Best Mountain Bike Helmet

In a Hurry? Editors choice:
Giro Montaro MIPS
Test Winner: Giro Montaro MIPS
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When it comes to mountain biking, you need to make sure you have the durable gear and most important gear that ensures your safety. There are many types of mountain biking including riding through different terrains such as back roads, to cliff hills, or even climbing down a rock wall. It is a great rush of adrenal and for avid mountain bikers, they are already known for their act of bravery for such a dangerous activity. Making sure you are wearing a mountain bike helmet is a necessity to keep you safe at all times. A helmet isn’t going to be cheap but it certainly is worth it to protect your head, brain, and health. Looking into mountain bike helmets make sure you get a good fit and look for one that has excellent ventilation. Below we have listed the best mountain bike helmets in the market today.

Standout Picks

Troy Lee Designs Adult Mountain Bike Classic Helmet
If you’re hitting lighter trails, you’ll want a lightweight helmet with increased protection, comfort, and excellent ventilation. With the Troy Lee Designs A2 Bike Helmet, you’ll get a helmet that brings you good gravity protection, excellent venting, ample coverage, and MIPS cooling technology.
POC Trabec, Helmet for Mountain Biking,
With the POC Trabec Race Helmet, you get a helmet that comes from a manufacturer known to create smart, simple designs. As a brand, POC comes from Sweden and hasn’t been around as long as some of its competitors, but it offers some unique design features other manufacturers haven’t thought of yet.
Giro Hex Mountain Bike Helmet
For those mountain bikers looking for a versatile, light and comfortable helmet that can protect them from any terrain, the Giro Hex Bike Helmet offers a viable option. This helmet is made to be both durable and comfortable so that you can wear it along on your longest bike rides, no matter what types of conditions you encounter along the way. The Giro Hex Bike Helmet brings you an affordable choice that offers good head protection while you are out on the trails but doesn’t include many of the other benefits provided by some of the other choices on the list. Depending on where you plan to ride, this helmet could be a budget-friendly option for you.
Giro Chronicle MIPS MTB Helmet
For those of you wanting an affordable helmet with a great design, the Giro Chronicle MIPS Bike Helmet brings you the best of both worlds. It’s made to offer comfort and protection at a price that’s easy to budget. You’ll get an affordable helmet that brings you the features offered by many helmets that cost much more. So, this is a great value option offering excellent head protection.
Smith Optics Overtake Bike Adult Cycling Helmet
The Smith Optics Overtake Bike Helmet is another great helmet that brings bike riders both protection and comfort while out on the trails. This helmet is designed to offer increased protection on important impact areas, bringing increased safety and better head protection to all bike riders on the trails. This mountain bike helmet is made from high-quality durable materials including EPS and Koroyd for the helmet to be extra lightweight and comfortable. This helmet also is well known for having its safety certifications through the bicycle safety act.
Amazon Link
Giro Montaro MIPS MTB Helmet
For those planning to take longer climbs on hard, technical climbs, you’ll get a versatile and comfortable helmet with the Giro Montaro MIPS Bike Helmet. The helmet brings you excellent comfort, cooling, ventilation, and protection so that you’ll be safe no matter where you ride. An extra benefit that comes with this helmet is the ability to mount a camera to your bike helmet so that you can film all of your adventures. Now you’ll be able to share everything you do on the trails and make your friends jealous.
Amazon Link
$76.94
Smith Optics Forefront All Mountain Bike Helmet
For riders looking for a good full-coverage, all-mountain type helmet, the Smith Forefront Bike Helmet brings you a lot of quality with its design. This helmet is made to be lightweight, durable, and comfortable, and also integrates well to other tools you may need on your rides.
Bell Super 3R MIPS Adult MTB Bike Helmet
If you want a versatile and adaptable helmet that works well no matter where you decide to perform your next mountain biking adventure, then the Bell Super 3R Bike Helmet just might be what you need. Bell Super’s 3R Bike Helmet is designed to meet the wide variety of needs many mountain bikers have, whether they are going on long climbs or at high speeds.
Amazon Link
$219.80
Troy Lee Designs Adult Mountain Bike
Although the Troy Lee Designs A2 Helmet discussed already on this list is more popular than its A1 counterpart, the Troy Lee Designs A1 Bike Helmet is still one of the best mountain biking helmets you can purchase on the market. It’s so popular because it’s very comfortable and made to fit well, which makes it hard to beat.
Kali Protectives Maya Helmet
The Kalie Protective Mayas Helmet is designed to bring you excellent protection in a tough-looking helmet that performs with the type of durability you’ll want while out on the mountain trails. With the Kali Protective Mayas Helmet, you’ll get a lightweight helmet made to last awhile while protecting your head from any possible falls you may incur out on the trails. Plus, the visor on the Kali Protective Mayas Helmet is flexible, so if you crash, it will bend and not break. Above the visor, you’ll find a camera mount if you want to film and share your mountain biking adventures.

