2023-07-04 11:08:26
15 Affordable Covers for Road, MTB and Recreational Riding, Tested by Our Experts
While it’s possible to spend north of £300/$300 on a bike helmet, our pick of the best budget bike helmets proves you don’t have to pay a fortune to get quality protection.
Whether you’re looking for a mountain bike helmet, a road bike helmet or a helmet for the daily commute, all of our picks – rated and reviewed by the Le Dérailleur team – are comfortable, provide a good fit and cost less than $100. £.
MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection) was once limited to high-end helmets, but is now also found in many inexpensive bike helmets. It is designed to add extra protection in the event of a rotational impact to the head in a crash.
Helmets with MIPS make up the majority of top-rated helmets in independent reviews published annually by Virginia Tech.
We’ve included the best helmets under £100 here for road cyclists, mountain bikers and commuters who only cycle to work.
If you want to consider more expensive helmets though, check out our separate guides to the best road bike helmets and the best mountain bike helmets. These lists cover all of our top-rated helmets, from budget to high-end lids worn by the pros, and our comprehensive buying guide.
We also have a guide to the best enduro helmets, which can be worn with or without a chin bar for mountain biking, if that’s what you’re looking for.
For now, though, let’s get to our pick of the best bike helmets for under £100 (or around $150). As always, all these helmets have been completely reviewed by the Le Dérailleur team.
Best cycling helmets under £100 in 2023
MIPS Avenue Bell
£65 / $120 as tested MIPS included Easy adjustment and good support
The Avenue MIPS, as the name suggests, includes MIPS for added protection. There are 18 vents, so there’s good airflow, while we liked the ease of use and effectiveness of the fit adjustment system.
Although at 310g the Bell Avenue MIPS is a little heavier than some of the best budget bike helmets, it’s not out of place considering the great value on offer.
Specialized Propero 3 ANGi
£95/$140/€130/AU$200 as tested MIPS and ANGi sensor included Quality details and high airflow
With an internal skeleton, the Specialized Propero 3 weighs a reasonable 305g in size medium. We liked the quality straps that stay dry and comfortable when you’re working hard and the shape, which mimics the high-end Prevail helmet.
Specialized has incorporated many additional safety features into its budget road helmet, with MIPS as well as its ANGi crash protector that identifies abnormal acceleration loads and works with your phone to alert your designated contacts of possible crashes.
Bell 4Forty MIPS
£90/$110/AU$180 as tested Comfortable to wear and the fit system is easy to adjust Excellent airflow and superior value
The Bell 4Forty’s 15 vents provide excellent airflow and are comfortable on long climbs. The shape works well if you have a rounder head and the fit system is easy to adjust.
You can push the visor high enough to park your goggles, although we would have liked to see an indexed adjustment.
Cannondale Junction
£65 / $95 / €98 as tested Brilliant value Straps too long
The Cannondale Junction is an affordable MIPS-equipped off-road helmet that performs almost flawlessly. The straps are excessively long, but you can cut them.
The Junction feels secure enough to carry off-road on gravel rides. It even has a small removable visor.
Still, the Junction’s relatively light weight and plentiful ventilation keep it from getting too bulky or too hot on long hot days.
Lazer Chiru MIPS
£60/$60/$120 as tested Comfortable, neutral fit Some goggles don’t fit on the helmet
The Lazer Chiru MIPS helmet fits well and very comfortably, with good adjustability and no bouncing while riding.
The airflow isn’t as good as some of the best mountain bike helmets, so it does get hot, but not excessively. There is a non-adjustable pop-on visor.
Check that your sunglasses will fit the helmet, though, as some larger-framed models may run out of space. Fit with glasses was no problem though. The included MIPS is a bonus for a budget helmet.
Scott ArgoPlus
£75/$100/€80 as tested Includes MIPS liner Comfortable, with effective visor
Although there is no MIPS in its name, the Scott Argo Plus helmet includes a MIPS liner.
At 366g, the weight is reasonable for the price, although the back cover isn’t as deep as some trail covers. The visor is not adjustable, but it is effective and non-intrusive.
We found the cradle to be snug and the ratchet dial easy to use with a pair of the best mountain bike gloves. Sweat was not managed as well as the best mountain bike helmets.
Van Rysel Road R 500
£30/$40/€35 as tested Great look for a budget helmet Good ventilation thanks to its 14 vents
Decathlon offers great value cycling kit, the Van Rysel RoadR 500 helmet being one example. It looks racy and more expensive than its price suggests, and its 14 vents give you plenty of airflow.
The adjustment works well, although the dial adjustment does not match those of many more expensive headsets. You don’t get extra protection against sliding planes, but the RoadR is still a great value option.
Endura Xtract II
£60/€75 as tested Excellent airflow and quality feel No MIPS option
The quality finish of the Xtract II road helmet belies its position as Endura’s entry-level helmet. The shell wraps around the EPS foam core, for example, so the latter is less likely to dig in and look tired with use.
The adjustment dial has a rubber coating, so it’s easy to grip and fine-tune.
There’s good airflow to help keep you cool and at 270g it’s lightweight, partly due to the lack of MIPS, which typically adds around 20-40g to a helmet’s weight .
MIPS Giant Relay
£45/$50/€47.50/AU$80 as tested Great value for a MIPS helmet Decent ventilation
Another low-cost road helmet that manages to incorporate MIPS into its spec, the Giant Relay MIPS has good airflow thanks to its 17 vents and anti-odor padding. It received a five-star rating in Virginia Tech’s annual independent safety tests.
The setting is effective, even if a little clumsy. The weight is just under 350g, but we didn’t find it noticeably heavier than other headsets when riding.
Limar Air Stratos
£80/€100 as tested Lightweight well made budget helmet No MIPS option
Technically a gravel helmet (you can tell by the muted matte colors), nothing else distinguishes the Limar Air Stratos from a road helmet. The shape is similar to the best road bike helmets, there is plenty of padding inside the shell and easy adjustment, although the dial adjustment is small.
Limar helmets are among the lightest on the market and Air Stratos clocks weigh just 240g on the scale, beating many much more expensive lids. This is partly due to the lack of MIPS.
WITH Allroad
£70/€80 as tested Gravel specific design Integrated light and sun visor
Blending a road shape with MTB features such as a removable visor, the MET Allroad is another helmet aimed at gravel riders. If you get lost on a road, there’s a rear turn signal built into the adjustment dial to improve your visibility.
We rated the comfortable fit and easy adjustment thanks to the ponytail-friendly cradle design.
Met Veleno