You might think that if there’s one cycling accessory you don’t want to fall into the budget category, it’s a helmet. But the best budget cycling helmets aren’t any less safe than those with a premium price tag. All helmets must pass the relevant safety standards required by law, while many benefit from trickle-down technology. The result is similar features to cycling helmets you might see on the heads of WorldTour riders, but at a reduced cost.
So what’s the difference? Expensive lids may be lighter, more aero and perhaps more aesthetically appealing. However, key features like straps and an adjustable rear cradle, as well as safety tech such as MIPS, will be exactly the same in budget options.
We’ve ridden and reviewed numerous budget cycling helmets and have selected six of the best to showcase here. Chosen for their performance versus price, they all represent value for money as well as excelling in certain areas, such as ventilation and comfort.
If you are looking for a more performance-oriented lid, then check out our guide to the best bike helmets. We've also got a guide to the best commuter bike helmets, which includes some options with more urban styling. If you're specifically after head protection for a little one, check out our guide to the best kids' bike helmets.
The quick list
With a versatile shape that works for road, gravel and commuting, the Junction benefits from Mips safety tech and two-way adjustment.
The Signal delivers MIPS safety tech, 21 vents and bags of comfort despite its price tag. Styling suited to road, gravel or commuting.
The RCR MIPS from Decathlon's in-house brand Van Rysel offers astonishing value, and is not just the cheapest helmet in the peloton - it quite literally undercuts most by a couple of hundred dollars, at least.
Given its low cost, having a helmet with MIPS that is comfortable, fits well, and looks good is a real achievement, chapeau Specialized. The Align II continues on the original heritage of being the best and most affordable helmets out there.
The Kask Sintesi boasts excellent retention, a low overall weight, and ample comfort, making it the ideal companion for off-road excursions or when aerodynamics are not a priority.
Styled in a similar fashion to Kask's premium lids, the Mojito3 is well-vented, comfortable and light, all for well under $200.
Best budget cycling helmets: our picks and top-rated
Best budget bike helmet under $100
Cannondale are well established as a bike manufacturer. But they're fairly new to the helmet market. Naturally, we were eager to test the brand's helmets...
The Cannondale Junction is a stylishly designed lid with two-way adjustment and a simple but effective strap arrangement.
Cannondale currently only offer two different sizes, S/M and L/XL, so those at the extremes might be left wanting. If you fall into the average category, you should be able to appreciate a snug-fitting helmet with the added protection of MIPS.
The helmet's well-suited to a variety of riding, making it a great option if you commute as well as ride for pleasure, on or off-road.
It probably won't be appreciated by racers, as the MIPS shell works against the airflow channels somewhat, where ventilation is concerned. Our tester felt that this was only really an issue for prolonged, intense efforts.
Read our full Cannondale Junction bike helmet review
Most versatile budget bike helmet
Impressively, you get the highly desirable MIPS in the Smith Optics Signal, which makes this an exceptional budget bike helmet.
The helmet also gains many other high-end features seen in much more expensive models in the Smith range, including the same Vaporfit retention system.
It's a chunkier-looking helmet when compared to something like the Abus Viantor. That does mean that the Smiths Signal MIPS would work for urban, gravel and mountain bike cyclists too, but for pure roadies, this might be off-putting.
They also have some fantastic 'Junior' helmet options for kids and younger cyclists out there.
Read our full Smith Signal MIPS bike helmet review
Best budget road bike helmet
The RCR MIPS is yet another brilliant bit of kit from Decathlon's in-house brand Van Rysel that works the price-performance ratio hard. Ridden to many glories by the Decathlon-Ag2r La Mondiale team, over the last few seasons alongside its namesake, one of the most affordable bikes in the peloton, the Van Rysel RCR Pro.
It is hard to review something like the RCR MIPS without constantly having the price in the back of your head. Every time I thought of even the slightest niggle, I had to think yes, but it's under $100. For example, the shape of the RCR is a little rounder than some higher-end helmets, but that very much depends on your head shape and what you find comfortable, which is entirely subjective. I also thought that while the helmet is incredibly well-ventilated for those who live in cooler climates like myself here in the UK, it could almost be too well-ventilated.
Again, I had to pinch myself about the price and just how much value and performance there is in this helmet for such a low price.
The best part is that even if you can't stretch to the MIPS version, for $20 less you can grab the non-MIPS equipped version, which packs all the same performance, without the crash safety structure.
Read our full Van Rysel RCR Mips helmet review
Cheapest bike helmet with MIPS impact protection
From a distance, the Align II looks like any other Specialized helmet, with premium looks that are far beyond what its price suggests. It uses the brand's tried and tested Trifix straps and Headset cradle adjustment. Combined with a CE-approved polystyrene shell, it comes in at 357g for my medium/large test helmet.
What sets the Align II apart from its very popular predecessor, arguably the original best budget helmet, aside from a more road-style design, is the inclusion of the Multi-directional Impact Protection System, or MIPS for short. This is a system that has become an expectation for most high-end lids; however, it is still sparsely used on more affordable cranial cradlers. So, for Specialized to have got this lid under $70/£50 is quite incredible.
What is even more incredible is that I've always struggled to find helmets that fit my head shape, but the Align II felt comfortable from the first ride. There was no movement, with no tight or loose spots, making it very comfy! and a pleased Paul!
What this extra protection does, though, is limit the ventilation. On a 20-degree day with around 50% humidity, the Align II starts to feel a little hot, and spending up to the larger vented Loma might be worthwhile. That said, for those who aren't putting in such intense efforts like commuting or riding in cooler temps, it could be ideal.
