Road bike helmets

Best road bike helmets, ranked by lab impact tests

The PIKIO Si OBLIK has the best STAR score of the 117 road helmets Virginia Tech has rated: 4.61, where lower is better, at $379 when tested. The best-scoring one we found listed on Amazon US is the POC Cytal (7.511, $330 at test). At $100 or less, the P2R A20 MIPS scored 8.14 at $55.

What is the safest road bike helmet?

By Virginia Tech’s STAR score, the PIKIO Si OBLIK is the safest road helmet it has tested: 4.61, where lower is better, at $379 when tested. The best-scoring one we found listed on Amazon US is the POC Cytal (7.511, $330 at test). A STAR score is a lab impact result, not a promise of protection in every crash.

What is the best road bike helmet for $100 or less?

The P2R A20 MIPS has the best STAR score among road helmets that tested at $100 or less: 8.14 at $55. We found it listed on Amazon US. The SCOTT ARX MIPS 2026 is next at 8.666 and $99.

Do expensive road bike helmets score better?

2 of the 117 road helmets in Virginia Tech’s ratings scored better than the $55 P2R A20 MIPS, and the cheapest of those cost $330 when tested.

Is MIPS worth it on a road bike helmet?

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.

How we chose

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.

Ratings last checked November 6, 2026.

Road helmets on Amazon

Road: best STAR score on Amazon

POC Cytal

5/5 stars

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.

$330 at time of testing, not a current price

Find it on Amazon

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.

See rating details

Road: best value

P2R A20 MIPS

5/5 stars

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.

$55 at time of testing, not a current price

Find it on Amazon

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission.

See rating details

Find a helmet for your budget

At $100 or less, the safest road helmet Virginia Tech tested, by STAR score, is the P2R A20 MIPS ($55 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.

How do you ride?

Spend up to (price at test)

$100

Illustration of a road helmet, not this model

Best STAR score at $100 or less

P2R A20 MIPS

STAR 8.14 · lower is safer
$55 price at test · 2025

Find it on Amazon

See full rating

Spending more won't buy much. Nothing within 60% of your budget had a lab score at least 10% better.

More to consider

Lazer Tonic MIPS
STAR 9.848 · $80 price at testFind it on Amazon

No exact Amazon US listing confirmed for SCOTT ARX MIPS 2026, Giant Rev Comp MIPS and 1 more better-scoring helmet.

Road helmets: lab score vs price (117 tested)

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.

All 117 road helmets ranked by STAR score

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.

