for residents and visitors alike.

Known as the “Motor City of Russia.”

Elektrostal, a city located in the Moscow Oblast region of Russia, earned the nickname “Motor City” due to its significant involvement in the automotive industry.

Home to the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Elektrostal is renowned for its metallurgical plant, which has been producing high-quality steel and alloys since its establishment in 1916.

Boasts a rich industrial heritage.

Elektrostal has a long history of industrial development, contributing to the growth and progress of the region.

Founded in 1916.

The city of Elektrostal was founded in 1916 as a result of the construction of the Elektrostal Metallurgical Plant.

Located approximately 50 kilometers east of Moscow.

Elektrostal is situated in close proximity to the Russian capital, making it easily accessible for both residents and visitors.

Known for its vibrant cultural scene.

Elektrostal is home to several cultural institutions, including museums, theaters, and art galleries that showcase the city’s rich artistic heritage.

A popular destination for nature lovers.

Surrounded by picturesque landscapes and forests, Elektrostal offers ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and birdwatching.

Hosts the annual Elektrostal City Day celebrations.

Every year, Elektrostal organizes festive events and activities to celebrate its founding, bringing together residents and visitors in a spirit of unity and joy.

Has a population of approximately 160,000 people.

Elektrostal is home to a diverse and vibrant community of around 160,000 residents, contributing to its dynamic atmosphere.

Boasts excellent education facilities.

The city is known for its well-established educational institutions, providing quality education to students of all ages.

A center for scientific research and innovation.

Elektrostal serves as an important hub for scientific research, particularly in the fields of metallurgy , materials science, and engineering.

Surrounded by picturesque lakes.

The city is blessed with numerous beautiful lakes , offering scenic views and recreational opportunities for locals and visitors alike.

Well-connected transportation system.

Elektrostal benefits from an efficient transportation network, including highways, railways, and public transportation options, ensuring convenient travel within and beyond the city.

Famous for its traditional Russian cuisine.

Food enthusiasts can indulge in authentic Russian dishes at numerous restaurants and cafes scattered throughout Elektrostal.

Home to notable architectural landmarks.

Elektrostal boasts impressive architecture, including the Church of the Transfiguration of the Lord and the Elektrostal Palace of Culture.

Offers a wide range of recreational facilities.

Residents and visitors can enjoy various recreational activities, such as sports complexes, swimming pools, and fitness centers, enhancing the overall quality of life.

Provides a high standard of healthcare.

Elektrostal is equipped with modern medical facilities, ensuring residents have access to quality healthcare services.

Home to the Elektrostal History Museum.

The Elektrostal History Museum showcases the city’s fascinating past through exhibitions and displays.

A hub for sports enthusiasts.

Elektrostal is passionate about sports, with numerous stadiums, arenas, and sports clubs offering opportunities for athletes and spectators.

Celebrates diverse cultural festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal hosts a variety of cultural festivals, celebrating different ethnicities, traditions, and art forms.

Electric power played a significant role in its early development.

Elektrostal owes its name and initial growth to the establishment of electric power stations and the utilization of electricity in the industrial sector.

Boasts a thriving economy.

The city’s strong industrial base, coupled with its strategic location near Moscow, has contributed to Elektrostal’s prosperous economic status.

Houses the Elektrostal Drama Theater.

The Elektrostal Drama Theater is a cultural centerpiece, attracting theater enthusiasts from far and wide.

Popular destination for winter sports.

Elektrostal’s proximity to ski resorts and winter sport facilities makes it a favorite destination for skiing, snowboarding, and other winter activities.

Promotes environmental sustainability.

Elektrostal prioritizes environmental protection and sustainability, implementing initiatives to reduce pollution and preserve natural resources.

Home to renowned educational institutions.

Elektrostal is known for its prestigious schools and universities, offering a wide range of academic programs to students.

Committed to cultural preservation.

The city values its cultural heritage and takes active steps to preserve and promote traditional customs, crafts, and arts.

Hosts an annual International Film Festival.

The Elektrostal International Film Festival attracts filmmakers and cinema enthusiasts from around the world, showcasing a diverse range of films.

Encourages entrepreneurship and innovation.

Elektrostal supports aspiring entrepreneurs and fosters a culture of innovation, providing opportunities for startups and business development .

Offers a range of housing options.

Elektrostal provides diverse housing options, including apartments, houses, and residential complexes, catering to different lifestyles and budgets.

Home to notable sports teams.

Elektrostal is proud of its sports legacy , with several successful sports teams competing at regional and national levels.

Boasts a vibrant nightlife scene.

Residents and visitors can enjoy a lively nightlife in Elektrostal, with numerous bars, clubs, and entertainment venues.

Promotes cultural exchange and international relations.

Elektrostal actively engages in international partnerships, cultural exchanges, and diplomatic collaborations to foster global connections.

Surrounded by beautiful nature reserves.

Nearby nature reserves, such as the Barybino Forest and Luchinskoye Lake, offer opportunities for nature enthusiasts to explore and appreciate the region’s biodiversity.

Commemorates historical events.

The city pays tribute to significant historical events through memorials, monuments, and exhibitions, ensuring the preservation of collective memory.

Promotes sports and youth development.

Elektrostal invests in sports infrastructure and programs to encourage youth participation, health, and physical fitness.

Hosts annual cultural and artistic festivals.

Throughout the year, Elektrostal celebrates its cultural diversity through festivals dedicated to music, dance, art, and theater.

Provides a picturesque landscape for photography enthusiasts.

The city’s scenic beauty, architectural landmarks, and natural surroundings make it a paradise for photographers.

