Best Mountain Bike Helmets

The best mountain bike helmets must offer comfort, adjust-ability, adequate protection and proper ventilation. According to the statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, cyclists account for nearly two percent of the total annual vehicle crash deaths. Again, in a majority of cyclist deaths, the most severe injuries are sustained on the head, a scenario that highlights the importance of putting on a mountain bike helmet.

In fact, according to the U.S Department of Transportation’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System, the use of mountain bike helmets can potentially reduce the odds of head injury by fifty percent. Furthermore, it equally reduces the odds of face, neck and head injury by thirty-three percent.

Perhaps all of us are now aware of the potential benefits of wearing a mountain bike helmet. Helmets are an essential piece of equipment for any serious rider out there. Thanks to the recent technological advancements in the mountain bike industry, riders are now going somewhat faster than ever, and perhaps this has led to a revolution in mountain bike helmet designs.

Even though all mountain bike helmets must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission Standards, they all differ in one way or another. And this implies that different mountain biking helmets will come with their disadvantages as well as advantages, and will again suit different styles of riding.

Any mountain bike riding expert will tell you that the four most critical components of a good bike helmet are the strap, liner, ventilation slits, the shell, as well as the single mold construction. Apart from the ventilation slits, all the other parts are typically designed to help protect your head. The unique mold construction holds the parts in position, for a robust but lightweight helmet. Liners are specially designed to absorb impacts whereas the shells are constructed to hold together under stress.

Our Pick for the Best Mountain Bike Helmets

After a thorough analysis and testing of a series of mountain bike helmets, we came up with a list of arguably the best helmets for those who love mountainous off-road trails. Some of the features we examined were comfort, durability, performance, adjust-ability, protection, and ventilation.

Best Mountain Bike Helmet Reviews

Giro Hex Mountain Bike Helmet

Giro Hex Mountain Bike Helmet

The Giro Hex Mountain Bike Helmet is a high-quality device that offers optimal protection for your head. It has lots of amazing features that work holistically to fulfill its intended application. It boasts of 17 wind tunnel vents that circulate air into, over as well as out of the helmet thus allowing you to feel dry and comfortable when riding in both cool and humid conditions.

This particular mountain bike helmet also features a full-wrap in-mold polycarbonate shell with EPS liner. If you didn’t know, EPS is an acronym for Expanded Polystyrene and is an extremely valuable functionality. It is relatively lightweight, affordable and easily compresses during an impact to absorb all the resulting energy. Again, it has a highly versatile P.O.V adjustable visor with 15-degree vertical adjustment.

If you need a lightweight, durable and well-ventilated mountain bike helmet that offers total head protection at an affordable price, then the Giro Hex is the way to go.

Giro Hex Mountain Bike Helmet
8 Reviews
Giro Hex Mountain Bike Helmet
  • A higher level of performance for all-mountain riding
  • Roc Loc 5 Fit System

3R Bell Super MIPS Bike Helmet

3R Bell Super MIPS Bike Helmet

There are lots of features that make the 3R Bell Super a fantastic piece of bike accessory. However, one feature that stands out is the MIPS, Multi-directional Impact Protection System. Typically, the Multi-directional Impact Protection System utilizes a second internal plastic liner, close to the scalp and which can seamlessly slide over the inner shell by a few millimeters during impact. This may help reduce the so-called rotational brain injuries from glancing impacts.

This particular device is equally versatile and is designed for the many demands of all-mountain biking. The removable chin bar at its disposal makes it ideally suited for an all-mountain riding experience. For relatively longer climbs, you’ll remove the chin bar and stow it in your back. On the other hand, when you are in for some aggressive mountain riding, you can quickly lock it on to suit your demands. What’s more, it is exceptionally durable, and this is because the shell of the helmet is designed from an advanced Fusion In-Mold Polycarbonate material that equally offers the much-needed protection. Its Float Fit system is relatively lighter and comfortable.

