Do you ride a bike but have a hard time getting your hair—or your ponytail—to fit your helmet? Well, don’t fret, because a vast selection of helmets exists that cater to those very purposes. Indeed, many women choose not to wear a helmet or ride a bike altogether because they don’t want to leave their hair in a tangled mess after. Also, they’ve been led to believe that ponytail compatible helmets are difficult to come by. But, really, those notions aren’t true. In fact, the truth is that many such helmets are available on the market today, and some of them are even really good, whether you’ve got a ponytail or not.
This is why we’ve rounded up the best ponytail-compatible bike helmets available on the market in this article. They are all great for long-haired riders who want extra scalp space to keep their locks free from the effects of helmet-induced disarray. Of course, some on this list are better than others, but every single one of them will get the job done.
So, without further ado, here are the best ponytail compatible bike helmets on the market today!
The Best Ponytail Compatible Helmets
Kask Protone Helmet
This helmet doesn’t just look great, it’s also got a good amount of space for a ponytail if you’ve got one. We’re not sure if it’s been specially designed for people with ponytails, but trust us, if you got one, then this could be the perfect helmet for you—it’s got more than enough space to accommodate a ponytail or two.
Also, one thing we particularly liked about the Kask Protone Helmet was that behind its conservative look—it looks like any bike helmet, after all—are a ton of technical innovations. I mean, you might not even believe us when we tell you what went into the design of this helmet, because a lot of high tech stuff was involved. This thing was tested in Jaguar’s wind tunnel, believe it or not, and it was said to have a remarkably low drag coefficient. If you’re not sure what that means, trust us: in a nutshell, it means it’s been designed to be awesome.
It’s got a lot of ventilation and is fitted with CoolMax pads, which will keep your head feeling cool and airy. The Octo-Fit adjustment system works great, too, and will fit any type of head. Indeed, unless one had a weird star-shaped head atop their shoulders, this helmet will fit just about anyone, no problem.
And before we forget to mention, it is extremely lightweight and is the best on this list in the lightweight department. Now, to be sure, it’s a bit pricey, but you can’t go wrong with the Kask Protone Helmet, especially if you need one for your ponytail!
Giro Synthe MIPS
Here’s another helmet with ample space to thread a ponytail through. Anyone with long hair will certainly appreciate the flexibility, and we can certify that this bike helmet is ponytail compatible.
Plus, the helmet is remarkably lightweight and airy, too, which makes the whole package comfortable and gives it an almost “not there” feeling. It has a Roc Loc Air fit system that works to lift the inner foam, keeping it from resting on the rider’s head and soaking up the sweat. This will, of course, stop your hair from being messed up and keep your head feeling cool at the same time.
We also really appreciate the range of adjustability on this helmet. Unless you had a weird, anvil-shaped skull, then you’ll be absolutely fine with this helmet, and will be able to find the right fit for your head with minimal adjustment.
The Giro brand is also well-known in the biking industry, so you can be sure that this one is a quality product. We’ve also been told that the design of this helmet had been tested in a wind tunnel, and its drag resistance is fantastic, which is what one could expect from a premium bike helmet.
Bell Z20 MIPS Bike Helmet
As far as premium helmets go, the Bell Z20 MIPS Bike Helmet is a great all-around performer. We’d rank this below the Giro Synthe and the Kask Protone, because, for one, it’s heavier. But don’t let that little detail discourage you from getting this helmet because trust us: it is still light for helmets at this price range. Also, as far as bike helmets that are ponytail compatible, this one is definitely among the more comfortable ones at this price range.
The design is definitely a looker, which we appreciate. And the Bell’s Float Fit Race retention system does a great job in terms of adjustment. A standard dial in the back can adjust the fit of the helmet to anyone’s size, but full disclaimer: one of our testers felt that the helmet was creating a small amount of pressure to his head, and this made it overall less comfortable than the Giro Synthe and the Kask Protone.
Bell uses what they call an X-Static liner on the inside of the helmet, which is supposed to dry sweaty heads and fight odor. After testing it, we think it does an OK job, but it will, nevertheless, soak up a sweat after prolonged use—something you might want to consider. The ventilation of the helmet, at least, is really good, and comparable to the Giro Synthe and Kask Protone.
Final Words
Finding a helmet that is both ponytails compatible and lightweight can be a challenge, but it’s definitely not impossible. In this blog post, we have highlighted three different helmets that fit the bill. All of them are made by reputable brands, so you can be sure that you’re getting a quality product. We’ve also included a few key features of each one to help make your decision easier. So, which one will you choose?
I read some tutorials on how to wear a bike helmet with a ponytail. I tried it on my daughter and it was quite helpful. First, the Ponytail Helmet comes with hairpin ports that can be matched with a ponytail. I prefer to choose a high ponytail bike helmet for this hairstyle.