Criteria Used for Evaluation

Weight

Lightweight helmets are always excellent to have when you plan on doing longer bike rides, but they do tend to cost more as a benefit. So, how lightweight you really need your helmet to be is something you’ll have to consider along with the comfort level. Most lightweight helmets still bring you excellent levels of protection and durability, so there really is no sacrifice or trade-off here when looking for your perfect mountain biking helmet. The typical standard for purchasing this type of helmet is that the more lightweight your helmet is, the higher the price of the helmet. Most all-mountain helmets come with everything you need and weigh in the 13-ounce range, which is a weight many riders feel is still comfortable for their rides without costing them much more in price. However, if you still feel you need something lighter than that for comfort value, then be prepared to pay a bit more for your helmet.

Breathability

Purchasing a helmet with an effective ventilation system is something most mountain bikers require when they are out on the trails. On today’s market, there are many styles and options of helmets that bring you high-quality ventilation systems that will help cool your head for the duration of your trip. When you’re considering the ventilation system on a helmet, there are a few things you need to think about. First, some helmets have more holes and vents on them, which sounds like they’ll boost ventilation, but this isn’t always the case. Good ventilation really comes from the overall quality and design of the helmet, as well as how these vents work and where the vents are located on the helmet. Helmets offering good ventilation systems usually have a good retention and padding system inside the helmet that doesn’t interrupt airflow, while other manufacturers may not consider ventilation with padding and thus decrease airflow in the helmet. So, you need to find a helmet that’s interior padding is also made for better airflow, and when you find this, you know you’ll have a helmet with an excellent ventilation system.

Fit

When you’re looking around for your mountain biking helmet, probably the most important thing you want to investigate before purchasing anything is the fit of the helmet. If the helmet is too tight or constructive, you can get headaches from it easily, and that’s something you certainly don’t want to deal with when riding on the trails. If the helmet is too large, on the other hand, it’ll flop uncomfortably on your head and offer you less protective benefits in case you fall or crash. So, when you’re looking to purchase your next bike-riding helmet, you should focus on a helmet that has an adjustable fitting system so the helmet is easy to accommodate to your head. Many of these fit systems are easy-to-adjust and can cinch to the correct size of your head. One of the best adjustment systems on the market today is the Roc Loc fit system, which is so easy-to-use you can adjust it with one hand, while it also locks securely on your head. All you have to do with this type of fit system is lock it on your head. Most of Giro’s helmets come with the Roc Loc fit system, while other manufacturers offer something comparable to it.

The size of the helmet is another feature you’ll have to look into as well. Many helmets come in a wide variety of sizes to better fit the head of the person wearing the helmet. Some baser helmets come as one-size-fits-all type helmets, which works well only for those thinking about doing casual mountain bike riding. If you need a helmet for more serious terrain or something that’s versatile, then you’ll need to search around for a helmet that comes in multiple sizes. Helmets made in different sizes do typically cost more, but they also offer better comfort, fit, and overall protection. So if you want something versatile, look at helmets that offer different sizes.

