E-bike helmets
Virginia Tech has no e-bike category, so no lab score ranks helmets for e-bike speeds. The HEXR Miden RLS has the best STAR score of the 49 Urban helmets Virginia Tech has rated: 6.933, where lower is better, at $150 when tested. The best-scoring one we found listed on Amazon US is the UNIT 1 AURA (9.007, $250 at test), and our catalog lists NTA 8776 for it. At $100 or less, the AIRNOGGIN Head Trauma Protection System scored 12.049 at $99. We have not confirmed an Amazon US listing for it.
NTA 8776 is a Dutch helmet standard for speed-pedelec riders, with higher test impact speeds and more head coverage than ordinary bicycle helmet standards. It is a separate certification, not a Virginia Tech rating.
Virginia Tech does not test to NTA 8776. We read certification labels from the catalog, not from STAR scores. Do not compare Urban and Mountain scores. These picks are not a ranking of protection at e-bike speeds.
Wondering whether you have to wear a helmet? See e-bike helmet laws in the US.
Virginia Tech has no e-bike category, so no STAR score ranks helmets for e-bike speeds. For a fast e-bike or speed pedelec, look for NTA 8776, a Dutch standard with higher test impact speeds and more head coverage than ordinary bicycle helmet standards. Check the helmet rules where you ride.
Our catalog’s certification field lists NTA 8776 for 26 Urban or Mountain models, and this page names them. That field is not a Virginia Tech result, so check the label on the exact version you buy.
No lab score ranks helmets for e-bike speeds, but among Urban helmets, the AIRNOGGIN Head Trauma Protection System has the best STAR score at $100 or less: 12.049 at $99 when tested. Our catalog does not list NTA 8776 for it, so check its label before you choose it for faster riding. We have not confirmed an Amazon US listing for it.
Virginia Tech’s STAR score does not measure coverage. NTA 8776 calls for more head coverage than ordinary bicycle helmet standards, so start there, then check coverage at your temples and the back of your head when you try a helmet on.
Our featured picks have the best lab scores among the helmets we found on Amazon, not among all helmets tested. Higher-rated helmets without a confirmed Amazon listing are included in the full ratings list.
Lower STAR scores are better. We compare scores only within the same Virginia Tech style. The cards show the lowest-scoring models with an Amazon US listing found in our checks, plus the lowest-scoring option at $100 or less where one exists. Prices are the price at test, not today’s price. A listing check does not confirm stock, seller trust or a current offer.
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.
$240 at time of testing, not a current price
NTA 8776 not listed in the certification field. Do not assume this model meets it.
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.
$90 at time of testing, not a current price
NTA 8776 not listed in the certification field. Do not assume this model meets it.
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.
$250 at time of testing, not a current price
NTA 8776 listed in the certification field.
No model with an Amazon listing in our checks tested at $100 or less in this style.
These are certification records, not a combined score ranking or a list of confirmed Amazon offers. Check the exact version’s label before buying.
The picker starts with Urban, shown as Commuter. It does not filter for NTA 8776, so check each model’s certification before choosing it for faster riding.
At $100 or less, the safest commuter helmet Virginia Tech tested, by STAR score, is the AIRNOGGIN Head Trauma Protection System ($99 price at test).
Pick how you ride and how much you want to spend. Lower STAR scores are safer. We only compare helmets within the same style.
Each dot is a helmet. Dots nearer the top have lower, better STAR scores. Orange is the pick, teal fits your budget, gray is over budget.
