Kids Bike Helmet Buying Guide
Answer the following questions and/or think through the points. This will help with the correct bike helmet choice.
Supporting you to get the right solutions so you can smile when you ride
Helmet Size
It is essential you buy the correct sized helmet. You MUST NOT buy a helmet for your kid to grow into. Find the correct size to buy by using goRide’s How to Size & Fit a Kids Bike Helmet. You will need a flexible measuring tape or a piece of string and a ruler.
Helmet Adjustment
How does the helmet adjust? As a general rule traditional bike helmets are adjusted by its adjustable straps, and an adjustable occipital dial or slide compared to street style helmets that use additional foam pads and a chin strap. It is essential that the adjustment system of the helmet is good enough and used well so you get the right fit so the helmet will stay on and over your child’s head in an impact.
LEARN MORE: How to Size and Fit a Kids Bike Helmet
Helmet Shape
All bike helmets sold in New Zealand need to meet a minimum safety standard. To get maximum protection for your child’s head we suggest a helmet shaped like your head – that is round and smooth. No protrusions. Being round and smooth it allows the helmet to slide better along a surface, reducing the peak forces with sudden stopping. An outcome that reduces the risk of a head injury. A rounded shaped helmet is important for comfort if the child’s head will be leaning against a surface like the back of a kids bike seat – you definitely want to avoid an elongated styled helmet in this situation. The shape of the helmet needs to provide good coverage of the head. Coverage from above the eyebrows to right down low at the back of the head (where the head meets the neck).
Weight
Putting a bike helmet on your child’s head adds weight to their head. Therefore they will need the strength to support their head and the helmet. This is of particular importance if you are buying for young kids. You want a lightweight helmet. The Right Kids Bike Helmet.
Colour and Graphics
Bright coloured helmets and graphics can offer improved visibility. If your kids love their helmets it will help with the challenge of getting them to wear it and look after it.
Materials
Different brands use different materials and construction methods. For a detailed overview of what this means read our story Essential Guide to Bike Helmets – Components & How They Work. This will help you understand things like…how the shell is attached, what the foam is
Ventilation
The interior foam of a kids bike helmet is an insulator so ventilation holes are important for temperature control. Kids often struggle with temperature control. A good temperature makes for a more comfortable experience. Ventilation becomes more important as the kids are not just the passenger but are now the riders.
A Helmet that matches the type of riding your child does
Understand what type pf biking your child is likely to be involved in. Matching you helmet to the type of riding will ensure you have the level of safety required for that type of riding.
- If your child needs a helmet for multi-use eg. skiing and biking then consider a multi-sport helmet.
- Are they beginning to ride on the trails, regularly, being more dynamic on the trails, having a go at jumps etc? Then you may need to consider a helmet with higher specification like our youth mountain bike helmet.
- Being visible in traffic is important if they do a lot of on road riding – biking to school or activities. The addition of a rear vent light is a great way to keep them safe
Read through Bike Helmets for Kids – What are the options? Also see The right kids bike helmet and have a look at the Mountain Bike Helmet Buying Guide
goRides Kids Bike Helmets Solutions
Toddler Helmet Solution
Helmet
Protection/Features
Types of Riding
Size Range
Cost
$79.00
SHOP
Kids Recreation Helmet
Helmet
Protection/Features
Types of Riding
Size Range
Cost
$94.95
SHOP
Kids/Youth Mountain Bike Helmet/Best All round helmet
Helmet
Protection/Features
Types of Riding
Size Range
Cost
$139.00
SHOP
Kids/Youth Traffic Riding Helmet
Helmet
Protection/Features
Types of Riding
Size Range
Cost
$00.00
SHOP
A kids head grows and changes. Each child will have different rates of growth and times when they are growing. Please be aware that most of your head growth is done by the time you reach 6yrs old (this is an average head growth, you or your child may be different). After this age your head will change shape allowing for maturity of your face. What this means for helmet buying is that children as young as 6yrs old can fit into adult size helmets. “Youth” helmets tend to be an adults size small in kids graphics or colours.
For other types of riding (town, recreation, road) see the BIKE HELMET BUYING GUIDE
For Mountain Bike Helmet options see the specific MOUNTAIN BIKE HELMET BUYING GUIDE
MAKE YOUR PURCHASE A SUCCESS…
Adjust to the head for a SNUG Fit.
get Safe – when you first purchase your helmet you need to invest some time to make the necessary adjustments to make the helmet fit snugly to the head. Then you need to do a pre-ride check- that is a quick helmet check before you goRide.
LEARN MORE: How are you wearing your helmet
Caring for your helmet
Role model good habits with your helmet, how do kids learn…by watching you. Wear your helmet every time you ride a bike, don’t drop it or throw it, store it in a safe place, hang it by the chin strap not through the V-straps (otherwise you will be forever adjusting it)
LEARN MORE: caring for your helmet.
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Helmet Fit
To find the natural crease line of your waist, stand straight with hands at the side. Then bend sideways running the hand down the outside surface of the leg. This movement will produce a crease at the waist so place your measuring tape on this crease. Return to standing straight and place the tape measure around your waist at your crease point (usually the narrowest part of your torso).
Firstly you will need to find the point 2cm above the top of their knee cap.
To find your inside leg measurement stand with heels against a wall. Place a book between your legs as high up as it will go. Move away from the wall keeping the book against it. Place a tape measure at the top end of the book and let it drop to the floor.
To find the natural crease line of your waist, stand straight with hands at the side. Then bend sideways running the hand down the outside surface of the leg. This movement will produce a crease at the waist so place your measuring tape on this crease. Return to standing straight and place the tape measure around your waist at your crease point (usually the narrowest part of your torso).
