Mountain biking, as a sport, demands a high level of performance from all of the rider’s individual gear, including helmets. MTB helmets need to be imparted with certain properties that set them apart from other kinds of helmets. Among these, the most important ones have more head coverage at the back and sides. They also have a lower number of vents to prevent snagging and an adequate visor/peak to protect the eyes. This makes MTB helmets pretty costly. However, we understand that not everyone can afford to spend upwards of a hundred bucks on a helmet alone. Therefore, we have decided to prepare a list of the best helmets that are suitable for mountain biking and that are less than $50.

Cheap helmets are not always recommended for any type of off-road cycling. But after carrying out exhaustive research for prolonged hours, we have been able to identify the best helmets under $50 with decent quality that will get the job done for you. It will surely be a difficult task for you to browse through the enormous amount of options and determine which are the best choices for you. This is why in this article, we have included detailed reviews for each helmet and a table comparing all the products. Additionally, you will find a useful buying guide where we have discussed the factors that you should consider while purchasing an MTB helmet.

Every helmet that we have selected in this list is an excellent choice at the price of $50. Despite that, out of all the products, we have concluded that the PHZ. Adult Bike Helmet stands out with the best value for the money. Therefore, it has been entitled as our ‘Overall Best Choice’. However, don’t forget to check out the other helmets as well.

A quick view of our selected best mountain bike (MTB) helmets under $50:

10 best mountain bike helmets you can buy under $50

Check out the comparison table below to get an overview of our selection of products. We have also done a detailed breakdown of each helmet. Keep reading for the full reviews.

1. PHZ Adult Bike Helmet: Multipurpose Helmet with Rechargeable USB Light and 3-Way Dial | Overall Best Choice

The PHZ Adult Bike Helmet is a versatile helmet that can be used for almost all types of cycling. The adoption of specialized aerodynamic design and substantial ventilation allows you to increase speed while staying cool. This helmet is lighter than a lot of other helmets and complies with international helmet safety standards. Even though the name has ‘Adult’ in it, this helmet is suitable for people with a wide range of head sizes including youths.

Unlike other helmets, the dial on the back is an upgraded 3-way regulator with up and down adjustment function for better fitting. The LED backlight has 3-modes and it can be fully charged in 40 minutes. Because of having 3-4 hours of battery life, the backlight can provide extra nighttime visibility. However, the light itself is not too bright and is lacking in terms of quality.

PHZ Adult Bike Helmet

2. Kingbike Ultralight Bike Helmet: Ultralight Helmet for Cycling with a Portable Backpack

The Kingbike Ultralight Bike Helmet does indeed live up to its name. It weighs only 222 grams, making it barely noticeable on your head. Combined with plenty of ventilation, you get a very comfortable helmet. The portable pouch bag that comes with it allows for easy carry of the helmet. There is also a detachable visor included.

There is an integrated rear LED light with 3 modes that work alright and are bright enough. However, the battery is not rechargeable, and accessing it for replacement is quite a task. This helmet is CPSC and CE.EN1078 certified. It can be used for road and mountain biking.

Kingbike Ultralight Bike Helmet

3. Atphfety Mountain Bike Helmet: Multipurpose Helmet with a Built-in Camera Mount

The Atphfety Mountain Bike Helmet features a built-in mount on the upper surface mainly for the purpose of attaching an action camera, allowing you to record your cycling adventures with free hands. You can also choose to attach a mountable light instead of those who enjoy riding at night. This helmet is suitable for almost all types of cycling such as a mountain, XC, road, enduro, etc. Men, women and even youths can use this helmet because it has a dial adjustable retention system as well as many colors to choose from.

It has a lightweight design with 15 air-flow vents to keep you cool and soft inner pads for comfort. However, safety is not compromised as it is durable and CE certified. The large sun visor will keep the glare and rain out of your eyes. Moreover, if you want you can detach it by removing two breakaway screws on either side of the visor. The helmet also has an inner mesh that acts as a net to stop insects.

Atphfety Mountain Bike Helmet

4. JBM Adult Cycling Helmet: Adjustable Helmet Available in Multiple Colors

The JBM Adult Cycling Helmet is a good choice for you if you are on a budget. It is one of the cheapest helmets out there. You can use it for recreational and commuting purposes, but also for road and mountain biking. It uses a tough and durable PVC and PC shell with EPS foam and is CPSC certified. The adjustable dial system and multiple choices for colors make it a unisex helmet.

This helmet comes with a detachable visor that can be easily snapped on or off to shade your eyes from the sun. There are plenty of vents to allow airflow and it has an aerodynamic design allowing you to increase speed. Due to the low price, the side and chin straps have rather low quality and need to be adjusted frequently.

JBM Adult Cycling Helmet

5. Tommaso Ombra Cycling Helmet: Ultralight and Comfortable Cycling Helmet

The Tommaso Ombra is a versatile helmet that can be used for many purposes including mountain biking. It is designed to be extremely lightweight by using premium in-mold micro shell technology, which is attached to EPS foam. This also makes it tough and durable at the same time. With a lightweight design,20 airflow vents and an adjustable dial system; the Ombra is an incredibly comfortable helmet. Additionally, a visor is included to shield the eyes and can be taken off easily if you need it.

Tommaso, a US-based company; manufactures its own products and directly sells them to its customers. This allows their products to have lower prices while maintaining great quality. This makes the helmet an excellent choice if you are looking for a high-quality helmet with a bargain price. This helmet meets both CPSC and CE safety standards.

Tommaso Ombra Cycling Helmet

6. GoMax Aero Bike Helmet: Multipurpose Lightweight Helmet with a LED Taillight

The GoMax Aero is a lightweight road or mountain bike helmet that can also be used by casual riders due to its low price. It is tough while weighing only 250 grams because it is manufactured using advanced in-mold technology with PC shell and EPS foam. This helmet comes in three sizes and the rear dial used for adjusting the size makes it available to users of all age ranges. A removable visor is included for shade during sunny days.

A rear LED light is integrated with the dial system, providing additional safety in low light conditions, which is a bonus. It has 3 flashing modes. On the downside, the battery is not rechargeable and needs to be replaced from time to time. Also, be careful while turning the dial as the light itself might come loose. However, this helmet is compliant with CE safety standards. It is comfortable, very well ventilated and has moisture-wicking pads to keep you feeling dry and fresh.

GoMax Aero Bike Helmet

7. Lixada Mountain Bike Helmet: Specialized Helmet built for Mountain Bikers

The Lixada Mountain Bike Helmet is designed specifically for mountain biking and trail cycling. It is made of an in-mold PC shell with EPS liner and has inner padding that absorbs shock and extra sweat at the same time. There is more head coverage for better protection since accidents are more likely during mountain biking. The 13 air-flow vents work surprisingly well. There is even a soft chin guard that is removable.

There have been some complaints that the helmet is more round-shaped and may not fit more oblong heads. So, take that into account. Although the visor is not removable, it is uniquely adjustable with two different settings and is quite large to offer your eyes with the protection from rain, sun and low-hanging branches. Therefore, the Lixada helmet may not be perfect for road biking but is a superb choice for mountain bikers due to the specialized design. This helmet is CE.EN1078 certified.

Lixada Mountain Bike Helmet

8. Mokfire Adult Bike Helmet: Multipurpose Helmet with USB Safety Light, Portable Bag, and 2 Inner Foam Linings Included