If you’re new to cycling, or looking to retire your tired old lid then choosing from the wide range of options available can be a bit of a minefield. With different styles, safety specs and more, you’ve got a huge amount of choice available.

Bike helmets are essential for safety, and we want you to be able to make an informed choice. Keep reading for more info on how to choose a bike helmet that is right for your needs – we’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions below!

Why should I wear a bike helmet?

Put simply, a cycling helmet is going to help keep you safe if the worst happens. You only get one brain, it’s best to protect it wherever you can!

Wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle isn’t a legal requirement but a huge amount of research and development has gone into making sure wearing one will keep you as safe as possible – you may as well make the most of it!

What makes a good bike helmet?

Aside from meeting the correct safety standards, a helmet should also be comfortable and well ventilated. When summer rolls around the last thing you want is a helmet full of sweat! Helmet shapes do vary, so it’s always a good idea to head to your local bike shop to try some on and see which style works for you.

Inside a helmet you will find a retention system that helps keep the helmet secure on your head. This should be easy to adjust, on or off the bike. Chin straps tend to anchor in front and behind the ears and should be adjustable so they don’t get in the way.

Good padding will also make the helmet more comfortable and help keep it in place. Many helmets come with removable padding so you can clean it separately.

What style of cycling helmet should I buy?

The style of bicycle helmet you should use will depend on the type of cycling you will be doing.

For example, if you’re riding on the roads then aerodynamics and air flow directed through vents will be key factors to consider. Road helmets also have a smaller rear profile to enable the rider to be in a more aerodynamic position but not have the helmet interfere with the riders back. Whilst also adding a bit more protection, the longer rear profile on a mountain bike helmet works as the sitting position is usually more upright.

A mountain bike helmet would also usually have a peak to protect against sun glare and offer some protection from overgrowth on trails.

What safety standards should my bike helmet conform to?

All helmets purchased in the UK must meet the EN 1078 standard, which means the helmet can absorb a certain amount of impact to allow it to be certified. This includes a series of tests that replicate common scenarios that cyclists may face in the eventuality of crash (for example hitting the kerb).

Helmet manufacturers may have their own series of tests that they run to further prove the safety of their helmet but ALL helmets must meet EN 1078 to be sold in the UK.

In the USA, Virginia Tech University has a dedicated helmet lab which independently tests the safety of helmets for various sports. They use a much more rigorous testing protocol than the EU/UK standards so if you’re looking to find the safest helmet for your money, consulting their regularly updated list is a great place to start your investigation.

How do I know if a bike helmet fits properly?

A bike helmet should fit comfortably, not too tight so it’s putting pressure on your head anywhere but also not so loose that it will wobble around while you’re moving. When you’re trying on a helmet, push it forwards, backwards and side to side. If it doesn’t move, then it’s too tight. If it moves more than a couple of centimetres in either direction, then it’s either too loose or too big. If it feels like a good fit, give your head a wobble in all directions and it shouldn’t move too much.

The chin strap should also not dig into your chin. The straps are usually adjustable, so if you’ve tried that and it’s still digging in then the helmet is too small, or the strap is too tight. The Y shape of the straps should sit around your ears, not on them. If you can’t adjust the strap so that it sits around your ears, then it’s not the right helmet for you.

Can I use a cycling helmet after a crash or dropping it?

If you have crashed and your head has taken an impact, unfortunately the best course of action is to replace your helmet. It may not look like there has been much damage on the outside, but a crash can compromise the internal lining which makes it unfit for purpose. If there are any dents or cracks on the outer shell or internal liner then you should replace your helmet. However even if there is no visible damage the liner could still have been compressed, which reduces its ability to effectively absorb further impacts.

Likewise, be careful with dropping your helmet – depending on the impact it could need replacing.

If you’re ever unsure, check your helmet manufacturers guidelines, and always err on the side of caution.

Do bicycle helmets expire?

There will come a time whether you’ve crashed or not that you will need to replace your bike helmet. They do have a shelf life as the protective materials will degrade over time. How soon you need to replace your helmet will depend largely on how and how often you use your helmet. A helmet you use daily will be exposed to more wear and tear than one you use every now-and-then. The sun is also known to weaken helmets as the UV rays affect the outer shell and can make it brittle over time.

A good rule of thumb is to replace every 3-5 years.

Not to mention, with constant developments in helmet tech, the newer your helmet is the more features it is likely to have!

How should I care for/store my helmet?

You should store your bicycle helmet in a cool/dry location away from direct sunlight. Excessive heat can compromise the liner or the shell. It is also advisable to avoid chemicals – helmets can be rendered ineffective by petroleum, cleaning products, paint and more. The damage won’t be visible but will reduce your helmet’s ability to protect you.

To clean your helmet just use a mild soap with water. If you have removable pads, then handwashing in cold water is advisable. You could try to put them in a cold wash in your washing machine, but it may cause the pads to separate so hand washing is best. Avoid the tumble dryer altogether and let everything dry naturally.

What is MIPS?

Nowadays many helmets are equipped with MIPS. MIPS stands for “Multi-Directional Impact Protection” and it helps to reduce rotational impacts that can lead to concussion or traumatic brain injuries.

It does this by providing a low friction layer in between the EPS foam and the liner/padding that allows for a sliding motion of 10-15mm in all directions and absorbs some of the rotational force from an impact.

Obviously, that is the very simplified version and a huge amount of R&D has gone into creating the MIPS system, which is why it is used by a huge number of helmet brands across a wide range of different sports.

Are there alternatives to MIPS?

As MIPS grew in popularity and people began understanding it’s value, many brands turned their hands to creating alternatives.

For example, Trek/Bontrager’s “WaveCel” is a cellular structure that lines the inside of their bike helmets. Like MIPS it is designed to manage rotational forces that can occur if you come off your bike.

WaveCel is structured using v-shaped copolymer layers and can flex, crumple or glide and therefore absorb impact in a number of different ways.

Can I use my bike helmet for other sports?

Helmets are usually rated for the sport they are intended for and have been tested for the types of impacts commonly found for that specific activity. Therefore, it is not advisable to use your bike helmet for other sports, unless explicitly stated that it is multi-use.

For example, if you own a full-face mountain bike helmet you may be tempted to use it on a motocross bike or vice-versa as the style is very similar. However the speeds and forces involved in a crash on a bicycle are very different to those you may experience on a motocross bike. A motocross helmet would be far more heavy duty – an MTB helmet would not be a safe option on an MX bike. Likewise an MX helmet would not be safe on a mountain bike.

Do I need an e-bike specific helmet?

Because legal e-bikes in the UK only assist you up to 15.5mph there is no need for an e-bike specific helmet. You could achieve these speeds on pedal power alone, therefore the speed and forces involved in a crash would be much the same as on a regular bicycle.

Are expensive bicycle helmets worth it?

As we mentioned above, all helmets must meet a minimum safety standard. A helmet with a higher price tag will likely have been put through more extensive safety testing, as well as offering extra features like better ventilation, more effective aerodynamics and being more lightweight overall. So whether it is worth it or not depends on what is important to you for your own cycling.

Overall we would recommend always wearing a helmet, but the exact helmet you should choose will depend on the type of cycling you’ll be doing, your budget and which features are most important to you.

You can check out our full range of bike helmets below, or pop into one of our 12 stores and the team will help you find which one is right for you.

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