The Best Bicycle Helmets for Kids and Adults

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The Importance of Wearing a Good Bicycle Helmet

As an avid cyclist who has had plenty of falls over the years, I swear by the use of a bike helmet whenever riding a bike.

I am listing all of the Consumer Reports top rated bike helmets for adults and kids.

10 Great Reasons to Wear a Helmet 


  1. There are 85 million bicycle riders in the US. Most of them will fall at some point.

  2. 770 bicyclists died on US roads in 2006, down just 14 from the year before. Over 90 percent died in crashes with motor vehicles.

  3. The "typical" bicyclist killed on our roads is a sober male over 16 not wearing a helmet riding on a major road between intersections in an urban area on a summer evening when hit by a car.

  4. About 540,000 bicyclists visit emergency rooms with injuries every year. Of those, about 67,000 have head injuries, and 27,000 have injuries serious enough to be hospitalized.

  5. Bicycle crashes and injuries are under-reported, since the majority are not serious enough for emergency room visits. 44,000 cyclists were reported injured in traffic crashes in 2006.

  6. 1 in 8 of the cyclists with reported injuries has a brain injury.

  7. Two-thirds of the bicycling deaths are from traumatic brain injury.

  8. A very high percentage of cyclists' brain injuries can be prevented by a helmet, estimated at anywhere from 45 to 88 per cent.

  9. Direct costs of cyclists' injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $81 million each year.

  10. Indirect costs of cyclists' injuries due to not using helmets are estimated at $2.3 billion each year!


    The Proper Way to Wear a Helmet 



    What Makes a Good Helmet? 

    Also, what makes a good fit?

    The helmet must meat national impact and safety standards. Make sure your helmet comes with a national safety label, such as the Snell Helmet Safety Standards insignia or the more common (in the USA) Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) accreditation.

    The helmet should fit snuggly on your head, yet be comfortable. It should NOT be tilted back at an angle!

    It also should not obstruct your field of vision.

    Another consideration is the amount of vents available, to keep your head cool. Generally, the more the merrier.

     

    Tips for Buying a Bicycle : Helmet Safety for Bicycle Riding

    powered by YouTube

    Helmets for Adults

    Bell Citi 

    The Bell Citi is tied as the Consumer Reports magazine's top rated adult bike helmet.

    Bell Citi Bike Helmet

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price: $49.99

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

     

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    Bell Slant 

    Tied for 1st by Consumer Reports!

    Bell Slant Bike Helmet

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price: $59.99

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

    Giro Atmos 

    Giro Atmos Racing Bike Helmet

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price: $174.95

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

    More Adult Helmets 

    Giro Rift Bike Helmet

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price: $59.99

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

     

    Could not locate item B001CCOPVU. Please try again.Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.

     

    Avenir Rush Bike Helmet

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price:

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

    Helmets for Kids

    Bell Trigger 

    The Bell Trigger helmets are the Consumer Reports top rated bicycle helmets for youths.

    Bell Trigger Youth Bike Helmet

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price: $34.99

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

     

    Bell Alibi Youth Bike Helmet

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price:

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

     

    Louis Garneau 2008/09 Ruckus Children's/Youth Cycling Helmet - 1405725

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price:

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

     

    Could not locate item B001692KUW. Please try again.Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.

    Helmets for Toddlers

     

    Bell Boomerang Infant/Toddler Bike Helmet

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price:

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

     

    Bell Lil' Bell Shell Toddler/Kids' Bike Helmet

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price:

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

     

    Bell Bellino Toddler Bicycle Helmet (Pink Fuzzy Bunny)

    Amazon Price: (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price: $19.99

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

     

    Airius V6 Toddler Bicycle Helmet, White

    Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 07/06/2009)Buy Now
    List Price:

    Avg. Customer Rating: Amazon Rating

    "All the cool kids wear helmets!"

    So stylish! 

    Day 199 - Bike Ride by blue67pony

    So smart!

