Lightest road cycling helmets 2025 — invest in a lightweight bike lid for comfort and sweat reduction

Kask's Protone Icon Helmet is a superb road helmet that's light, airy and comfortable with reviewer Shaun writing, "what I can say is that the Icon is the airiest and most comfortable helmet I've ever used, in 35 years of cycling. At 223g it's also possibly the lightest – I barely noticed it."

The Protone Icon is an evolution of the Protone helmet and like its predecessor, the shell uses seamless technology to join the upper and lower parts for a sleek aesthetic. Structurally, the Protone Icon employs what Kask calls an 'innovative inner strengthening frame', which theoretically affords greater mechanical strength and Kask has used its own in-house Kask WG11 test.

The Protone Icon is available in three sizes: S (50-56cm), M (52-58cm), and L (59-62cm) and it comes in a choice of no fewer than 10 colours, including matt and gloss effects.

The HJC Furion 2.0 Semi-Aero Helmet is, as the name suggests, a 'semi-aero' road helmet that has a degree of ventilation. Weighing in at 218g on the road.cc scales of truth, it's very light for an aero helmet, but if it's great ventilation you're after though, reviewer Ed says, "Unfortunately on the hottest days it's really only semi-ventilated too, but for more usual UK weather this a good, light and very comfy option". 

The Furion 2.0 features a Selfit securing mechanism which is an automatic self-adjusting fitting system so that once the helmet fit is set, it doesn't require further adjustment, even when your head is moving during a ride. Ed referred to this technology as "genius" saying that "it keeps the helmet constantly sat on your head correctly without any loose wobble, but also you don't feel like it is trying to tear your scalp off." 

The Met Trenta 3K Carbon Mips is an excellent lid. It's light, cool and comfortable, if not cheap... The Trenta 3K Carbon is Met's top-of-the-range lid and it's this particular model that was worn by Team UAE Emirates and Tadej Pogacar at this year's Tour de France, balancing aerodynamics for the flat stages and ventilation on the hilly stages.

Aesthetically it's very similar to the previous model but it has been updated with rotational protection. It's impressive that Met has achieved the addition of Mips without making the helmet noticeably heavier weighing in at 223g - 3g heavier than previously. 

This new version appears to sacrifice none of this ventilation by using the airiest and lightest Mips Air Node system and Met has also minimised the amount of the head that'll be in contact with the helmet to help with keeping you cooler as you ride. Only 30 per cent will be in contact apparently, which, according to Met, allows the other 70 per cent to benefit from the optimised airflow passing through the internal cavity.

Poc's Omne Lite is an evolution of the Omne helmet, made lighter and with added airflow and the Omne variations are Poc's least expensive helmets. 

The lid is based around a lightweight EPS liner, with a minimal polycarbonate shell to provide structural strength while keeping the weight as low as possible, all conforming to EN, CPSC, AS/NZS certifications, though it does not have Mips.

Poc says it's optimised ventilation and airflow by adding extra exhaust vents at the back of the helmet. In total, there are 12 ventilation holes opening up to the five channels that run on the inside in the EPS liner. The combination of the holes and channels works really well; the ventilation is top notch on this helmet.

The Trek Velocis Mips helmet is excellent, impressively light at 235g, with good ventilation and a very comfortable Mips system. It comes with striking looks too and reviewer George thinks that the front of this helmet is reminiscent of a Ferrari 458. 

Trek's tagline for the Velocis Mips helmet is 'Cool is fast', because this helmet is designed for both aerodynamics and ventilation. While we can't test the fast claims, the 'cool' element is impressive. Trek has used computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling and windtunnel testing to optimise airflow for the helmet, which seems to have done wonders.

The helmet tightens with a 360-degree Boa system and tester George said, "having used a lot of high-end helmets over the years I would say this is the most comfortable, both in terms of ventilation and fit". 

The Abus AirBreaker is an excellent cycling helmet that provides loads of ventilation in a lightweight and low profile package. The AirBreaker's venting is its best feature. It's an in-mould design (meaning that the outer shell is permanently connected to the expanded polystyrene inner) with what Abus calls ActiCage structural reinforcement – essentially a plastic framework within the EPS, the idea being that you can have big vents without the helmet's safety being compromised. Many other brands do something similar.

The AirBreaker's overall shape is the same as that of Abus's GameChanger aero lid. Aero helmets tend to be heavier than most others and ventilation is usually compromised, hence the introduction of the AirBreaker. Our medium sized test model hit the scales at just 214g and it has a similar level of ventilation to the Abus Aventor.