There are a lot of kids’ helmets on the market, therefore it’s important to get the best that you can. Knowing which is the best bike helmet can help you in making an informed decision. In this article, we’ll look at some of the best kids’ helmets available on the market.
The importance of wearing bike helmet for kids
Before your child hits the road with their bikes, it is important to ensure that they are wearing a helmet. This is because a bike helmet offers a lot of advantages to the kids.
This includes:
Preventing head injuries
When riding a bike, a kid’s bicycle helmet is meant to absorb impacts in the event of a fall. This is due to its shock-absorbing shape, which reduces head injuries caused by the impact.
This helps to decrease the likelihood of significant head injuries if your child were to fall down while riding the bike. He is 80 percent less likely to suffer a serious injury if he or she falls down while riding his or her bike when wearing a helmet.
Help the child to be more visible
The lack of ability to see cyclists on the road is one of the most common causes of bike accidents. In bad visibility, as in foggy weather, the situation deteriorates considerably. It’s critical that your children wear helmets so that they can be more noticeable on the road.
A reflective strip is included with every kid’s helmet to ensure that your child is highly visible on the road. It’s crucial to consider this factor when purchasing a helmet.
Weather protection
Although many individuals do not ride their bicycles in bad weather, there are times when you can’t avoid it. For example, while riding your bike for longer distances, you may discover that the weather has grown more severe. Your child’s bicycle helmet might assist them to keep out of the rain, snow, and intense sunlight.
Looks good – Kids want to look good
Your kid’s helmet should make them feel happy and proud. You’ll find that many of the helmets available on the market these days are designed with style in mind. Many companies have released lines of helmets that come in a variety of colors, designs, and even cartoon characters.
When choosing a bike helmet for your child, keep in mind that it’s important to select one that is both stylish and safe. A good-looking helmet that isn’t well-made won’t protect your child as intended. Likewise, a boring-looking helmet that is made with high-quality materials will do its job without issue. It is possible to find kids’ helmets that excel in both categories.
Our Top Picks
The Best Kid’s Bike Helmets
Once you’ve considered the factors mentioned above, you’re ready to start looking at some of the best kids’ helmets on the market. Here are a few of our favorites:
1. Bell Rally Child Helmet
The Child Bell Rally is one of the most well-known child helmets and it has steadily grown in popularity. The Child Bell Rally fits heads between 52 and 56 cm in diameter. The helmet’s one-step fitting mechanism makes it simple for children and allows them to effortlessly fit the helmet on their own heads.
The Bell Rally Child Helmet is perfect for kids who are just starting to ride their bikes. This helmet comes in a variety of colors and features a built-in visor to help keep the sun out of your child’s eyes.
This helmet is also designed with a rear reflector, which increases your child’s visibility on the road. The Bell Rally Child Helmet also meets the CPSC’s safety standard for bicycle helmets.
Pros:
- Attractive designs
- Lightweight helmet
- Safe for young bikers
- Durable product
Cons:
- It’s not possible to keep out the rain.
2. Razor V-17 Youth Multi-Sport Helmet
The Razor V-17 Youth Multi-Sport Helmet is adaptable and intended for a variety of activities. It may be used in a variety of sports, including cycling, skating, and a slew of other games. The Razor is fitted with ergonomic comfort cushions that are soft on the head.
When you’re cycling on hot days, the helmet’s 17 vents on top and side can keep you cool. This allows you to stay cool while riding your bike on extremely hot days.
The manufacturer of the Razor has also considered that little ones might have trouble fastening buckles. As a result, they developed a side release buckle that makes it simple to attach. This helmet is designed for heads measuring between 21.5 and 23 inches in diameter.
Pros:
- Very durable
- Lightweight helmet
- Can be used for many sports
- Beautiful looking
Cons:
- Difficult to adjust fit for small heads.
3. Schwinn Thrasher Youth
Schwinn’s bike helmets do not disappoint in terms of design and construction. The Thrasher lineup is also aimed at adults and features an innovative and long-lasting design.
