Reviews You Can Rely On

How We Tested Mountain Bike Helmets

Monday May 6, 2024
mountain bike helmet - testing the drt5 on a beautiful spring day.
Testing the DRT5 on a beautiful spring day.
Credit: Jeremy Benson

Where We Tested


Our testers rode in these helmets for hundreds of miles and hundreds of hours on terrain varying from double-track fire roads to machine groomed bike park jumps. From the slick rock and technical trails of the desert southwest to the high alpine single track of Lake Tahoe and down to the coastal redwood forests of Santa Cruz these helmets have seen it all. Casual rides, backyard laps, enduro races, and the occasional post-ride drive home, we didn't discriminate as we put these helmets through their paces. We rode in weather conditions as variable as the trails and rides we took them on, from cold rainy fall and spring rides to the heat of the day in summer.

400 grams isn't especially lightweight for a half-shell mountain...
400 grams isn't especially lightweight for a half-shell mountain bike helmet, but it won't slow you down either.
And it flips up and out of the way for use with goggles.
And it flips up and out of the way for use with goggles.

Testing Process


Our testing procedure necessitated a significant quantity of saddle time. Real-world testing is the best method to become acquainted with how a helmet fits, adjusts, and ventilates. We gave each helmet to numerous testers and gathered feedback from trail riders of all styles and abilities. In addition, we asked friends and family to try on each helmet and provide feedback on fit and feel in order to cover as many different head shapes as feasible. To evaluate compatibility, we fiddled with all of the adjustments and features and tested all of the helmets with sunglasses and goggles.

Our testers switched between models for side-by-side comparisons whenever feasible. We ran numerous test days of back-to-back shuttle laps while wearing one helmet after the other and meticulously taking notes. We also weighed

each model on the same digital scale, reporting the weight in grams and ounces. We did our best to ensure that each helmet got a comparable amount of riding and treatment, and we used the helmet's post-test condition to inform a portion of our durability score.

When all was said and done we poured through our notes and boiled everything down for our ratings. We carefully rated each model on each of our predetermined metrics to calculate our final scores.

mountain bike helmet - testing the session high above lake tahoe on the tahoe rim trail.
Testing the Session high above Lake Tahoe on the Tahoe Rim Trail.
Credit: Jeremy Benson
We did not conduct any scientific crash experiments to assess protection. We leave that up to the certifying agencies and instead concentrate on comfort, features, ventilation, and usability. All of the helmets we evaluated met both the CPSC Bicycle standard in the United States and the European CE EN 1078 standard. The Department of Transportation did not evaluate these helmets, and they are not suitable for any type of motorcycle.