Learning to ride a bike is one of childhood’s most prominent memories. Whether your child is wobbling on a balance bike, cruising on two wheels, or riding to school, a quality helmet is non-negotiable. Every helmet in this guide has been worn and tested by real kids — including my own.
As a parent and lifelong cyclist, there’s nothing quite like watching a child fall in love with riding. Over the years, we’ve tested countless kids’ helmets, from early days in a bike trailer to full-speed runs around the neighbourhood. No matter where your child’s interests take them — road cycling, mountain biking, BMX, or skateboarding — safety will always be at the top of the list.
My son has worn a helmet on every single ride, and making that stick meant finding helmets he actually wanted to put on. The best kids’ helmets work the same way the best adult helmets do: they need to fit well, feel comfortable, and hold up to everyday use. Style isn’t an afterthought either — your kid’s helmet should look like one they actually want to wear.
Last updated 20th April 2026
Checked to ensure all kids’ helmets are current and available. How to choose section reformatted.
Best kids’ bike helmets
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Best overall
Skate-style helmets have a reputation for being heavy and lacking ventilation— the Bern Nino 2.0 bucks that trend. It comes with the extended coverage you’d expect from a skate-style lid, but Bern has trimmed the weight and added more ventilation than most other helmets in this category.
A lot of that comes down to what Bern calls Zip Mold+ technology. The outer shell uses a tough but lightweight PVC, while the inside is filled with a proprietary liquid-injected foam that’s precisely formed to use only as much material as necessary. The result is a helmet that’s resilient enough to survive being knocked around off the head, yet light and comfortable enough to forget about while wearing it.
The real standout feature, though, is the optional cold-weather liner. Rather than stuffing a hat under any old helmet, Bern’s cold-weather liner slots right into the helmet to keep ears and head warm without compromising fit. It’s one less thing to keep track of on a chilly morning ride. The one addition that would make this helmet even better is a magnetic buckle — standard buckles can get pinched in small hands and are easy for kids to get wrong.
Best Value
Fox Racing needs little introduction in the mountain biking world, and the Youth Mainframe is the brand’s masterpiece for a proper kids’ mountain bike helmet. It takes the design of the well-regarded Speedframe helmet and scales it down without cutting corners.
Like other mountain bike helmets, the Mainframe sits lower at the back and sides of the head for extra protection, and comes with a generously sized visor to manage glare. At 337g, it feels light on the head and, just as importantly, it looks like a real mountain bike helmet rather than a metered kids’ version.
A couple of limitations are worth noting: the MIPS liner used here is an older style, shared with the adult Speedframe, and it can catch long hair — we have a helmet perfect for long hair later in this guide. There’s also no vertical adjustment in the rear cradle, which narrows the overall fit range of the helmet.
Overall, the Youth Mainframe is a strong choice for any kid riding trails. It’s light, well-ventilated, and comes with a quality visor. If your child is on a mountain bike, this helmet belongs on their head.
Best Style
My son has tried a lot of helmets. His usual response is a shrug. When the Nutcase Little Nutty arrived in Watermelon — a helmet that looks exactly as you’re imagining — his eyes lit up, and he wanted to go riding immediately. That says everything you need to know about what Nutcase does differently. Styles rotate regularly, but the brand consistently delivers helmets that kids genuinely want to wear.
Style isn’t the only thing going for it, though. The skate-style shell provides extended coverage at the sides and back, and the thick plastic exterior means everyday drops and bumps don’t immediately ruin the helmet — a real advantage when kids are, well, kids. MIPS is included too. The trade-off for all that protection is a helmet that sits on the heavier end of the scale.
Sizing-wise, the Little Nutty Youth runs large and suits kids who are approaching adult small territory. Smaller children are better served by the Little Nutty in toddler sizing, and for the youngest riders, Nutcase also makes the Baby Nutty.