What the align does is remove any excuses for not wearing a helmet. For these prices and with the level of safety built in, it really is a no-brainer.
Read our full Specialized Align II bike helmet review
Best budget gravel bike helmet
Kask’s Sintesi helmet ranks among our best road helmets we've tested. It's sleek, understated and seamlessly straddles cycling disciplines, especially relaxed road riding and off-road gravel excursions.
It achieves this in three ways. Firstly, its value and low cost, considering the features available on the Sintesi, means it punches well above its weight. Secondly, Kask has adopted a very safe, straight-down-the-middle approach to the fit, avoiding being too narrow, oval, or overly spherical. Despite only having two sizes on offer, it should suit a large number of people. For me, it gave a nice 'locked-in' but comfortable feel. Finally, it's very low-weight versus the competition in the mid-price helmet market. Compare the Sintesi to the Bontrager Stravos, a very popular lid, and it is a hundred grams lighter.
Combine all these things, and you get a comfort lid that's not bobbing around on your head, even on the rough stuff. Let's face it, even if it did, its low weight isn't significant enough to make a real difference.
My one very minor gripe is that there is nowhere to place your sunglasses. This is a case-by-case basis as not everyone likes to put their glasses in their lid; however, I do. Given the affordability and overall performance of the Sintesi, I think I can forgive this minor discrepancy.
Read our full Kask Sintesi bike helmet review
Best budget bike helmet under $200
Kask makes some fantastic, premium aero helmets which will undoubtedly make a hole in your pocket. But the Mojito3 is an option for those on a budget...
The Kask Mojito3 inherits the comfort, ventilation and low price of its predecessors. We rated its airflow, deep sides and comfortable imitation leather chin strap, but although the rear cradle is easy to adjust, it can slip vertically.
Although other helmets, even at lower prices, now incorporate MIPS, the Kask Mojito3 does not have the sliding plane tech incorporated. Instead, Kask has designed and tested the helmet to meet its own rotational impact protection standards. The helmet also comes with large reflective patches at the rear to up your visibility in low-light conditions.
Plus, you get 16 colour options with some very bright, so there's plenty of choice.
Read our full Kask Mojito3 bike helmet review
How we test
At Cycling Weekly we have a dedicated team of experienced cyclists who test and review a range of equipment from complete bikes to clothing and accessories. We take the same comprehensive approach for each product. For helmets that means wearing them regularly on a range of rides, allowing us to assess how they perform under different conditions. We test them across various metrics, such as comfort and fit, ventilation and weight, as well as considering the overall quality.
How to choose the best budget bike helmet
How do I get the right fit for a cycling helmet?
Fit is the most tricky part of any helmet. Everyone’s head is a different shape, so fitting it into an object with fixed dimensions is always going to be tricky.
There’s some adjustment in all helmets for head circumference and height, while padding and hair help to cushion any tight spots. But no helmet will fit everyone perfectly, so try before you buy is the best advice to ensure comfort.
Look out for areas that might put pressure on your scalp - that might feel okay in a shop, but get uncomfortable after several hours of riding. Also make sure that the helmet sits securely and doesn't wobble about front to back or side to side.
What is MIPS and do I need it?
Short for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, MIPS was developed by a Swedish company. It provides a smooth inner layer that’s loosely connected to the helmet’s shell and slides between the helmet and the head in the event of a crash.
Helmets with MIPS consistently come towards the top of independent helmet impact tests, but the technology adds to the price of your helmet and ups weight by around 10 to 15 grams relative to an equivalent non-MIPS helmet. Read more about MIPS helmets here.
Frequently asked questions about helmets
How do I keep my head as cool?
Air circulation is important for riding comfort, particularly on a hot day. More vents tend to be better for cooling, although internal channelling helps to push air over the head too. The modern trend to aero helmets works the other way though, as airflow over the helmet shell is usually better with a smoother profile, reducing drag. This piece looks at the aero benefits of an aero helmet.
So it’s worth considering how important aerodynamics and fast riding are for you. If you’re just after the best cooling airflow, more or larger vents are better, whereas if you want to go faster, you might want to look for a more enclosed design. The pros often swap between more and less vented helmets for mountain and flat stages and some helmets let you open or close vents to suit the ride conditions.
How is cycling helmet size adjusted?
A helmet will come with adjustment to tighten it around the circumference of your head for a secure fit, called a retention system or fit system. That’s usually achieved via a dial adjuster at the rear of the helmet’s inner cradle, but Lazer puts its adjuster on top of the helmet shell.
You can also adjust the cradle up and down by sliding it in and out of the rear of the helmet, so that it sits below the back of your skull. Some systems work better than others and we’ve noted any issues we found while testing in the reviews of each helmet.
Straps too are adjustable for fit under the chin. Many helmets allow you to alter the position of where the two side straps meet under your ears too, although some don’t. Ideally, straps should meet just below the ear for a secure fit. Most close with a plastic snap catch.
How much do budget cycling helmets weigh?
Helmet weight varies greatly, with some helmets much weightier than others. That’s not usually so noticeable once you’re riding, but you might find a lighter helmet more comfortable.
It’s something that is of concern to a pro, but probably not so important to leisure riders. MIPS will add a few grams to helmet weight too and cheaper helmets in general tend to be heavier than their more expensive peers, although there are exceptions.
What should I do with my bike helmet if I crash?
Don't continue to use your helmet if it's been involved in a ding or even if it's been dropped, as it might have been weakened and not protect you effectively.
Many helmet makers offer a crash replacement program, which lets you buy a new helmet at a reduced price if you’re involved in an accident. Terms vary by manufacturer, but it’s a bonus service worth looking for.
