Bike helmets: for safety's sake.

Some bike helmets are getting better and easier to adjust, thanks to technological improvements appearing at all price levels. But several other helmets failed our tests because the buckle broke--a recurring problem with bike helmets we've noticed for years.

Designs have a safety edge. Most adult helmets in our tests, and others costing as little as $30, now use m-mold technology, in which impact-absorbing foam is bonded to the outer shell. After a crash, it's easy to see whether the helmet is dented and thus needs replacing. That's not always the case with helmets whose shell is taped or glued to the foam. The shell typically bounces back after a crash, so a damaged liner can be hard to see.

Helmets are easier to use. Most helmets now have easily adjustable stabilizing straps to create a snug fit; many helmets for young riders also have buckles designed to avoid pinching the skin.

Several models failed our tests. All bike helmets sold in the U.S. must meet federal safety standards for impact and buckle-and-strap system strength. Yet in our tests, buckles broke in multiple samples of two adult helmets and one toddler helmet. With the toddler helmet, 4 of 12 samples failed. With one adult helmet, 3 of 12 samples failed; with another, 2 of 12 failed. Our test applied a force slightly less than the federal standard.

The above models are called out in the Ratings. We don't recommend buying them; if you already own one, consider replacing it with a highly rated helmet. Until you replace it, however, continue to wear it, since any helmet is better than nothing.

The buckles at issue are the TSK-63 by ITW Nexus and the Ergo-Lok by National Molding. We can't pinpoint the cause of the problems; other helmets that use those same buckles passed our tests.

HOW TO CHOOSE