When it comes to gravel biking, we are seeing a lot of new technology hit the cycling industry. This isn’t just on the bike either. It’s in clothing, protective equipment, and even new accessories. It’s an exciting time for gravel riding. You have a huge choice of gear to pick from to improve the experience.
We have been asked many questions about the best helmets for gravel biking recently, and this is a very interesting question. Generally, we have been used to a few types of helmets, road, mountain, and time trials. So what do you use for gravel? In this article, we will discuss the following:
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What Kind Of Helmet Do I Need For A Gravel Bike?
When it comes to gravel riding, you can get away with using lots of different types of helmets. You will see cyclists use road cycling and mountain biking helmets, typically whatever discipline they came across from before they started riding gravel.
Although anything is better than nothing, we are starting to get many companies designing helmets purely for gravel and adventure riding. We will mention some later in this article. As with many things, when it comes to gravel riding, you use what suits you as a rider.
If you are using a gravel bike for a lot of road riding, then a road bike helmet will suit you more. If you are only on the trails, you might opt for a mountain bike helmet. For a mix, you might want to invest in a gravel bike helmet.
What Is A Road Vs Gravel Helmet?
Although they look very similar, road helmets are different compared to gravel bike helmets. Generally, when it comes to gravel bike helmets, they have more protection, padding, and ventilation.
This is because there’s more chance of falling off, so extra protection is needed. You typically ride slightly slower and often in warmer weather when it comes to gravel, so you require more ventilation. Finally, extra padding helps, as the helmet can move around on bumpy gravel roads.
What Is The Difference Between A Road Bike Helmet And A Mountain Bike Helmet?
A road bike helmet is very different from a mountain bike helmet. Being designed for completely different disciplines, you see major differences. Road bike helmets are much lighter, smaller and are designed not just for protection but also to offer great aerodynamics.
Mountain bike helmets are much bigger, have more padding, and are much heavier and thicker. They wrap more around the rider’s head and typically come with a visor. They come in different versions, such as full face, half, open face, and all around.
Related Reading: Gravel Bike Wheels: 700c vs 650b
Best Gravel Biking Helmets
You have a fair amount of choice when it comes to gravel biking helmets. We have been lucky enough to try many different helmets in our time, and we know what to look for when it comes to the best gravel bike helmet. Here are our recommendations for some helmets perfect for gravel biking.
Giro Helios Spherical
Sizes: S/M/L
Colors: Multiple
Weight: 270g (Medium)
MIPS: Yes
Cost: $130
Giro is a big name in cycling, and not only do they make excellent helmets but accessories and clothing too. The Giro Helios Spherical is a very advanced aero helmet and has a lot to offer a gravel or adventure cyclist. Coming in at $130, it’s excellent value for money and well worth a look at.
It comes in three sizes, small, medium, and large, and also in multiple colors. Weighing in at 270g, it is very light, offers great protection, and doesn’t look like a large mushroom on your head. It comes with 15 vents to keep you nice and cool on those long days out on the bike.
It comes with MIPS technology. A special system only fitted to some of the best helmets. It means the helmet has an inner cage separate from the helmet itself, which can take impact, protecting your head and brain from being knocked and taking the hit.
Smith Trace
Sizes: S/M/L
Colors: Multiple
Weight: 280g (Medium)
MIPS: Yes
Cost: $250
The Smith Trace is a helmet that many gravel cyclists are discussing. It’s been made to reflect the protection of a mountain bike helmet with the look of a road bike helmet, and we really like it. This best gravel bike helmets list wouldn’t be complete without the Smith Trace.
It comes in various colors and three sizes, small, medium, and large. You can see the top resembles a road bike design, but the large drop on the rear comes from mountain bike helmets. We do like the way it looks and feels. It does offer a great amount of protection for that gravel rider who wants to push the boundaries of what they can do.
