Best Bike Helmets for Kids

After extensive research, these are the best helmets to keep your kiddos safe on the road without breaking the bank.
Best overall
BELL Sidetrack II Youth
Bell Sidetrack II Helmet
  • pro
    15 vents
  • pro
    Detachable visor
  • pro
    In-mold construction
Best for babies & toddlers
product image of Giro bike helmet
Giro Scamp Helmet
  • pro
    8 vents
  • pro
    Integrated visor
  • pro
    In-mold construction
Best for budgets
product image of Razor kids helmet
Razor Youth Helmet
  • pro
    17 vents
  • con
    No visor
  • pro
    Hard shell construction
Best multi-sport helmet
OutdoorMaster
  • pro
    12 vents
  • con
    No visor
  • pro
    Hard shell construction
Style pick
product image of Krash helmet for kids
Krash Youth Mohawk Helmet
  • con
    6 vents
  • con
    No visor
  • pro
    Hard shell construction

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review

Wearing a helmet is rule number one for bike safety. But let's be honest: kids won't want to wear one that's uncomfortable or potentially "uncool." 

We set out to find a helmet that combines safety, comfort, style, and affordability, and the winner is the Bell Sidetrack II Helmet.



Compare kids bike helmets

Helmet
Best for
List price
Head circumference
Adjustability
Buckle type
Certification
Learn more
Best overall

47–57 cm.

Pads and dial

Non-pinch

CPSC 5+

Best for babies and toddlers

49–53 cm.

Pads and dial

Non-pinch

CPSC 5+

Best for budgets

53–57 cm.

Pads

Standard

CPSC

Best multi-sport helmet

46–60 cm.

Pads

Standard

CPSC and ASTM
Style pick

54–58 cm.

Pads

Standard

CSPC and ASTM

*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Kids bike helmet reviews

1. Bell Sidetrack Helmet: Best overall

Best overall
Bell Sidetrack Helmet
$18.85 - $60.00

*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Bell Sidetrack has a trendy, mountain-bike-style design, and safety experts give it top ratings for crash protection. It’s priced reasonably, and its extra comfort features put it near the top of our list of best kids’ bike helmets.

pro
Pros
pro Visor
pro MIPS option
pro Covered MIPS anchors
pro Easy-to-adjust tri-glide strap sliders
pro Extended rear coverage
pro 1-year warranty
con
Cons
con Hard-to-reach dial
con Excess strap

The Bell Sidetrack II is ergonomically designed to keep the helmet tough but lightweight and prevent head damage. Although it takes some finessing to get it to fit properly, its quick-adjust fasteners help form it to your child's head (even as they grow).

2. Giro Scamp Helmet: Best for babies and toddlers

Best for babies & toddlers
product image of Giro bike helmet
Giro Scamp
$41.29 - $54.95

*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

It can be tricky to find a kids’ helmet that fits smaller heads, but parents love that the Giro Scamp offers the latest safety technology and fun designs in a helmet that fits children from twelve months up to age five.

pro
Pros
pro Optional Multidirectional Impact Protection System (MIPS) Technology
pro Flat back with a low profile
pro Room for a ponytail
pro Adjustable size
pro Pinch-guard buckle
con
Cons
con Fewer vents
con Slippery strap that can loosen during the ride.

The Giro Scamp comes in a rainbow of bright, fun colors that your kids will love to wear (and it will be easier to see on bike rides). It also comes with an anti-pinch buckle to keep little faces safe from accidents (ouch!). And we like the built-in visor that protects their eyes from the sun.

3. Razor V-17 Youth Multi-Sport Helmet: Best for budgets

Best for budgets
product image of Razor kids helmet
Razor Youth Helmet
$22.59 - $32.99

*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

With a cool shape that will make your kid feel like an X-Games pro, the Razor V-17 is stylish and comfortable. And it offers more protection than a typical kids’ bike helmet.

pro
Pros
pro Multi-sport functionality
pro Whole head coverage
pro Comfort and style
pro Affordable price
pro Excellent impact absorption
con
Cons
con Heavy
con Difficult to adjust with pads and chin strap
con Lacking a visor

With a whopping 17 vents in this helmet, your kids will keep a cool head during all their long bike rides, skateboarding lessons, and rollerskating in the park.

It comes in a wide range of colors, but depending on your child's head shape, it might not be the best fit. Pricing may also vary based on the color helmet you choose.