This table is the full ranking, ordered by Virginia Tech STAR score alone, where lower is better. Prices are the price at test, not today’s price. A dash under “Where to buy” means we have not confirmed an exact Amazon US listing for that model. Amazon links are affiliate links, so we may earn a commission; they never change the order. Virginia Tech rates Mountain helmets separately; see the mountain helmet ranking.
| Rank | Helmet | STAR score (lower is better) | Price at test | NTA 8776 | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | HEXR Miden RLS | 6.933 | $150 | — | — |
| 2 | Specialized Mode | 8.803 | $120 | Listed | — |
| 3 | UNIT 1 AURA | 9.007 | $250 | Listed | Find on Amazon |
| 4 | Giant/Liv Novo MIPS | 9.018 | $150 | — | — |
| 5 | UNIT 1 NEON | 9.53 | $200 | Listed | — |
| 6 | Lazer Anverz NTA MIPS | 10.994 | $200 | Listed | — |
| 7 | ABUS Pedelec 2.0 MIPS | 11.143 | $200 | Listed | — |
| 8 | Bern Major MIPS | 11.517 | $130 | — | — |
| 9 | Sweet Protection Promuter MIPS | 11.961 | $200 | — | — |
| 10 | AIRNOGGIN Head Trauma Protection System | 12.049 | $99 | — | — |
| 11 | Lazer Cruizer MIPS | 12.316 | $125 | — | — |
| 12 | Trek Charge WaveCel | 12.558 | $175 | Listed | — |
| 13 | Bern Union MIPS | 12.577 | $110 | — | — |
| 14 | Thousand Chapter MIPS | 12.914 | $135 | — | — |
| 15 | Bern Hudson | 13.031 | $140 | Listed | — |
| 16 | Specialized Tone | 13.047 | $80 | — | — |
| 17 | ABUS Hyban 2.0 MIPS | 13.07 | $110 | — | — |
| 18 | Lazer Urbanize NTA MIPS | 13.496 | $160 | — | — |
| 19 | Nutcase Street MIPS | 13.538 | $80 | — | — |
| 20 | Bontrager Charge WaveCel | 13.637 | $150 | — | — |
| 21 | Giro Caden MIPS | 14.213 | $95 | — | — |
| 22 | Bell Annex MIPS | 14.48 | $125 | — | — |
| 23 | Lazer CityZen KinetiCore | 14.549 | $65 | — | — |
| 24 | S1 Retro Lifer E-Helmet | 14.844 | $120 | Listed | — |
| 25 | ILM E3-12LS | 16.222 | $140 | Listed | — |
| 26 | Lumos Ultra | 17.188 | $120 | — | — |
| 27 | S1 Lifer | 17.829 | $65 | — | — |
| 28 | XNITO Old School | 18 | $150 | Listed | — |
| 29 | Giro Sutton MIPS | 18.129 | $100 | — | — |
| 30 | Sena U1 | 18.161 | $199 | Listed | — |
| 31 | Livall L23 | 18.401 | $100 | Listed | — |
| 32 | Closca Helmet Loop | 18.683 | $80 | — | — |
| 33 | FEND One | 18.732 | $99 | — | — |
| 34 | ABUS PURL-Y | 18.758 | $100 | Listed | — |
| 35 | Triple 8 Dual Certified MIPS | 19.014 | $75 | — | — |
| 36 | Bern Allston | 19.373 | $80 | — | — |
| 37 | Bern Brentwood | 19.924 | $70 | — | — |
| 38 | Bell Division | 20.056 | $40 | — | — |
| 39 | Smith Holt | 21.953 | $70 | — | — |
| 40 | Schwinn Avion | 22.424 | $28 | Listed | — |
| 41 | Kali City | 22.491 | $125 | — | — |
| 42 | Nutcase Street | 22.723 | $8 | — | — |
| 43 | BASE CAMP BC-019 | 22.761 | $38 | — | — |
| 44 | Thousand Heritage 2.0 | 22.92 | $99 | — | — |
| 45 | Schwinn Chic | 22.929 | $25 | — | — |
| 46 | Electra Helmet | 23.299 | $70 | — | — |
| 47 | Thousand Heritage | 24.926 | $90 | — | — |
| 48 | Bern Watts | 25.266 | $60 | — | — |
| 49 | BASE CAMP Urban Commuter | 26.566 | $26 | — | — |
Browse all helmet ratings or read how Virginia Tech tests helmets. No helmet can prevent every injury.
Source: Virginia Tech Helmet Lab bicycle helmet ratings.
TestedHelmets