A good helmet is arguably the most important piece of cycling equipment you can own. It keeps your brain safe!
That’s why we’ve rounded up a list of women’s road bike helmets that have gone the extra mile in terms of safety features. Most of these lids include MIPS and several boast extra safety features like memory foam padding, propriety retention systems, and one of these even has a sensor that will alert your loved ones if you crash.
Of course, safety isn’t all we look for in a good women’s road bike helmet. They should be lightweight, well ventilation, comfortable, and offer a good fit.
As women, we also believe that a helmet should look good! We’ve picked helmets that offer feminine designs, low profiles, and a wide variety of colors.
Here are our 9 faves in a wide range of price points and profiles so you should be able to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Best Overall
Yeah, these helmets aren’t cheap, but neither is a traumatic brain injury. If you like to ride a bunch and are ready to shell out cash for a top of the line, helmet, these are the lids for you. If you’re not, keep scrolling on down.
| Helmet | What We Love | Price |
| POC Ventral Air Spin | Spin safety system, superior ventilation | $249 |
| Bontrager XXX | WaveCel technology | $299 |
| Smith Trace MIPS | Highly aerodynamic | Price not available * |
| Kask Protone | Excellent fit | $299 |
| Lazer Z1 MIPS | Incredibly comfortable | $299 |
POC Ventral Air Spin
POC makes our favorite mountain bike helmets and they make our favorite road helmets as well. Why?
The construction and safety of their lids are second to none. If you are serious about cycling and serious about your safety, this is a no brainer (pun totally intended).
The POC Ventral Air Spin has the Spin rotational impact system, a technology that’s similiar to MIPS (if you’re familiar with that). Additionally it provides really excellent coverage while still maintaining good ventilation and breathabiliity.
The helmet is aerodynamic which makes it a good choice for racers as well as ladies who just want to look fast.
Price: $249
Bontrager WaveCel Helmets (Specter and XXX)
Like the Koroyd on the Smith helmets (below), the Bontrager Specter and Bontrager XXX helmets use a honeycomb style sheet that is inserted into the helmet and which helps absorb impact.
Whether or not you buy into the WaveCel hype, the helmets have high safety ratings in independent tests, making them a good choice if you’re looking for one of the safer lids around.
Both helmets are super comfy, have good ventilation, and work well with a ponytail (always important for us ladies).
Read Our Review: Bontrager Wave Cel Helmets
Price: Specter: $149.99
Price: XXX $299.99
Smith Trace MIPS Helmet
The Smith Trace comes in a bunch of color options and it’s simply a GREAT helmet. In fact, we know more folks who use this helmet on the road and swear by it then other any other lid on this list.
No, it’s not cheap, but it does come with a long list of features that provides good bang for your buck. Extras include sunglass channels and honeycomb vent coverage to keep out bugs.
We know several people who have had a crash in this helmet, to good outcomes. That is thanks in large part to the extended rear-of-head coverage and Smith’s proprietary Koroyd construction.
Finally, if you’re a racer (or you just like to go fast), the Trace is highly aerodynamic. In a wind tunnel study, the Giro Trace did significantly better than many of its competitors.
Price: Price not available (Last updated: 2023-05-12 at 05:32 – More Info)
Kask Protone Helmet
The Kask Protone is a premium road bike helmet. It looks
But it doesn’t just look good. This is also a helmet favorite favored by many pros. It is aerodynamic, light, and offers good ventilation.
When you’re paying this much for a helmet it’s not necessarily safer; what you’re paying for is fit. And the Kask Protone offers an excellent fit. The sizing is spot on, the retention system is easy to adjust and won’t catch your hair.
Price: $299
Lazer Z1 MIPS
Women who love Lazer helmets, LOVE them. This is likely do the excellent fit, low profile, and lots of ventilation.
The Lazer Z1 MIPS is comfortable in everywhere. It doesn’t cause any weird pressure points, the straps won’t irritate you skin, and there’s enough room for women with lots of hair.
