Mountain biking is a whole lot of fun. It is one of the most exhilarating sports you can take up. However, it is an inherently dangerous sport with a distinct possibility of serious injuries. Whether you’re riding free ride, all-mountain, downhill or cross country, you should never leave the house without safety gears such as mountain bike helmets. In fact, putting on protective gear is the first step of mountain biking.
Helmets are the most essential and most traditional safety gear. You should never ride trails without one. It seems pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people ride trails without a helmet on.
Bike helmets are designed to do one thing – to provide much-needed protection in case of a crash or fall. They also protect you against a potentially fatal injury. This is why it is essential to wear one each time you ride the bike.
If you are thinking of replacing your mountain bike helmets, we suggest that you invest in the best one you can afford. We know that the prices of helmets are creeping up, but don’t skimp on the helmet. Spending a little extra on your helmet is worth the investment, knowing that this piece of equipment will protect you against serious head injuries and even death.
Here are some of the best mountain bike helmets of 2018.
Smith Forefront MIPS Mountain Bike Helmets

The Forefront is a full-coverage helmet that is ideal for racing or all-mountain riding. It is equipped with the latest safety features for increased coverage. This helmet has some unique features, which make it a standout helmet.
One of its unique features is the use of a material called Koroyd. It looks like a bunch of straws stacked together to create a honeycomb-like matrix. The idea behind this is to allow for extra ventilation and to save weight. At 340 g, this helmet is one of the lightest helmets on the market, making it ideal for longer rides. Its high level of comfort is its most endearing quality.
If you’re having trouble finding a helmet with a good fit, then this one is for you. Like the majority of high-end mountain bikes, the Forefront’s fit is adjusted with a small dial in the rear. Not everyone may find it appealing. But even if you don’t like how it looks, you’ll have to admit that they are quite comfortable to wear.
Giro Montaro MIPS Mountain Bike Helmets

The Montaro is one of the most popular trail helmets on the market. It features a ton of trail-friendly features and comes with a high level of protection. The MIPS system adds a little extra weight to the Montaro, but it is designed to reduce rotational forces in the event of an angled impact.
In addition to the helmet’s already impressive cooling power, it comes with an Air fit system that boosts ventilation while improving fit. It has 16 large vents to channel in air to cool you down. Plus, the POV Plus visor shields you away from the sun. Its compact shape offers in-depth, confident coverage. This helmet will inspire your rides no matter where the trail takes you.
POC Tectal MTB Helmet

The Tectal is well-ventilated, stylish, and provides ample coverage. It sits reassuringly low around the rider’s head. It provides protection on the base of the skull and around the temples.
With a very respectable weight of 340g, the Tectal is very light. It doesn’t come with a MIPS system, but it features a the Reco reflector system and Aramid fiber grid for protection. The Tectal is one of the better-ventilated helmets out there as air flow through it. There are five exhaust vents at the rear, three over the crown, and nine vents across the forehead. POC claims that it’s nearly as well ventilated as the Octal.
Scott Stego MIPS

As mentioned earlier, mountain biking is a dangerous sport. Today’s riders are in need of a durable helmet that will allow them to ride faster and harder while protecting their head’s most vulnerable areas. Aggressive riders are in need of a helmet that is up to the job. If you are one of them, then this one’s for you.
While some companies opt for bolder designs, Scott decided to keep it simple. It is simple without being garish. The Stego also comes with a visor to keep the glare off of your face while the multiple vents work to keep you cool. It also provides a generous amount of head protection without compromising other aspects like ventilation and breathability. Nothing combines protection, fit, and ventilation as well as this lid.
Troy Lee Designs A2 MIPS Helmet

The all-new A2 helmet for 2018 redefines comfort, style, ventilation, and safety. From afar, the difference between the A1 and the A2 may not be distinguishable. But after a close inspection, you will realize that it is a wholly evolved version of the A1. After all, it takes many design cues from the A1, but it addresses all of the shortcomings of its predecessors. It packs it into a better ventilated and lighter option for mountain bikers.
This full-featured helmet is the first one to combine EPP and EPS into one lustrous package. It is also one of the most popular and best fitting mountain bike helmets out there.