Comfort

While making sure you’ve got a helmet that fits correctly is probably the most important comfort feature you’ll need to consider, the second most important feature you’ll want to look into when purchasing your next bike riding helmet is interior padding, comfort, and design. Typically, the better the cushioning and the more comfortable the fit, the more the helmet will cost. For bike riders that worry about the helmet smelling, rubbing, or creating any type of skin irritation, then investing in a higher-priced helmet will probably be the better option. If you can find a helmet that gives a good fit system and comfortable interior padding options, you may not even feel the helmet as you are riding on the trails. Plus, the more expensive padding systems in certain helmets help with sweat absorption while you are out on the trail. Of course, you’ll be paying a bit more for this benefit, but if you have sensitive skin or can’t stand the sweat odor that can come out of your helmet as you ride, then it’s probably worth buying a helmet with that level of protection. If you do decide to purchase a helmet with better interior padding options, beware of washing the helmet in your regular washer, and consider washing it by hand. Some manufacturers advertise the ability to throw your helmet into your washer, but to make sure you don’t damage or destroy the lining, hand washing, especially on a more expensive helmet, is almost always the way to go.

Top Ten Mountain Bike Helmets

1. Troy Lee Designs A2

Where to buy
Troy Lee Designs Adult Mountain Bike Classic Helmet
Amazon Link

If you’re hitting lighter trails, you’ll want a lightweight helmet with increased protection, comfort, and excellent ventilation. With the Troy Lee Designs A2 Bike Helmet, you’ll get a helmet that brings you good gravity protection, excellent venting, ample coverage, and MIPS cooling technology.

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Weight
This mountain bike helmet weighs 13.6 ounces and measures in at 15 x 11 x 10 inches.

Breathability
Troy Lee Designs’ A2 Bike Helmet brings riders 25% more ventilation than you’ll get from many other competitors’ options on the market. Plus, the ventilation system has a cooling airflow system that will keep your head from sweating too much or rubbing as you ride.

Fit
The Troy Lee Designs A2 Bike Helmet is also made with a MIPS liner and breakaway hardware on the visor, which makes this a durable helmet. You’ll enjoy both the comfort and protection this helmet offers all bike riders.

Comfort
With the Troy Lee Designs A2 Bike Helmet, you also get a soft, removable and comfortable X-Static Pure Silver Liner that adds extra protection for your head, and also decreases bacterial build-up and smell. Plus, the helmet has a three-position adjustable system so that you can easily customize the way the helmet fits on your head. For excellent protection, the Troy Lee Designs A2 Bike Helmet is designed with two different types of foam; one is EPS, which helps absorbs impacts if you fall at high-speeds. The other is EPP, which reduces impact during low-speed impacts.

2. POC Trabec

Where to buy
POC Trabec, Helmet for Mountain Biking,
Amazon Link

With the POC Trabec Race Helmet, you get a helmet that comes from a manufacturer known to create smart, simple designs. As a brand, POC comes from Sweden and hasn’t been around as long as some of its competitors, but it offers some unique design features other manufacturers haven’t thought of yet.

Read more

Weight
This mountain bike helmet weighs 12.3 ounces so is very lightweight and measures in at 3 x 9.8 x 8.5 inches.

Breathability
The POC Trabec Race Helmet has a wonderful aerodynamic ventilation channel system, with sixteen total vent slots to keep your head cool.

Fit
First, POC designed its Trabec Race Helmet with less padding than most other helmets, but the EPS liner padding is designed to be more effective in case of crashes or impacts. The Trabec Race Helmet brings more protection at the temples and the back of the head than its competitors, which makes its padding system excellent. This helmet is very fitting especially with all of the extra padding.

Comfort
The POC Trabec Race Helmet fits slimly and with much comfort, and comes with a size adjustment system that will make the helmet sit correctly on your head. You also have a wheel that resembles the Roc Loc Giro on this helmet, meaning the helmet is made to be easily adjusted and locked into place. Also, the helmet is made with a strong grid of Aramid fibers, which is the same material that makes most types of body armor, meaning it’s very strong and durable.

