Comparison: Our Top 10 Best Mountain Bike Helmets in 2026!

Are you a mountain biking enthusiast? Then you know how important it is to wear a quality helmet during your rides in the mountains or forest. But, even if you read our article "how to choose your mountain bike helmet?", you might still not know which model to pick? That's why we have put together a selection of the best mountain bike helmets in 2026. To do this, we took into account the main characteristics of a mountain bike helmet such as comfort, safety, and budget. So, whether you're an occasional Sunday rider or a bike park enthusiast, we hope you find the helmet made for you. That said, let's not forget this selection remains subjective. Also, you will find other models just as competitive as the ones proposed here. With that, happy reading!

Contents: mountain bike helmet comparison

1. Best classic mountain bike helmets
   • Neatt Basalte, the best cheap mountain bike helmet
   • Fox Speedframe Pro Blocked, the best classic mountain bike helmet from the fox brand
2. Best All-Mountain mountain bike helmets
   • Poc Kortal Race MIPS, the best AM mountain bike helmet by Poc
   • Fox Speedframe Pro Sense, the best AM mountain bike helmet by Fox
3. Best bowl mountain bike helmets
   • Abus Scraper 3.0, the best entry-level bowl helmet
   • POC Crane, the best versatile mountain bike helmet by POC
4. Best full-face mountain bike helmets
   • 100% Aircraft 2, all the know-how of 100%
   • Leatt 1.0 DH, simply perfect
5. Best hybrid mountain bike helmets
   • Leatt Enduro 3.0, the best hybrid mountain bike helmet
   • URGE Gringo de la Sierra, the best cheap hybrid mountain bike helmet
6. Bicycle helmets: mandatory or not?
7. Do all bicycle helmets protect in the same way?

Best classic mountain bike helmets

Let's start this comparison with so-called classic mountain bike helmets. These are very appreciated for their lightness and optimal ventilation. They thus offer effective protection of the skull. However, they have little or no protection for the face. Therefore, this type of helmet will be perfectly suitable for beginners and cross-country riders. Here is our selection of the two best classic mountain bike helmets.

Neatt Basalt, the best cheap mountain bike helmet

For this first choice, we selected the Neatt Basalt Expert helmet. We didn’t choose it because it’s a made-in-Alltricks product, but because it’s a versatile bike helmet. Indeed, it is both adapted for mountain biking and urban cycling. For that, it’s equipped with 20 vents for optimal ventilation. You’ll also find a rear tightening dial for precise adjustment and secure hold. It also has an insect mesh in front to keep insects from entering through the front air intakes, plus a removable visor to protect you from the sun. Finally, like all helmets on the Alltricks site, it is CE approved.

Fox Speedframe Pro, the best classic MTB helmet from the fox brand

Also versatile is this Fox Speedframe Pro, a high-end MTB helmet designed with help from professional athletes. It received the highest rating (5 stars) in the "Bicycle Helmet Rating" program of the independent Virginia Tech institute. So it offers optimal protection against shocks and impacts. It is also equipped with a Fidlock® SNAP magnetic buckle and a 360-degree retention system for a perfect fit. You’ll also find an (XT2®) antimicrobial lining that will best eliminate odors and sweat. Finally, let’s not forget to mention that this efficient trail helmet is compatible with wearing MTB glasses and has a visor adjustable in 3 positions.

Best All-Mountain MTB Helmets

In second place in this ranking, you’ll find all-mountain helmets. These have a similar base to classic helmets, but with longer protection at the back of the head. They therefore offer better protection of the rider’s neck. This makes them slightly heavier than classic helmets. That said, they offer ventilation just as effective. Thus, these helmets are often used on mountain single tracks.

Poc Kortal Race MIPS, the best AM mountain bike helmet by Poc

POC doesn’t do things halfway, and the Kortal Race MIPS is the most convincing proof of that in their all-mountain range. If you’re looking for the best AM mountain bike helmet that the Swedish brand offers and a Sunday in the forest can quickly turn into a serious enduro session, this is clearly the one you come for.

On the protection side, POC has obviously decided to cover all scenarios, including the ones you’d rather not imagine. The MIPS system manages rotational impacts (the sneakiest, those that the skull absorbs in torsion during a sideways fall), the RECCO® reflector makes you locatable in areas where the network is an urban legend, and the NFC chip carries your vital medical information directly in the helmet so that rescuers don’t have to search your pockets while you’re counting stars. It’s the kind of detail you hope never to use but appreciate having.

The ventilation deserves attention: POC designed the helmet so that the mask strap doesn’t obstruct any ventilation zones, which, on a fifteen-minute climb in mid-August in the Maures or the Vercors, makes a real difference. The visor is removable and adjustable, it lifts high enough so that a mask or sunglasses naturally fit underneath – convenient when you switch between the two depending on the terrain. The helmet is also certified NTA 8776, the Dutch standard for e-bikes (the Dutch being serious enough about their bikes to create their own certification, so might as well take advantage of it). 