Connects to Moscow via a direct train line.

The convenient train connection between Elektrostal and Moscow makes commuting between the two cities effortless.

A city with a bright future.

Elektrostal continues to grow and develop, aiming to become a model city in terms of infrastructure, sustainability, and quality of life for its residents.

In conclusion, Elektrostal is a fascinating city with a rich history and a vibrant present. From its origins as a center of steel production to its modern-day status as a hub for education and industry, Elektrostal has plenty to offer both residents and visitors. With its beautiful parks, cultural attractions, and proximity to Moscow, there is no shortage of things to see and do in this dynamic city. Whether you’re interested in exploring its historical landmarks, enjoying outdoor activities, or immersing yourself in the local culture, Elektrostal has something for everyone. So, next time you find yourself in the Moscow region, don’t miss the opportunity to discover the hidden gems of Elektrostal.

Q: What is the population of Elektrostal?

A: As of the latest data, the population of Elektrostal is approximately XXXX.

Q: How far is Elektrostal from Moscow?

A: Elektrostal is located approximately XX kilometers away from Moscow.

Q: Are there any famous landmarks in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to several notable landmarks, including XXXX and XXXX.

Q: What industries are prominent in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal is known for its steel production industry and is also a center for engineering and manufacturing.

Q: Are there any universities or educational institutions in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal is home to XXXX University and several other educational institutions.

Q: What are some popular outdoor activities in Elektrostal?

A: Elektrostal offers several outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, and picnicking in its beautiful parks.

Q: Is Elektrostal well-connected in terms of transportation?

A: Yes, Elektrostal has good transportation links, including trains and buses, making it easily accessible from nearby cities.

Q: Are there any annual events or festivals in Elektrostal?

A: Yes, Elektrostal hosts various events and festivals throughout the year, including XXXX and XXXX.

Elektrostal's fascinating history, vibrant culture, and promising future make it a city worth exploring. For more captivating facts about cities around the world, discover the unique characteristics that define each city . Uncover the hidden gems of Moscow Oblast through our in-depth look at Kolomna. Lastly, dive into the rich industrial heritage of Teesside, a thriving industrial center with its own story to tell.

Was this page helpful?

Our commitment to delivering trustworthy and engaging content is at the heart of what we do. Each fact on our site is contributed by real users like you, bringing a wealth of diverse insights and information. To ensure the highest standards of accuracy and reliability, our dedicated editors meticulously review each submission. This process guarantees that the facts we share are not only fascinating but also credible. Trust in our commitment to quality and authenticity as you explore and learn with us.

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An important piece of gear A great bike helmet is a must-have for every rider. After all, it does a really important job. Bontrager offers helmets for every style of riding – including road, trail, commuter and kids’ – with a wide range of technologies, all designed to keep you riding safer.

Protection. Innovation. Performance. Bontrager is at the forefront of helmet safety technology, working with trail-blazing protective materials, engineering for speed and maximising your comfort on every ride.

What is WaveCel?

WaveCel is a collapsible cellular structure that lines the inside of your Bontrager helmet. It’s designed to be more effective than traditional foam helmets in protecting your head from injuries caused by certain cycling accidents.

The Unique Burial of a Child of Early Scythian Time at the Cemetery of Saryg-Bulun (Tuva)

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Pages:  379-406

In 1988, the Tuvan Archaeological Expedition (led by M. E. Kilunovskaya and V. A. Semenov) discovered a unique burial of the early Iron Age at Saryg-Bulun in Central Tuva. There are two burial mounds of the Aldy-Bel culture dated by 7th century BC. Within the barrows, which adjoined one another, forming a figure-of-eight, there were discovered 7 burials, from which a representative collection of artifacts was recovered. Burial 5 was the most unique, it was found in a coffin made of a larch trunk, with a tightly closed lid. Due to the preservative properties of larch and lack of air access, the coffin contained a well-preserved mummy of a child with an accompanying set of grave goods. The interred individual retained the skin on his face and had a leather headdress painted with red pigment and a coat, sewn from jerboa fur. The coat was belted with a leather belt with bronze ornaments and buckles. Besides that, a leather quiver with arrows with the shafts decorated with painted ornaments, fully preserved battle pick and a bow were buried in the coffin. Unexpectedly, the full-genomic analysis, showed that the individual was female. This fact opens a new aspect in the study of the social history of the Scythian society and perhaps brings us back to the myth of the Amazons, discussed by Herodotus. Of course, this discovery is unique in its preservation for the Scythian culture of Tuva and requires careful study and conservation.

Keywords: Tuva, Early Iron Age, early Scythian period, Aldy-Bel culture, barrow, burial in the coffin, mummy, full genome sequencing, aDNA

Information about authors: Marina Kilunovskaya (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Vladimir Semenov (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Candidate of Historical Sciences. Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail: [email protected] Varvara Busova  (Moscow, Russian Federation).  (Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation). Institute for the History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  Dvortsovaya Emb., 18, Saint Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Kharis Mustafin  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Technical Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Irina Alborova  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Candidate of Biological Sciences. Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected] Alina Matzvai  (Moscow, Russian Federation). Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology.  Institutsky Lane, 9, Dolgoprudny, 141701, Moscow Oblast, Russian Federation E-mail:  [email protected]

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Elektrostal, visit elektrostal, check elektrostal hotel availability, popular places to visit.

• Electrostal History and Art Museum

You can spend time exploring the galleries in Electrostal History and Art Museum in Elektrostal. Take in the museums while you're in the area.

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• Places of interest
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