Bicycle Helmet Performance Ratings
Summary: Here are updated 2020 ratings from two independent labs of bicycle helmets tested for both high-level and low-level impacts. Consumer Reports and Virginia Tech ratings can help you select a helmet. Unfortunately, neither has tested many helmets, so the list at the bottom of this page where their ratings concur is short. We also have the independent Folksam recommendations for European (not US) models.
Bell Disney Frozen Tiara, Bell Span, Bell Stratus MIPS, Bontrager Charge WaveCel, Bontrager Circuit MIPS, Bontrager Specter WaveCel, Cannondale Quick, Coros LINX, Garneau Nino, Garneau Raid MIPS, Garneau Vitesse, Giant Rev Comp MIPS, Giro Register MIPS, Giro Scamp MIPS, Kali Alchemy, Livall Bling BH60, Raskullz Mohawk, Razor V17, Specialized Align, Specialized Chamonix MIPS, Specialized Shuffle Youth SB, UvexQuatro Junior.
Five Stars: Bell Formula MIPS, Bell Stratus MIPS, Bell Z20 Aero MIPS, Bern Union MIPS, Bontrager Ballista MIPS, Bontrager Blaze WaveCel, Bontrager Charge WaveCel, Bontrager Rally MIPS, Bontrager Specter WaveCel, Bontrager XXX WaveCel, Fox Dropframe Pro (MIPS), Fox Speedframe Pro (MIPS), Giro Aether MIPS SP, Giro Chronicle MIPS, Giro Syntax MIPS, Giro Synthe MIPS, Giro Tyrant MIPS SP, Lazer Anverz NTA MIPS, Lazer BLADE+ MIPS, Lazer Century MIPS, Lazer Chiru MIPS, Lazer Cyclone MIPS, Lazer G1 MIPS, Lazer Impala MIPS, Lazer Z1 MIPS, Louis Garneau Raid MIPS, POC Tectal Race Spin, Rudy Project Racemaster MIPS, SCOTT ARX PLUS (MIPS) 2020, Smith Route MIPS, Specialized Ambush (MIPS), Specialized Chamonix MIPS, Specialized Echelon II MIPS, Specialized S-Works Prevail II (MIPS), Troy Lee Designs A1 Classic MIPS, Troy Lee Designs A2 MIPS Decoy.
Four Stars: 6D ATB-1T EVO, Bell Adrenaline, Bell Annex MIPS, Bell Draft MIPS, Bell Sixer MIPS, Bontrager Circuit MIPS, Bontrager Quantum MIPS, Cannondale Ryker AM (MIPS), Catlike Whisper, Giro Caden MIPS, Giro Fixture MIPS, Giro Foray MIPS, Giro Register, Giro Savant, Giro Sutton MIPS, Giro Synthe, Kali Therapy, Lazer Coyote MIPS, LEATT DBX 3.0 All Mountain V19.2, Louis Garneau Course, Louis Garneau Le Tour II, POC Octal, POC Tectal, Schwinn Intercept, SCOTT ARX PLUS (MIPS), SCOTT Cadence PLUS (MIPS), SCOTT Vivo PLUS (MIPS), Smith Optics Forefront, Smith Optics Overtake, Specialized Ambush (non-MIPS), Specialized Centro (MIPS), Specialized S-Works Evade II, Specialized S-Works Evade II (MIPS), Specialized S-Works Prevail II.
Concurrence
Five Va Tech Stars and Excellent CR Impact protection:
Bell Stratus MIPS
Bontrager Charge WaveCel
Bontrager Specter WaveCel
Louis Garneau Raid MIPS
Specialized Chamonix MIPS
Folksam Testing of European Models
The respected Swedish insurance company Folksam publishes extensive helmet test reports every year. Their helmet report for 2020 rates European models, and they provide their actual test data. Note that even US brands included in the test are the helmet sold in Europe, so model names are irrelevant to US buyers. If you are buying a European helmet, their recommendations are:
Hövding 3 airbag (not at helmet)
Biltema Cykelhjälm MIPS
Tec Quadriga MIPS
Scott Vivo Plus MIPS
Bell Super Air R MIPS
Bontrager Specter WaveCel
OCCANO MIPS HELMET
Specialized S-Works Prevail II/ ANGI MIPS
Again, these are not the US model! They are the European version, and may be a completely different helmet to meet the European standard and European marketing requirements. We have a page up on the Hovding airbag.
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