This is a gear review of the best winter bike helmets 2023.
There is nothing worse than cold ears and a cold head when cycling in winter. You will require a different kind of bicycle helmet that provides insulation from the cold. A normal bike helmet has too much ventilation and even with some form of head insulation they just don’t work well in winter.
That’s where a winter bicycle helmet comes in. They provide good insulation for the cold winter months while providing the same level of protection for your head.
In this article, I’ll be reviewing the best-insulated winter helmets out there. Let’s take a look.
Best Winter Bike Helmets 2023
The Best Winter Bike Helmets 2023 are:
Best Men’s Winter Bike Helmet
Smith Holt Men’s Snow Helmet
Pros:
> Ideal for cold weather, thanks to coverage & ear pads
> You can wear it with goggles without them fogging
> Excellent, cleverly designed head protection
> There are 12 color options to choose from
Cons:
> It doesn’t have MIPS technology, but a great alternative instead
> Premium product at a premium price (but worth every cent)
As the name implies, this helmet is suitable to wear in snow and in cold weather generally. This is down to the additional coverage of the helmet combined with the ear pads.
You can wear it with goggles if you need to, because the brow allows room for them, and there’s a dedicated removable goggle lock on the back.
Although it doesn’t feature MIPS protection per se, it does provide excellent head protection.
It features thousands of co-polymer extruded tubes that are thermally welded to provide extremely efficient energy absorption properties, which dramatically slow down impacts, thus providing excellent head protection.
There are 12 color options to choose from altogether, including, black, white, charcoal, red, and several others. They are all matte, but that’s not such a bad thing.
It’s available in 4 sizes, namely small, medium, large and extra large, and is true to size. And it has a handy self-adjusting fit system.
Overall, the Smith Holt Helmet is a good cold-weather cycling helmet and the best winter bike helmet for me.
Best Women’s Winter Bike Helmet
Smith Liberty MIPS Women’s Snow Helmet
Pros:
> MIPS multi-impact technology
> Good color choice
> Good adjustable ventilation that can be used when wearing gloves
Cons:
> Not the cheapest option
> A little heavy
The Smith Liberty Women’s Helmet is a snow helmet that makes a good winter bike helmet for women. They come in a good choice of colors and are one of the most winter helmets on the market.
Although these helmets are marketed as skiing helmets they will also work well as winter cycling helmets. The helmet used MIPS technology for added safety and a good level of both insulation and ventilation. The ventilation is adjustable and can be adjusted when wearing gloves which is a nice touch.
Overall, the Smith Liberty is the best women’s winter helmet that can be used for cycling, snowboarding, skiing, and more.
Best Budget Insulated Bike Helmet
Retrospec Traverse H1 Convertible Helmet
Pros:
> Excellent price tag & value for money!
> It’s designed with cold winters in mind
> Covers more of your head than other helmets
> Comes complete with removable ear flaps
> Customizable fit for even better safety
Cons:
> It doesn’t have MIPS technology, but a great alternative instead
This great helmet has also been designed with cold weather in mind.
Firstly, there’s greater coverage than a regular cycling helmet, and secondly, it comes complete with removable ear flaps, keeping even your ears warm, while still allowing you to hear traffic if you need to.
What’s more, there are interchangeable foam inserts, so you can choose from a fleece netted cap or extra spongy foam padding.
There’s also room to wear goggles under the brow of the helmet, along with a clip at the rear of the helmet to keep the goggles both level and secure.
It has passed rigorous safety tests with flying colors and features a durable, heavy-duty ABS exterior, combined with thick high-density EPS foam inside to absorb any shock on impact.
It’s available in 3 different sizes, namely small, medium and large (the precise measurements are listed on the product page), and even has an ErgoKnob Adjustable Dial that you can twist to tighten or loosen the helmet for a truly customized fit. All this and very reasonably priced.
Overall, this is a very good budget winter bike helmet.
