But, let’s face it—accidents happen. And while protecting your dome used to mean donning a bulky block of plastic, helmet companies have stepped up in the past decade, melding functionality with super-sleek designs for helmets that are lighter, more breathable, and fit perfectly on your skull.
Not sure how to choose? No sweat. We’ve gathered the ten best new bike helmets out there, so you and your head are covered for every ride. Because a helmet is never just a helmet—it’s an insurance policy against your need for adventure.
NIGHT RIDER
Late night at the office? No worries. This helmet will light your way home. Torch Apparel, which sprang from a Kickstarter campaign last April, has already made waves in the cycling world with their debut line of Torch T1 polycarbonate commuter helmets, due out in Spring 2013. The T1 bears integrated high-flux LED lights that wrap to the sides of the helmet for 360-degree nighttime visibility. The lights charge via a USB port and last four hours. ($120, available for preorder now: torchapparel.com)
ALL-SEASON MESSENGER
At 13 ounces, the soon-to-be-released Bern Alston is one of the company’s lightest helmets (outdone only by the Carbon) and boasts 50 percent greater ventilation than their ultra-popular Brentwood. But this helmet is ultimately built for the bold four-season pedalers out there. Sporting a cap-style flip visor for sunny rides, the Alston also includes a snap-in winter knit liner for cold weather. Looks like biking season just got a lot longer. ($90, bernunlimited.com)
MAD HATTER
Nutcase may be the most aptly-named helmet around. Armed with an injection-molded ABS shell and EPS foam on the inside, it will secure your noggin with the best of them. But the real draw is the nutty style—some 50 graphic choices, including the American Argyle (pictured here) and a slew of solid-color options. Designed for flexible use, this helmet has you covered. Commute to work, cruise town, or hit the trail--and look good doing it. ($60, nutcasehelmets.com)
WINDCUTTER
Designed with a profile similar to aero time trial helmets (but without the tail), Giro’s Air Attack boasts the lowest aerodynamic drag of any road helmet tested, giving riders what Giro refers to as “free speed.” And rightly so—it accompanied several Olympic medals in August. It also offers exceptional cooling power with the company’s Roc Loc Air system, which suspends the helmet three millimeters above the head to create a vents-to-exhaust-ports air flow. ($200, giro.com)
FEATHERWEIGHT
You may forget you’re wearing a helmet with the sub-8-ounce Specialized S-Works Prevail, which is among the lightest on the market. Until you look in the mirror. It’s a bulky dome with a big profile that might make you self-conscious, but it’s worth the drop in style, with huge cooling vents that tame the heat. The Prevail gets away with this without adding weight by using a kevlar-reinforced inner matrix that yields structural support, like rebar in concrete, in lieu of extra foam. Lock in the fit with a dial on the back and hold your (considerably lighter) head high. ($250, specialized.com)
TRAIL CHAMELEON
If your mountain paths of choice alternate between sunny, desert chaparral and pine-shaded forest (as in Santa Fe, New Mexico,) then Bontrager’s Lithos is your helmet. Bontrager designed the Lithos with the input of its pro mountain bike athletes to produce a lid with greater coverage and excellent ventilation at any speed. But the biggest boon is the new rotating visor that adjusts to changing light conditions or sun position. Go ahead and leave your shades at home. ($130, bontrager.com)
TRAIL TANK
As Cannondale notes, their Ryker helmet is only missing a light bar and winch. The silicon-alloy-reinforced exoskeleton cage couples with an internal roll cage to disperse and redirect any impact through the dual-density foam body. Sounds heavy, but Cannondale has shaved weight from their entire helmet line, including the Ryker, by implementing the cone-shaped impact-absorbing zones used by car manufacturers. Tank protection without tank weight. ($85, cannondale.com)
BRAIN SAVER
Let’s face it: the reckless will wreck. And when the inevitable strikes, your helmet will most likely impact at an angle. POC’s Trabec Race MIPS trail helmet answers that likelihood—as all of their helmets do—with the same technology now used in football and hockey helmets. It’ll absorb oblique impacts to the head and minimize rotational forces in the brain that cause injury. Designed for singletrack and enduro racers, the Trabec is also well vented and provides superior coverage for hard pedaling. Here’s to your brain. ($220, pocsports.com)
CHANGELING
To ride or not to ride? Some days, you just can’t predict the weather. No matter. Lazer’s Helium is equipped to meet your every weather-altered need. Big, hard sun? Nineteen vents will keep your head cool. Rain? An Aeroshell can keep the wind and water out. Unexpected darkness? The Rollsys rear tail light increases visibility. The Helium even accepts a mesh pad kit for buggy rides or a winter pad kit for cold days. Looks like the debate’s over—to ride. ‘Tis nobler. (Caveat: covers and pad kits aren’t included.) ($230, lazersport.com)
TIME-TRIALIST
For those who go full-aero, POC has answered the call with a sleek, space-age design in the Tempor, which debuted in the London Olympics. Designed in league with Olympic Time Trial silver medalist Gustav Larsson and a team of aerodynamics specialists, the Tempor’s conceptual approach views the rider as one body mass rather than isolating the head, optimizing aerodynamics for the ideal body position. Prepare for launch—and a lighter wallet. ($380, pocsports.com)