Best Winter Bike Helmets for City Riding

For those of us who choose to wear helmets for getting around our cities in wintertime, we want ones that are actually cozy and not designed with many vents that will keep us cool in the summer, as most are because that is when the vast majority of people ride bikes.

The following post will help teach you what to look for when selecting the best winter bike helmet, in particular:

• Design & features
• Ratings

In winter, personally, I look for a few more options:

• Warm, cozy inner liner;
• Ear coverage, preferably removable;
• Goggle strap; and,
• A place to mount a helmet light (ideally).

Key features for any helmet

If I am going to be wearing a helmet, I look for five things:

1. Good coverage across the occipital bones/lobe of my head (the lower back section);
2. Good coverage across the temporal bone of my head (the area around, above, and behind your ear);
   • There is also a vulnerable section anterior to the temporal bone, called the pterion — where several skull-bone sutures meet and make an H-shape and it is structurally the thinnest part of the skull, plus a branch of the meningeal artery runs beneath. [A factoid that has always stuck with me since ANAT 214 in my undergraduate studies.]
3. Similar shape to my skull (no pointy bits to jerk my head in a fall);
4. Straps that work for my body so that I can comfortably wear the helmet and adjust it as necessary to get a good fit across my forehead and under my ears; and,
5. An effective way to adjusting diameter (eg. dial or similar).

I believe that an inappropriately fitted helmet is a dangerous helmet. I believe that it should mimic my head shape as best possible because, evolutionarily, our skulls have done a decent job at protecting our brains and I worry that pointy bits on a helmet could deflect my head/neck in such a way to cause other injuries (eg. neck injury).

The good thing about winter and ski helmets, is that they almost always check all of these boxes! I find that I have to be a bit more discerning when it comes to regular cycling helmets as it’s hard to find all of these attributes in one helmet.

Regular helmet for winter cycling

Ever read the fine print that comes with your helmet? Every bit that I have ever read says explicitly to not wear anything under your helmet, i.e. no buffs, no cycling caps, no toques, etc.

Yet some (helmet) companies even make thin beanies to fit under helmets, or cycling caps, etc. It’s all very conflicting, to me.

So, do what you see fit with their advice. Me, I break this ‘rule’ all of the time, often using buffs under my regular helmet or thin fleece balaclavas with the kids. I honestly don’t see how it’s different than mine or my eldest’s long slippery hair. But, that’s just my two cents. You do you.

Buffs

Like I said, using something under your helmet contravenes any helmet fine print I’ve ever read, so use your own judgement. But here goes…

I like buffs because they are flexible.

• I can use one like a giant head band and it covers my forehead, ears, and most of my head.
• I can use one over the back of my head and over my chin (or even nose).
• I can use two: giant headband style one first, then back of the head/chin/nose one second.
• I can wear it around my neck like a neckwarmer.

They also tend to fit on my kids if I need to help them out. And, my daughter has taught me how to transform them into a toque if I’m hanging at the playground but still want something on my head.

I have two merino blend buffs and one synthetic Outdoor Research brand one. I like have both types.

I like buffs! I prefer them to other specialized balaclavas, etc. because of their flexibility. I also prefer having merino on my face instead of neoprene.

The helmet you usually use

Totally doable. You will most likely need to break their rule on nothing under your helmet though and use a buff or similar.

I often do this for the shoulder seasons. It really works just great. You do not need to buy a new helmet for winter cycling.

Ski and bike helmet for winter

Not all ski helmets are also rated for cycling use. If you want one that is, you’ll have to double-check the label to verify that it has one or more of the above ratings. A helpful tip for finding them is looking for ones designated as multi-sport; however, while some brands highlight that feature, some don’t.

Benefits of using a ski helmet for winter biking

Bottom line: they are designed for cold weather use and, as such, are usually cozy and warm. Plus, they invariably have a goggle strap and ear protection.

If you are a downhill skier, chances are you already have one and hopefully it’s compatible with cycling (if you want one that is).

Otherwise, I recommend them if you’re having trouble with the cold and/or you don’t want to use buffs underneath your regular helmet, as discussed above. Ski helmets are suuuuuuper cozy!

Downsides of using a ski helmet

The warm fuzzy ear protection can greatly impact your ability to hear, which is limiting when riding in traffic. And, it takes some getting used to. Ideally, look for a helmet where the ear bits are removable especially if you think this will drive you bonkers; plus, it’s nice to have this option on days where the ski helmet is still nice but it’s not so cold you need your ears buried in fuzz.

Best winter cycling helmets

The following helmets listed here are usually just referred to as ski helmets, but are actually rated for at least one or more other sports, including cycling.

Am I missing any?

I have excluded some models on purpose because they have pronounced rigid built-in visors (which doesn’t jive with my personal ‘no pointy bits’ criterion). But, otherwise, it takes a lot of sleuthing to figure out which helmets are tested as multi-sport so I definitely might have missed some. Please let me know in the comments, below, so that I can add in the ones you know of! Thanks.

Our family

A couple of brands and specific models that have worked for us include:

• K2 Entity
• Smith Holt Jr
• Bern Nina/Nino (plus winter liner)
• Bern Berkeley (plus winter liner)

Disclosure: This Mom Bikes is a professional review and opinions site that uses affiliate links for many of the products that we refer to in posts. We test each product thoroughly, recommend it because it is what our family has used, or we examine it in detail and research extensively before a product can make it into our guides. We earn from qualifying purchases through these links, eg. as an Amazon associate or via AvantLink. This is not a sponsored post. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own. Complete privacy policy & disclosure found here.

Helmets are a legal or personal choice, depending on where you live. You do you. This article is intended to help steer you in the direction of helmets that are the best choice for keeping warm in the winter when bike commuting. The final decision on brand, proper fit, etc. is to be confirmed and made by you, the consumer.

Other posts in this winter cycling series

• A Beginner’s Handbook to Biking in Winter
• Top 5 Pieces of Winter Cycling Gear
• Winter Ride: But Why?
• Canadian winter and perceptions of weather
• Keeping Kids Warm as passengers on a cargo bike
• Keeping Young Riders Warm when riding in winter
• Winter/Studded/Spiked Bike Tires
• When it Really Snows
• Riding Techniques

• About
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Lindsay Bliek

My name is Lindsay Bliek, B.Sc., B.Ed., I am a mom who uses a cargo bike to get around. I have been riding bikes for over 30 years, the last 9 of which I have been either pregnant or riding with a young kid or two. I am the recipient of the 2019 Commuter of the Year award from Bike Calgary. I seek out protected infrastructure, like pathways and cycle tracks, and I am confident enough to ride on some (but not all) roads (with my kids). I am here to answer your questions and help mobilize your family on bikes! Read more about my background and why I write, as well as my recent work outside of this blog.

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