We select and review products independently. When you purchase through our links we may earn a commission. Learn more.
X

The Best Bike Helmets for Boys

young boy wearing a brightly colored helmet and riding an orange bike

Parents want their children to be as safe as possible no matter what activity they’re doing. When it comes to activities like bicycle riding, the best thing you can do to protect your child is to ensure they have top-notch safety equipment to wear. The most important piece of equipment you can buy for them is a good, sturdy bike helmet. Also suitable for similar activities like riding a scooter or rollerblading, bike helmets are the best possible way to protect your child’s head and brain from injuries major and minor. No one ever knows when an accident or fall is coming, and even a small spill might end up causing harm. A good bike helmet should not only encase your child’s head in a hard yet lightweight protective layer but also contain some sort of foam or similar interior that absorbs jolts, shocks, and impacts resulting from falls. Boys and girls of all ages should wear a helmet at all times when riding a bike. If you’re in the market for a boy’s bike helmet, here are a few we recommend.

What to Look for in Boys’ Bike Helmets

Here are a few things to think about before buying a boy’s bike helmet:

  • Size: Buying a helmet in the correct size is the most important factor to consider when you’re shopping for a boy’s bike helmet. Any helmet your child wears should fit him snugly, sitting low on the forehead just above the eyebrows, with no movement. Unlike other products, a helmet isn’t something your child should “grow into” since an improperly sized helmet is still a safety risk. There are some sizes solely designed for infants, toddlers, younger kids, preteens, and teenagers, which can help narrow your search. Bike helmets will list their dimensions, so you can measure your child’s head and ensure you’re buying the proper size. Most boys’ bike helmets are adjustable to some degree, whether from removable sizing pads or some sort of ring or dial that helps ensure a snug, custom fit.
  • Design: There are plenty of color, pattern, and print options for boys’ bike helmets. Whether solid or multicolored, you shouldn’t have any issue finding one in your child’s favorite color or colors. There are basic designs like stripes, polka dots, tie-dye, flowers, flames, dinosaurs, stars, and more. Really young kids might like a helmet that showcases their favorite cartoon characters from TV shows or movies. If your little one is an animal lover, there are even helmets shaped and designed to resemble certain types of animals.
  • Features: You can find several useful features in boy’s bikes to ensure their rides are as safe and comfy as possible. Adjustable sizing is a useful tool to accommodate your child’s growing head and ensure a custom fit. You’ll definitely want to spring for a bike helmet with some sort of aeration vents to provide better airflow on hotter days. Some offer superior temperature control by allowing your child to open or close them at will. For extra safety, look for bike helmets that are a bit longer in the rear to better protect the back of the head. Adjustable side and chin straps ensure an even more precise and snug fit. A built-in sun brim or visor is a useful safety feature as well. They help cast a shadow and shield your child’s eyes from the sun so that it doesn’t hamper their vision as much, reducing their risk of crashing.

Top Choice: Mongoose Thrasher Youth Bike Helmet

bicycle helmet featuring a white winged skull pattern on a field of deep blue and turquoise

This bike helmet has just about any feature you could want to both protect your child’s head and ensure they’re comfortable when out biking. Sizing it to fit their head properly is easy on two fronts, from the adjustable dial at the back and the customizable side strap adjusters around their ears to help keep the helmet securely on their head. There are 20 airflow vents that help keep them from sweating, while the heat-sealed pads cushion their head and add to the helmet’s strength and durability. The sun visor at the front helps shield their eyes from the sun and other elements and can be removed or re-attached at any time. It’s designed for kids ages 8 to 14.

Top Choice

Mongoose Thrasher Youth Bike Helmet, Lightweight Microshell Design

A sleek and stylish boy's bike helmet that is both protective and comfortable.

Most Adjustable: Exclusky Adjustable Bike Helmet

round bright red bike helmet with a dangling chin strap

It’s no secret to parents that kids grow fast and thus grow out of their clothes and shoes extremely quickly. This bike helmet is a great choice for your growing child since it offers greater adjustability than most models. You won’t have to buy them a new bike helmet every year. The dial at the back can be adjusted between 19.68 and 22.44 inches with a twist of the dial, suitable for most children, preteens, and teenagers from ages 5 to 14. It’s less than half a pound, light enough not to weigh your child down while still strong enough to protect. The high-density EPS foam liner absorbs shocks and impacts from falls and crashes. This helmet extends lower down the back in order to better cradle and protect the back of your child’s head. The sun visor can be attached and re-attached as needed, while the 15 air vents along the top increase airflow to help with sweat and overheating. And with seven vibrant, mostly multicolored patterns to choose from, there’s sure to be a style that your child will love.

Best for Toddlers: Anharluka Toddler Bike Helmet

a bike helmet shaped like a cartoon dinosaur head with 3D spikes

Toddlers who love to ride tricycles or scooters or take a spin on your shuttle or tag-along bike should always have a bicycle helmet of their own for riding. This cute animal helmet is great for any number of outdoor activities and was designed for toddlers aged 3 and up. It’s made out of tough PC and EPS for strong protection and shock absorption for accidental falls or tumbles. There are 11 vents that allow air to flow freely in and out to keep your little one’s head cool and ensure they stay comfortable on hot days. And there are six different animal head shapes to choose from, so you can buy your child whichever one they’ll favor the most. The spikes, snouts, and fins on the various helmets are all three-dimensional, so your toddler will have a blast pretending they’re a real dinosaur, shark, bear, etc. It’s available in two sizes: small (for 19.6-to-21.3-inch heads) or medium (for 21.3-to-22.8-inch heads). The medium-sized helmets come with two sets of interchangeable pads for extra protection.

Best for Toddlers

Kids Toddler Dinosaur Bike Helmet, Adjustable and Multi-Sport for Child Boys and Girls, 2 Sizes (Green S)

An adorable bike helmet available in six different 3D animal heads that's made and designed specifically with toddlers in mind.

Best Design: Raskullz Mohawk Helmet

round black helmet with a pale red lightning bolt and gel-like spikes running from front to back

Lots of kids love clothes and accessories with fun graphics or prints. This boy’s bike helmet provides not only these features but actually lights up as well. It’s recommended for kids 5 to 8 years old, specifically any child whose head measures between 19.69 and 21.26 inches, it’s both CPSC and ASTM safety certified and available in 13 different multicolored designs. (Note that some colors are sized to be suitable for kids 3 and up, so be sure to double-check the sizing before you purchase.) The chin straps and buckle closure are adjustable to provide a better custom, secure fit for your child. Kids will love the lighting bolt print along both sides and the spike-style mohawk running from front to back. The mohawk also happens to light up, thanks to the five LED lights inside. Your child can decide if they want a steady light or flashing lights while they ride their bike around the neighborhood or to the park.

Best Design

Raskullz Bolt LED Bike Helmet , Black/Red, Child, 8046045

A safety-certified boy's bike helmet that features a lighting print and a 3D light-up mohawk your child will love.

Meghan Herlihy Meghan Herlihy
Meghan Herlihy is a full-time writer for LifeSavvy and How-To Geek and has written across a wide variety of topics, genres, and formats, including radio talk shows, local sports journalism, and creative original fiction. She received her bachelor's degree in communications from Ithaca College and a master's in writing from Johns Hopkins University. When she's not writing, you're most likely to find her reading a book, petting every dog within eyesight, and indulging in her love of travel. Read Full Bio »
LifeSavvy is focused on one thing: making your life outside of work even better. Want to know more?