Looking for a bike helmet that’s tailor-made for cold conditions? You are in the right place. After trying over 50 helmets in the last 4 months, we picked out 7 helmets that won’t just keep you warm but also offer you great protection.
Let’s jump straight into them.
Best Winter Helmets For Moutain Biking
1. Specialized Centro Winter LED Helmet
With an insulated cold-weather liner, Centro Winter will keep your head warm on chilly/cold days
The great features, reliable protection, insulated cold-weather liner, and stylish look make the Centro the perfect helmet for commuters and city cruisers even in winter.
The integrated LED rear light increases passive safety in poor lighting conditions and in the hustle and bustle of the city. The Centro Winter LED makes cycling in the cold season more comfortable and safer.
The removable ear protection increases well-being and offers great comfort. The reliable protection and a subtle look round off the great concept.
The soft, insulating fabric cover with ear protection inside prevents cooling down and makes a helmet cover unnecessary. At a price of $110, it’s very affordable considering what it has to offer.
Pros:
- The LED light is easy to turn on
- Available in four colors
- Great adjustment
Cons:
- LED lights are not rechargeable, needs batteries
- Visor isn’t as functional
2. Garneau Ghost Helmet
Offering more ventilation than a ski helmet, the Garneau Ghost is one of the best winter helmets around.
Mainly designed for fat biking, Garneau Ghost is another ideal option for winter riding. This particular helmet has more ventilation than most ski helmets which makes it a perfect option for snowy rides!
It comes with the Spiderlock Creo retention system which is adjustable can be fitted for almost all sizes. With 10 vents, the Ghost ensures a perfect airflow when you are riding.
This helmet has an in-mold construction that offers the best protection for your head but also features evacuation channels to keep inside of the helmet from overheating.
Featuring earpads to protect you from the cold, Ghost is one of our favorite helmets for winter. Bear in mind that these earpads can also be removed from the helmet. To add to that, it also comes with a goggles fastener to keep your goggles firm and tight.
Pros:
- Useable at all times of the year.
- The evacuation channel keeps riders cool and comfortable.
- Spiderlock Creo Retention System makes everything comfortable.
Cons:
- Goggle fastener could be better.
- It’s not very aerodynamic
3. Lazer Dissent Helmet
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With its lightweight at just 410 grams, The Dissent is a combination of great design and functionality.
Compared to a few years earlier, the winter helmet industry has evolved so much that we have some amazing winter helmets at our availability. The Lazer Dissent is one of those helmets that brings together stylish lines, great comfort, and warm protection.
Lazer has always been an innovative helmet manufacturer ever since it was founded in 1919, starting with motorcycle helmets. In recent years, they have mastered the art of blending together safety and functionality. With its sharp look, The Dissent impresses us with its innovative Rollsys fit system.
The patented Rollsys® System is a fully integrated mechanism that surrounds the head and avoids pressure points because the thumb wheel sits on top of the helmet vs. the lower back part of the helmet.
This allows the rider to have easier user access and adjust the helmet with ease. This is very impressive considering most helmets do a terrible job at placing the adjuster of their helmets.
This helmet will keep you warm on cold winter days while also allowing you a smooth and comfortable ride.
Pros:
- The retention system provides a perfect fit.
- 13 different vents for comfort.
- Removable visor.
Cons:
- The sizing chart is a little tough to figure out online.
- Some popular color choices have limited availability.
4. Giro Timberwolf
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With Giro Timberwolf, cold air and intense snow won’t keep you stuck inside.
We all know that the main objective of a helmet is to protect our heads but who said it can’t keep our heads warm at the same time? With its insulated lining, the Giro Timberwolf winter helmet is ideal for cold winter days.
The Giro Timberwolf is a wrap-around bike helmet and offers more rear and side protection than most other helmets that are designed for warmer climates.
The Timberwolf features a removable liner that provides insulated ear pads that are also removable. With removable pads, you get the option of removing them and wearing a balaclava for even colder days or keeping them in when the weather allows.
The Timberwolf also features a rear clip with the sole purpose of holding your goggles together, to prevent them from falling off when you are riding. These have become a necessity because otherwise, your eyes would get the worst of the cold!
Pros:
- Full coverage and installation.
- Vents on the helmet can open or close.
- Dynamic fit.
Cons:
- Heats up a little too quickly for some.
- Might cause some mild head fatigue on long rides.
5. Bern Brentwood 2.0 Bike Helmet
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Classic urban styling with Bern’s patented soft visor and a signature feel that looks great both on and off the bike.
The earlier Brentwood helmets were a great success and there was a big following. Realizing the quality and popularity of their product, Bern introduced a new model that offers an updated and modern look with improved fitting. Being a very versatile helmet, it offers a great fit for most sizes.
Although it is not a dedicated winter helmet, it still offers a warm feel on cold days due to its shape and inner styling. The Bern Zipmold+ technology offers a low-profile fit that’s on the lighter side and is stronger than in-mold helmets. Priced at $70, it comes in multiple cool color options.