Like most of the helmets here, the Z1 has MIPS technology. It also has T-pro protection that offers additional protection in the temple area of the head.
Price: $209
Best Budget Helmets
Whether you are brand new to cycling or are simply on a budget, these more affordable picks will go easy on your wallet and perform well on the bike.
| Helmet | What We Love | Price |
| Giro Seyen MIPS | Slim buckle | Price: $78.98 * |
| Specialized Propero III with ANGi | ANGi alert system | $140 |
| Giro Saga MIPS | Available on clearance | $64 |
| Specialized Align II MIPS | Affordable and safe | $50 |
Giro Seyen MIPS
The Giro Seyen isn’t anything fancy but it gets the job done. Actually scratch that– the color schemes are a bit fancy.
The Seyen has MIPS technology, 25 air vents, adjustable ROC LOC retention system, and a slim buckle that won’t rub your chin raw. Basically, all the stuff you want, and nothing you don’t.
It has a slim profile so you won’t feel too dorky, and is lightweight so you won’t even feel it there.
Read Our Review: Giro Seyen MIPS
Price: $78.98 (Last updated: 2023-05-12 at 06:31 – More Info)
Specialized Propero III with ANGi
If you enjoy riding alone, or in rural areas, the Specialized Propero might be for you. The helmet includes Specialized’s
That’s not the only safety feature. The
On the lighter side of things, we appreciate the helmet’s “
The straps have a splitter that makes adjustments dummy-proof and keeps straps laying flat, and it comes with a clip-on visor. (The only one on this list that does).
Price (MSRP): $130
Giro Saga MIPS
For under $100, the Giro Saga MIPS is a great helmet. There aren’t a ton of helmets in this price range that offer MIPS technology, so if that’s important to you, and you’re on a budget, you probably can’t beat the Saga.
We found that the dial on the back of the helmet was super easy to adjust one-handed while riding thanks to a rubber grip. There is also good clearance at the rear for a ponytail, if you’re a long haired gal.
Finally, for a budget helmet, the Saga does a good job of ventilation thanks to 22 holes and internal channeling.
It comes in several different colors including ones that aren’t pink. For 2021, this helmet has been discontinued, but you can still find one for a good deal. So hurry!
Price: $63.73
Specialized Align II MIPS
There aren’t many MIPS helmets that are this affordable. The Specialized Align II MIPS offers safety at an approachable price point.
There are other features on the helmet that you won’t always find at this price like a rear fit dial and reflective details. It does take some more effort to get the helmet fitted propertly, but hey, you get what you pay for.
Price: $50
Comparison Chart: Road Bike Helmets for Women
Not sure which helmet is best for you? This comparison chart might help you narrow it down.
| Helmet | MIPS? | Weight | # Air Vents | Manufacturer's Warranty | Visor? | Women's Specific? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giro Saga MIPS | Yes | 240 g | 22 | 1 year | No | Yes |
| Smith Trace MIPS | Yes | 283 g | 18 | 2 years | No | No |
| Kask Protone | Yes | 230 g | 20 | limited lifetime | No | No |
| Giro Seyen MIPS | Yes | 25 | 1 year | No | Yes | |
| Specialized Propero III with ANGi | Yes | 265 g | 2 years | Yes | No | |
| Bontrager Specter | No | 341 g | 14 | 1 year | No | No |
| Bontrager XXX | No | 325 g | 1 year | No | No | |
| POC Ventral Air Spin | No | 245 g | 15 | 1 year | No | No |
| Lazer Z1 MIPS | Yes | 275 g | 31 | 1 year | No | No |
| Specialized Align II MIPS | Yes | 348 g | 2 years | No | No |
What To Look For In A Road Bike Helmet
Not sure how to choose a bicycle helmet? Here are some of the things you should consider before buying.
Weight
The lighter a helmet is, the more comfortable it’s going to be for long days in the saddle. This might not matter much to you if you’re new to riding and just want a good, safe lid. If, however, you’re doing century rides or other all-day rides, you might want to consider the weight of a helmet before buying.