The Schwinn Thrasher Youth is for children who are learning to ride a bike. The helmet has 20 flow vents that aim to keep your head cool on hot days. The chin strap has a dial adjustment that lets you make changes on the fly, and it is extremely adjustable.
The helmet has a snap-on visor to protect you from the elements. This visor is simple to put on. The helmet has a rear air hole to help move air over your head and increase ventilation.
Pros:
- Comfortable helmet
- Durable
- Versatile
- Beautiful
Cons:
- Cannot shield biker from the rain
Best Infants & Toddlers Bike Helmets
1. Giro Me2 Infant/Toddler Bike Helmet
The Giro Me2 infant bike helmet is one of the most popular products on the market that is made to give kids protection while they ride their bikes. The Giro Me2 toddler bike helmet combines practicality and style.
The Giro Me2 bike helmet is one of the best designs available on the market today. It has a cute look that appeals to kids. The Giro Me2 bike helmet also features a small lock fastening system that is simple to use on little ones’ heads.
Giro’s Me2 infant bike helmet has a microshell bug net that is very gentle on the user’s head. The helmet also comes with 6 vents to assist air flow easily through the helmet.
Pros:
- High quality construction
- Durable helmet
- Lightweight
- Comfortable on the head
Cons:
- Not water proof
2. Schwinn Toddler Classic Microshell Helmet
Schwinn Toddler Classic Microshell helmet is another product from Schwinn that is aimed at toddlers. The dual-shell construction provides for greater durability and more protection in the rear. The helmet has a timeless design that looks good on all kids.
The helmet meets CPSC safety standards for bike helmets and has 10 air vents that keep your child’s head cool on hot days. The chin strap on the helmet is adjustable and fits most toddlers’ heads.
The helmet comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose the perfect one for your child. The helmet is also very lightweight, so it won’t weigh down your child while they are riding.
Pros:
- Comfortable helmet
- Fits on heads of different shapes
- Soft cushion on the inside
- Durable helmet
Cons:
- Cannot fit on older children.
3. Bell Infant Sprout Bike Helmet
The Bell helmet brand is well-known and has high-quality products. As a result, the firm offers a versatile infant bike helmet with a self-adjusting real fit mechanism. It fits heads that are approximately 47 to 52 cm in circumference.
The helmet is designed to be impact-resistant and meets the U.S. CPSC safety standard for bicycle helmets for people aged 1 and older. The helmet has 7 vents to keep your child’s head cool on hot days, and the rear of the helmet features reflectors for increased safety at night.
It features reflectors that enhance child visibility on the road. Furthermore, pinch guards ensure that small children’s fingers don’t get hurt when fastening their helmets. The helmets have also been lengthened on the rear to provide greater protection. This helps kids to stay safe even if they fall on the backside.
Pros:
- Comfortable helmet
- Easily adjust for fit with the head
- Protective
- Visibility enhancers
Cons:
- A little small for big children.
Best Fun Bike Helmet Designs
1. Raskullz Helmets
For a helmet far from the ordinary – Raskullz has you covered. Shown above is the T-Chopz helmet from Raskullz; which you would think is the ultimate helmet for kids crazy about dinosaurs.
Raskullz have over 20 different design offerings for both youth and infant helmets. Choose from their line of all three Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to a unicorn.
These cool bike helmets feature 3d injection-molded designs, aerodynamic cooling vents, nylon straps for adjustment, and a lightweight EPS molded shell.
2. Little Nutty by Nutcase Helmets
Shown above is the “Dart Frogs” design which is part of the Nutcase Little Nutty collection. The Little Nutty collection of cool bike helmets for kids contains 24 unique designs that are guaranteed to spark any kid’s interest. The Little Nutty helmets generally fit kids ages 2 to 6 years. If they are too big for the Little Nutty line, you can proceed on up to the Youth and adult models with even more cool designs. They even have a line of helmets for kids under the age of 2; Baby Nutcase.
Nutcase helmets feature no-pinch magnetic buckles, injection-molded EPS foam shells, detachable visors, reflectivity, and more.
