How to choose the right bike helmet? All our tips
Whether you are a commuter, occasional cyclist or hard-core mountain biker, wearing a bicycle helmet is highly recommended.
Choice of size, materials, design, type of protection… Discover all our advice for finding a comfortable, resistant bicycle helmet that is 100% suited to your needs.
Choose your bike helmet according to use
The choice of bicycle helmet depends, above all, on the use you want to make of it.
For questions of comfort and safety , choose a helmet adapted to the type of cycling practice envisaged: commuting to work by bike, criss-crossing country roads, venturing off the beaten track on a mountain bike...
There are indeed different types of helmets for each use:
The city bike helmet
For urban journeys, the Bol type bicycle helmet, with a rounded shell shape and an elegant design , is ideal. Opt for a solid, light, ventilated model offering good protection.
The mountain bike helmet
MTB helmets are generally very covering and equipped with excellent ventilation , but also very light. They are also equipped with a visor to protect your face from external elements during bike rides in the great outdoors (sun, rain, wind, branches, etc.).
The road bike helmet
Are you a seasoned cyclist and do you want to cover long distances on your racing bike? Choose lightweight road bike helmets, in an elongated format, offering excellent aerodynamics and good ventilation.
The electric bike helmet
For an electric bike whose speed does not exceed 25 km/h, an urban bike helmet will be perfect.
On the other hand, for a speed bike (electric bicycle whose speed can reach 45 km/h), you must wear an approved moped helmet, which will provide superior protection in the event of a fall at high speed. Discover our Speedbike helmet .
The helmet for BMX
Are you a BMX fan? Given the high risk of falls with this type of sport, it will be necessary to choose a specific helmet, offering good coverage and optimal protection to protect you effectively in the event of a fall from a height.
How to choose the size of your bicycle helmet?
Size is another decisive criterion when choosing a bicycle helmet . The latter should be neither too tight nor too wide, in which case it will lose all its usefulness.
Adult bike helmets usually come in 2-4 different sizes, ranging from 54cm to 65cm in diameter on average.
The CGM brand offers a wide choice of sizes for the CGM Ebi Mono collection ranging from 3XS (50 cm) to XXL (61 cm)
To choose the right size for your bike helmet , you will need to measure your head circumference. To do this, take a measuring tape and place it 2 cm above your eyebrows and at the level of the occipital bump (the rounded area at the back of the skull).
To check that the helmet is your size, you can, after adjusting the tightening wheel and the chin strap, shake your head up and down and from right to left: the helmet should not move. If you feel any pressure at the temples or forehead, you will surely have to opt for the size above.
To choose a child's bicycle helmet , there are generally universal sizes (from 4 to 10 years old and for children under 5 years old).
→ Good to know : wearing a helmet is compulsory for children under 12 years old. To learn more about the regulations, see our article on the subject .
Other criteria to take into account when choosing your bike helmet
In addition to the size of the helmet and its use, other parameters must be taken into consideration when choosing a bicycle helmet, such as:
The level of comfort
There are many things that can help improve the comfort of your bike helmet.
Prefer, for example, helmets with an adjustment wheel at the back. Indispensable for reasons of comfort and safety, the latter makes it possible to adjust the internal reinforcement of the helmet so that it perfectly matches the surface of the head.
The quality of the materials, the weight of the helmet and the ventilation are other factors to take into account to benefit from maximum comfort on the bike.
Ventilation
All bicycle helmets have ventilation holes to ventilate the inside of the shell. The more ventilation slots, the better the ventilation.
The choice of the type of ventilation depends in particular on the frequency and intensity of cycling. For more comfort, we advise you to opt for helmets offering good ventilation . This will allow your head to breathe and it will also limit heat, perspiration, itching and other inconveniences.
Shock protection
From one model to another, the level of protection of the bicycle helmet may vary significantly. Indeed, there are several manufacturing methods to offer more or less protection in the event of shocks:
In-mold manufacturing , which consists of molding the outer shell on the inner polystyrene layer, offers, for example, very good resistance. MIPS ( Multidirectional Impact Protection System ) technology offers even more optimal protection, which aims to absorb the impact and dissipate the force of the shock.
Thousand brands offer MIPS technology with Thousand Chapter helmets
Homologation
Bicycle helmets must include an approval , which guarantees that the product has been designed in accordance with European standards : this is an essential guarantee of quality and protection.
When choosing your bike helmet , check that it has CE certification (EN-1078).
For speedbikes, it will be necessary to choose a helmet approved EN 22-05 or NTA-8766.
The budget
The price of a bicycle helmet can range from 30 € to 300 €, or even more. The cost varies according to the type of materials used, the quality of the finishes, the design, the weight, the ventilation and any additional functionalities.
For a good quality urban bike helmet with a sufficient level of protection, count at least a hundred euros.
night visibility
Discover our collection of helmets with integrated lighting . If it is mandatory to equip your bike with lights when you pedal at night, know that your helmet can also improve your visibility. Some bicycle helmets have reflective strips or LED lighting on the back, which allow other users to see you better in the dark. TheUnit 1 Faro headset as well as the Cosmo Connected Premium headset offer this feature. Order your helmet now.
The weight
The lighter your bike helmet, the more comfortable it will be.
Weight is therefore another important criterion in choosing your bike helmet . A helmet that is too heavy risks causing musculoskeletal pain in the neck and upper back.
The materials used
The materials of a bicycle helmet vary from product to product and directly impact the strength, comfort, weight, durability and price of the helmet.
You should know that a bicycle helmet is mainly composed of:
- of an inner shell, which absorbs the impact in case of shock or jolts. It can be made of polyester beads, Kevlar, aramid, nylon or even an alloy of carbon and polystyrene...
- an outer shell, which constitutes a second protection against shocks: it is generally made of PVC, polycarbonate, ABS, and sometimes reinforced with carbon parts.
Design
Bike helmets come in a wide variety of styles, colors and shapes, with custom ranges for men and women. One of the current big trends is the vintage bicycle helmet , with a sleek design.
The choice of helmet aesthetics obviously depends on individual tastes.
Additional features
Many additional features can also be taken into account when choosing your bike helmet .
Some bicycle helmets, for example, have:
- an anti-theft system
- earmuffs to protect from the cold
- a magnetic fastening strap
- a Bluetooth connection
- a protective cover in case of rain
- with a visor
- of a chin strap
→ Good to know : the average lifespan of a bicycle helmet is approximately 3 to 5 years (this varies according to the model, use and maintenance). It will therefore be necessary to change your helmet after a few years. Similarly, in the event of an impact or crack, the helmet will no longer provide optimal protection and will therefore have to be renewed. To maximize the life of your bicycle helmet, store it dry, away from the sun, rain and cold. Also remember to clean it regularly with a soft sponge, soap and water.