Best Visibility
The simplest way to make a young rider more visible is to add more of the best bike lights — front, rear, and as many as reasonably possible. Not everyone wants to deal with separate lights for their kid’s helmet, though, which is exactly the problem the Specialized Shuffle Youth LED solves. A rear light is built directly into the helmet and turns on with a single press. It’s a little stiff to activate, so it’s worth switching it on before putting the helmet on your kid’s head, rather than fumbling with it after.
Beyond the light, the Shuffle Youth is a well-rounded mountain bike-style helmet with extended side and rear coverage and a visor included. The side strap connectors are fixed rather than adjustable, but Specialized has positioned them well enough that they rarely need attention. For older kids heading out independently, the helmet is also compatible with the Specialized ANGi crash sensor — added peace of mind for any parent.
One sizing note: the smaller version of this helmet is sold as the Shuffle Child LED, and the smallest size is the Mio MIPS, which doesn’t include the integrated light.
Best Versatility
The Bontrager Jet ticks the two boxes that skate-style helmet buyers are usually looking for: serious coverage and genuine style. Its extended shell protects more of the head than a standard road-style helmet, holds up well to the rough treatment kids tend to give their gear, and looks sharp enough that kids actually want to wear it.
What sets it apart from most skate-style helmets is the rotational impact protection. Instead of MIPS, Bontrager uses its own WaveCel technology — an open-cell structured material that replaces traditional EPS foam and acts as both an energy absorber and a slip plane in one. Crucially, there’s no separate liner, which means no risk of catching long hair.
The other highlight is the magnetic Fidlock buckle — one of the best features any kids’ helmet can have. It snaps together with magnets, making it easy for small hands to manage independently and impossible to pinch skin in the clasp. It’s the kind of underrated feature that matters more than you think.
The one compromise, as with most skate-style lids, is weight. The Jet runs a little heavier than a standard helmet, which is the price of that extra protection and build quality.
Best for small heads
Finding a well-made helmet for very young riders can be extremely difficult, but these two options from Giro cover the earliest riders’ noggins better than most.
The Giro Scamp MIPS is the starting point, fitting heads from 45cm and designed for children just getting started — think balance bikes and rides alongside an adult. It includes MIPS, a pinch-guard buckle, and an integrated visor that’s strong enough to offer real forehead protection if they take a tumble. There are also plenty of colour options to keep things fun.
For most kids, though, the Giro Dime MIPS will be the more practical choice. It starts at 47cm in XS, but the skate-style design and heavier plastic shell make it more durable for everyday use. The size range tends to align better with the years when kids are actually riding regularly. It’s worth doing some head measurements before committing to one or the other. One thing to watch: while there is a pinch-guard buckle, there isn’t a magnetic buckle on either helmet, so take care when fastening the chin strap.
Best for long hair
Most helmets on this list use MIPS, but MIPS isn’t the only way to get rotational impact protection. For kids with long hair, it isn’t always the most practical. The original MIPS liner can catch and pull hair, which is enough to put some riders off an otherwise excellent technology.
Lazer’s alternative is called Kineticore, and it works differently. Rather than adding a separate slip-plane liner, Kineticore built flexible crumple zones directly into the foam of the helmet itself. You can’t see or feel them during normal use, but they serve the same protective purpose — absorbing rotational forces in a crash — without a liner that could snag hair.
The Lazer Nutz Kineticore and Pnut Kineticore bring this technology to younger riders, with the Nutz also offering enhanced rear and side coverage and eight design options to choose from. Lazer has also moved the buckle to the cheek area to reduce the chance of pinching — a thoughtful detail — though it remains a standard clasp rather than a magnetic one.
If your child has long hair, the Lazer Kineticore helmets are well worth a look.
How to choose the best kids’ bike helmet
Here are our recommendations for the key considerations when choosing the best bike helmet for your kid.
- Does it fit comfortably? Is the sizing right for your kid’s head, and is the shape of the helmet a match for their head shape, so that it doesn’t move around? Is there room and adjustment to fit as they grow? Can you fit a cap underneath if it’s cold?
