In this article I’m going to give you a list of the best women’s road bike helmets. And let me follow up that statement by saying immediately that there aren’t any.
Although some brands have designated a number of their helmets as women’s helmets, there really is no such thing as a women’s road bike helmet. There’s no anatomical difference between men and women’s heads other than, in general, women’s heads are somewhat smaller.
It means what’s good for men is just as good for women, and the only difference you might find between men’s and women’s helmets is their paint job. So with that out of the way let’s see what’s made it on this list of the best women’s road bike helmets, for what it’s worth to designate it as such.
Bell Z20 MIPS
The Bell Z20 MIPS is a helmet that offers excellent crash protection with a great fit.
At 310 grams it’s not exactly a lightweight. On the other hand, they’ve included the latest MIPS Evolve crash technology with multi-density EPS liner.
The Float Fit Race fit system allows for multiple ways to get to the ultimate fit for your head, cleverly integrating it with the MIPS technology. Both the vertical height, circumference, and even padding width is adjustable.
Furthermore the EPS liner has a multi-density structure, which allows for progressively stronger impact absorption.
A great helmet, with a great overall value.
- Great overall package, comfortable, and one of the best in terms of crash protection.
- Heaviest of all premium models listed
Bell Avenue MIPS
The Bell Avenue MIPS is the cheapest road bike helmet featuring the MIPS technology I could find.
Being the cheapest within a certain category is always a good thing from a budget perspective. The biggest question then remains, how well does it score in other areas. It’s 3 times less than the average price for a road bike helmet, so something has got to give. But the sacrifices have been minor in comparison.
The MIPS technology included is the latest Evolve variant. This is the same technology featured in the Bell Z20 MIPS, which is one of Bell’s top-of-the-line models.
It’s not a light helmet at 340 grams (the average road bike helmet weighs 280 grams). So for each dollar less than the average price you add about a single gram. It means the helmet’s construction is somewhat less sophisticated. Adding strength to its structural integrity has simply been done by adding more material.
To keep the price as low as it is, the helmet also doesn’t wrap its polycarbonate shell around the lower edges, leaving the EPS liner exposed to scuffs and scratches. Otherwise the overall helmet design looks just as good as more premium variants.
The helmet features the ErgoFit system to tighten it. It’s the entry level fit system, which means it’s heavier yet works with a dial at the base of the head, just like a huge number of other fit systems. And both the shape, liner, and fit system ensure a comfortable feeling when wearing the helmet, so no issues there.
All in all, you can honestly state that this is one of the best value-for-money road bike helmets. Good looks, in a comfortable package, for an excellent price makes you forget that it’s somewhat heavier than other options.
- Cheapest helmet with MIPS technology
- Heavy
Lazer Sphere MIPS
The Lazer Sphere MIPS is an excellent choice if you want a helmet with a proven track record in safety without paying an absurd price.
When looking at the catalog of helmet manufacturers you can see an exponential increase in price to obtain the latest technology or the lightest variants. The Lazer Sphere MIPS is an excellent example of this, where a decent price get’s you all the latest bells and whistles in a slightly heavier package than Lazer’s top dog.
MIPS technology, the ARS fit system with the non-indexed dial on top of the helmet, and a weight of 280 grams, which is the exact average for road bike helmets all make for a great package.
- Excellent value for money.
- Delicate fit system
Lazer G1 MIPS
The Lazer G1 MIPS is marketed as one of the lightest helmets in its category. And to be fair it is.
Yet I want to put the 235 grams of this helmet in perspective, because the average road bike helmet weighs 280 grams. That’s 45 grams heavier and something you will not notice while riding.
On the other hand, things like ventilation and fit are far more important things with respect to comfort than a couple of grams less. And luckily this helmet performs exceptionally well in that area. You get 2 different sets of padding to fully customize the fit.
Unlike your classic dial at the base of your skull you actually modify the fit with a wheel on top of the helmet. This non-indexed dial draws the helmet tight around your head around the entirety of its circumference.
Although it does a fantastic job of creating a superb fit, the two strings underneath the helmet look rather delicate. And I’m familiar with fit systems breaking with helmets being stuffed into bags. So that’s something you might want to keep in mind if you’re not the type of person who’s really careful with her/his material.
In terms of safety it offers MIPS technology and sits just behind Giro’s Aries Spherical, so its most important feature is taken care of. And a helmet cover is included to marginally increase aerodynamic properties or protect you from the rain.
- One of the both lightest and safest helmets.
- Delicate fit system. You pay a hefty price to safe a few grams.
Giro Women's Agilis MIPS
The Giro Women’s Agilis MIPS is exactly the same as the non-women’s version. The only difference is the color options.
It has the same design, shape, weight, number of vents, and Roc Loc 5 fit system. And since the colors don’t necessarily strike me as characteristically feminine (e.g. pink), the moniker “women’s” is nothing more than marketing for what is indeed one of the best mid-level helmets on the market.
- Excellent, high-quality, mid-level helmet. Comfortable yet affordable.
- None
Giro Women's Ember MIPS
The Giro Women’s Ember MIPS is up there with the Agilis version, offering the same technology in a different looking design.
The helmet includes the MIPS technology, weighs about the same as the Agilis, has the same price, the same antimicrobial liner, and the same Roc Loc 5 fit system for both vertical and horizontal adjustment.
This helmet features a webbing called roll-cage, which strengthens the helmet’s EPS liner when impacted. That could be the same technology as the Hardbody roll-cage reinforcement found in the similarly priced Giro Agilis. Unfortunately I couldn’t find any information on the subject, and both helmets haven’t been rated, so I couldn’t say whether one trumps the other in terms of safety either.
