NOTE: BTCNJ does not endorse any product mentioned in this article.

With spring around the corner, it’s time to take a look at your equipment to see that it’s ready for safe riding. Starting from the top down, let’s consider helmets. Perhaps it’s time to upgrade. Is yours old or perhaps has sustained some damage? Or has a close call of yours or a loved one motivated you to see what’s available? Experts disagree on how often you should replace your helmet. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends 5-10 years, while others recommend 3-5 years. In any event, it is universally recommended to replace a helmet immediately after an accident or crash involving helmet impact, even if minor, as damage may be invisible.

Virginia Tech updated its recommendations in 2025 for the safest bicycle helmets. In their system, the lower the rating, the better the helmet is at preventing concussions. Prices quoted are from the Virginia Tech website referenced above. Please be aware that no helmet can guarantee your safety. The Virginia Tech website includes this warning/disclaimer: “Any player in any sport can sustain a head injury with even the very best head protection. This analysis is based on data trends and probabilities, and therefore a specific person’s risk may vary. This variation is likely dominated by genetic differences, health history, and impact factors such as muscle activation.”

According to the Virgina Tech study, the four safest helmets rated for road cycling are sadly in the realm of $300. In order of descending concussion prevention, they are Giro Airies Spherical; Sweet Protection Falconer 2VI MIPS; Specialized Prevail 3 and Sweet Protection Falconer Aero 2VI MIPS. The best of these is rated at 8.4, and the last is 9.12. However, the fifth safest rated helmet is at a substantially lower price point for those who want increased safety at a reasonable price, $65, the Giant REV COMP MIPS, which had a net rating of 9.13. There are many other helmets that received the study’s top, 5-Star rating.

For those of you that ride in more urban environments, you may want additional protection. Here, Virginia Tech rates the Specialized Mode ($120), Lazer Anverz NTA MIPS ($200) and the ABUS PEDELEC 2.0 MIPS ($200) as the top-rated models for urban environments. It should be noted though, that the safest three rated for road cycling mentioned in the preceding paragraph are rated safer than these three for urban environments. Only the top-rated urban helmet, the Specialized Mode (8.8 rating), is predicted to be better at reducing the potential for concussions than the $65 Giant, the fifth-place road helmet.

• New Jersey Bicycle Laws -- NJ state traffic law (section 39).
• New York Bicycle Laws -- NY state traffic law.