Bicycle helmet test - comparison (january 2020)

We present you the best bike helmets on our test and comparison portal.

Only 15 percent of all adults wear a bicycle helmet. there can save a good helmet life. We show you how to recognize a safe bike helmet. There are many purchase criteria to consider.

Learn more about the criteria that really count in a bike helmet test and read answers to the most important questions. In our comparison table you can see current offers. Find the best bike helmet with the help of our guide.

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Buying advice for bike helmets test or comparison: We help you to find your bike helmets test winner!

Bicycle helmets protect the head from life-threatening injuries in the event of a fall. You should also wear bicycle helmets as an adult. You can buy a bike helmet with or without a visor.
Depending on whether you are in the city or sporty, you need a different model. Sports bike helmets are often lighter and better ventilated.
There are hardly any bike helmet tests models by. Cheap brand helmets are available from just 25 euros.

Whether you are looking for a children’s bicycle helmet or a model for a racing bike – you will find out from us everything you need to know about the materials and extras you expect. With the right model you are safe on any bike and at any time. The best bike helmet is tailored to your individual requirements.

1. Bicycle helmets for everyday life and for athletes

The helmet only provides adequate protection if it fits well.

Who would like to buy a bicycle helmet, often feels overwhelmed by the huge range of different models and types. This does not even mean bicycle helmets for women or men, but the differences in properties and the Construction. Whoever wears his bicycle helmet mainly in the city, i.e. in everyday life, has different requirements than an athlete.

If you are looking for a standard bicycle helmet, you are best off with city helmets. This designation is understood to mean all bicycle helmets that are no longer specialized and are primarily intended to protect the head. Another big category are Bicycle helmets for athletes who should also ventilate the head well.

1.1. Discover different types of helmets

A rather rare type of helmet is the full face bicycle helmet. At first glance, this looks more like a helmet for a motorcycle, but is used in certain cycling disciplines such as "downhill riding". A Our table provides a brief overview:

category	description
City Bike Helmets

ideal for everyday use
Fit bike helmets for children, men and women
diverse selection of designs

Sport Bike Helmets

including bike helmets for racing bikes or MTB bike helmets
particularly generous ventilation
some sports bike helmets are also available with a visor

Full Face Helmet

also protects the jaw and face
is used for risky cycling types such as downhill and BMX
often also available with a sun visor

Since many people are bothered by the look of a bicycle helmet, resourceful manufacturers also have an invisible bike helmet developed. This is made possible by a completely new concept. Instead of a fixed bike helmet, an airbag system is created. This supports the neck area and measures the movements with the help of sensors. In the event of an accident, the airbag inflates and protects the head from impact from all sides.

1.2. Bicycle helmet airbags are gaining popularity

The bike helmet airbags impressed in the test. Nevertheless, this alternative does not come without disadvantages. Find out in our pro-contra table More:

Head is protected all around
Bicycle helmet airbag is not visible
can also be used with a hood

Battery must be charged regularly
Airbag bike helmet must be activated before use
so far only one sizes available

2. Material and construction: Microshell helmets ideal for the racing bike

Even if some manufacturers advertise the innovative features of your products, you should know that essentially all bike helmets have the same structure have. The materials are also very similar or the same. With a few exceptions, the inner shell consists of a rigid foam. EPS, which is sometimes also referred to as polystyrene, is generally used for this. You can find this material in the most expensive as well as the cheapest bicycle helmets, it creates a crumple zone.

Due to the poor environmental properties of EPS, there are already alternatives on the market, none of which have so far been established. The outer shell is called either a micro or a hard shell. The outer shell of a microshell helmet is thinner and lighter. Hardshell, however, is more robust and therefore heavier.

Be used Microshells mostly on racing helmets. City helmets almost always have a hardshell. ABS is a typical material for a hardshell model. Polycarbonate is often used for microshells.

2.1. Many extras such as lighting or rain protection

Signal colors for the helmet are a good choice.

The equipment is a buying argument for many and therefore large and small manufacturers can come up with a lot to make their products safer or to provide them with more comfort. Bicycle helmets with light improve your own visibility with built-in LEDs. Thanks to several color and light modes, you will be better noticed in all weather conditions. Other bike helmets are equipped with rain protection or a sun visor.

There are also own products for the smallest. Baby bike helmets increase the safety for children who are carried in a child seat. In addition to bike helmets for babies and toddlers, larger children’s bike helmets are of course also available in all common sizes. Since bicycle helmets for boys and girls from a certain age often become an optical no-go, are now being reinforced Helmets in trendy designs and bright colors offered. As a practical side effect, these are also seen better. A bicycle helmet for boys often uses classic blue or green. A cycling helmet for girls is also available in yellow or pink and pink.

2.2. What you should pay attention to when buying a bicycle helmet

Which EU seal of approval is important for bicycle helmets?

Good bike helmets often have different seals of approval. The most important feature, however, is a seal according to EU standard 1078. This proves that the helmet has survived the fall from a specified height and is therefore officially considered to be accident-proof.

If you use bike helmet tests to choose a model, you can either trust the bike helmet test winner or you are looking for the most suitable model for you. You only need to know the appropriate purchase criteria for this. It is important that right helmet type with the right construction to search. Because as a racing cyclist you have little of a good city bike helmet. A bicycle helmet for the racing bike is necessary in this case.

It is also crucial that the helmet is available in a suitable size. For this you should Measure your head circumference and compare it with the manufacturer’s specifications. Optimally, the exact size should be adjusted using a rotary knob. If you need the helmet for cycling, the weight (in g) is also important. The last point is additional functions and features, on the You don’t want to do without.