Fox Speedframe Pro Sense, the best AM mountain bike helmet by Fox

The Speedframe Pro Sense is the best you can get in the AM field. Developed directly with their professional athletes (in other words people who really don’t want to test their protection limits on a slightly aggressive DH), this open helmet scored the maximum rating of 5 stars in the independent Virginia Tech rating program. That kind of certification isn’t marketing: it’s an outside lab saying “yes, it really protects.” On the tech side, you find the MIPS® Air Node system, which acts in case of rotational impact, the kind your skull can suffer when the trajectory isn’t quite the planned one. The BOA® Fit system allows precise adjustment down to the millimeter without having to mess with ratchets that always jam at the wrong moment. 

The FIDLOCK SNAP buckle, meanwhile, snaps on and off even with gloves (a detail you really appreciate when your fingers are numb at 1800 meters altitude on a September morning). The ventilation relies on channelled and molded EPS foam, designed to evacuate heat during climbs, because a helmet that cooks your head while pedaling quickly makes you want to leave it in the trunk. The visor adjusts with one hand and suits both sunglasses and goggles, depending on what the weather (or your ambitions) demands that day. Finally, the Ionic+® lining is removable, washable, and antimicrobial – an appreciated attention for anyone riding more than once a week without necessarily having time to do laundry.

Best Bols mountain bike helmets

In third place in this ranking, you’ll find the legendary Bols helmets. These, although heavier and less ventilated than classic mountain bike helmets, are more suitable for the street and skateparks environment. Like AM helmets, they offer reinforced safety at the back of the skull, but they also keep for themselves this famous original urban style, so trendy. Thus, BMX-freestyle enthusiasts will particularly appreciate this type of helmet.

Abus Scraper 3.0, the best entry-level half-shell helmet

The Abus Scraper 3.0 is a bit like the answer to a question every beginner mountain biker eventually asks: do you really have to empty your wallet to get a decent half-shell helmet? The answer is no, and this helmet is the most direct proof of that. In terms of weight, you're looking at 450 grams in size M and 490 grams in L, not the kind of numbers that will raise eyebrows among experienced riders, but for an entry-level half-shell helmet, it's quite reasonable. That’s the usual trade-off with this style: a more enveloping protection, and a few extra grams to handle.

The ventilation deserves honest mention: Abus announces its "Forced Air Cooling Technology" with 4 air intakes and 4 air outlets. That's better than what you’d expect at this price, even if it remains reasonable; let's say you’ll have no problem surviving a ride in the Breton forest (cool and humid, so that helps), but a long climb at 30 degrees will remind you that this is not a cross-country helmet. On the other hand, the Zoom Ace Urban adjustment system with its adjustable dial is a real nice surprise: no need to struggle with approximate fastenings, the fit is precise and stable thanks to the flexible half-ring. For a helmet at this price, that’s far from a given. The integrated reflectors add a nice visibility touch if your rides start spilling over into dim hours, and the ponytail compatibility, often ignored on entry-level helmets, is clearly considered here. A small detail that changes life for anyone who wears a braid and is tired of compressing it against the helmet.

POC Crane, the best versatile mountain bike helmet by POC

For this second selection of the best half-shell mountain bike helmet, we chose the Crane helmet from POC. This model is lightweight and impact-resistant. Moreover, it features a liner combining two densities for optimal protection. Thus, the outer shell, thicker than a traditional helmet's, provides increased durability. We also find the MIPS system, which protects against rotational impacts. Finally, its adjustment system allows a personalized fit for a comfortable and secure hold.

Best full-face mountain bike helmets

Now we get into the serious stuff with full-face helmets. These are the most complete and protective mountain bike helmets, which also makes them the most expensive. This is explained by the difficulty of reducing their weight while offering complete protection of the head and neck. So, in addition to protecting the entire skull, the full-face helmet offers full face protection thanks to its specific geometry. Not surprisingly, once again, the most expensive models are generally the lightest as they are made with more sophisticated materials such as carbon.

100% Aircraft 2, all the expertise of 100%

The 100% Aircraft 2 is a full-face MTB helmet developed in collaboration with elite athletes such as Sam Hill. Equipped with Smartshock® technology for optimal protection, it features an external carbon fiber shell and integrated chin guard. Furthermore, it offers excellent ventilation with 20 channels and an adjustable visor to optimize vision. Lastly, it provides a washable and antimicrobial lining.

Leatt Gravity 1.0, simply perfect

In second place, we selected a helmet from the renowned South African brand Leatt, the Leatt Gravity 1.0. We chose it because it is a lightweight and well-ventilated model that inherits the brand’s expertise to offer optimal protection for MTB. Therefore, it is equipped with 360° Turbine technology which reduces rotational acceleration and absorbs energy upon impact. Moreover, this helmet features a polymer shell and high-quality impact foam. We also find a detachable visor which helps reduce rotational impact force. Finally, this helmet is compatible with neck braces and has a washable and breathable inner lining. In short, you got it, this helmet truly inherits all the brand’s know-how gained following Alan Selby’s motocross accident.