Pros:
- It’s easy to keep it clean with the washable liner
- With a removable liner, it can be used in any season
- Strong head protection
- Easy to see on roads with bright colors
Cons:
- The shape of the helmet is not very aerodynamic
- Not enough air circulation
- Sizes run small
Related: Find the Best Cross-Country Helmets for 2023
6. ILM Adult Bike Helmet
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The ILM Adult Bike Helmet is ideal for those who live in climates that see lots of rain in winter. The inner material of this all-rounder helmet is EPS foam and it meets all the safety standards.
With a limited number of vents, this helmet allows much less rain and cold air inside, keeping it warmer than regular helmets. There isn’t lining inside of this helmet, so this isn’t really a winter helmet, however, it will definitely keep you dry.
There are riders who have confirmed that if you wear a warm lining, this helmet works wonders. It comes with a visor that will help with sun, rain, and wind in your face, although it doesn’t offer face protection.
Weighing in at 9.5 ounces, this helmet is on the lighter side of the spectrum. This is largely due to the lack of warmth lining, however, it’s still light.
Featuring an adjustment dial to make it fit well, this helmet fits many sizes.
Pros:
- Perfect for rainy days
- It’s very light
- Good adjustment feature
Cons:
- Doesn’t have an inner lining
- Fewer number of vents
- Visor doesn’t offer protection
7. Retrospec Traverse H1
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Jack of all trades, this helmet is suitable and certified for biking, skiing, and snowboarding
The Retrospec Traverse H1 Convertible Helmet is for riders that won’t even stop in the coldest days of winter. It’s a helmet that combines skiing, snowboarding, and biking while meeting all safety requirements and offering great protection.
Comstock comes with an ABS outer and EPS inner material, making it safe and comfortable. Optimal circulation and temperature regulation are made possible with 10 ventilation points.
When you buy this helmet you will also receive a plush fleece netted cap and earmuffs. User reviews all agree that this helmet is God’s gift in terms of keeping you warm.
It doesn’t come with a visor but there is a clip to attach personal goggles.
It weighs 19 ounces that is a bit more than the average winter helmet due to its extra padding.
Pros:
- Can be used for different sports/activities
- Keeps very warm
- Great ventilation
Cons:
- Doesn’t come with a visor
- It’s a bit heavy
Can I use a Skiing or Snowboarding Helmet For Biking?
Most helmets from skiing and snowboarding can be used for biking, although, it is not recommended. The first reason is the safety standards – it’s true that any helmet is better than no helmet, however, helmets from different sports have varying levels of protection and one might not be satisfactory for another.
The differences in ears and ventilation have a fairly obvious reason as well. Skiing takes place in sub-zero temperatures and for a much shorter period of time than road racing. While skiing, it is important to keep warm and keep your ears closed, but when cycling it is more desirable to increase ventilation.
While watching winter Olympic outdoor sports, skiers have a band that covers their ears and almost everyone has a hat, balaclava, and/or helmet to keep their ears covered.
Mountain bikers do their best to keep weight down because it helps in climbing and acceleration, therefore their helmets need to be lighter. Skiing/snowboarding helmets aren’t necessarily light.
In addition, the rider’s position and the length of the road run mean that any additional weight can lead to neck fatigue. Skiers are pulled down by gravity and have more heads supporting an upright position, so a little extra weight won’t matter.
Can I Wear a Hat Under My Helmet Instead?
Many mountain bike enthusiasts have noticed that riders wear a hat under the helmet, which covers the entire head. And in this regard, the question often arises: can I wear a hat under my standard helmet? It definitely will keep you warm, however, it might not be very comfortable.
Depending on the bulkiness of the hat, it might get very uncomfortable to wear the helmet over the top of it. This will also reduce the safety of your helmet because it won’t cover your head fully and even if it does, it will not be firm/tight.
Instead of wearing a hat and putting the helmet over the top, you are better off buying a winter helmet for better comfort and safety.
Additional Winter Cycling Tips
Winter cycling is a kind of extreme tourism that is rightfully a harsh test of strength and willpower for both tourists and cyclists. Anyone who has crossed a bicycle route at least once in winter will only grin contemptuously until the end of his life, hearing stories about the horrors and difficulties of extreme summer cycling.
But the popularity of winter cycling is only increasing every year.
Choosing routes for winter cycling
Priority route selection excludes federal highways and country roads. At first – too heavy traffic of cars; and the latter strive for such a state in which it is not so easy to drive through them in summer, and even impossible in winter. Often, fans of winter cycling make their way through the places of crossings over lakes and rivers.
Winter cycling equipment
The choice of footwear meets the following criteria: does not constrain, does not press, adheres freely to the foot, contributes to the natural circulation of blood, and the creation of an air gap.
If your feet are still wet in the cold, stop immediately and dry your shoes along with a change of linen, because in this case there is nothing to think about further progress – you may not reach the final point of the route.
Don’t look for the perfect winter bike – it doesn’t exist
Thick tires and studded tires will undoubtedly make winter cycling easier. It is recommended to experiment with different types of bicycles in search of the model that will work best for your city conditions. And yet, it is not about the price of the bike but how you ride it.
Conclusion
We listed 7 winter bike helmets that will keep you warm during the colder part of the year. However, it is still totally up to you to pick the helmet you like and go with it – you may even think it’s better to wear a balaclava and call it a day. It all comes down to personal choice and budget, whichever makes the most sense to you.
