Your next ride
Virginia Tech rates each riding style on its own scale, so there is no single best bike helmet. By STAR score, where lower is better, with prices at test, the best-scoring helmets in its ratings are the PIKIO Si OBLIK (road, 4.61, $379), the Canyon Deflectr RLS (mountain, 6.819, $160) and the HEXR Miden RLS (commuter, 6.933, $150). On Amazon US, the best scores we found are the POC Cytal (road, 7.511, $330), the POC Cularis (mountain, 7.096, $240) and the UNIT 1 AURA (commuter, 9.007, $250). At $100 or less, the P2R A20 MIPS road helmet scored 8.14 at $55.
For each riding style, the shortlist below has the helmet with the best Virginia Tech STAR score that we found on Amazon and the best-scoring one that tested at $100 or less. The best one for you still needs to fit comfortably and securely.
On a budget? Read the safest bike helmet for the money. The short version is that the P2R A20 MIPS, at $55 when tested, had only 2 road helmets with a lower Virginia Tech STAR score at any price.
We use Virginia Tech Helmet Lab ratings. Lower STAR scores are better, and five stars is the highest rating. Compare scores within the same helmet category, not across riding styles.
We picked the lowest STAR score in each style that we could find on Amazon. Prices are from when each helmet was tested, not current offers. Check the exact model, today’s price, and fit before buying.
Rank is the helmet’s place among every helmet Virginia Tech tested in that style, by STAR score, where lower is better. Scores compare only within a style. Amazon links are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission; they never change a rank.
| Style | Pick | Rank in style | Helmet | STAR score (lower is better) | Price at test | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Road | Best STAR score on Amazon | 2 of 117 | POC Cytal | 7.511 | $330 | Find on Amazon |
| Road | Best value | 3 of 117 | P2R A20 MIPS | 8.14 | $55 | Find on Amazon |
| Mountain | Best STAR score on Amazon | 2 of 90 | POC Cularis | 7.096 | $240 | Find on Amazon |
| Mountain | Best value | 15 of 90 | Endura Hummvee MIPS | 9.647 | $90 | Find on Amazon |
| Commuter | Best STAR score on Amazon | 3 of 49 | UNIT 1 AURA | 9.007 | $250 | Find on Amazon |
| Multi-sport | Best STAR score on Amazon and best value | 1 of 37 | Specialized Align II | 9.554 | $50 | Find on Amazon |
| Full-face | Best STAR score on Amazon | 1 of 17 | Sweet Protection Fixer Carbon 2Vi MIPS | 7.659 | $650 | Find on Amazon |
| Full-face | Best value | 10 of 17 | O'NEAL Sonus | 11.781 | $100 | Find on Amazon |
Road: best STAR score on Amazon
Lab impact score: 7.511 (lower is safer)
Compared with 117 Road helmets in this catalog. Tested 2025.
The lowest STAR score among the road models we found on Amazon.
It scored 8% better than the P2R A20 MIPS in Virginia Tech's lab tests.
$330 at time of testing, not a current price
Road: best value
Lab impact score: 8.14 (lower is safer)
Compared with 117 Road helmets in this catalog. Tested 2025.
The lowest STAR score among our Amazon-listed road models tested at $100 or less.
This is the P2R A20 MIPS, our headline pick.
$55 at time of testing, not a current price
Mountain: best STAR score on Amazon
Lab impact score: 7.096 (lower is safer)
Compared with 90 Mountain helmets in this catalog. Tested 2025.
The lowest STAR score among the mountain models we found on Amazon.
Virginia Tech rates mountain and road helmets separately; their STAR scores should not be compared.
$240 at time of testing, not a current price
Mountain: best value
Lab impact score: 9.647 (lower is safer)
Compared with 90 Mountain helmets in this catalog. Tested 2025.
The lowest STAR score among our Amazon-listed mountain models tested at $100 or less.
Virginia Tech rates mountain and road helmets separately; their STAR scores should not be compared.
$90 at time of testing, not a current price
Commuter: best STAR score on Amazon
Lab impact score: 9.007 (lower is safer)
Compared with 49 Urban helmets in this catalog. Tested 2025.
The lowest STAR score among the commuter models we found on Amazon.
Virginia Tech rates urban and road helmets separately; their STAR scores should not be compared.
$250 at time of testing, not a current price
No model with an Amazon listing in our checks tested at $100 or less in this style.
Multi-sport: best STAR score on Amazon and best value
Lab impact score: 9.554 (lower is safer)
Compared with 37 Multi-sport helmets in this catalog. Tested 2020.
The lowest STAR score among the multi-sport models we found on Amazon.
Virginia Tech rates multi-sport and road helmets separately; their STAR scores should not be compared.
$50 at time of testing, not a current price
The same model has the lowest STAR score in both selections among the models we found on Amazon.
Full-face: best STAR score on Amazon
Lab impact score: 7.659 (lower is safer)
Compared with 17 Full-Face helmets in this catalog. Tested 2026.
The lowest STAR score among the full-face models we found on Amazon.
Virginia Tech rates full-face and road helmets separately; their STAR scores should not be compared.
$650 at time of testing, not a current price
Full-face: best value
Lab impact score: 11.781 (lower is safer)
Compared with 17 Full-Face helmets in this catalog. Tested 2024.
The lowest STAR score among our Amazon-listed full-face models tested at $100 or less.
Virginia Tech rates full-face and road helmets separately; their STAR scores should not be compared.
$100 at time of testing, not a current price
It depends on how you ride, because Virginia Tech scores road, urban (commuter), mountain, multi-sport and full-face helmets on separate scales. The shortlist on this page has the best-scoring helmet we found on Amazon US in each style.
It depends on the style. For road riding, the P2R A20 MIPS has the best Virginia Tech STAR score at $100 or less: 8.14 at $55 when tested. The shortlist on this page has the best-scoring Amazon-listed pick at $100 or less for each style where one exists.
Judge the STAR score, not the label. Virginia Tech’s tests measure rotational as well as linear head motion, so any benefit from MIPS or another rotational system already shows up in a helmet’s score.
A few helmets that scored better are sold only by the brand, not on Amazon. We picked the ones with the best Virginia Tech STAR scores that we could find on Amazon, so you can actually buy them.
No. Virginia Tech rates each category separately and says not to compare scores across categories. Compare a road helmet with other road helmets, and a mountain helmet with other mountain helmets.
See head-to-head comparisons, browse all bike helmet ratings or read our guide to Virginia Tech’s ratings. Try your shortlist on and follow the manufacturer’s fitting instructions.
Source: Virginia Tech Helmet Lab bicycle helmet ratings. Test years and prices shown come from the source catalog.
TestedHelmets