3. Giro Hex

Where to buy
Giro Hex Mountain Bike Helmet
Amazon Link

For those mountain bikers looking for a versatile, light and comfortable helmet that can protect them from any terrain, the Giro Hex Bike Helmet offers a viable option. This helmet is made to be both durable and comfortable so that you can wear it along on your longest bike rides, no matter what types of conditions you encounter along the way. The Giro Hex Bike Helmet brings you an affordable choice that offers good head protection while you are out on the trails but doesn’t include many of the other benefits provided by some of the other choices on the list. Depending on where you plan to ride, this helmet could be a budget-friendly option for you.

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Weight
This mountain bike helmet weighs 11.2 ounces and measures in at 14 x 10 x 8 inches.

Breathability
The Giro Hex Bike Helmet provides excellent head ventilation, with seventeen wind tunnel vents and internal airflow channels to increase airflow and cool down your head. You’ll also get Roc Loc 5 protection with this helmet, meaning you can adjust the helmet easily so it always feels comfortable.

Fit
This Giro Hex mountain bike helmet has extra padding to make sure it fits properly and comfortably for your head.

Comfort
With the Giro Hex Bike Helmet, you’ll also get a P.O.V. visor to help protect your eyes from the sun, and keep bushes and branches away from your head. You’ll also benefit from the experience behind this well-designed, durable helmet, which brings great protection from crashes and impacts. It is a very comfortable helmet with its extra built-in insulation.

4. Giro Chronicle MIPS

Where to buy
Giro Chronicle MIPS MTB Helmet
Amazon Link

For those of you wanting an affordable helmet with a great design, the Giro Chronicle MIPS Bike Helmet brings you the best of both worlds. It’s made to offer comfort and protection at a price that’s easy to budget. You’ll get an affordable helmet that brings you the features offered by many helmets that cost much more. So, this is a great value option offering excellent head protection.

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Weight
This mountain bike helmet weighs 2.4 pounds and measures in at 15 x 14 x 9 inches.

Breathability
Plus, if you do fall, you’ll be protected with this helmet since it’s designed with MIPS technology to redirect impact force to other areas that don’t need as much protection. With its lightweight design and excellent performance, this well-padded ventilated helmet provides a wide range of benefits for mountain bikers.

Fit
Giro Chronicle’s MIPS Bike Helmet is goggle compatible, and also comes with a P.O.V. Plus visor that you can easily lift when putting your goggles on your helmet. The inside of the helmet is designed with Coolmax padding and extra plush for a comfortable fit, even if you’re wearing it for long periods of time.

Comfort
The shape of the Giro Chronicle MIPS Bike Helmet is compact while still providing excellent full head coverage. Giro’s helmet also comes with the Roc Loc 5 ft. system, which lets you adjust both tension fit and position your helmet easily with one hand.

5. Smith Optics Overtake

Where to buy
Amazon Link
Smith Optics Overtake Bike Adult Cycling Helmet
Amazon Link

The Smith Optics Overtake Bike Helmet is another great helmet that brings bike riders both protection and comfort while out on the trails. This helmet is designed to offer increased protection on important impact areas, bringing increased safety and better head protection to all bike riders on the trails. This mountain bike helmet is made from high-quality durable materials including EPS and Koroyd for the helmet to be extra lightweight and comfortable. This helmet also is well known for having its safety certifications through the bicycle safety act.

Read more

Weight
The helmet is also lightweight, making it easy to wear for all-day rides, and offers excellent protective options for your head. While the back of the head could be better protected with this helmet, the Smith Optics Overtake Bike Helmet still has several features and benefits that bikers will enjoy. This mountain bike helmet weighs in at 1.74 pounds which makes it very lightweight for you to be able to ride your bike comfortably. This bike helmet measures in at 13 x 10 x 8 inches which help out with its perfect fit.

