Best budget cycling helmets 2023 ridden and rated

The best budget cycling helmets often give you features trickled down from more expensive lids, but at a much lower price. 

While a premium lid might be lighter, more aero, slightly better finished and include more complex shaping, often features like straps and the adjustable rear cradle will be exactly the same in a budget cycling helmet. All helmets will have passed the applicable safety standards in the country where they're sold too, so even a budget cycling helmet will add protection if you do have a crash.

Additional safety features like MIPS are also increasingly finding their way into budget cycling helmets. Again, they're a feature of many high priced helmets that are trickling down helmet makers' ranges.

Often the main differences between an expensive helmet and one of the best budget cycling helmets are the number of vents and weight, as more complex and lightweight shapes requires more expensive manufacturing. 

If you're after something a little pricier than what's suggested here, our guide to the best road bike helmets (opens in new tab) covers all price points and offers more detailed buying advice. We've also got a guide to the best commuter bike helmets, which includes some options with more urban styling. If you're specifically after head protection for a little one, check out our guide to the best kids' bike helmets (opens in new tab).

Next is our pick of the best budget cycling helmets and below that a buyer's guide to helmet features and what to look for in a cycling helmet.

Best budget cycling helmets for road riders: our picks

Cannondale are newcomers when it comes to helmets but the Junction doesn't let this show. It's a stylishly designed lid with two-way adjustment and a simple but effective strap arrangement. 

Cannondale currently only offer two different sizes, S/M and L/XL, so those at the extremes might be left wanting. If you fall into the average category you should be able to appreciate a snug fitting helmet with the added protection of MIPS. 

The helmet's well suited to a variety of riding making it a great option if you commute as well as ride for pleasure, on or off-road. 

It probably won't be appreciated by racer as the MIPS shell works against the airflow channels somewhat where ventilation is concerned. Our tester felt that this was only really an issue for prolonged intense efforts. 

Read more: Cannondale Junction Adult Helmet bike helmet full review

With 19 vents, the Bell Formula MIPS has the shape and comfortable fit of Bell’s pricier lids, along with the same secure retention system and a fit that surrounds the head well. 

There are two options for the Bell Formula, with and without a MIPS liner, with the latter designed to dissipate rotational forces in a crash. There is a small price difference between the versions, but as both still hit the best budget bike helmet price range, we would highly recommend getting the MIPS version. We weighed the non-MIPS medium size helmet at 235g, which makes the Bell Formula around the mid-weight for a lower-priced helmet. 

Read more: Bell Formula bike helmet full review

Version 3 of the Kask Mojito inherits the comfort, ventilation and low price of its predecessors. We rated its airflow, deep sides and comfortable imitation leather chin strap, but although the rear cradle is easy to adjust it can slip vertically.

More and more helmets, even at lower prices, now incorporate MIPS, but the Kask Mojito 3 does not have the sliding plane tech incorporated. Instead, Kask has designed and tested the helmet to meet its own rotational impact protection standards. The helmet also comes with large reflective patches at the rear to up your visibility in low light conditions.

You get 16 colour options with some very bright.

Read more: Kask Mojito 3 bike helmet full review

Impressively you get the highly desirable MIPS in the Smith Optics Signal  which makes this an exceptional budget bike helmet. 

The helmet also gains many other high-end features seen in much more expensive models in the Smith range, including the same Vaporfit retention system. 

It's a chunkier looking helmet when compared to something like the Abus Viantor. That does mean that the Smiths Signal MIPS would work for urban, gravel and mountain bike cyclists too, but for pure roadies, this might be off-putting.

Read more: Smith Signal MIPS bike helmet full review

Sleek looks and quality finish make the Abus Viantor bike helmet a stand out lid among lower-priced options. The outer shell wraps around the bottom edge of the polystyrene core too, making the Viantor less prone to gouging and wear and tear.

On test we found the large vents provided a great deal of through air, making it a great option for anyone who is after head protection for hot days on the bike. 

There's no magic MIPS here, but there is an internal roll cage, which increases the strength of the helmet, without adding mass and making the Abus a comfortable fit even on a long ride. 

The other noteworthy mention is that it's great to see so many colour choices on offer, which is something that can often be missed off the list even on the best budget bike helmets. 

Read more: Abus Viantor bike helmet full review

With a whopping 31 vents and inner air channels, there’s no shortage of cooling in the Specialized Echelon II, even with the MIPS liner which provides for added crash protection. Comfort is good for a range of head shapes and there’s the Headset SL retention system, which has six height positions and a micro-adjust dial.

You can also fit Specialized’s optional extra ANGi crash detection system to the Echelon II, which uses your smartphone to track your ride and alert your designated contacts in the event of an accident.

It does weigh more than some of the best budget cycling helmets on offer, such as the Bell Formular MIPS, but when on it's a really comfortable fit and the weight penalty is hardly noticeable.  

Read more: Specialized Echelon II MIPS bike helmet full review

Offering something different from the majority of bike helmets, the Livall BH60SE (opens in new tab)has an array of additional features, such as built-in remote controlled LED lights, Bluetooth speakers and a windproof microphone. The fun side of these is the ability to listen to music, answer a call without taking your hands off the bars or losing perifocal sound as when using headphones. The safety side is that should the helmet detect an incident, it will automatically send an SOS to your ICE contact, giving them a precise location.   

With 24 vents, it’s cool, aero and lightweight. The downside is that the Livall is one size fits all, so if you’re at either extreme of the size range, fit might be an issue, plus all that functionality quickly drains your phone's battery.

Read more: Livall BH60SE bike helmet full review

HJC has been making motorcycle helmets for many years and applied its expertise in making a super safe and extra lightweight model which is certainly one of the best budget bike helmets on the market. 

The HJC Atara balances aerodynamics and ventilation at a price point, with eight inlet and two exhaust vents. 

The HJC Atara is the lightest budget bike helmet that we've come across, at just over 200g for a size small, although this doesn't include MIPS. We also found the recommended head size ranges didn't correspond to the actual fit, so would recommend trying before you buy.

Read more: HJC Atara bike helmet full review

Another option from the German brand, the entry-level Abus Macator helmet comes with a removable visor and a head-hugging shape. Its fit, retention system and small number of extra-large vents give the Abus Macator features well above the sticker price. It's on the heavy side at 278g for a size small helmet, but still lighter than the Specialized Echelon II MIPS road bike helmet.

The three sizes and six colours on offer mean that there are plenty of options to choose from making this exceptionally low priced head protection one of the best budget bike helmets with a large range. It is a little bulky in the looks department, not that dissimilar to the Smith Optics Signal MIPS helmet, but for the price tag, most cyclists would happily accept this compromise.  

Read more: Abus Macator bike helmet full review

Another great MIPS offering for anyone with a tight budget to stick to is this MET Vinci MIPS bike helmet. Taking design cues from the high-end Trenta, this lower priced version comes with 16 vents and internal channelling to help to create good air circulation, keeping you cool on warm days on the bike.

For extra road presence, you can buy a rear light that fits into the dial adjuster and the helmet comes with MIPS for extra crash protection. The glasses ports weren't as stable as other helmets on the market, and, much like the HJC Atara bike helmet, look out for sizing, as you may need to size up to get a good fit. 

But if you do get the right size, you'll find it really comfortable thanks to the great retention system, which is a highlight of one of the best budget bike helmet options. 

Read more: MET Vinci MIPS bike helmet full review

Best budget cycling helmets: your questions answered

Here’s a quick guide for key features that mark out the best budget road bike helmets. There’s more detail on helmet features and our recommendations across the price range in our guide to the best road bike helmets (opens in new tab), so take a look there too.