The market has responded with a wave of premium helmets certified to impact standards, which means their responses, should the worst fate befall you on your e-bike or scooter, are rigorously tested. The Dutch NTA 8776 is explicitly designed for e-bikes up to 45 kph, and the ASTM F1952 is tested specifically for downhill riding protection. The multi-directional impact protection system (MIPS) is a design ethos that protects your head regardless of how you land.
But entering the market brings a massive spread in pricing. Does a $300 smart helmet actually protect you more than a $90 version? What do you lose when you drop a tier? Or several?
We’ve compiled a list of products and organised them by use case into Daily Commutes, Full-Face Security, and High-Speed Protection. Moreover, we've organised our finds into four pricing tiers in each category: Premium, Mid, and Value.
Use Case 1: Daily Commute & Urban Utility
Are you an everyday rider? Do you bike your first and last mile to and from work every day? This tier of helmets is best for narrow (maybe dedicated) bike lanes with a strict speed limit under 30 mph and little to no lane-splitting. These helmets should do the trick for you. Plus, they're easier to store than the average full-face helmet, especially if you need to hang on to it at work.
Premium Pick: Unit 1 Aura
Unit 1 Aura MIPS's entry into the e-bike protection landscape has earned accolades. Virginia Tech rated this helmet 5 out of 5 stars for protection. This helmet is also compliant with the Dutch NTA 8776 rating. Priced at £199.90, this helmet features a polycarbonate shell and an expanded polystyrene liner. It is rated IP67 and is waterproof. It also comes with 3 accelerometers, meant to detect when you crash. Should you crash, the bike also texts your location to a pre-set emergency contact. For an extra cost, you can buy Unit 1's handlebar buttons, which connect to the front and rear lights on your helmet to signal turns. The helmet automatically recognises when you brake and turns its lights red. At 440 g, this helmet is certainly light for the features it packs.
Mid-Tier Pick: Giro's Escape MIPS
The Giro Escape MIPS helmet will set you back £111. For this price, you get a sleek, minimalist helmet with “always-on" lights at the front and the rear, to make you visible to other riders and drivers. Made primarily from expanded polystyrene and a hardened styrene outer shell, the nylon straps are interwoven with reflective threading to boost your visibility further. This helmet is certified to the CE EN 1078 standard, in line with the UK and EU regulations for cyclist, skater, and skateboarder products, which means it is not officially certified for e-bikers.
Value Pick: ABUS PURL-Y ACE
The NTA-classified ABUS PURL-Y ACE hopes to blend safety with comfort. Depending on your retailer, this helmet will set you back between £67 and £93. For that price, you get a polycarbonate outer shell, an expanded polystyrene filling, and certification to the NTA-8776 standard. This helmet has reflectors stuck to its side and back to boost visibility. It also has an IP66-rated chargeable magnetic rear light. You can configure the light to adjust its flash pattern based on your speed, weather conditions, and other factors.
Use Case 2: Full-Face security.
Do you need to drive down a highway briefly for your commute? Are there no dedicated bike lanes where you ride? Are you just paranoid and would prefer a higher grade of security anyway? These helmets offer 360-degree skull protection, extending from the forehead to the chin.
Premium Pick: Bell Super DH Spherical
Bell's offering in the full-face helmet space, the Bell Super DH Spherical, will set you back £280- £340 and is a convertible helmet. The chin-bar is removable, and the helmet can serve as a head-only helmet, like the previous category, if you choose to. The helmet beats the ASTM 1952 mark, which certifies it for higher-speed impacts. At 810 g, this helmet weighs more than all our picks for daily-commute helmets. Similarly, it is certified to the CE EN1078 standard. This helmet also features a visor, a magnetic chin strap, a polycarbonate outer shell, and an expandable polystyrene filling.
Mid-Tier Pick: Bell Super Air R
Priced between £207 and £220, the Bell Super Air R is also convertible, much like the Super DH Spherical. This helmet also features a tool-free, removable chin bar and is CE EN1078-certified. It weighs 640 g and features an adjustable visor and a breakaway camera mount. Much like the others, this helmet has a hard polycarbonate outer shell and an expandable polystyrene filling. This helmet also features a MIPS design to ensure maximum safety.
Value Pick: Bell Sanction 2
Another offering from them, the Bell Sanction 2, will set you back between £96 and £121, depending on the size and retailer. The helmet has a rigid styrene shell, an expanded polystyrene lining, and nylon straps. The visor allows flexibility and improves airflow. The helmet is CE EN1078- and ASTM F1952-certified, making it safe to use in the EU, the UK, and the USA. Further, the helmet's ASTM F2032 BMX rating indicates it is shock-absorbent and impact-tested for downhill riding.
Use Case 3: High-Speed Technical Trails
While the bikes that necessitate such helmets may not be street-legal in the UK or parts of the EU, the additional protection is always welcome. High-performance dual-motor set-ups and off-road bikes warrant such helmets. These helmets undergo rigorous impact testing and downhill impact testing.
Premium Pick: Bell Full-10 Spherical
The Bell Full-10 Spherical will cost £624.99 to £850, depending on size and retailer. This helmet is an updated and evolved version of the Full-9 spherical helmet, featuring an entirely carbon-fibre outer shell and an inner lining of a specialised polypropylene and polystyrene filling for maximum shock absorption. The Full-10 Spherical is CE EN 1078 certified for general cycling, NTA 8776 certified for e-bikes, ASTM F1952-15 DH certified for downhill eMTB use, and ASTM F2032 certified for BMX use. All in all, this helmet can go with you wherever you want, and on whatever vehicle you choose.
Mid-Tier Pick: Fox Racing ProFrame RS Aura
Fox Racing's full-face eMTB helmet, the Fox Racing ProFrame RS Auraouter shell, will set you back between £288 and £382, depending on the size. Fox Racing has designed the ProFrame RS Aura with a MIPS design ethos. This helmet is also ASTM-F1952 certified, making it safe for downhill MTB use and other off-road/ trail use. The helmet features a magnetic lock system and a breathable internal lining meant to maximise comfort, much like all the other helmets. It has a hard outer shell of polycarbonate and styrene with an expanded polystyrene inner lining.
Value Pick: ABUS HiDrop
A budget-friendly offering, the ABUS HiDrop is a full-face, lightweight eMTB helmet priced at £151- £178, depending on size. The helmet is compliant with several global standards, including EN1078, ASTM F1952, and ASTM F2032, certifying it for downhill, trail, BMX, and other high-risk rides. Its hard outer shell, combined with its expanded polystyrene filling, makes for a comfortable, lightweight, and durable fit. The helmet also features a visor that, in the event of a crash, detaches and moves to protect your neck.
Our Final Verdict
Your brain is worth the investment, but the right price point is dependent entirely on the environment. Never buy for looks alone, or buy super cheap. Some of these helmet manufacturers offer insurance if you're in a crash, to replace your helmet at a much lower or no cost. Avoid all generic helmets that slap labels on mass-manufactured products made from cheap materials. Finally, always pull back the comfort padding and look for the official government and regulatory standard stamps.
