Best Mid Priced Road Bike Helmet

The Bell Stratus MIPS road bike helmet is Bell’s second-tier offering, behind the premium Z20 MIPS. If you like what the Z20 has to offer but can’t justify the price, then look no further than the Bell Stratus. The Stratus offers nearly all of the same features as the Z20, although without some of the fit and finish, in a lighter, cheaper package.

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See Our The Best Road Bike Helmets of 2021: Cycling Helmet Review!

Comfort, Fit, and Adjustability

While the adjustability of the Bell Stratus MIPS falls behind premium offerings like the Bell Z20 and Giro Synthe, it is not far behind. The Bell Stratus MIPS employs Bell’s Float Fit retention system, which is similar to the Float Fit Race found on the Bell Z20, but without a few of the features.

The Float Fit system handles the retention adjustments, while there is a sliding flip just above it to adjust the vertical position of the helmet, which helps dial in that just right fit. However, this is a bit more cumbersome than the same process on the Bell Z20. Meanwhile, the Stratus features the same “No-Twist Tri-Glides” as the Bell Z20. Coupled with the easily adjustable Y shaped ear straps these make getting the fit of the straps dialed in a breeze.

Inside the helmet, there is no X-Static liner, but the liner employed is thick and does its job well. The liner also culminates with a sweat guide in the front of the helmet, which works just like the one on the more expensive Bell helmets that we have reviewed.

Weight

Weighing in at 296g, the Bell Stratus is about 20g lighter than the more expensive Bell Z20. If you are looking to save both weight and money, then the Bell Stratus MIPS road bike helmet is one of the rare chances to do just that. Part of this comes from the single polycarbonate shell, rather than the dual laminate in molded shell of the Z20. While we tend to be more safety conscious than weight conscious, this change is a large part of the reason that the Bell Stratus can be both cheaper and lighter than the Z20.

Ventilation

With 18 vents, the Bell Stratus is shaped very similarly to the Z20, and it features very similar ventilating capabilities. If there is a drawback however, it is that the Float Fit system employed by the Bell Stratus might not be quite as cool as the Float Fit Race of the Bell Z20. However, we are really grasping at straws here, as the two helmets ventilate very similarly. Like the Giro Synthe, the Bell Stratus MIPS’ vents do a good job of working together to draw air in through the overbrow vents, channel it across your head, and release it through the exhaust ports in the back.

Safety Tech and Additional Features

The Bell Stratus MIPS uses a standard MIPS insert to guard against rotational impacts, and uses in molding to bond the polycarbonate outer shell to the EPS foam molded inner. However, gone is the progressive layering and dual laminate polycarbonate shell of the Bell Z20 MIPS.

Aerodynamics

Like the Bell Z20 MIPS, the Stratus is aimed more at those who are looking for comfort and ventilation than aerodynamics. However, it is a sleek and low profile helmet and should be about as aerodynamic as most well-ventilated road bike helmets.

The Bottom Line

Overall, the Bell Stratus MIPS helmet is a mid-priced road bike helmet that offers almost all of the features of its premium counterparts. While the Giro Synthe and Bell Z20 might do everything the Stratus does a bit better, the Stratus does almost everything that they do a bit cheaper. And when you consider the fact that the Bell Stratus, which retails for $149.95 can be found on sale as low as $90, you would be hard pressed to find a road bike helmet that offers a better bang for your buck.

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