    Racing With His Head Down by MykReeve

    A Pro

    Kid on bike trailer by florriebassingbourn

    Kid on bike trailer

    here we go by radioflyer007

    Oh, so cool!

    Protection by smwarnke4

    Happy to be fitted properly

    20080329-A by Heinrock

    Tired...but safe

    Those goofy helmets 

    Do you wear a bike helmet?

    Loading Fetching blurbs now... please stand by

    Yes

    GregGiordano says:

    Not only is it safer to wear one it is a good example for our kids to see me wearing one too.

    funride says:

    Every time! And my young daughter never leave her helmet behind when she go for a ride on her tricycle ;)

    The_Homeopath says:

    Always. So do my kids.

    sharkytoon says:

    yes I do wear helmets but only the good ones. I do not wear helmets for style, just for safety though.

    ms-giggles says:

    I've haven't ridden in a long time, but I'm looking for and bike and I will be wearing a helmet. I like the kids helmets over the adults!!!

    triathlontraining says:

    Absolutely! I once had a bad fall and my helmet saved me from serious injury. A large chunk was missing from the side of my bike helmet after I pulled it off to look at it. I escaped with only a few scrapes and a nice little story!

    No

    dlcummings says:

    I used to live in Germany and rode my bike all the time, unfortunately I did not wear a helmet. I didn't fall and get hurt or anything, but I do think that it is important to wear a helmet and I want my kids to wear one.

    spirituality says:

    Like most Dutch people, I don't wear a helmet when biking. To wear a helmet is starting to make headway for kids though.

     
     
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    Children's bikes by Emilio Gomariz

    Rrrrracing!

    Cameron by austen.woods

    Oh my goodness, he's quite possibly the cutest kid I've ever seen in a bike helm...

    Alex's First Bike by jcostom

    First bike...and first helmet!

    Bike ride by zaphodsotherhead

    I'm cool!

    Wheelie by tall2night

    He was wearing his helmet...smart kid!

    Spring is for biking by -syko-

    The robot jacket still fits!

    Bike by red clover

    Nice bike!

    bike by Brooom

    Checkin out the new bike in dad's back yard

    Kids by Jason_Allen_Martin

    Riding at the park

    Bikes by stephinseoul

    Everyone's happy

    Santa helps take a kid mountain biking by yourmtb.com

    A daredevil

    Kids of Steel '08 - Bike Race Start by Canuck with a camera

    Two kids start their bike race

    For more information 

    AAP - TIPP: Tips for Getting Your Children to Wear Bicycle Helmets
    Tips for getting your children to wear bicycle helmets. Establish the helmet habit early. Have your children wear helmets as soon as they start to ride bikes - even if they are passengers on the back of an adult's bike.
    Helmets: Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute: Bike Helmets
    Info on bicycle helmets, standards, safety, laws, more.
    Safe Kids USA
    The National SAFE KIDS Campaign promotes fire safety, car safety and home safety to both adults
    and children. Their mission is to prevent the number one killer of children unintentional injury.
    Helmets: Attitudes and Actions
    Helmets: Attitudes And Actions

    Somebody Loves This Youngster!

    Teach Your Kids

    While they are young to wear a helmet

    Your Story 

    sara08852 wrote...

    Funny, the kids helmets look cute, the adult ones scary.
    Sara

    ReplyPosted August 15, 2008

    mulberry wrote...

    I hate wearing helmets but...I worked with those who had brain injuries for years and I would never consider going without one.

    ReplyPosted August 06, 2008

    garywgoldstein wrote...

    love those helmets. :) It is important for me to wear proper helmet when I do mountain biking.

    ReplyPosted August 05, 2008

    spirituality wrote...

    Great lens :)

    ReplyPosted August 02, 2008

    andrphilip wrote...

    This lens you put together is very thorough. It must have taken a lot of time to research. Thank you for putting out the effort to keep us safe. When I was in Cambodia I rode a scooter all over town. Having a good helmet was a must. It's very important when cycling as well.

    ReplyPosted July 25, 2008

     
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