4 Best Affordable Mountain Bike Helmet (May, 2023)

Updated on August 18, 2022

What is the greatest bike helmet that you can find? We scoured the market for the most affordable helmets and then bought and tested nine of the most convincing options. In order to ensure that you obtain the proper helmet for your needs, we tested a variety of helmets, including those for mountain biking, road cycling, commuting, and other disciplines.

All of the models were put through their paces during a rigorous, multi-week field test that involved hours of riding and several comparisons.

Afterward, we evaluated each helmet based on six different criteria in order to help you sort through the noise and discover what really works best for you.

Related Article: How Long Does It Take To Bike 40 Miles

Best Affordable Mountain Bike Helmet

1. Spherical Giro Manifesto

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Mountain bike helmet by Giro called the Manifest Spherical.

The Manifest, according to Giro, is not only one of the safest helmets on the market, but also one of the most ventilated.

Immediate Media’s Russell Burton  About $260 in Australian dollars, or about $250 in British pounds.

as tested: $419 / €260 Comfortable, with many of options for ventilation Pricey At slower speeds, the Giro Manifest Spherical is notably more airy than other trail helmets because of its extensively ventilated construction.

Despite having a good deal of coverage, it’s still remarkably light.

We enjoyed the tightness around the head, and there were no hotspots to speak of during our testing.

A generous layer of cushioning ensures a comfortable fit, while also absorbing enough moisture to keep items from becoming drenched.

Aside from the price, there’s no escaping the fact that the Giro Tyrant’s safety features are just as good. Our tester prefers it over helmets because of how well it operates.

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2.The Giro Tyrant

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars Amazon (£123.66), Tredz (£134.99), and eBay (£142.49) all have it in stock right now.

The best helmets for mountain biking The lid provides a substantial amount of protection from the elements.

The Immediate Media Group’s Andy Lloyd Tested at a cost of £135 (£170) Well-ventilated and comfortable

There’s a lot of protection here, akin to the Switchblade convertible helmet from Giro.

A person’s appearance may not appeal to everyone.

For trail riders, the Tyrant helmet from Giro symbolises a new-school approach to safety, where weight and heat dissipation are sacrificed for better protection.

The MIPS Spherical system helps to protect your brain in the event of a crash, and the architecture of the vehicle provides a lot of low-down protection at the back.

It can get a little sweltering on long, gradual climbs, but we think it’s worth it for the added protection.

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3. MIPS Laser Chiru

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Tweeks Cycles (£49.99), Tredz (£59.99) and Halfords (£60.00) are all currently offering deals.
Mountain bike helmet with MIPS by Lazer Chiru

It’s hard to beat the Lazer Chiru’s MIPS protection for the money at just £60.

The Immediate Media Group’s Alex Evans $60/$120 (based on actual testing) Neutral fit that’s easy to wear.
Certain spectacles won’t fit in the helmet
In rocky terrain, the Lazer Chiru MIPS helmet has an incredibly neutral fit and does not sway around. Adjustment can be made incrementally via the retention system.

Because to the MIPS protection, this is a highly safe helmet.

Despite the helmet’s relatively high temperature, some larger-framed glasses may not fit. Despite these minor complaints, the Chiru has a lot to recommend it.

4. Helmet with Smith’s MIPS technology

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

ProBikeKit (£76.99), Amazon (£91.16) and Sigma Sports (£96.00) are all now selling the product.

Side view of Smith Sessions MIPS helmet on model with Smith Sessions MIPS system

Safety is provided by MIPS and Koroyd technologies in Smith’s Session helmets. As of this writing,

Immediate Media costs $160 / $140 / €160.

Excellent cooling, as well as a high level of comfort

The MIPS liner It’s not cheap.

MIPS and Koroyd, which crumples to absorb impact forces, are used in conjunction with the Smith Session MIPS helmet to lessen rotational impact.

These elements don’t obstruct airflow, and the helmet nevertheless manages to keep the wearer comfortably cool. As a drawback, during testing, huge vents made it relatively simple for bugs to enter the system.

Even with goggles stowed on top, the helmet didn’t wander around too much because to the easy-to-adjust retention system.

Although it is expensive, the Smith Session MIPS helmet has a lot to offer in terms of features and performance for the money.

What to look for when purchasing a mountain bike helmet

Helmets designed for mountain biking on technical trails must strike a delicate balance between performance, weight and safety.

Protection

The best helmets for mountain biking

The MIPS liner is included in the Speedframe Pro. I’m Matthew Loveridge / Immediate Media

Many open-face helmets now offer more protection across the back of the head and the temple than cross-country or highway helmets, thanks to the surge in popularity of enduro racing.

Unless you’re obsessive about weight or want the best cooling possible, these are a good choice for the majority of cyclists.

In the case of a collision, most bicycle helmets use some sort of expanded polystyrene, or EPS foam, created around a core of a more durable material.

When the foam is impacted, it breaks down, dispersing and postponing the force of the impact to the wearer, hopefully to the point where the wearer will not be hurt.

Helmets are tested to verify that they can withstand impact, but manufacturers have been introducing new technology to try to improve this performance.

MIPS (multi-directional impact protection system) is an example of a technology that uses a floating plastic liner between the head and the EPS structure to lessen rotational force communicated to the brain during a crash.

Many helmet manufacturers are now adding MIPS in their helmets, despite the fact that it increases production costs and consequently retail prices, because rotational force is responsible for a substantial percentage of injuries, including brain damage.

Molded to the EPS structure, most bicycle helmets now feature strong plastic exterior shells. As the name suggests, this process is called “in-moulding,” and it protects the EPS from minor damage like as bumps and scratches.

This is more common on the top and sides of more affordable helmets. Helmets that are fully in-moulded extend the plastic protection all the way around the rim, making them far more effective at protecting the wearer from injury.

Ventilation

The best helmets for mountain biking

The 23 vents and substantial interior channelling contribute to the low weight. The Immediate Media Group’s Andy Lloyd

Trail-style helmets offer more protection, but they also impede ventilation, which can lead to a hotter and more sweaty head in hot weather or when you’re exerting yourself to the limit.

As a result of intelligent material and design choices, it is now possible to create an almost as cool lid as a conventional design.

A lot of ventilation is vital, but it’s the channels that allow air to move in and out of the vehicle that make the difference.

Large front and rear vents, as well as deep channels under the lid, are all you need to look for.

Comfort

Your head’s size and shape will determine how well a helmet fits. People tend to go toward certain brands that use specific shapes, but it’s a matter of trial and error to locate the one that best suits your needs.

Take advantage of the latest Covid-19 recommendations and visit your local bike store to test out different lids, or simply ask your friends if you may use theirs.

Make sure you can get the helmet on your head firmly so that there are no pressure areas or movement issues.

As with other helmets, you may alter the fit by adjusting the retention mechanism. Many of them may be adjusted to tighten or relax the head’s circumference, but some can also be adjusted in other ways.