3. Kiddimoto Bike Helmets
Kiddimoto is a legendary balance bike company from the U.K. Since 2003, Kiddimoto has designed and created unique wooden balance bikes that have color and design schemes based upon Scrambler and Superbike-type motorcycles. Nowadays their line of products has expanded to helmets, metal balance bikes, scooters, and ride-on toys.
Regarding helmets, they have numerous offerings from funky colors and designs to racer-inspired designs. These cool bike helmets from Kiddimoto feature dial adjustment for the perfect fit, numerous vents to keep you cool, and are made from lightweight ABS plastic.
4. Bern Nino and Nina
Bern helmets by far are our favorite helmet company. We sold them for a few years back in the early 2010s and were fascinated by their extensive line of helmets for most action sports.
We are big fans of their trademarked visor and replaceable summer and quilted winter helmet liners. My helmet for skiing is a BERN with the quilted winter liner and it is very warm and comfortable.
The Nino (boys) and Nina (girls) helmets generally fit kids ages 5 thru 8 and feature ultra-lightweight shells and the easy-to-fit velcro sizing system. The Nino and Nina are scaled-down versions of the BERN Brentwood model and can be accessorized for all-season versatility.
Related post: Cool Bike Helmets for Adults
Kids Bike Helmet Buying Guide
One of the questions we commonly get here at Bike & Scoot is whether your child really needs to wear a bike helmet even when simply riding on the sidewalk in front of your home. The answer is: absolutely. Sure, riding a bike is a lot of fun, but accidents happen. Head injuries are one of the most common injuries that can happen when riding, and when an injury involves the head, it often involves the brain too.
That’s the prime reason for wearing bike helmets no matter what your age. Protecting the brain is even more important in children whose cognitive facilities are still developing. Now that we have settled that issue, we can concentrate on how to select the best one for your child. Remember that a kids’ bike helmet doesn’t give your child a license to be reckless, but protects the head, brain, and face in the event of a fall. Here’s our definitive guide for the proper selection of kids’ bike helmets.
Kids bike Helmet Size and Fit
If you’ve ever purchased a bike helmet, you know that one size does NOT fit all and that all models fit a range of head sizes. Even within a specific size range, i.e., toddler, you’ll find different styles that have different fits. Properly measuring your child’s head is the key to well-fitting kids’ bike helmets.
When measuring the circumference, use a flexible tape measure and place it one inch above your child’s eyebrows, which corresponds to the thickest part of his or her head. Once you have this number you can select a model that corresponds to your child’s head size. Look at the specifications of each model to determine if your child’s head circumference fits within the stated range.
Helmet Adjustability
Because all helmets fit a range of sizes, adjust-ability is an important feature. Lower-end helmets often don’t offer adjust-ability, so skip these if you want a good fit. Most helmets have either traditional dial-adjust systems or come with pads to place inside the helmet to make it fit more snugly. Pads, however, have some drawbacks. For one, parents often forget to change the padding as their child grows. Others lose the extra padding that comes with the original purchase, which ends up leading to an ill-fitting helmet. Dial-adjust systems provide a better fit because the dial located in the back of the helmet adjusts the internal cage to secure a better fit. You’ll find dial-adjust systems on most high-end helmets.
Another option is Lazer’s unique self-adjusting system that automatically fits your child’s head via a tension wire inside a plastic housing. The tension wire always ensures a proper fit, even when your child puts on a habit by him or herself. The video below shows how the Lazer Autofit works.
Every kid’s bike helmet also needs a sturdy chin strap and adjustable sliders to help keep it from sliding forward on your child’s head High-end kids’ bike helmets will have locking sliders that make the fit even more secure.
Type and Construction of Kids Bike Helmets
There are two main types of kid’s bike helmets: in-mold and hard shell. Both provide sufficient protection but vary in durability, style, and the number of vents. How the outer shell adheres to the foam core is the distinguishing characteristic of the two types. For in-mold types, the plastic shell and foam core are fused together, which allows for more vents and usually lighter weight. Most higher-end kids’ bike helmets have in-mold construction.