It not only comes with the MIPS technology to protect your brain from impact, but it also comes with Koroyd impact protection. A special technology that helps the helmet break down on impact absorbing the energy, so it doesn’t impact your head as much. Coming in at $250, it’s not cheap, but you can’t put a price on safety and still one of the most popular gravel helmets sold.
Related Reading: How to Start Gravel Biking
ALTIS Gravel Helmet
Sizes: S/M/L
Colors: Multiple
Weight: 326g (Medium)
MIPS: No
Cost: $115
If you are looking for the coolest looking gravel helmet, which is incredible value for money, then the ALTIS Gravel Helmet is ideal for you. From 100%, this helmet comes in three sizes, an XS-S/M/L-XL. It comes in a huge variety of designs, some of which are incredibly cool, such as the snakeskin.
You can see the chunky design offers a great amount of protection, and of course, it will be comfortable too. It doesn’t have MIPS but does have Smartshock protection. This is an 11-point system that, under impact, reduces pressure on the skull.
It comes with 14 large ventilation ports, which will keep you nice and cool. Coming in at $115, it’s incredible value. The only thing you might notice is the 328g weight. It is a little heavier than others on this list. It’s ideal for gravel riders and definitely an excellent example of one of the best gravel helmets.
POC Ventral Lite
Sizes: S/M/L
Colors: Gray and black
Weight: 200g or less
MIPS: No
Cost: $300
If you value performance and want a seriously light helmet for that next gravel ride, then you will want to consider the POC Ventral Lite. POC make some of the best helmets available and are known for their style and performance. The Ventral Lite could go both ways, either road and mountain biking or gravel.
The Ventral Lite is a basic helmet only really coming in gray and black, but it does boast some serious performance. Weighing less than 200g, it’s the lightest we are speaking about today. It’s a very basic helmet, and they have focused on hitting safety standards while keeping it the lightest it can be.
It doesn’t have MIPS, and it isn’t a cheap helmet at $300, but it offers incredible performance, looks pretty amazing, and will feel as light as a hat. We highly recommend it when it comes to saving every gram.
Related Reading: What is a Gravel Bike Frame?
Do Expensive Bike Helmets Make A Difference?
When it comes to helmets, you get what you pay for. If you invest a lot of money into a helmet, you will get a much better experience. Helmets that cost more are lighter, fit better, and last much longer. Not only that, but they offer much better protection if you were to have an impact.
Is It Ok To Buy Cheap Helmets?
If it has a safety rating, then a cheap helmet will be ok. As a cyclist who has tried many helmets, I have noticed that cheaper helmets tend to fit poorly, weigh a lot, and are very uncomfortable. They don’t offer much as far as protection systems go, such as MIPS or Smartshock.
How Much Should You Spend On A Cycling Helmet?
If you’re going to buy a helmet, we recommend you spend a minimum of $100. I know it sounds like a lot when you can find helmets much cheaper, but as I have said before, you can’t put a price on safety.
By spending a little more, you will get a helmet that is going to be much more comfortable, last much longer, and it’s going to look better as well. We highly recommend investing in safety, and the MIPS system has been proven to save lives.
Do Bike Helmets Expire?
When it comes to bike helmets, there’s a lot of confusion about how often they can last. Many manufacturers generally recommend a helmet should be changed every three to five years. You also have the CPSC in the US tell you that every five to ten years is ok.
We are more inclined to recommend three to five years. It is also vital that if you drop the helmet badly or have an accident, you need to throw the helmet away and get a completely new one. This is because once they have been damaged, they lose their structural integrity and are useless in an accident.
What Type Of Helmet Should A Rider Use?
The perfect helmet for you will have excellent protection, be very comfortable, reflect the riding you want to do, and also be a style you like. We recommend the right tool for the job, so if you’re mountain biking, then a mountain bike helmet, road cycling, a road bike helmet. That being said, any helmet is better than no helmet.
Read More: Gravel Bike vs Road Bike