More Winter Bike Helmet Options
Giro Timberwolf Helmet
Pros:
> Designed with winter riding in mind
> Thermostat-controlled ventilation system
> Covers more of your head than other helmets
> Has a cozy, removable brushed fleece liner and removable ear flaps
Cons:
> It doesn’t have MIPS technology
> Discontinued so not easy to find
Now, this is a helmet that’s been specifically designed with cold winter riding in mind! It’s made for cold weather and is an industry-leading snow helmet.
Firstly, there’s a thermostat-controlled ventilation system that you can adjust on the fly, and you can open or close the vents using a slider on the top of the helmet.
Secondly, there’s the coverage, the helmet covers more of your head than a regular cycling helmet, thirdly, it comes with its own cozy, removable brushed fleece liner.
What’s more, it also comes complete with removable ear flaps, keeping even your ears warm, while still allowing you to hear traffic if you need to.
There’s an adjustable strap underneath the chin for a secure fit. And there’s also room to wear goggles under the brow of the helmet, along with a clip at the rear of the helmet to keep the goggles level.
It has a modest, understated aesthetic, and I have seen them available in black and in white.
If you are heading to places with temperatures below freezing then you will be impressed with how comfortable it felt and much warmer my ears were, thanks to the flaps.
Overall, this is the best option for a winter cycling helmet but it has been discontinued and is not easy to find. Check below to see if there is still any stock available, if there is be sure to get one as they are a great helmet.
GoRide Bike Helmet With Lights
Pros:
> Available at a good, reasonable price tag
> 14 LEDs for excellent visibility in low light
> It doesn’t take too long to charge up
> Dial at the back to customize the fit
Cons:
> Doesn’t come with ear pads
> Only available in two colors
The star feature of this helmet has to be the rechargeable LED lights on both the back (10 red LEDs) and the front of it (3 white LEDs). They go up to 150 lumens, for excellent visibility in low-light conditions.
It comes complete with a USB charging cable, and it’s quite quick to charge.
And although it doesn’t feature MIPS head protection, it has still passed all the safety tests for CPSC certification.
It features an energy-absorbing EPS foam and a comfy mesh lining that’s easily detached for cleaning.
It’s available in two colors, namely black and white, and in two sizes, specifically medium and large.
And there’s a dial at the back to adjust the inner helmet for a perfect fit, and can be adjusted to fit everyone from adults to kids.
Overall, this a good bike helmet but you will need to buy a separate liner for use in winter.
Lumos Ultra Smart Bike Helmet
Pros:
> 20 great color options to choose from
> Your lights are visible from every angle
> It features MIPS technology for head protection
> Handlebar mounted remote control indicator lights
> You can customize the light pattern & brightness
Cons:
> The smart technology is not needed by most people
> No ear flaps for cold weather, you’d have to buy them separately
Talk about modern technology! This helmet from Lumos uses some excellent technology, not just for head protection (with MIPS), but also can help to prevent accidents by way of indicator lights on the back of your helmet, which can be activated via a wireless remote mounted onto your bike’s handlebar.
And there are lights on the front of the helmet, too, that serve to make you clearly visible from any angle.
And that’s not all. It even comes with its own app, which can tell you how much battery is left, so you can recharge it before you go out if you need to.
The battery is pretty good, too. And it’s even compatible with the Apple Watch.
I wasn’t at all surprised to learn that this helmet was the most backed Kickstarter project in the “bike” category. I’m sure this is just the start of helmets with these sorts of capabilities.
I think this is a great bike helmet for teens, who will likely relish in the idea of having a helmet with its own app that gives them the ability to customize their helmet lights however they see fit, including both the light pattern and the brightness.
Everything you need is included in the box when it arrives, including the remote, a simple mount, and a universal charging cable.
It’s available in 3 sizes, a small for heads with a circumference between 51 and 55 cm, a medium to large size for heads measuring 54 to 61 cm, and an extra-large size for heads measuring 61 to 65 cm.
There are 20 color options to choose from, including plenty of both bright and dark options. And the great thing is you can get away with choosing dark colors if you prefer because you’re still very much visible when the helmet’s lights are on.