- Are the straps comfortable? Kids may not like the straps, but they need to be adjustable to fit well. A magnetic buckle can help when putting the helmet on and removing it.
- Do they like the design/colour? Kids are more likely to be happy to wear their helmets if they like the look. They probably want a helmet to match their riding too, whether that’s a skate park, mountain biking or general road and off-road play.
- Is there the right level of venting? A helmet without enough vents can get uncomfortably hot in hot weather. On the other hand, one with too much airflow can feel too cold in winter weather.
- Is there additional rotational impact protection? A system such as MIPS or KinetiCore can add extra protection in a crash by reducing rotational forces. While kids may not be crashing at high speeds, more protection is always better. If you don’t know what MIPS is, check out our in-depth MIPS guide.
- Does it feel too heavy? Whether you’re an adult or a child, a lighter helmet is going to be more pleasant to wear when riding. Kids will probably complain if they think a helmet is too heavy, and discourage them from wearing it.
Everything you need to know about the best kid’s bike helmets
How do I measure my kid’s head size?
Helmet sizes are usually measured in centimetres around the circumference of their heads. That’s true for adult helmets as well as kids’ bike helmets.
The best way to measure your child’s head size is to use either a cloth tape or a piece of string. If you use the string method, just use a ruler to measure the string’s length. Measure around the largest section of their head, horizontally just above the ears, making sure that you take in the brow and the occipital lobe, the bump on the rear of the skull.
How do I make sure the fit is right?
Everybody buys clothes big and lets their kids grow into them. When I sat down and chatted with Isla Rowntree, founder of Islabikes, she relayed that bikes for children typically last three years but are only optimally sized for one. In the first year, they are too small for the bike, and in the last year, the bike is too small for them. Only during the middle year does the bike fit a child perfectly. All that is to say, everything your kid owns only fits for a short time, but a helmet has to be right all the time. Don’t buy a helmet too big and let it grow into it. Also, don’t let it stick around too long when it’s small.
The helmet should sit low on a child’s head in the front and should be stable once properly adjusted. If it sits too far back or flops around, it’s not the right size. It should also be comfortable and if it’s too tight, it’s not the right helmet. There’s a good amount of adjustability in a helmet, so you should be able to find one that will last for a while. But never buy one that doesn’t fit. A helmet that doesn’t fit isn’t safe.
Some helmets come with multiple pad sets with different thicknesses, so you can alter the fit as your child’s head grows. All will have a rear cradle with a dial adjuster or slider that lets you adjust the fit for the circumference and depth of their head.
When else should I replace my child’s helmet?
Besides replacing a helmet that they’ve grown out of, you should always replace a helmet that’s been in a crash, which involves a head impact. The EPS foam and the shell may have been damaged, so they’ll be less protective in a subsequent crash, and this is not always visible.
The same is true of a helmet that has been dropped. Although kids’ helmets are usually designed with an extra level of abuse resistance over lightweight adult helmets, if it has fallen down the stairs, for example, a helmet may become damaged. A helmet should also be stored out of direct sunlight and shouldn’t be left in a car on a hot day.
Most helmet makers say you should replace a helmet after a period of use, often five years, as the EPS foam will degrade over time. Your kid will almost certainly have grown out of their helmet by then, but it’s worth keeping in mind for hand-me-downs.
What is MIPS?
Helmets are really good at keeping you from a head injury in the event of a crash. At one point in time, saying that would have been a big deal, but at this point, it’s kind of the baseline requirement. Any helmet on the market will meet a variety of minimum requirements in order to be sold in a particular country. But it turns out there’s a lot more to keep you safe than that baseline.
When an impact occurs at an angle, which it almost always does, if your head stops moving very abruptly, it can cause your brain to move or stretch within your skull. Your child can experience a traumatic brain injury, more often referred to as a concussion, from the brain moving inside the skull. The current thinking is that the best way to solve this is to allow for some movement between the helmet and the skull.