Hardshell helmets are found in lower-end models for bike riding and skater-style helmets. For the latter, the thick plastic shell is glued to the foam core, which makes it durable and has the ability to withstand multiple impacts that skateboarders encounter. The most inexpensive hard shells use PET plastic, the type used for water bottles, taped onto the foam core. PET plastic has little durability as it can melt and warp. If your child has a hard-to-fit head, skater-style kids’ bike helmets will generally provide a better fit.
What About MIPS?
All kid’s bike helmets sold within the United States must follow strict standards. Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) helmets are taking that standard even higher. Long available as an option on adult helmets, this technology has recently become widely available on kids models.
MIPS helmets have an additional layer of protection that consists of an inner layer attached to a foam core with flexible rubber anchors. This layer reduces rotational forces on the brain caused by angled impacts to the head when an impact occurs. The helmet absorbs the impact no matter where the impact may originate. Research shows that helmets equipped with MIPS can reduce brain injury by 30 percent.
Expect to spend at least $25 more on a bike helmet with MIPS technology. Try the Lazer Nut and Nutz or the Giro Scamp, Dime or the Raze.
CSPC Safety Certifications
All kids’ bike helmets sold in the United States must have Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) certification and be labeled with a sticker. There is no industry-wide standard label but check to make sure that your intended model has a sticker. This certification ensures that the helmet will provide protection but only when a proper fit is achieved. High-end models tend to fit better than lower-end ones. CSPC age certifications fall into two categories, but the labeling is confusing. Certifications labeled 1+ are for a really small baby and toddler helmets that fit children with a head circumference of 50 cm. or less. The 5+ certification applies to all helmets larger than 50 cm. circumference, meaning that some children younger than age five can fit into this category. The 5+ certification applies to youth as well as adult helmets.
In addition, if you are seeking kid’s bike helmets for BMX riding or downhill mountain biking, these require a separate level of certification beyond those regarding age. CPSC kids’ bike helmets can also be used for inline skating and scooters, however, don’t use another type of protective headgear on your child that is not certified for bike riding.
Buckle Types
Buckles may not seem like a big deal to adults, but they can make a difference in kids’ bike helmets. A child who constantly gets pinched when fastening his or her helmet may start balking at wearing one. To avoid such unwanted battles, several companies have developed pinch-free buckles that have plastic guards under the buckle. These guards absorb the pressure that would otherwise be exerted on your child’s skin. High-end helmets, such as Lazer, Nutcase, and Melon, have magnetic buckles, while Uvex has its own system that avoids pinching. Below are a few types of helmet buckles commonly found on helmets.
Visors
Bike riding is a lot more fun when your child doesn’t have to squint in the bright sun. Traditional bike helmets can accommodate built-in or clip-on visors to shield eyes from the sun, while biker-style helmets don’t come with them. Only Nutcase skater-style helmets come with small sun visors. In the case of the latter, purchasing a pair of good sunglasses for riding is an option.
When selecting visors, make sure the material it is made of is not too sturdy. The reason for this is that some visors have been known to shatter upon impact, causing cuts to the face. Also look for visors that readily detach, which will help avoid any issues with the visor injuring your child during an impact. Visors that do not easily flip off can jerk your child’s neck during impact.
We truly hope you found our how-to guide on kid’s bikes helmets useful. Stay tuned for detailed helmet reviews and additional buying guides here.
Conclusion
When it comes to bike helmets for kids, there are a few key features that you should look for before making your purchase. The helmet should have a safety rating, be adjustable to fit different head sizes and shapes, and include a pinch-free buckle system.
It’s also important to consider the construction of the helmet – hard shell or in-mold – as well as the ventilation. Additionally, some helmets come with visors that can protect your child’s eyes from the sun and rain.
There are many factors to consider when purchasing a bike helmet for your child. By keeping these safety tips in mind, you can ensure that your youngster is well-protected while cycling.
