5 Best Mountain Bike Helmets For 2022
From All-Day Trails To Downhill Laps
We’d argue that there’s nothing more important than the right helmet while sending it out on the trail. Whether you’re riding XC, trail, enduro, or beyond, finding the right protection is essential. We had our Gearheads put together their list of the 5 best mountain bike helmets for 2022 so you can head out confident that your noggin is properly protected.
Our Gearheads’ Top 5 Mountain Bike Helmet Picks:
Best Full Face Helmet: Fox Racing Proframe
Most Bang For Your Buck: Smith Convoy MIPS
Best Lightweight Helmet: Giro Merit Spherical
Best For Comfort: Troy Lee Designs A3 MIPS
Best For Any Ride: POC Tectal
Best Full-Face Mountain Bike Helmet: Fox Racing Proframe Helmet
The Specs:
- Recommended Riding: Downhill, bike park
- Fit Adjustment: Fidlock SNAP buckle
- Ventilation: 24 vents
- Warranty: 1 year
- Weight: 735g
- Price: $269.95
What We Love:
- Full downhill protection without the bulk.
- A dual-density Varizorb EPS broadly distributes impact while a MIPS inner basket helps disperse rotational energy.
- A fixed visor and chin bar provide protection with airflow.
- 15 intake and 9 exhaust vents keep air moving continuously.
- Fidlock SNAP buckle is designed to be operated with gloves so you can get to riding faster.
Cons:
- Fixed visor doesn’t allow for adjustment
Gearhead’s Take: As the lightest downhill lid ever made by Fox, the Proframe comes with the same full-face, fixed visor protection of a classic downhill bucket—albeit in a more streamlined design that won’t leave you with your head hanging after an all-day ride. We love that its low weight means that even if you ride more towards the enduro end of the spectrum, you won’t have to sacrifice time in a race for upgrading to DH-level protection. Fox also punches 24 Big Bore vents into the Proframe’s shell, making sure you don’t feel like you’re trying to ride in an astronaut helmet when you’re grinding it out on a long, rocky ridge climb before a serpentine descent.
Most Bang For Your Buck: Smith Convoy MIPS
The Specs:
- Recommended Riding: cross-country, trail
- Fit Adjustment: VaporFit
- Ventilation: 20 vents
- Warranty: lifetime
- Weight: 315g
- Price: $85.00
What We Love:
- Perfect for your everyday ride.
- A lightweight mold construction that doesn’t weigh you down at a price point that won’t break the bank.
- VaporFit enables a full 5 cm of adjustable fit to dial in comfort.
- MIPS technology reduces rotational forces with a low-friction layer to keep your head protected.
- The integrated visor shields you from harsh rays on the sunniest rides.
- The AirEvac system pairs with 20 vents to usher air through and keep you cool.
Cons:
- Exposed EPS foam along the outer edge can potentially get scraped easily
Gearhead’s Take: This helmet is perfect if you’re looking for a helmet with MIPS technology that won’t break the bank. The Smith Convoy MIPS helmet lets you have your cake and eat it too. We love this helmet’s accommodating price point, versatility, and in-mold polycarbonate shell that takes the brunt of impacts. Additionally, we love that Smith equips this helmet with MIPS technology to reduce forces in rotational hits.
Best Lightweight Mountain Bike Helmet: Giro Merit Spherical
The Specs:
- Recommended Riding: cross-country, trail
- Fit Adjustment: Roc Loc Trail Air Fit
- Ventilation: 15 vents; internal channels
- Warranty: 1 year
- Weight: 360g
- Price: $219.95
Why We Love It:
- A MIPS brain protection system redirects rotational impact energy
- Roc Loc Trail Air fit system and plush Ionic padding keeps your head comfortable and cool.
- An adjustable moto-style screw-in visor with goggle gripper and anti-microbial padding keeps us fresh post-ride.
Cons:
- Limited in how much the visor can move
Gearhead’s Take: This high-performance trail helmet is ready to help you get rowdy, safely. For a confidence boost that helps us get there, we wear the Merit Spherical Helmet from Giro. With MIPS protection, an in-mold polycarbonate shell, and EPS liner all enhance safety in case of a crash, and a comfortable fit system, this helmet helps any rider find their ideal fit.
Best Mountain Bike Helmet For Comfort: Troy Lee Designs A3 MIPS Helmet
The Specs:
- Recommended Riding: Enduro, trail
- Fit Adjustment: Rear stabilizer fit
- Ventilation: 16 vents
- Warranty: lifetime
- Weight: 375g
- Price: $230.00
What We Love:
- A rugged in-mold construction absorbs blows and impacts for any nasty falls.
- A well-ventilated shell boosts airflow as your ride heats up.
- Strategically positioned foam wicks sweat to enhance comfort and fight odor while additional coverage along the temples and base increases protection.
- A retention fit system dials in the perfect, customized fit.
- The adjustable visor shields against dirt, debris, and glare
Cons:
- Pricey relative to some options
Gearhead’s Take: This all-mountain helmet will give you confident control in the saddle. We’d recommend you throw on the Troy Lee Designs A3 MIPS Helmet to cover your cranium for those all-mountain adventures. We love that the polycarbonate shell is designed to act as the initial barrier when charging trails, and an underlying EPS foam absorbs impact through every fall. The A3 offers additional coverage along the temples and base of your head than its smaller sibling, the A2, but doesn’t go overboard with chin bars that are better suited for the bike park. MIPS technology repositions the helmet to soak up angled impacts, and a ventilated shell keeps you cool on hot summer rides. To protect your eyes from debris and glare, the A3 employs a three-position adjustable visor that our riders applaud for its ability to break cleanly from the helmet through a fall, reducing impact forces if you don’t happen to stick the landing.
Best Mountain Bike Helmet For Everyday: POC Tectal
The Specs:
- Recommended Riding: cross-country, trail
- Fit Adjustment: ratcheting dial
- Ventilation: over-sized vents
- Warranty: 1 year
- Weight: 370g
- Price: $179.95
What We Love:
- A lightweight helmet that stands up with XC, trail, and enduro riding that balances protection with comfort.
- Extended coverage at the sides and back of the head.
- EPS liner helps mitigate impact forces.
- A strong, light unibody shell with aramid bridge lets this helmet amps up the protection while still keeping it comfortable.
- An easy-to-use single ratcheting dial makes fitting a breeze.
- Large open vents keep you cool throughout the sweatiest rides.
- Integrated sunglass storage at the back of the helmet lets you stash your sunnies when the light gets low.
Cons:
- not all sunglasses fit well under the helmet
Gearhead’s Take: The POC Tectal is good to go wherever you want to take it. This helmet is light and airy enough for cross-country rides, yet has enough coverage and offers protection for aggressive trails and enduro racing. Whether we’re heading out for an all-day mission in the hills or just cruising our local singletrack, the Tectal keeps us cool and comfortable so we can put all our focus on the trail ahead.
Looking for more? To browse all of our mountain bike helmets, check them out here.
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