Breathability
With the excellent protection offered by the Smith Optics Overtake Bike Helmet, you’ll also get an excellent AirEvac ventilation system, which provides decent constant airflow to help cool down your head. The helmet also offers the VaporFit adjustable fit system, allowing you to adjust the helmet to make it comfortable to wear at any time. This VaporFit is a well-known feature that truly allows you to get extra ventilation through the top of the helmet.

Fit
This Smith Optics Overtake is known for its great fit with its extra padding on the inside of the helmet. There is even an option for you to fit your sunglasses as well as your goggles to fit perfectly and make sure they do not fall or get twisted while riding. It is very important for you to be able to wear your sunglasses, especially on a sunny day to not get distracted by the reflection off objects or the sun.

Comfort
The Smith Optics Overtake Bike Helmet also has an attractive, unique look that brings style options to you on the trail. Combine this with its comfort and ease of adjustability, and you’ve got a helmet that will feel great no matter how long you wear it. There is extra padding inside of the helmet in order for you to feel comfortable even as you are riding through rocky mountains or unsafe terrains.

Amazon Link

6. Giro Montaro MIPS

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$76.94
Giro Montaro MIPS MTB Helmet
Amazon Link

For those planning to take longer climbs on hard, technical climbs, you’ll get a versatile and comfortable helmet with the Giro Montaro MIPS Bike Helmet. The helmet brings you excellent comfort, cooling, ventilation, and protection so that you’ll be safe no matter where you ride. An extra benefit that comes with this helmet is the ability to mount a camera to your bike helmet so that you can film all of your adventures. Now you’ll be able to share everything you do on the trails and make your friends jealous.

Read more

Weight
This mountain bike helmet weighs in at 1.85 pounds and measures in at 15 x 10 x 8 inches.

Breathability
The Giro Montaro MIPS Bike Helmet comes with the Roc Loc Air fit system, which helps to increase both ventilation and the helmet’s fit. The air fit system not only ventilates but also helps to cool your head alongside the hydrophilic, anti-microbial pads inside the helmet that can absorb your sweat and decrease any odor in the helmet.

Fit
The Giro Montaro MIPS Bike Helmet also comes with the ability to integrate your goggles, with strap grippers to help you hold the goggles on the helmet. Plus, you also get a P.O.V. Plus Visor that can be adjusted and listed to help you fit your Goggles.

Comfort
This mountain bike helmet is known for being very comfortable and having a great fitting. There is a roc loc air for you to be able to make sure your head fits comfortably in the helmet.

Amazon Link
$76.94

7. Smith Forefront

Where to buy
Smith Optics Forefront All Mountain Bike Helmet
Amazon Link

For riders looking for a good full-coverage, all-mountain type helmet, the Smith Forefront Bike Helmet brings you a lot of quality with its design. This helmet is made to be lightweight, durable, and comfortable, and also integrates well to other tools you may need on your rides.

Read more

Weight
Designed with a new foam technology Smith calls Aerocore, this system integrates EPS foam with Koroyd, a material that the manufacturer's state helps to better absorb low-speed impacts. The foam design inside of the helmet also decreases the weight on the product and makes this one of the lightest helmets available on the market today. This mountain bike helmet weighs in at 1.95 pounds.

Breathability
With the Smith Forefront Bike Helmet, you’ll get a helmet that can be used with sunglasses or goggles, as well as any POV camera you want to use to share film coverage of your rides. The helmet is also made to be ventilated, helping to cool your head as you ride.

Fit
You also get an adjustable and removable visor with the Smith Forefront Bike Helmet, and a Google Retention Strap to help better fit your goggles on your helmet when you wear them. The helmet is designed with the VaporFit Adjustable Fit System, meaning you can adjust it and make it comfortable no matter where you are.

Comfort
This Smith Forefront mountain bike helmet is known for being very comfortable and keeping your head protected with its extra padding inside of the helmet.