Safety and MIPS
All helmets for sale in the U.S. have met the standards set by the meet standards set forth by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), and are “safe.” That said, these standards are pretty minimal and don’t consider things like repeated impact or rotational impact.
Some helmet manufacturers will also pay to have their helmets tested by the SNELL Foundation. While the standards are pretty similar to those set by the CPSC, the SNELL certification is a indicator that the helmet has high quality control, and continues to meet the initial standards over time.
You’ll also notice that many helmets are now offered with MIPS technology. MIPS stands for “multi-directional impact protection system.” Essentially, it’s an additional liner inside the helmet that provides a low-friction layer and helps protect your brain in the event of a rotational impact.
Although the jury is still out on the effectiveness of MIPS, we think there’s enough evidence that it works, that we highly recommend choosing a helmet with MIPS. It adds minimal weight and cost, and provides additional peice of mind.
The only thing worth noting, is that for women with long hair, a MIPS liner can snag your hair. Not ideal, but again, probably worth the additional safety.
Also consider that there are other similar technologies coming on the market, like the Spin technology on the POC helmets. Just because a helmet doesn’t have MIPS doesn’t mean that it doesn’t have a similiar safety feature.
Fit
How safe a helmet is also depends on how well it actually fits on your head. Good fit also improves comfort.
The best way to know if a helmet will fit, is to measure your head circumference. Measure around your forehead, right above your eyebrows. You can then compare that measurement, to the size chart for the particular helmet you are considering.
We like helmets that have a Roc Loc fit system. This is a small dial at the rear of the helmet that tightens or loosens the helmet so it’s nice and snug on your head.
Ventilation
For most riders, ventilation should be a serious consideration. The better ventilated a helmet is, the less sweaty your head will get and the more comfortable you will be especially on hot days.
Pay attention not only to the number of ventilation holes, but also to their size and placement. The larger the holes and better distrubuted they are, the cooler the helmet will be.
You might also want to flip the helmet over and look at the inside. The helmets with the best ventilation won’t just have vent holes, they will also have airflow channels on the helmet interior.
Sunglass Storage
Do you NEED sunglass storage on your helmet? Probably not.
Do you want it? Perhaps. If you ride your bicycle a lot, and want somewhere to store your glasses while riding without stuffing them in a pocket to get scratched, you might want to look for a helmet that offers a secure location for your helmet when their off your eyes.
All these are so ugly! When is someone going to come up with a good looking bike helmet?
https://bellsbicycles.co.uk/collections/helmets/products/thousand-helmet-heritage-collection?variant=31811040870465
No vents, what a sweat bucket.
Hey Rosa.
They are all ugly so your head stays pretty! Your looks when you’re riding or looks when you’re done riding ~ which matters must?!
I believe it is possible to design a helmet that does not look like an insect head. We can do it, it is not rocket science.
LOL!!! I am glad I am not the only one Rosa and M. Andersson – that thinks these racing helmets are ugly. I like that M. Andersson called it a “insect head”. I always call them alien heads- hahahah. But I get that they are more aerodynamic and help a person to ride faster- and thank you to Kristen for explaining why we want each feature in a racing helmet- it all makes sense. For those of you who may be looking for something cute for a leisure ride and do not need a helmet for racing and all the reasons stated in the article- Nut Case has some cute helmets. https://nutcasehelmets.com/collections/sale?gclid=CjwKCAiA0KmPBhBqEiwAJqKK45jX0maQbCgvVntBxXkurdtmDD2k0JE8uZmlDmEZtOxKy1aCCqbQWxoCa2kQAvD_BwE
They may even sell racing helmets now.
Thanks for the article.
I wish they made a smaller helmet than 50 cm for adults with tiny heads. I wear like a toddler size lol I especially don’t want unicorns or anything that looks like I’m in primary school lol. Yes I want my one and only brain protected but with that size they won’t protect me on a race bike. Just saying…