MIPS is a brand name that stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It is one brand’s solution to the problem and the technology is licensed by various helmet brands, but there are other solutions to the same problem with other brand names applied. On our list of the best kids’ cycling helmets, there is MIPS, Lazer’s Kineticore, and Bontrager’s Wavecel technology represented, but there are others as well.
Does your child’s helmet need MIPS?
If you are purchasing a helmet for your child or for you, it’s a good idea to have some form of technology designed to allow for angular rotation. It is not a guarantee that the wearer has complete protection against concussion, but right now, the general consensus of research suggests that this type of technology is helpful. That’s not to say that a helmet without rotational impact protection technology is unsafe. All helmets have to meet required safety standards before being sold. Even if a helmet doesn’t have rotational impact protection, it’s safe.
Instead of considering the choice binary, I prefer to look at it as a consideration. There is a helmet for every size kid that includes some type of rotational impact protection. There’s no drawback, so it makes sense to include it in the helmet you buy.
Does your kid’s helmet need a visor?
A visor on a helmet is both a fashion choice and a functional choice. If your child has a very upright bike, a visor makes sense to help keep the sun out of their eyes. Bikes that keep the head lower mean that a visor will get in the way of visibility. A visor may also help stop branches and other obstacles from hitting them in the face.
In practical terms, that means road bike helmets don’t have visors and mountain bike helmets often do. If the bike your child has, as well as the style you and your child are going for, match up with a visor, then they are helpful, depending on the design. Many kids think the visor looks cool and it’s often removable too.
Does the buckle style matter?
The short of it is that a good buckle is worth shopping for. No parent wants to hurt their kid and it’s easy to hurt them with the wrong buckle. When you help a child buckle their helmet, you are often above them, making the area under their chin difficult to see. Even if you get down on a knee, it can be hard to judge where the buckle is in comparison to the skin. Not only that, but it’s a sensitive area and skin pinched in the buckle will hurt!
As a parent, you’ll go through a lot to make sure you don’t catch your kiddo’s skin in the buckle. That might mean lots of extra time being careful, but it can also mean making the strap looser so it’s less of an issue. A strap that’s too loose means the helmet is less effective and all the extra time isn’t fun for anyone. Instead, look for a buckle that makes life easier with some kind of no-catch system. Magnetic buckles are easy to use.
Does my child need to wear a helmet when cycling?
In much of the world, there’s no legal requirement to wear a helmet for cycling. Most adults do wear one nowadays though and it’s sensible to provide the extra protection that a helmet provides to your offspring when they are cycling.
Kids don’t always judge the risk involved in a manoeuvre as well as an adult, so they’re more likely to take a tumble. It’s then that a helmet adds extra safety, even if they’re riding speed is likely to be lower than yours. Choose a cool helmet and they’re less likely to make a fuss about wearing it.
How we test
We take testing seriously at Cyclingnews—especially when it comes to critical safety equipment such as kids’ bike helmets. For this guide, we tested eight helmets across multiple months and riding conditions, including pavement, gravel, school runs, and family trail rides. Given how crowded the category is, we focused on several key criteria to carefully shortlist the best kids’ bike helmets available today.
Of course, safety standards were an absolute imperative. We started by shortlisting helmets that met key safety standards such as CPSC (US) and EN 1078 (EU). While we can’t crash-test the helmets ourselves, we can simulate wear and tear and durability by dropping them, storing them in bags, and exposing them to sun and rain.
We also prioritised helmets from trusted brands with a history of quality and made sure to include a mix of budget, mid-range and premium options—some with MIPS, others without—to suit a range of needs and price points.
Each helmet was assessed for true-to-size fit, how well it stayed in place during riding, comfort over longer rides, how easily a child could put it on or adjust it themselves, and general durability. We paid special attention to strap adjustment systems and dial retention mechanisms since proper fit is vital to safety.
Testing is the backbone of our tech department, and we always aim to provide reliable, unbiased advice. Check out our how we test page if you’d like further information.