Road helmets ranked by Virginia Tech STAR score. Lower is better.
Rank	Helmet	STAR score (lower is better)	Price at test	Where to buy
1	PIKIO Si OBLIK	4.61	$379	—
2	POC Cytal	7.511	$330	Find on Amazon
3	P2R A20 MIPS	8.14	$55	Find on Amazon
4	MET Trenta 3K Carbon MIPS (2025)	8.201	$450	—
5	Giro Aries Spherical	8.404	$300	—
6	Sweet Protection Falconer 2Vi MIPS	8.453	$250	—
7	Specialized Prevail 3	8.641	$300	—
8	SCOTT ARX MIPS 2026	8.666	$99	—
9	SCOTT Split MIPS	8.763	$400	—
10	KAV Silvo	8.955	$200	—
11	Sweet Protection Falconer Aero 2Vi MIPS	9.121	$300	—
12	Giant Rev Comp MIPS	9.125	$65	—
13	Lazer G1 MIPS	9.226	$240	—
14	KAV Rhoan	9.26	$300	—
15	Trek Velocis MIPS	9.448	$300	—
16	Specialized Chamonix 3	9.642	$80	—
17	Lazer Tonic MIPS	9.848	$80	Find on Amazon
18	Giant/Liv Rev Pro MIPS (2026)	9.857	$325	—
19	Lazer Century MIPS	9.996	$180	—
20	Lumos Aero GT MIPS	10.04	$100	—
21	Lazer Z1 KinetiCore	10.062	$280	—
22	SCOTT Centric Plus MIPS	10.199	$200	—
23	Outdoor Master PEBBLE MIPS	10.2	$60	—
24	Lumos Ultra MIPS	10.203	$170	—
25	Giant/Liv Rev Pro MIPS (2021)	10.219	$273	—
26	Lazer Sphere MIPS	10.325	$160	—
27	Sweet Protection Fluxer MIPS	10.481	$200	—
28	Specialized S-Works Evade 4	10.504	$350	—
29	POC Octal X SPIN	10.587	$250	—
30	KPLUS NOVA MIPS	10.739	$210	—
31	Bontrager Specter WaveCel	10.79	$150	—
32	Giro Helios Spherical	10.819	$250	—
33	MET Vinci MIPS	10.904	$130	—
34	Bontrager Ballista MIPS	10.923	$200	—
35	Specialized Evade 3	10.933	$300	—
36	Specialized Loma	10.984	$120	—
37 (tie)	Bontrager Starvos WaveCel Asia Fit	11.115	$100	—
37 (tie)	Bontrager Starvos Wavecel Round Fit	11.115	$100	—
39	Rudy Project Rebel	11.145	$350	—
40	Giro Eclipse Spherical	11.203	$250	—
41	Bontrager Starvos WaveCel	11.217	$100	—
42	Bell Z20 MIPS	11.228	$230	—
43	MET Trenta MIPS	11.253	$300	—
44	Specialized Propero 4	11.263	$200	—
45	Specialized Prevail 2 Vent MIPS	11.281	$250	—
46 (tie)	Trek Ballista MIPS	11.441	$300	—
46 (tie)	Trek Ballista MIPS Asia Fit	11.441	$300	—
48	P2R A70 PRO	11.458	$99	—
49 (tie)	Bontrager Circuit WaveCel	11.733	$150	—
49 (tie)	Trek Circuit WaveCel	11.733	$150	—
51	Bontrager XXX WaveCel	11.759	$300	—
52	Specialized Search	11.823	$160	—
53	Giant Rev Comp	11.87	$100	—
54	Kask Elemento	11.9	$400	—
55	Bell Formula MIPS	11.903	$95	—
56	Lazer Z1 MIPS	12.163	$255	—
57	Specialized Echelon II MIPS	12.21	$90	—
58	Bontrager Velocis MIPS	12.281	$210	—
59	Rudy Project RaceMaster MIPS	12.308	$350	—
60	Lazer BLADE+ MIPS	12.317	$100	—
61	Bell Z20 Aero MIPS	12.394	$250	—
62	ABUS Gamechanger 2.0 MIPS	12.448	$330	—
63	Giant/Liv Relay MIPS	12.483	$50	—
64	Giro Aether Spherical	12.507	$325	—
65	Specialized S-Works Prevail II MIPS	12.646	$250	—
66	POC Cytal Carbon	12.648	$400	—
67	Giant Rev Elite MIPS	12.686	$180	—
68	MET Rivale MIPS	12.7	$200	—
69	fizik Kudo Aero	12.717	$290	—
70	fizik Kudo	12.859	$290	—
71	PMT Elegant MIPS	12.861	$103	—
72	Bell Stratus MIPS	12.896	$150	—
73	Giro Synthe MIPS	13.004	$270	—
74	Giro Syntax MIPS	13.368	$100	—
75	KAV Nova	13.491	$300	—
76	Lazer Strada KinetiCore	13.624	$110	—
77	Lumos Ultra E-Bike MIPS	13.645	$230	—
78	Lazer Vento KinetiCore	13.701	$280	—
79	PMT Elegant 3.0	13.707	$105	—
80	PMT KORA 3.0	13.829	$121	—
81	SCOTT Cadence Plus	13.873	$230	—
82	Giant/Liv Rivet MIPS	13.972	$350	—
83	MET Trenta 3K Carbon MIPS (2022)	13.973	$380	—
84	Smith Route MIPS	13.984	$105	—
85	Bontrager Circuit MIPS	14.044	$90	—
86	Lazer Tonic KinetiCore	14.299	$70	—
87	SCOTT ARX PLUS MIPS 2014	14.306	$100	—
88	Specialized S-Works Evade II MIPS	14.413	$275	—
89 (tie)	Lazer Codax KinetiCore	14.489	$45	—
89 (tie)	Lazer Tempo KinetiCore	14.489	$40	—
91	Lazer Cameleon MIPS	14.751	$90	—
92	Specialized S-Works Prevail II	14.841	$225	—
93	Smith Overtake	15.001	$163	—
94	Catlike Whisper	15.447	$130	—
95	Smith Signal MIPS	15.49	$85	—
96	Giro Savant	15.497	$100	—
97	Bell Draft MIPS	15.628	$60	—
98	ABUS Powerdome MIPS	15.695	$170	—
99	POC Octal	16.13	$200	—
100	PMT KORA	16.207	$120	—
101	Zefal Pro 24	16.246	$30	—
102	POC Omne Air SPIN	16.443	$150	—
103	Giro Foray MIPS	16.452	$85	—
104	Louis Garneau Course	16.78	$180	—
105	Giro Synthe	16.952	$250	—
106	SCOTT Cadence PLUS MIPS	17.188	$250	—
107	Serfas Vault	17.229	$60	—
108	Zefal Light Up	17.728	$10	—
109	Kali Therapy	18.212	$100	—
110	Specialized S-Works Evade II	18.5	$250	—
111	Schwinn Insight ERT	18.587	$100	—
112	Lazer Blade	19.22	$95	—
113	Kask Valegro	19.569	$185	—
114	Kali Interceptor	19.626	$185	—
115	Kali Tava	22.33	$240	—
116	Lazer Genesis	24.347	$100	—
117	Specialized Echelon II	25.198	$70	—

What to look for

Choose a shape that sits level and snug without pressure on your temples.
For hot climbs, try a vented helmet. An aerodynamic bicycle helmet may trade airflow for less drag.
A STAR score measures impact performance, not aerodynamic performance. It cannot tell you which helmet is faster.
Try the helmet with your riding glasses and make sure the straps sit flat.

Compare your shortlist

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.