Finally, bearing in mind that the copolymer tubes feature a hollow construction, you’ll experience significantly better airflow throughout the helmet. This ensures that you’ll always remain cooler regardless of the surrounding temperatures.

BELL Super 3R MIPS Adult Mountain Bike Helmet
1,314 Reviews
BELL Super 3R MIPS Adult Mountain Bike Helmet
  • NO-TWIST TRI-GLIDES & X-STATIC AND XT2 PADDING - Quick-adjust fasteners that help keep straps flat and properly positioned. Quick-drying materials, woven with real silver fibers.
  • MIPS-EQUIPPED & WRAPAROUND PROTECTION - MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, which is a leading slip-plane technology inside the helmet designed to reduce rotational forces that can result from certain impacts. Removable protective chin bar, designed for trail riding adaptability. Attaches with a simple 3-step connection process no tools required.

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Proframe Moth Fox Mountain Bike Helmet

Proframe Moth Fox Mountain Bike Helmet

The Moth Fox Proframe is a full-frame, feature packed mountain bike helmet designed to keep your head protected on the trails at all times. It is an extremely versatile device and ideal for both extreme trail riding as well as recreational rides.

It is arguably the lightest mountain bike helmet made by Fox and weighs only 750g. Its highly integrated chin bar offers extra surface protection, while the 24 big bore vents at its disposal, a highly breathable liner with anti-microbial and moisture-wicking properties as well as a visor which ushers in airflow, all functions holistically to guarantee an all-around comfort.

It also boasts of the MIPS system technology that significantly reduces the rotation forces during a crash. It is equipped with a dual density Varizorb EPS liner that guarantees unrivaled protection. Simply put, it is a top-notch device that provides full coverage, can accommodate any size of protective goggles and is equally well-ventilated and durable.

Fox Racing Proframe Helmet
2 Reviews
Fox Racing Proframe Helmet
  • Shell Material: InMold (polycarbonate)
  • Claimed Weight: 1lb 9.9oz (735g)

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Smith Forefront Optics All Mountain Bike Helmet

Smith Forefront Optics All Mountain Bike Helmet

The Smith Optics are known to produce some of the most powerful ski goggles, but their mountain bike helmets are equally fantastic. This, in particular, is one of its typical products, carefully crafted from the ground up for superior protection.

It has an in-mold construction, featuring the Aerocore technology and this offers not only durability but maximum protection to your head better far much than a typical EPS foam bike helmet. It is not just about protection and design alone, and this bike helmet is also reasonably lightweight and cooler as well. This is because of the hollow design of the copolymer tubes which enhance improved airflow throughout the helmet.

Read: Best Mountain Bike Pedals

Its fitting system is almost perfect and will give you unmatched comfort and fit, thanks to the four-point harness that always keeps it in place even during crashes. It is an award-winning mountain bike helmet worth considering for a buy.

Smith Optics Forefront All Mountain Bike Helmet
9 Reviews
Smith Optics Forefront All Mountain Bike Helmet
  • Shell Material: Aerocore technology featuring Koroyd
  • Multiple Impact: no

Podium Demon Full Face Mountain Bike Helmet

Podium Demon Full Face Mountain Bike

If you are a rider who’s on a strict budget but wants a durable, versatile, high-quality and performance-driven device, the Demon Podium should be your ultimate option. It features a highly adjustable visor with aluminum side visor screws and a fairly robust injection molded thermal alloy polycarbonate shell for optimal protection. It also boasts of 13 convenient airflow vents to support the excellent circulation of air for your comfort.

It is lightweight and a CPSC certified device with an incredible polycarbonate shell which can take lots of abuse on the trail. Overall, the Demon Podium is a great mountain helmet at a reasonable price worth investing in.

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The Bottom Line

If you are an ardent fan of bike riding, then you know how your safety is important. This implies that you must invest in a high-quality headgear. The latest bike helmets boast of impressive features, including impact reducing liners, dual-density foam layers, highly innovative buckle and strap designs as well as multi-adjustable fit systems. We have provided you with some of the best mountain bike helmets currently available out there on the market.