The helmet looks great, with subtle color combinations and both gloss and matt finishes on the polycarbonate shell. If you ask me.
- Great-looking, affordable helmet, with MIPS and roll-cage reinforced shell.
- None
Giro Aether Spherical
The Giro Aether Spherical is arguably a better value-for-money proposition than the far more expensive Aries Spherical.
That’s because it boasts the exact same crash technology in a slightly different package. MIPS Spherical crash technology to reduce rotational impact forces, a multi-density EPS liner, and a reinforced polycarbonate shell. All are the same.
The Roc Loc 5 Air fit system is also featured, ensuring a great fit of the helmet with multiple ways to adjust the padding, vertical height and circumference. To keep you cool, air is ingeniously guided along your head.
There are many colors to choose from to fit the rest of your outfit or your bike. All in all a no-brainer if you value safety and are willing to spend the money on a premium helmet such as this one.
- One of the best value-for-money helmets in the premium segment.
- Still pretty expensive
Giro Eclipse Spherical
The Giro Eclipse Spherical is a helmet meant for aero-fanatics.
Offering the same crash-protection technology as the Giro Aries Spherical. That means this one also has the MIPS Spherical ball-in-socket helmet setup, with the multi-density EPS liner, and the Aura II polycarbonate reinforcement.
The weight difference is negligible, you get the same Roc Loc 5 Air fit system, this time without the DryCore silicone pads that wick sweat away from your brow and to the sides of your helmet.
Giro claims the helmet is best-in-class in the aero department and offers some data to back this up. Whether or not that’s true I don’t know. The helmet certainly looks the part.
- If you value aerodynamics besides crash protection.
- Very expensive
Giro Aries Spherical
The Giro Aries Spherical is one of the safest if not the safest helmet within its category. It also has the highest suggested retail price at 300 USD. On its product page Giro boasts the helmet having the lowest Virginia Tech helmet rating (lower is better), and you have to if you charge this price.
So what exactly do you get for the money? This is one of a couple of helmets offering the MIPS Spherical technology, which reduces rotational damage with a ball-in-socket helmet setup. Furthermore the polycarbonate shell is reinforced with twin bridges on each side, alongside a roll-cage-like reinforced band. It all makes for an incredibly strong helmet that doesn’t weigh more than your average similar helmet.
It has silicon beads so sweat doesn’t drip into your eyes, or runs down your glasses, which is a feature far more useful than you might think.
The helmet is tightened on your head with the Roc Loc 5 Air fit system, something featured in all of their premium models. And something that does a great job of keeping the lightweight lid in place.
- Virginia Tech's best-rated helmet in terms of safety
- The most expensive helmet within its category
POC Octal MIPS
I will not hide the fact that I’m a fan of the Swedish brand, and with the POC Octal MIPS they’ve created another fantastic-looking product to their already impressive lineup.
Always striving to cram their products with the best technology the Octal MIPS features the Integra version of this crash technology, which means the slip plane is customized to the specifics of this helmet. The helmet has a unibody build for enhanced structural integrity in case of a crash.
It’s touted as being extremely lightweight, with a stripped down EPS liner and fit system, but it isn’t really. 270 grams sits just below the average for a premium bike helmet such as this one, and if you really want the lightest helmet you have to look somewhere else.
Personally, I feel again that this helmet is the best-looking of the whole bunch, but am acutely aware of the subjectivity of that statement. And I have read a number of comments from people being less favorable about its above-average width. Nonetheless is the craftsmanship of this helmet undeniable, and it has a safety rating to match.
- Distinctive design, excellent fit.
- None
Specifications women's road bike helmets
Name | Price | Technology | Shell | Liner | Visor | Fit | weight (gr) | eyewear port | rating | Buy at Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bell Z20 MIPS | 200 USD | MIPS Evolve | polycarbonate | Progressive Layering 3-layer EPS | none | Float Fit Race | 310 | 11.23 | ||
Bell Avenue MIPS | 55 USD | MIPS Evolve | polycarbonate | EPS | none | Ergo Fit | 340 | yes | ||
Lazer Sphere MIPS | 160 USD | MIPS | polycarbonate | EPS | none | ARS | 280 | 10.23 | ||
Lazer G1 MIPS | 250 USD | MIPS | polycarbonate | EPS | none | ARS | 235 | 9.23 | ||
Giro Women’s Agilis MIPS | 90 USD | MIPS/Hardbody | polycarbonate | EPS | none | Roc Loc 5 w. Slimline buckle | 300 | |||
Giro Women’s Ember MIPS | 100 USD | MIPS/Roll Cage | polycarbonate | EPS | none | Roc Loc 5 | 295 | |||
Giro Aether Spherical | 225 USD | MIPS Air/Spherical/Aura II | polycarbonate | Progressive Layering 3-layer EPS | none | Roc Loc 5 Air | 280 | yes | 12.51 | |
Giro Eclipse Spherical | 250 USD | MIPS Air/Spherical/Aura II | polycarbonate | Progressive Layering 3-layer EPS | none | Roc Loc 5 Air | 270 | 11.2 | ||
Giro Aries Spherical | 300 USD | MIPS Air/Spherical/Aura II | polycarbonate | Progressive Layering 3-layer EPS | none | Roc Loc 5 Air | 275 | yes | 8.4 | |
POC Octal MIPS | 200 EUR | MIPS Integra/Unibody | polycarbonate | EPS | none | lightweight system | 270 | yes | 10.59 |
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