The 4 Best Bike Helmets For Kids In 2023 [Detailed Reviews]
Everyone should wear a helmet when riding a bicycle, but this is especially important for kids. In fact, a helmet is the most important piece of safety gear. A good bike helmet for kids needs to be safe and comfortable, but it also needs to look cool so the kids would actually want to wear it. With this in mind, we have chosen these 4 models as our top picks for the best bike helmet for kids.
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Top 4 Bike Helmets [table of comparison]
Name | Product | Specification | Rating (1-5) |
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| 5.0/5.0 | |
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| 4.0/5.0 | |
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| 4.0/5.0 | |
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| 4.5/5.0 |
Our Top 4 Bike Helmets for Kids
Giro Scamp Kids Cycling Helmet
Value For Money
Giro Scamp Helmet is equipped with everything a kids helmet needs to have: an in-mold polycarbonate shell with EPS liner, an internal adjustment system, and good ventilation. The design of the Scamp resembles adult mountain bike helmets and it provides good rear coverage. The size can be adjusted using a turn dial at the back. This allows you to make the helmet fit perfectly and makes it more comfortable to wear. The chin straps are also adjustable and come with a Pinch-guard buckle.
Overall, this helmet is comfortable, lightweight, and durable. You can choose from a variety of colorful styles, so you'll definitely find one your kid will like. It's definitely one of the best helmets you can find for the price.
PROS
CONS
Melon Decent Double Urban Active Helmet
Most lightweight
Melon Decent Double Urban Active Helmet is not only stylish, but also very safe and functional. This helmet features an in-mold outer shell with reinforced Polycarbonate with an EPS inner shell for impact protection. The helmet does look a bit wide and bulky, but it's actually quite light and very comfortable.
One of the advantages of this Melon helmet is the excellent ventilation system. It consists of 12 ergonomic ventilation holes which are connected to airflow channels.
Furthermore, removable Coolmax pads are placed on the inside of the helmet. They are made of a soft foam so they can absorb sweat efficiently. They really make the helmet feel light and airy. The pads are also machine washable which is very convenient.
What we like about Melon helmets is the functionality and attention to detail. Every little part of this helmet has its purpose and works perfectly. The adjustable chin straps come with a magnetic buckle which makes buckling up incredibly easy. There is a soft pad that goes under the chin for added comfort and locking sliders hold the fit in place. A spin dial at the rear allows you to adjust the fit of the helmet.
PROS
CONS
Bell Sidetrack MIPS Youth Helmet
Cool Design
Bell Sidetrack Youth Helmet combines modern sporty design the kids will love with all the necessary safety features. The design of this helmet was inspired by the popular Stoker mountain bike helmet for adults, and it turned out great. Any kid will definitely love showing off this helmet which is great because there's a greater chance they'll actually wear it.
This helmet features a durable in-mold polycarbonate shell on the outside with 15 air vents. The new Ergo-Fit system makes the helmet super easy to adjust. It comes in one universal size with a dial-adjust system that allows you to adjust the size from 19.6' to 22.4'. There is also a removable visor that can be snapped in and a pinch guard buckle.
The best thing about Bell Sidetrack MIPS Helmet is that it's equipped with the MIPS Brain Protection System for enhanced protection against angled impact. This helmet also includes a removable snap-in visor made of plastic.
PROS
CONS
Bern Nino is a very versatile skater-style helmet. It can be used for biking and skating, but it can also double as a helmet for winter sports. It's essentially a scaled-down version of Bern's very popular Brentwood model, designed to fit children aged from 5 to 8.
The Nino Summer Helmet is made using Bern's patented Zipmold liquid foam technology which results in thinner profile than standard kids helmets.
The helmet really fits nicely on the child's head and it's less bulky than most other helmets. Bern Nino Summer helmet comes with adjustable straps and the size of the helmet can be adjusted at the back.
This helmet also comes with a removable soft visor that can be flipped up so the kids can quickly adjust to the weather. Overall, it's a great helmet that's both comfortable and stylish.
PROS
CONS
How to Choose The Best Bike Helmet for Kids
Size
Even though most kids helmets come with an adjustment system, you won't be able to make it fit perfectly if it's not the right size. What you need to do in order to determine your child's helmet size is measure their head circumference. You can use a cloth measuring tape or just a piece of string in case you don't have one at hand. Place the tape across the child's forehead, just above the eyebrows, and wrap the tape all around their head. Once you have measured the head circumference, compare it to the manufacturer's sizing guide in order to find the right size.
Construction
The two most common types of kids helmets are hardshell and in-mold. Both types adhere to safety standards and provide adequate protection, but bike helmets with in-mold construction have some advantages.
On hardshell helmets, the foam core is glued to the plastic outer shell of the helmet. With in-mold helmets, on the other hand, the foam filling is fused together with the outer shell. This results in increased durability and lighter weight. In-mold helmets also typically have more air vents.
If you want a helmet with the highest possible level of safety, you might want to look for one with Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS). MIPS is essentially a thin liner inside the helmet that allows the outer shell of the helmet to rotate a few millimeter upon impact. This reduces the rotational force and helps protect the head from angled impact.
Adjustment System
A good fit is extremely important with helmets. If a helmet doesn't fit right, it might not be completely safe. The helmet has to stay in place during a crash in order to protect the head, so it needs to fit snugly.
All of the helmets on our list have an internal adjustment system that allows the helmet to conform to your child's head. Head shapes of children vary greatly, so an internal adjustment system is essential for achieving a good fit.
The chin strap also plays a very important in keeping the helmet in the right position. The chin straps should form a V shape just below the ear. Some models, like the Melon helmet we reviewed, have locking sliders which help keep the straps in place. Many helmets don't have locking sliders, but this is not a big problem. You'll just need to adjust them more often.
Breathability
A helmet with more air vent will logically provide better airflow. Because of this, traditional bicycle helmets usually have better ventilation than skate-style helmets. However, Melon Decent Double Urban Active Helmet is a skate-style helmet, but it has a system of air channels and absorbent inside padding which make it one of the best in terms of breathability.
Final Verdict
As we have already mentioned, often the biggest problem with helmets is getting the kids to actually wear them. For this reason, always take your child's preferences into account and go for a model your child likes. However, a kids bike helmet also needs to be safe. We love the Melon Decent Double Urban Active Helmet because it's stylish, well-constructed, breathable, and functional. However, if you're on a tight budget the Scamp helmet from Giro will do the job just as well.
On the other hand, if you are looking for a kids bike helmet equipped with MIPS, Bell Sidetrack MIPS Youth Helmet is a great choice. Finally, we hope our guide has helped you find the best bike helmet for kids and remember, always wear a helmet!
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