4. OutdoorMaster Helmet: Best multi-sport helmet

Best multi-sport helmet
OutdoorMaster
$27.97- $47.99

*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The OutdoorMaster helmet comes in three sizes (medium, large, and extra large) to fit kids 14 and up. Its hardshell design makes it a good fit for skateboarding, rollerblading, or riding bikes.

pro
Pros
pro Variety of matte colors
pro EPS foam lining
pro Interchangeable pads
con
Cons
con Best for 14+

The OutdoorMaster comes in plenty of colors to suit your kiddo's personality.

Inside the helmet, you'll find high-quality EPS foam to pad your child's head and protect it from injury. Plus, it comes with two interchangeable pads to customize the fit further.

5. Krash Youth Mohawk Helmet: Style pick

Style pick
product image of Krash helmet for kids
Krash Youth Mohawk Helmet
$31.37- $35.49

*Amazon.com prices as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

When it comes to looking awesome, the Krash Youth Mohawk Helmet multi-sport kids bike helmet takes the prize. Any kid will be eager to wear a helmet that’s sprouting a Mohawk.

pro
Pros
pro Appealing style for kids
pro CSPC and ASTM certified
con
Cons
con Silicone spikes can be easily damaged

But it's not just about looks—the Krash is certified by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC) and the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), and it has vents to keep your child feeling—and looking—very cool.

Just be careful when storing it, as some parents say the silicone spikes can easily get bent out of shape.

Final word

From family bike rides to riding off to school, your kids need a sturdy, comfortable helmet to keep them safe on bicycles, and we think the Bell Sidetrack is the best on the market.

Keep in mind that people aged 10 to 24 years old have the highest rates of bicycle-related injuries.1

Small children, especially, can be hard for motorists to see and are vulnerable to accidents too. Even little spills can cause scrapes and scars on their face that a kids’ bike helmet can protect against.

We recommend leading by example and following the best bicycle safety practices at all times. Wear your own helmet when you go with your kids on rides, whether you're biking, skateboarding, or rollerblading. Starting the helmet habit early will help them stay safe throughout their life.

Kids bike helmet FAQ

EPS stands for Expanded Polystyrene. It’s the same kind of foam used to make disposable picnic coolers. A higher-quality EPS is often used to make bike helmets because it’s both rigid and lightweight.

MIPS stands for Multidirectional Impact Protection System. Swedish scientists developed MIPS technology for bike helmets to reduce stress on the skull from rotational impacts.

It cradles the head in a second inner shell that attaches to the outer helmet shell with elastic bands to absorb impact and allow the head to rotate in a controlled way during a crash. The biomedical team that developed MIPS based its design on the way the brain is naturally protected inside the skull.

The helmet should be snug on their head and come just to the top of their ears. If your child’s eyebrows move when you shift the helmet on their head, that’s a good indicator that it’s snug enough.

The strap should be tight against their chin when they open their mouth all the way but loose when their mouth is closed. The helmet should rest on the forehead about two adult finger widths above the eyebrows.

A traditional bike helmet is lighter and has more vents than a multi-use (skater-style) helmet, so kids often find it more comfortable. But multi-use helmets are usually dual-certified, so they can be used for biking, riding a scooter, skateboarding, and more.

Plus, they often provide a better fit for kids with asymmetrically shaped heads. Multi-use helmets can offer more protection for the back of the head as well.

All helmets have an inner EPS (foam core) layer and an outer plastic shell. Bike helmets are usually made with in-mold construction, where the EPS is fused to a thin plastic shell, keeping the shell from cracking or separating from the helmet.

With hardshell construction, the plastic shell is thicker, so it can’t be fused to the EPS. Instead, it’s glued to the foam core. ASTM standards require multi-use helmets to be more durable than bike helmets, which is why multi-use helmets are usually hard-shell.

The CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) is a US government organization that certifies US bike helmets for safety based on a specific set of cycling safety standards.

The ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) is an independent, international nonprofit organization that tests and certifies multi-sport helmets for everything from horseback riding to snowboarding to mountain biking. For bike helmets, look for a helmet that’s at least CPSC-certified.

How we reviewed the best bike helmets

To research the best bike helmets for kids, we studied the products available on the market, checked out what the industry was saying about them, and looked for products that consistently received favorable reviews and high ratings. Learn more about our methodology.

Related articles on SafeWise


Sources

1. Centers for Disease Control, "Bicycle Safety," April 29, 2024. Accessed June 6, 2024.

Disclaimer

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.

Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.

Kasey Tross
Written by
Kasey Tross
Kasey is a trained Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member and a freelance writer with expertise in emergency preparedness and security. As the mother of four kids, including two teens, Kasey knows the safety concerns parents face as they raise tech-savvy kids in a connected world, and she loves to research the latest security options for her own family and for SafeWise readers.

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