On the upside, along with the frequent discounts, Smith seems to have confidence in the aero performance. While other brands don't give comparisons, Smith is happy to tell you how the aero performance of the Ignite compares. It's only 1 second slower than the Specialized Evade 2 over 40km. The Evade 3 isn't any faster so that's still a relevant piece of info.

Well Ventilated -Eighteen vents and internal channeling pull air into the helmet and across your head. Increased airflow keeps your head cool and comfortable during long rides in high temperatures. Easy vertical adjustability: The Lazer Advanced TurnSys system provides a tailored fit that's easy to adjust on the move with a simple turn of the dialThe POC Myelin is a helmet unlike any that's ever been on the market in the past. From a style standpoint, it's a commuter helmet and it's unique even if you don't go farther than that. The outer shell uses a fabric covering and there's no adjustment to the rear cradle. The look would pair well with something from Chrome or Mission Workshop but there's a lot more to it beyond what you can see.

The best budget bike helmets allow me to make reasonable, real-world, decisions. For most people, it's worth giving up a few percentage points at the very peak for big savings. Looking at helmets through a budget lens allows great helmets to make the cut even if they aren't the absolute best in terms of some performance metric. The real star though is the rear cradle. The design is the same as products like the Giro Eclipse aero helmet and that means it's compatible with the Roc Loc 5 LED light. It is an added cost but it's the most integrated rear light I know of on a road bike helmet. The Agilis also adds reflective paint that's effective even without a light. The Lazer Sphere MIPS is a very comfortable helmet with a reassuringly solid feel to it. The safety features are impressive, the weight is perfectly reasonable and it plays well with glasses – but while cooling is decent, those big vents can't completely negate the effects of the MIPS layer. Even without the ANGi certification, you get a great helmet. For one thing, this is one of the few helmets on this list that carry a five-star Virginia Tech test result. It's great to know that even a budget helmet lets you choose something that's scored as high as some of the most expensive helmets on the market. You can also count on a comfortable strap system that is easy to adjust and should you need room for a ponytail, Specialized leaves room in the rear cradle. Increase safety and visibility by attaching the Universal Lazer LED at the rear of the helmet via Direct Mount. Easy Vertical AdjustabilityAt 280g (both claimed and on our scales), the Sphere is just a little on the portly side, though for a MIPS-equipped helmet at this price it's not bad at all. The Tonic helmet offers protection, style and comfort for riders who are just getting into cycling. The Lazer Tonic KinetiCore combines Lazer’s innovative KinetiCore technology with a budget friendly road cycling design. Lazer Aeroshell Compatible - The Sphere is compatible with the Lazer Aeroshell accessory. Snap on the Aeroshell for improved aerodynamics and protection from the elements.

MIPS outfits a helmet with a low friction layer that reduces rotational forces in case of a crash. This replicates the brain’s own protection system. The inconspicuous design of the helmet makes sure it is at home wherever you take it. An in-mold construction is used assures a snug yet comfortable fit that keeps the helmet firmly in place. Adjust it on the fly and start your cycling Lazer Advanced Rollsys® System (ARS) - Enables you to easily adjust the fit of your helmet by using the thumbwheel on the top of the helmet. Not only is ARS ponytail-friendly, but it prevents any hotspots or pressure points by adjusting teh basket around the entire circumference of the head. system providing vertical adjustability and the exclusive KinetiCore protection technology, and the result is anOne of the clear signs of cost cutting with the Tonic KinetiCore is the amount of exposed foam. The inner rim of the helmet has exposed foam which only doesn’t look as polished as higher-end helmets but it is also less durable. Also, the edges between the foam and the shell along the vent cutouts aren’t quite as crisp or tidy as the more expensive KinetiCore helmets. The other cost cutting indicator is the fact that the Tonic KinetiCore uses a traditional rear cradle mounted dial instead of Lazer’s distinctive BeltSys top mounted systems. Branded as the Advanced TurnSys System, the design offers simple upward/downward adjustment with a dual direction dial to adjust the fit. It’s a simple and effective design that offers a comfortable fit but simply doesn’t stand out as much as the top mounted belt design of the other models. One of the more obvious differences between the Tonic and Lazer’s higher-end helmets is the use of a traditional rear dial instead of a ScrollSys belt. Given that those are all important for evaluating a helmet, we've included the scores when available. If you are looking for a helmet, it's reasonable to consider that score but you might also choose a helmet that doesn't have it. Not every helmet has been through the testing and there are valid reasons that might have nothing to do with performance.

The Lazer Advanced TurnSys system provides a tailored fit that's easy to adjust on the move with a simple turn of the Because some helmet manufacturers offer separate women's-specific helmets, and others do not, there can be confusion. You might be wondering why we don't have something listed for women. We covered whether women need women's-specific helmets in depth recently, but if you just want to get right to the point, the answer is no. The main takeaway was that most women tend to prefer unisex helmets and that there's nothing about a woman's head that would require a different helmet shape. All of the helmets in this list are unisex. How do we test the best budget bike helmets? This is the style section. It's something that people think doesn't matter but ends up being one of the questions I get asked about the most. Style matters and it's important to trust your intuition. Polycarbonate Roll-Cage - The helmet foam is sandwiched around an additional polycarbonate layer during construction. In the same way as the roll cage of a rally car, this layer keeps the foam together after a crash providing additional protection in the event of additional impacts. The Giro Isode MIPS is another helmet that narrowly lost out to a different helmet from the same brand. It's lighter and the style is a bit sleeker but for not much more money you get the option of adding a really good rear light. Once again if you won't use a light then the Isode will save you money compared to the Agilis.

The Lazer Tonic KinetiCore comes in a simple cardboard helmet box with a slide-out tray to access the helmet. Inside the box you’ll find: Vents and internal channeling pull air into the helmet and across your head. Increased airflow keeps your head cool