8. Bell Super 3R

Where to buy
Amazon Link
$219.80
Bell Super 3R MIPS Adult MTB Bike Helmet
Amazon Link

If you want a versatile and adaptable helmet that works well no matter where you decide to perform your next mountain biking adventure, then the Bell Super 3R Bike Helmet just might be what you need. Bell Super’s 3R Bike Helmet is designed to meet the wide variety of needs many mountain bikers have, whether they are going on long climbs or at high speeds.

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Weight
This Bell Super 3R helmet weighs in at 2.8 pounds and measures in at 14 x 10 x 11 inches.

Breathability
The Bell Super 3R Bike Helmet is designed with Overbrow Ventilation, meaning it has an excellent ventilation system that increases airflow. Plus, the MIPS rotational impact system will protect your head in case of impact.

Fit
This helmet brings bikers a lot of versatility, including a removable chin bar that you can use as you see fit; if you’re taking a long climb and need to take the bar off, that can be done easily. But if you know you’re hitting more aggressive trails, you can easily lock the chin bar back on without having to carry around any extra tools.

Comfort
Plus, the Bell Super 3R Bike Helmet brings you an improved design with the manufacturer’s new Float Fit system offering a better fit and increased comfort. Also, this helmet also comes with a GoggleGuide Adjustable Visor for easy goggle fit and a mounting camera feature.

Amazon Link
$219.80

9. Troy Lee Designs A1

Where to buy
Troy Lee Designs Adult Mountain Bike
Amazon Link

Although the Troy Lee Designs A2 Helmet discussed already on this list is more popular than its A1 counterpart, the Troy Lee Designs A1 Bike Helmet is still one of the best mountain biking helmets you can purchase on the market. It’s so popular because it’s very comfortable and made to fit well, which makes it hard to beat.

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Weight
This Troy Lee Designs A1 mountain bike helmet weighs 13.6 ounces and measures in at 15 x 11 x 10 inches.

Breathability
Alongside the extra protection offered to sensitive head areas, you’ll get the Multi-Directional Impact Protection (MIPS) system with this helmet, which helps dissipate any impact you might have if you fall off your bike. You’ll also get sixteen large vents that produce a constant cooling ventilation system plus a removable and soft Coolmax liner that can reduce both bacteria from sweat and the odor caused by it.

Fit
The Troy Lee Designs A1 Bike Helmet also comes with a three-position adjustable retention system so you can easily make the helmet fit your head. You’ll notice that this helmet feels great every time you wear it, which is one of the factors that makes this helmet so popular.

Comfort
The Troy Lee Designs A1 Bike Helmet is lightweight but still brings the type of protection most mountain bikers need in case of impact. This helmet is designed with extended protection features found at the back of the head and the temple area.

10. Kali Protectives Maya

Where to buy
Kali Protectives Maya Helmet
Amazon Link

The Kalie Protective Mayas Helmet is designed to bring you excellent protection in a tough-looking helmet that performs with the type of durability you’ll want while out on the mountain trails. With the Kali Protective Mayas Helmet, you’ll get a lightweight helmet made to last awhile while protecting your head from any possible falls you may incur out on the trails. Plus, the visor on the Kali Protective Mayas Helmet is flexible, so if you crash, it will bend and not break. Above the visor, you’ll find a camera mount if you want to film and share your mountain biking adventures.

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Weight
This Kali Protectives Maya weighs in at 1.7 pounds and measures in at 13 x 9 x 7 inches.

Breathability
With the antimicrobial liner included in the helmet, you won’t have to worry about odor as you sweat. Also, there are twelve vents in the helmet to produce airflow so that your head remains both cool and dry as you adventure on the trails.

Fit
Kali Protectives Maya is known for its secure fit and comfortable sizing. This helmet comes with padding inside so that you make sure your head fits nicely while riding your bike through the mountains.

Comfort
Kali’s helmet is made with its intricate mold-construction process, which allows the EPS foam to be bonded to the polycarbonate shell inside the helmet. This design feature results in a lightweight helmet that brings excellent head protection, with the EPS foamed arranged to help buffer any impact to sensitive head areas should you experience a crash.