15 Best Road Bike Helmets Under $100: Find a Perfect Budget Helmet

Safety: Needless to say, safety is the essential factor to consider when purchasing a bike helmet. All helmets sold and imported in the U.S. must meet the Consumer Product Safety Commission standards. We talked about this at the beginning of the article. Having the MIPS technology integrated into helmets is a good idea, but this is really up to you in the end.

Fit: The first thing to look for in a bike helmet is fit. Helmets should be snug but not too tight, and they should sit level on your head with no minimum rocking side to side or front to back. You can’t know for sure if a particular helmet fits you well before you try it on. If you plan to buy online, we recommend looking for a website with a good returns policy. Try your new helmet on, and if it does not fit well, send it back.

Sunglasses compatibility: When trying a helmet on, make sure to test if it is compatible with your glasses. Some helmets fit pretty low and are not compatible with some sunglasses.

Ventilation: Choose a helmet that has plenty of ventilation. Look at the number of vents and overall helmet construction to assess how good it is at keeping you cool in warmer temperatures.

Weight: You also need to consider the weight of a helmet. Especially on longer rides, the extra weight really makes a difference on your neck and head over time. So do take into account how much a helmet weighs.

Comfort: The next thing you need is comfort. Comfort is not a specific feature but a combination of multiple things. For example, the padding on a helmet is significant for comfort as well as ventilation, adjustable straps, and a rotational dial. Unfortunately, you can’t predict comfort, so get a helmet you like, try it on, and see how it feels. Send it back if you don’t like it.

Adjustments: You also want to make sure that you have the proper adjustments for a bike helmet. The straps should be adjustable to find a perfect fit a eliminate uncomfortable pressure on your head or neck. Also, look for a helmet with a rotational dial adjustment system. This dial usually allows you to make micro-adjustments and thus also improve the fit and comfort.

Look: The style and look of your helmet are also important. After all, you want to be safe and have a helmet that will last, but it also needs to look good!

Aerodynamics: This is another consideration you can take into account when looking for a bike helmet. It will improve your riding performance, but not as crucial if you are just getting started or taking short trips on the weekends.

Reflectivity: Another thing to look for is reflectivity. A bike helmet with a lot of reflective material will keep you safer when riding at night or early in the morning during low light conditions.

Crash replacement policy: You should also consider what a manufacturer or a retailer will do in case of an accident. For example, some manufacturers offer a crash replacement policy that allows you to replace your damaged helmet at a reduced cost or even for free. So make sure to check their policy before the purchase.

LED light compatibility: If you plan to cycle at night and especially in the city, it is a good idea to have extra rear light attached to your helmet. In these circumstances, we recommend you get a helmet that is compatible with an LED light. Most helmets are compatible by default but worth double-checking.

To find the right helmet size, you need to measure the circumference of your head. To do so, use a flexible measuring tape and place the end of it around your head where you would like to wear the helmet. The measurement is done from front to back, just above your ears.

Once you know your head’s circumference, you need to check the sizing guide of a helmet you are interested in. It is also a good idea to have some extra room when it comes to size if you want to wear a hat or a headband in winter. For example, if you are right on the border of different sizes, you might want to consider going for a slightly larger size.

Choosing a road bike helmet is not an easy task, and it’s hard to know without trying on the specific model. The best thing to do would be to look at the question above on “What to look for in a bike helmet?” and decide what are the most important features to you. Also, look at the list of budget bike helmets we narrowed down in this article. There are plenty of options in this list, and we are confident you will find one that suits your needs.

It depends on your needs and goals. If you want a budget helmet and are not planning to race, then the Specialized Align II MIPS Road Helmet is perfect. However, if speed is your top priority, then you are better off with going for a more expensive and aerodynamic helmet like Kask Utopia. 

This is a difficult question to answer. Best bike helmet brands will be different depending on the person and their needs. For example, some people might prioritize safety more than weight or aerodynamics. These factors could also change over time as your priorities shift to make it even more complicated. Nevertheless, we like several helmet brands — for example, Giro, Smith, Specialized, Poc, and Kask.

There are many different types of sub-types of bike helmets. However, the three broad categories are:

• Road bike helmet: Best for long-distance riding, racing, and very high speeds.
• MTB bike helmet: Best for offroad biking such as mountain biking or cross country trails.
• Urban/commuting bike helmet: Best option if you’re not riding extreme terrain but want a safety precaution while cycling in traffic on paved roads.