12 best bike helmets for kids: Fun designs that will keep children safe

Specialized by name, specialised by nature. You can tell straight away that this helmet’s been made by folks who are really into cycling. It feels like it has everything you’d want for yourself as an adult, but sized down for kids. First up, it’s a MIPS helmet, so it’s got that extra layer of protection, for peace of mind. Second, it’s got the best integrated LED light of any helmet we tested. It’s positioned lengthways on the back, so there’s no chance of it getting tucked into a hood and being completely redundant.

From a comfort point of view, it’s got huge air vents and is lightweight. Even after wearing it scooting around the playground, our testers remained cool. The shuffle also has a visor to keep sunlight out of kids’ eyes. The straps are super soft and didn’t chafe at all – plus there are hi-vis reflective strips woven into them, for extra safety.

We liked the retro, subtle vibes of this helmet. The pillar box red with white writing made it easy to spot our kids in the skate park. Although Janod has produced this to be used in conjunction with its balance bike, it is perfectly good for scooting and biking, too.

The adjustable click dial at the back is easy enough to use one handed, and the helmet is well padded at the back and front. There are similar vents to Micro’s range of helmets – that’s to say they’re small and unmeshed, but there’s plenty of them. Our tester seemed happy with this helmet – they weren’t sweaty, even after a long scoot, nor were they itching to take it off.

Our mini tester really liked how low impact this helmet was to wear. It gives extensive coverage across the brow, sides and back of the head without making them look like RoboCop. They also liked the cool fabric peak, which apparently makes them feel like they’re ready for Le Tour (sadly, it doesn’t make them any better at even moderate hill climbs). From a parent’s point of view, knowing this helmet has MIPS provides extra peace of mind. We also liked the EX-Fit system, which automatically expands and contracts to the size of your child’s head, so you don’t have to faff about each time they have a growth spurt. Although this helmet doesn’t come with a light, there’s a mount to fit a compatible one sold separately by Bern.

This leopard-print design is a bit of us (sadly, it doesn’t come in adult sizes) and it was a hit with our pre-school tester, too. They happily plonked it on their head, and it was lightweight enough that they didn’t immediately take it off again. The dial at the back enables you to adjust the helmet, for the perfect fit, while padding at the front, sides and top keeps things relatively comfortable.

There are four air vents in the top and two in the back but we did observe our mini tester got a little hot during scooting on a warm day. Although it would detract from the sleek Scandi vibe of this helmet, it’s a shame it doesn’t come with a light, and we’re told the fastening is a little pinchy – it required us to help our preschooler get it on and off.

This helmet was perfect for our mini tester, who doesn’t care about dinosaurs or cars but still wanted a fun design. They claimed the helmet and padded chin strap were comfortable, after we adjusted the size, using the dial at the back. However, they weren’t able to do up the clasp without adult help – they’ve been pinched by similar clips before and remain extra wary.

As parents, we liked that this helmet has air vents in the front and back, to keep air circulating, while reducing the sweat factor. There’s no LED light on this helmet, and no in-built mount for one either, which is something to consider if extra visibility is a priority.

This helmet comes with an auto-fit feature, meaning we didn’t have to worry about adjusting it for our kids, and it seemed easier (compared with some other helmets we tested) for them to put on themselves. Lazer has positioned the straps so that the buckle rests on the cheek rather than under the chin, which stopped any painful pinching.

There are plenty of vents to keep air circulating, and mesh to stop bugs flying in. There are thick “controlled crumple zones” at the front and back of the helmet, which provide extra protection in an accident, without making the design seem blocky. There’s also temple coverage.

The nutz is incredibly lightweight, too, which meant our kids were unphased by wearing it. We tested a helmet with a green dragon design but there different options available, so, you can pick one to appeal to your child’s tastes and interests.

Our mini tester absolutely loved this helmet – despite being a reluctant helmet wearer, they were happy to walk about in this even when they weren’t on a bike or scooter. Whether this is because it’s so comfy or because they were drawn in by the brightly coloured dinosaurs, we’re not sure, but we’re happy either way.

The helmet is well padded and features Lazer’s EZ fit system – essentially, it auto adjusts to the child. There’s also loads of ventilation and mesh (to stop bugs flying in). A thicker brim should help protect the face during an accident, while also slightly shading the eyes. This helmet also has a slightly flatter back, which will allow your little one to sit back fully in their bike seat if they’re a passenger on an adult’s bike.

We defy any kid under the age of nine not to gasp when they see this helmet. Our six-year-old tester fell hook, line and sinker for it, from the hot-pink unicorn horn to the rainbow ribbon tail. Handily, the design also makes it easy to pick out your child from a crowd of scooting kids during the school run.

The helmet is easy to adjust with one hand, the LED light on the back doubles up as an adjustable dial and there are plenty of small vent holes. Our tester liked the clasp on this helmet, as it draws itself together with magnets.

If you’re after an eco-friendly helmet, this is a great option. The foam is recycled, while the straps are made from recycled plastic bottles. The lining is sustainable bamboo (which is also very breathable) and the whole thing is painted in water-based paint.

As on other Micro helmets, there’s an LED light/adjustable dial combo at the back. There’s also a magnetic clasp under the chin, to prevent pinching. Our testers were drawn to all the whales on this sealife design, and we felt like it was a good compromise between style and being appealing to kids (often the two factors don’t marry).

Our kids enjoyed the fact this helmet has an actual scene of dinosaurs on it. From a T-rex playing baseball with an asteroid to a plesiosaur chasing a shoal of fish, there’s something new to look at every time on this lid.

Print design aside, there are lots of great features in this Hornit helmet. The adjustable dial doubles up as an LED light, and can be altered using one hand. There are plenty of air vents, and plenty of padding inside. Our testers seemed to find this helmet really comfortable. It’s not the most lightweight in the line-up but nor is it the clunkiest.

If dinos aren’t your thing, Hornit does a vast range of other kid-friendly designs.

This incredibly lightweight helmet has the most air vents of any we tested, so is great for kids who are super active and work up a bit of a sweat. The sporty red (other colours are available) is complemented by a black visor to keep the sun out of little ones’ eyes. We might be biased, but we also appreciated the stamp inside that reads “Listen to your mom” – full testing disclosure, it didn’t make an iota of difference but it’s good to know someone’s on your side, right?

The Woom also comes with two different thicknesses of pads, which are interchangeable. For further adjustment, there’s a one-handed click dial at the back. Another element our tester liked is the cord straps around the ears, while we liked the temple protection the helmet offered. There’s a quick-release magnetic fastening, allowing for added independence, and the chin pad was fantastic for added comfort.

This bowl helmet is pretty straight up but always tests well. Older kids will appreciate that it’s more pared back, in a plain colourway – it looks more like a cool skate helmet. Our tester was happy to strap it on, and it seemed to be a hit. The sizing is adjustable using a one-hand turn dial. There’s a reflective inner sticker on the dial for a little extra safety in low light, too.

The chin strap gets top marks – it buckles at the cheek, so no chins were pinched in the testing of this helmet, and there’s a really nice sweat-resistant chin pad. Inside, the padding is pretty simple but it is thick. Plenty of air holes (but no mesh) also kept things comfortable for our mini tester.