Best Cycling Helmet for Road and Gravel Riding

If you’re looking for the best cycling helmet for road and off-road riding that keeps your head cool, comfortable, and safe, you can choose from three that stood out in our testing.
You can order these helmets using links to stores I’ve vetted and recommend. When you do, In The Know Cycling may earn a commission that helps cover our review and technology costs
GIRO ARIES SPHERICAL
► BTD (BikeTiresDirect) - bit.ly/47tBxdu
► Performance Bike - snp.link/65f921ec
► Sigma Sports - tidd.ly/4a1tAN6
SPECIALIZED S-WORKS PREVAIL 3
► Performance Bike - snp.link/e0d786db
► Sigma Sports - tidd.ly/3T8zepA
TREK VELOCIS
► Trek - snp.link/e99b6ebf
► Sigma Sports - tinyurl.com/2t9pe9a7
Reviews and topics mentioned in this video
► Best Cycling Helmet for Road and Gravel - intheknowcycling.com/best-cyc...
► Virginia Tech Helmet Safety Ratings - www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/bicycl...
Subscribe and get more cycling gear reviews: / @intheknowcycling
Link to copy and share this video with a friend:
• Best Cycling Helmet fo...
Video chapters:
00:00 The Best Cycling Helmet for Road and Gravel - Introduction
00:38 What the best cycling helmet should do - Evaluation Criteria
02:28 Road bike helmets that excel - Giro Aries, Specialized Prevail 3, Trek Velocis
03:31 Prices and weights - Essentially the Same
04:05 Safety ratings - Best of the 5 Star Performers
05:51 Fit adjustments - Fitting the Helmet to Your Head Shape
10:32 Head cooling - Each Does It Well with a Unique Design
11:53 Comfort prerequisites - Fit for Safety AND Comfort
12:53 Comfort evaluations - Weight, Straps, Clips, Cooling, and Pads
14:50 Sunglasses and helmets - No Conflicts, Some Dock Better
15:59 Looks and Style - Picking One that Suits You
In The Know Cycling’s tools for cycling enthusiasts
► Compare prices on 75,000 products from 15 top-ranked stores:
intheknowcycling.com/shop/
► Get the iPhone and Android apps:
intheknowcycling.com/in-the-k...
► Shop at the best online stores:
intheknowcycling.com/online-b...
► Get In The Know Cycling exclusive deals:
intheknowcycling.com/best-bik...
► Get notified by email when new reviews drop:
bit.ly/3nxkk0f
Social channels to see what we’re testing and doing before new reviews come out
► Instagram: / itkcycling
► Threads: www.threads.net/@itkcycling
► Facebook: / itkcycling
► Strava: / strava
Disclosure
In The Know Cycling is ad-free, subscription-free, and reader-supported. If you want to help keep it rolling without any added cost to you, buy your gear and kit after clicking the store links on the site and in the videos. When you do, we may earn an affiliate commission that will help me cover the expenses to create and publish our independent, comprehensive, and comparative reviews. Thank you, Steve.

[@intheknowcycling]

You can order these helmets using links to stores I’ve vetted and recommend. When you do, In The Know Cycling may earn a commission that helps cover our review and technology costs GIRO ARIES SPHERICAL ► BTD (BikeTiresDirect) - bit.ly/47tBxdu ► Performance Bike - snp.link/65f921ec ► Sigma Sports - tidd.ly/4a1tAN6 SPECIALIZED S-WORKS PREVAIL 3 ► Performance Bike - snp.link/e0d786db ► Sigma Sports - tidd.ly/3T8zepA TREK VELOCIS ► Trek - snp.link/e99b6ebf ► Sigma Sports - tinyurl.com/2t9pe9a7

[@DJaquithFL]

Love my Giro Aries Spherical Bike Helmet. No complaints and it's so far the coolest helmet I've tried and I live in SW Florida with temps well into the 90s and high humidity.

[@JoeW71]

Gotta say yes for these reviews! I have an older Specialized Prevail 2 helmet that works well for me. I do wish that ALL helmet manufacturers would permanently offer the Day Glo Orange/Safety Lime Green colors across their whole helmet line for those of us that are most concerned with being seen by cars and trucks out on the road. Also a big thumbs up for the Virginia Tech helmet testing program.

[@solidstream13]

Thanks for covering sunglasses. I really wasted money buying two different helmets that did not work with my very common Oakley sunglasses.

[@stanzapalny2123]

Your website review helped me greatly with choosing a helmet1 Despite trying out 10 helmets I eventually went with what could be deduced from the review alone. Thanks!

[@intheknowcycling]

Glad to hear it. Thanks for your feedback.

[@mdill7072]

I love your videos and website. Your user expertise is a real +. Passion is limitless : cheers from France👍

[@intheknowcycling]

Merci. Tres gentil! J’adore la France. Cheers

[@guillermomunoz5531]

Great review, kudos to the monsters in the basement!

[@GH314]

Steve, always thoughtful reviews. In the case of safety first, second and breathable/ comfort a closed third I would suggest the most important advance is Wavecell technology which Bontrager/Trek sell. It has legit science behind it and my helmet is plenty comfy and since the wave cells are an open design affords plenty of airflow Cost is not even a consideration- would pay twice as much, I’ve only got one brain!

[@jarhead4657]

I returned the Aries because the strap is so short I couldn’t buckle it. Makes no sense. You can make a strap shorter but not longer. I bought the Trek and have about an inch and a half of strap left. Never tried the Specialized.

[@manuelcalleja92]

Thanks for the review. Would you say the S-Works Prevail 3 stores sunglasses more securely than the other helmets?

[@intheknowcycling]

In our testing, both the Prevail 3 and Aries held a range of sunglasses securely on road and off-road surfaces.

[@user-lm5nz8tf7t]

Great

[@kabobsyea9985]

hi steve you cool