Woom Ready Helmet Review

It is unusual to find a kids helmet that’s thoughtful. Most kids helmets are ill-fitting, cheaply-designed, overly-cutesy lids that will certainly end up in the landfill in the not too distant future.

That’s why we love the Woom Ready kids’ bike helmet. Here’s a helmet that is not only safe, it’s cute without being ridiculous, fits well, and has plenty of ventilation. Every last detail has been considered, including the adjustment-free side straps, integrated visor, and optional light for visibility.

Over the last decade, we’ve tested all four iterations of Woom helmets, and the Ready is the best yet! To see how it stacks up with the competition, check out our list of the best kids bike helmets. If your kiddo is on the younger side, you might prefer our list of the best toddler helmets.

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Review in a Nutshell

Pros:

• Reflective decals and optional light provide visibility
• Magnetic buckle is easy to operate and pinch free
• Integrated visor protects little faces and won’t snap off
• Dial system provides an excellent fit
• Plenty of ventilation

Cons:

• Lacks MIPS technology

Price: $79 (without light) / $99 (with light)

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Safety

Before we get into all the fabulous extras, let’s focus first on what’s most important in a helmet: safety. All bicycle helmets sold in the U.S. have the CPSC certification, which means they meet all basic safety requirements as determined by the U.S. government.  The Woom helmet has this certification, so you can rest easy that it should do its job.

Of course, a helmet can only live up to this safety standard if it is worn and fitted correctly. If the helmet is slipping from side to side, or front to back, there is an issue. This is a problem we’ve run into with our son (and see constantly on other kids).

Complicating this problem is the fact that once a kid has a helmet on their head, it is nearly impossible to wrangle them down and spend the necessary time making adjustments to straps.  Fortunately, the Woom helmet fits well (and stays in place) with very little fuss. We’ll go into this in more detail in a moment, but for now, just know that this is an important safety box that the Woom helmet manages to check.

The helmet also has more rear of the head coverage than most traditional designs. This is a good thing–the more of the skull is covered, the more of the skull that is protected.  Kids, in particular, tend to have non-traditional crash patterns (“watch this ma!”), which means that the more of the head you can protect, the better.

The Woom helmet offers superior head coverage compared to other helmets

Another safety feature that we appreciate are the reflective “Woom” decals on the helmet. We’ve tested the helmet in low-light conditions and it does a surprisingly good job of reflecting light.

You can take the visibility a step further by adding the optional light. It easily slips into one of the rear vent holes, and it is bright! If you ever ride in low-light conditions, I’d say this is well worth the additional $20 cost! I was afraid my son might think this was a little dorky, but he actually loved it.

In terms of safety, the only thing that the Woom helmet is missing is MIPS technology. (If you’re not sure what that is, read this article on MIPS in kids helmets).

The jury is still out on how effective MIPS actually is, and many people believe MIPS is nothing more than a marketing ploy, so this may have been a calculated decision by Woom to leave it out of their design.  Nonetheless, if MIPS will help you sleep better at night, then you may want to look for a different helmet.

Fit and Adjustment

As mentioned earlier, the Woom helmet fits well. The initial adjustment and fitting of the helmet is easy and the straps stay tight even with extended use.  (Kids constantly pull and yank on their helmets which tends to loosen straps).

The side straps that come down around the ears are fixed in place and require no adjustment.  They are also virtually twist-proof.  The chin strap does require some initial adjustment but is easy to do. Finally, the helmet cinches down via a rear fit-dial that is easy enough to use that my son (accustomed to testing helmets) tightened it on his own.

Dummy-proof side straps, chin strap, and large rear fit dial

Magnetic Buckle

We were first introduced to the magnetic buckle when testing the Melon helmets and have been converts ever since. Magnetic buckles are easy for kids to buckle on their own, and help avoid the dreaded chin pinch. As far as I’m concerned, magnetic buckles should be the standard on all kids bike helmets.

The design of the one on the Woom Ready is a little different than others we’ve tested. While it basically just snaps into place when buckling (and is easy for kids to operate on their own), to unbuckle, you have to push a red button and then pull apart. This makes it trickier for young kids to do on their own–which could be a pro or a con depending on your child.

Ventilation

The Woom helmet has excellent ventilation, especially when compared to other skate-style helmets. There are 15 vents and 3 air channels to promote airflow. My son has been able to ride hard, without getting overly hot or sweaty.

That said, if you were familiar with the older versions of the Woom helmets, the air channels on the Ready are smaller and less numerous. The old Woom helmet had four rows (and 24 vents), while the new one only has three rows of vents.

The older helmes also had a mesh-type cover over the front vents to keep bees or other bugs from flying in. Yes, that really happens, and no it is not a good thing.

This is the only change to the helmet where I prefer the old version more.

The Woom Ready (right) has less ventilation than older models and no mesh over the front vents.

Visor

I personally really like visors on kids helmets. They provide a little bit of shade for your little one’s face and help protect their developing eyes from the sun.

The Woom visor not only offers that protection, but thanks to its soft and integrated construction, also offers a rubber bumper, if you will. In the event that your child crashes on their face, the visor should help offer at least some buffer between it and the pavement.

Because the visor is integrated (rather than a separate piece like many helmets), you also don’t risk the visor snapping or breaking off–which is a fairly common occurrence with kids. On the flip side, this design means that the visor is not adjustable.

Rubber visor provides both sun protection and crash protection 

Color and Design

The Woom helmets are designed to accessorize their equally fabulous kids’ bikes. We appreciate the bright colors that are attractive and fun without being overly cutesy. I do miss, however, that the helmet colors no longer exactly match the bikes like they used to.

The unusual shape of the helmet is attractive and certainly turns heads. It doesn’t look like every other helmet out there. (Of course, this could be a drawback too if your child wants a helmet that matches dad’s…..)

Sizing

The helmet comes in three sizes: XS, S, and M. 

For this review, we had three testers. An almost 3-year old in the XS, and both a 6 and 12-year-old in the size M helmet.  The fact that two kids, six years apart got a good fit with the same helmet is a good reminder that you should measure your child’s head rather than relying on their age or guessing on a size.

For tips on measuring your child’s head, read this article, and then compare their head circumference to the sizes below. The sizes are unchanged compared to previous versions of the Woom helmet.

KIDS’ Helmet	XS	S	M
US	18.2-19.6 in	19.7-20.8 in	20.9-22 in
EU	46-50 cm	50-53 cm	53-57 cm

Bottom-Line

If you are already buying a Woom bike for your child (or grandchild), buying a Woom helmet to go with is a no-brainer. The Woom helmet is adorable and lives up to the thoughtful design you would expect from a company like Woom.

Even if your kiddo already has a different bike, I would still recommend the Woom helmet. It stands head-and-shoulders above most kids’ bike helmets on the market thanks to its excellent fit and comfort.

Learn More About Kids Helmets

• 9 Best Kids Bike Helmets & How To Choose!
• How to Fit a Kids Bike Helmet
• Bicycle Helmet Laws For Kids Listed By State

About The Reviewers