Top 10 best e-bike helmets for 2023

By Rebecca Bland

12 Jan 2023

Whether you’re an urban e-commuter or a downhill MTBer, there’s a helmet for everyone. There are even electric bike specific ones these days, although there’s no law that states you need to wear one while riding. That being said, if you do wear one and fancy something new, or are looking for something to start off with, we’ve done the research and rounded up some of the best for all types of riding.

Kask Sintesi

A single helmet for multiple disciplines?! Oh, go on then. The Kask Sintesi aims to be that one helmet for commuting, leisure, road, and gravel riding. It’s lightweight, reasonably priced, and comes in 11 different colourways so you can match it to your bike. It’s not specifically for e-bikers but we’ve been testing it on various machines over the last month or so and it’s become the first pick off the shelf for everything but hardcore off-road riding. It’s well ventilated so you won’t overheat, and it passed the KASK Rotational Impact WG11 Test so you know it’s going to protect you where helmets are designed to.

Bern Hudson

The Bern Hudson features an innovative urban design and is rated to NTA8776 e-bike safety standards, which essentially means it’s rated to protect your head from impact at higher speeds than the usual BS EN 1078. The size small starts at 54cm, which is a little on the large side, but I rectified this by wearing ear warmers or a hat. It's extremely comfortable and comes with a rechargeable LED light in the rear, which is a great touch. It's also packed with MIPS technology and has reinforced U-lock vents so you can lock it to your bike easily.

Dashel Urban Cycle Helmet

Pared-back aesthetics combined with recycled materials, the Dashel Urban Cycle Helmet is an understated yet comfortable urban accessory. It's lightweight, at 360g for the small, and comes with five air vents. Although I cannot confirm if they help keep you cool, they definitely don't act as rain channels. The Fidlock magnetic closure is a welcome addition at this price point, but one thing that really stands out is the absence of an adjustable dial to nail down the fit. Instead, Dashel supplies different thicknesses of foam inserts so you can tailor it to your head's own shape. They will also recycle the helmet at the end of its life in return for money off another purchase.

Thousand Heritage Collection

There's more than meets the eye to the Thousand Heritage helmet. Certified for both cycling and skateboarding, it's visually inspired by vintage moto helmets and comes in an array of trendy colours. It's lightweight, too, with a size S weighing just 410g. But under this simple aesthetic lies some seriously well thought out design. The seven vents, although small, are mighty, and a 'PopLock' in the rear of the helmet allows you to secure your helmet to your bike with a lock. It also uses vegan leather straps for a touch of luxury with a magnetic fastener. A stylish choice for the safety-conscious urban trendsetter.

Abus Pedelec 2.0

One of the few e-bike specific helmets on the market, the Pedelec 2.0 from the German manufacture screams high-end excellence. From its NTA 8776 safety rating to the built-in rear light, it's clear the Pedelec 2.0 has been designed with comfort and safety in mind. It is bulky, but in the right places, so my head felt secure rather than overwhelmed with all the material atop it. There's even a rain cover stashed in a compartment at the rear, which came in handy. The magnetic Fidlock closure is easy to use, and, quite thoughtfully, Abus has included a cushioned pad behind it so it remains comfortable under your chin.

Bollé Avio MIPS

One for the e-roadies, the Bollé Avio MIPS is lightweight (234g), and airflow optimised so you can keep cool without sacrificing aerodynamic benefits. We’ve been riding with it and found the sizing a little big on the size small, but with a hat in winter it’s nice and snug. For once, we found we were able to wear sunglasses without the arms crushing our head after an hour on the bike, and it looks pretty sleek, too. It’s available in three colourways, and is already tried and tested in the non-electric professional peloton.

Decathlon B’Twin 540 CITY CYCLING HELMET

Although the cheapest on this list by a mile, the B’Twin 530 City helmet is a great option for urban riders on a budget. It is, however, only available in sizes medium and large which correlates to 55-59cm for the medium. It's extremely light at 280g (for the medium) and comes with plenty of ventilation and a built-in mesh fly and bug protector. You can also attach a light to the rear of the helmet which is a nice touch. For the price, it's hard to go wrong.

Kask Moebius (with added lights)

While the Moebius may have featured on last year’s list, this year we’ve continued to be impressed with this urban lid. A new feature for this year, however, is the Limelight lights that can be retrofitted to the helmet. We’ve been riding with them for a little while now and we’re always keen to look like a lit up Christmas tree, particularly when fog and snow seem to be the order of the day for the next few months. The Limelight offers five different modes and is bright enough to be seen in the fog.

POC Kortal Race MIPS

Okay so it's not an urban helmet, but it is e-bike specific. In particular, e-MTB. There are so many features on this helmet it's hard to pick the best, but the fit is superb (even for small heads), and although it's bulky (as it needs to be), it's seriously comfortable and lightweight. It's NTA8776 rated and comes with an array of safety features, including the latest MIPS technology, an NFC Medical ID and RECCO® technology (which is used by rescue professionals to locate you in an emergency). It might be pricey, but it's seriously well-designed with innovative safety features, a near-perfect fit, and you get a lot for your money.

Giro Cormick MIPS

A commuter/urban helmet that looks the part on almost any bike (maybe just not a mountain bike), the Giro Cormick MIPS contains integrated MIPS technology and plenty of vents to keep you cool when the weather heats up. I found the coverage decent at the back of my head, and it is comfortable. The only thing to note is the sizing, it's universal, at 54-61cm, which was just slightly too big for me and my 53cm skull. Nonetheless, it's ideal for people who want a helmet for road, gravel and urban riding without the faff of buying three separate lids.