Best Hybrid MTB Helmets

Hybrid? No, this helmet is not a Toyota, it doesn't consume either gas or electricity to operate, but it is still hybrid. Thus, the engineers at Urge didn’t try to copy the Prius but simply developed a highly versatile helmet that can be used both in enduro and DH. Hybrid helmets offer a practical feature: with one click, they can switch from an all-mountain helmet for flat terrains and climbs to a full-face helmet with the addition of a chin guard for more aggressive descents. These helmets therefore offer a perfect compromise for mountain MTB enthusiasts.

Leatt Enduro 3.0, the best hybrid MTB helmet

The Leatt Enduro 3.0 is typically the helmet for those who can't decide between the freedom of a half shell and the protection of a full face, and who are right not to choose. With its 3-in-1 design, it stands out as the best hybrid MTB helmet currently: half shell for rolling rides, ear protection for trails that start to get rough, and full chin guard when things get serious. You adjust your level of protection according to the trail of the day, which is much smarter than carrying two helmets in the trunk.

On the weight side, Leatt announces 700 grams with the chin guard and 360 grams without. For the half shell, that's very decent in this category, we've seen lighter models but often without the integrated 360° Turbine technology, those small moving discs that absorb impact energy and reduce, according to the brand, rotational brain acceleration by up to 40% and peak brain acceleration by up to 30% (figures from Leatt internal tests, to take with appropriate caution, but the technology is real and recognized). The Powerbridge construction reinforces the shell without adding weight, and the 20 vents ensure effective ventilation even at low speed, which is no small matter if you're climbing in Chartreuse at 25 degrees. The Fidlock magnetic closure really deserves a mention: one hand, one click, it's done (literally).

URGE Gringo de la Sierra, the best cheap hybrid MTB helmet

The URGE Gringo de la Sierra is the helmet you choose when you want to be able to climb with an open-face without dying of heat, come down full face without dying of fear, and not die of shame when looking at your bank account. In short, the best hybrid helmet when your budget isn’t infinite.

The principle is simple: a removable chin guard that you take off (and put back) depending on whether you’re attacking a long climb or the trail starts to get serious. And that, on paper, is exactly what the all-mountain rider demanding alternates all day long.

The Gringo de la Sierra differs from its cousin the Pampa by an additional protective grid on the chin guard, an aesthetic nuance as much as a functional one, Urge openly admitting that it is also a matter of taste. That’s honest, and we appreciate it.

Regarding numbers, the full helmet weighs 790 grams, which is consistent with the hybrid category (a classic full face helmet often weighs around one kilo, sometimes more). Without chin guard, you go down to 412 grams, that’s where the concept makes perfect sense, since on the climb you wear roughly the equivalent of a classic trail helmet. The 22 vents do their job in both configurations, avoiding the feeling of being trapped in a pressure cooker at the first pass. The In Mold construction guarantees good shell solidity, and the occipital tightening allows a good fit without fuss. Finally the little bonus: the pads are removable and washable, which after a summer bikepacking season clearly is not a detail.

Bike helmets: mandatory or not?

In France, wearing a helmet on a bike is not mandatory for all cyclists. It is simply strongly recommended for your safety. However, there is an exception for children under 12 years old. Indeed, they must wear a bike helmet compulsorily, whether they are riders or passengers.

Within the Alltricks community, we still advise you to wear a helmet when you ride. Indeed, wearing a helmet is a simple and effective measure to reduce the risk of serious head injuries in case of an accident. We therefore recommend that you choose a quality helmet, adapted to your practice (road, MTB, etc.) and to your body shape. Note that it is also essential to ensure that the helmet is well adjusted and properly fastened for optimal protection. Finally, it is recommended to replace your helmet after a significant impact or every 3 to 5 years. This advice applies even without impact, as the helmet’s material may degrade over time and lose effectiveness.

Do all bike helmets protect in the same way?

When buying a helmet, it’s obviously a question you ask yourself. If I buy a 30 euro model, will I be protected just as well as if I buy a 200 euro model? So we’ll answer quickly: cost theoretically does not impact the protection offered during an impact. Indeed, all helmets sold in France, and even Europe, must comply with current European safety standards (CE EN 1078 standards). However, this famous standard sets a minimum required level of protection, but nothing prevents a manufacturer from doing better than the strict minimum.

Especially since this standard is somewhat debated in the helmet world. According to some professionals in the field, it is too vague. Thus, it does not provide enough information about the vibrations caused inside the skull following a fall. Also, many brands commit to offering security well above that required to obtain the standard. This is the case for example for Leatt thanks to its 360° Turbine technology or the famous MIPS standard. Finally, you should know that a helmet made with quality materials will remain able to protect you longer. It will therefore need to be replaced less often.