3. Many additional security features are often ineffective

No bike helmet is prepared for every fall, however serious Almost all tested models meet the minimum requirements and sometimes endure much more. This is shown by bicycle helmet tests from 2020. The efficiency of additional ones Protective layers and security films should not be overestimated, because these can often only make a difference in certain situations.

Tip: The bike helmet size XS is reserved for baby and toddler bike helmets. From the age of two, however, you can also switch to a children’s bike helmet in size S..

4. Prices of bicycle helmets in comparison: quality does not have to be expensive

Depending on the type of helmet you want to buy, different manufacturers are available. Bicycle helmets from Uvex and Alpina are often sport models. Cheap Bicycle helmets for racing cyclists or mountain bikers are available for just 30 euros. The bicycle helmet manufacturer KED also has many cheap helmets. Most KED bike helmets cost between 30 and 50 euros. A high-end version like the Uvex “Race 9” bike helmet is located in the upper price segment at 240 euros.

Abus bicycle helmets, on the other hand, are often city helmets that are ideal for short distances in the city. City bike helmets from Abus are available as entry-level products from 25 euros. There are no major price differences between bicycle helmets for women and those for men.

Note: According to the ADAC, reflectors on the helmet can be a good measure to prevent accidents. These should be large enough to be able to reflect the headlights of a car well.

5. Questions and answers about bicycle helmets

5.1. Which brands and manufacturers are there?

The full shell helmets are very popular in extreme sports.

There are many well-known names among the manufacturers of bicycle helmets. These include:

5.2. How should a bike helmet fit??

A bicycle helmet must be properly seated for the best protection. This also means that the bicycle helmet does not press, but there are other important points. For the best fit both the right bike helmet size and the correct use are crucial. The helmet may, for example not to be shifted too much in the neck, because the forehead remains unprotected.

This should already be taken into account when measuring. To determine the head circumference, a simple measuring tape can be used, which you simply put around your head. The The optimal height for the measurement is 2.5 cm above the eyebrows in the area of the temples. If you put the measuring tape there, you will get the best results.

Note: When a bike helmet is properly seated, the head strap can be adjusted. Only then should the chin strap be closed. This must be tight.

5.3. How long does a bike helmet last??

When evaluating the price-performance ratio, not only the general safety of the helmet plays a role, but also the durability. If a helmet is damaged, it should always be replaced, as it can no longer be guaranteed that the head is protected in the event of a fall. However, you must remember that even with normal use and without a fall, a helmet is no longer safe at some point. This is mainly due to the Sun exposure and the weather, which weakens the material over time.

Here we can reassure you. A bike helmet is itself Shelf life of up to five years with daily use. If the surface or the hard foam of the bicycle helmet becomes porous or brittle, a helmet must be replaced immediately. You should check the condition of the material regularly after three years of use at the latest.

A bicycle helmet does not always have to be replaced after a fall. If the helmet has not been opened directly and therefore only got slight scratches, such a bicycle helmet can still be used. After a fall directly on the head, a bicycle helmet must always be replaced.

5.4. There is already a bicycle helmet test from the Stiftung Warentest?

When it comes to independent tests, portals like Stiftung Warentest or Ökotest are number one in Germany. The last bike helmet test of the Stiftung Warentest is from 2017. It included 15 models tested under difficult laboratory conditions. The bicycle helmets had to endure more than when tested according to EU standards.

Bicycle helmets that had no problems with testing according to the EU standard also weakened in part under the harsh conditions that Stiftung Warentest put on the products. It was found that the Protection of the temples is sometimes a weak point is. In addition, additional protective mechanisms such as special foils could not bring any advantage.

What marks did the individual bicycle helmets receive in our comparison?

1st place – very good: Nutcase Gen3 – from 62.01 euros
2nd place – very good: UVEX i-vo CC – from 54.44 euros
3rd place – good: Uvex Viva 2 – from 38.50 euros
4th place – good: ABUS Aduro – from 54.36 euros
5th place – good: Alpina Panorama – from 54.78 euros
6th place – good: ABUS Hyban Core – from 50.42 euros
7th place – good: UVEX cycling helmet I-VO – from 35.71 euros
8th place – good: Cratoni Pacer bike helmet – from 43.00 euros
9th place – good: FISCHER adult bike helmet – from 17.99 euros
10th place – good: Melon Urban Active – from 74.99 euros

More information "

How many different manufacturers can choose the best bike helmet model?

In a bicycle helmet comparison, we present a total of 10 bicycle helmets from 7 manufacturers, from which you can choose the best model for you.

Does the bicycle helmet comparison also contain cheaper but still good bicycle helmets?

Unless you want to spend 74.99 euros for the most expensive product from our comparison, you can also fall back on our price-performance winner Uvex Viva 2 or pay an average of 48.62 euros for a bicycle helmet from another manufacturer from our product table.

Which of the bike helmets can stand out due to a particularly high number of customer reviews?

Our editorial team also looked at the number of customer reviews in a bicycle helmet comparison: The UVEX i-vo CC received a total of 934 reviews .

Which bike helmets stand out due to the grading "VERY GOOD" particularly prominent?

2 of the 10 bike helmets from our bike helmets comparison received the grade "VERY GOOD": Nutcase Gen3 and UVEX i-vo CC .

Which known bicycle helmet models were examined and evaluated in the product comparison?

When choosing the bicycle helmets, we paid attention to a wide variety. Therefore, the following products made it into our bike helmet comparison: Nutcase Gen3, UVEX i-vo CC, Uvex Viva 2, ABUS Aduro, Alpina Panorama, ABUS Hyban Core, UVEX bike helmet I-VO, Cratoni Pacer bike helmet, FISCHER adult bike helmet and Melon Urban Active .