Overall, this a good helmet full of all the modern technology of the moment. If using in winter you will need to buy a separate liner to keep your head warm.
Buying Guide
As promised, here’s your buying guide. Let me walk you through the key points to consider when choosing a bike helmet for the winter.
Size And Fit
The most important thing to consider when buying a bike helmet (or any helmet for that matter) is how well it fits. In order for a helmet to have its protective effects, you need your helmet to fit perfectly and remain firmly in place, even during a collision.
When shopping for a helmet online, you often find a size chart that will explain which size helmet you need for different sizes of head. You will need a tailor’s measuring tape to measure the circumference of your head, and you need to study the size guide closely.
You should also look for a helmet with an adjustable chin strap.
Multi-Directional Impact Protection System (AKA MIPS)
Don’t settle for a helmet that doesn’t have adequate head protection, whether it’s MIPS or a suitable alternative, complete with perhaps an ABS outer shell, with EVA foam lining.
MIPS technology in a helmet ensures that whatever angle your head impacts something in an accident, your head and brain will be suitably protected.
This is made possible through the use of leading technology, which is specifically designed to reduce the rotational forces that can occur in a collision.
Ear Flaps And/Or Warm Liner
As I mentioned earlier in the article, where winter bike helmets differ from regular helmets is how well they keep the heat in and the cold wind out, without your head getting too sweaty. Ideally, they will also keep your ears warm as well.
Aesthetic
The aesthetic of a bike helmet is far from its most important feature as far as I’m concerned, but I know it does matter to some people. Some people like to get a helmet that matches their bike or their favorite cycling gear.
Luckily, winter bike helmets can look just as striking and sporty as regular bike helmets. And I think most good-quality helmets these days look pretty unisex, so that’s one less thing to worry about.
I tried to touch on the different color options available in each of my reviews.
Lights
Lights are an excellent safety feature that helps you to be seen not just in low light conditions, but even in the dark.
But if you do decide to go for a helmet with lights, make sure it’s always fully recharged before you set off, so you don’t get caught out.
If this sounds good to you, check out the GoRide Bike Helmet With Lights, and the Lumos Ultra Smart Bike Helmet.
Thermostat Control Ventilation
An excellent feature to have in a helmet in the winter months is adjustable thermostat-controlled ventilation.
All helmets are required to provide ventilation, but when it’s really cold outside, ventilation isn’t such an attractive feature. But with an adjustable thermostat, you are in complete control of hoe much ventilation you want or need.
Smart Technology
If you’ve been paying close attention to my reviews, you may have noticed that, in keeping with the times, one of the helmets on my shortlist features Smart technology, and can be connected to an app on your Smartphone via Bluetooth.
It’s a really nice feature to have if you have the budget for it, but in my view, it’s yet to become a standard feature on bike helmets, although this may change when there’s one invented to not only play music as you ride but also respond to voice commands.
Brand
There’s a lot to be said for going for a big name brand that you know and trust. I included some top brands in my shortlist of top picks, as you can see, there’s my number one pick
Value For Money
Winter bike helmets can vary quite considerably in price, ranging from as little as $20 at one end of the scale, all the way up to $170 or more.
But with head safety and insulation being so crucial, you have to agree that it’s something you should not compromise on. As the saying goes, better safe than sorry, even if it means digging a little deeper into your pockets.
Conclusion
Here are the best-insulated helmets for cycling 2023:
Frequently Asked Questions
I strongly recommend that you do NOT wear a hat of any sort underneath your bike helmet, whether it’s a baseball cap, beanie hat or whatever.
This is because it can compromise the fit, and therefore compromise your safety. Especially if it’s made with slippery fabric.
However, that said, there are some instances where a dedicated, specially designed helmet liner or skill cap underneath a helmet can improve the overall fit.
You can wear wool ear flaps under your bike helmet in the winter. They aren’t too bulky, they help to keep your ears warm, and they often come with a helmet.
