1Rank 01 of 10 · Bike Helmets
Specialized Align II
A €55 Mips helmet that holds five Virginia Tech stars and a Folksam 'Bra val' award from 2021. Specialized publishes neither the weight nor the European standard on its product page.
8.7BPR score
- €55Price
- 9.55 — 5 stars (Virginia Tech, rank 40 of 311)Virginia Tech STAR score and stars
- 1 of 10in Bike Helmets
- 8.7BPR score 0–10
Review
What this product is
Written after the analysis, from the same sources the score is built on: the manufacturer's documentation, available studies and verified owner feedback.
The Align II is the cheapest helmet in this ranking and one of the best documented by outsiders. Virginia Tech lists it at a STAR score of 9.55 with five stars, and Folksam gave the Align II MIPS grade 4 and its 'Bra val' label in the 2021 adult test. Two independent laboratories with different methods reaching a similar conclusion is rare at this price.
What is missing comes from Specialized itself. The Irish product page we opened shows €55, three sizes (S/M, M/L, XL), a Headset SX dial and reflective decals, but no weight and no reference to EN 1078; the only standard named is the US CPSC one. Folksam weighed its sample at 275 g. Owners on specialized.com rate it 4.8 out of 5 across 396 reviews, with repeated complaints about strap adjustment at the ear and the lack of spare pads.
It suits commuters and new riders who want independently tested protection scores without paying road-race prices. It is not light, has no integrated light, and the shape does not suit every head: try it on first.
Technical data
Specification
Figures from the manufacturer's documentation, verified against available outside sources. Values we could not confirm are marked as declared.
- Virginia Tech STAR score
- 9.55
- Virginia Tech stars
- 5 of 5
- Virginia Tech rank
- 40 of 311
- Folksam grade
- 4 – Bra val (2021, Align II MIPS)
- Rotational system
- Mips
- Weight (manufacturer)
- Not published
- Weight (Folksam sample)
- 275 g
- Sizes
- S/M, M/L, XL
- Fit system
- Headset SX dial
- Integrated light
- No (reflective decals)
- Standards named on product page
- CPSC only (US/Canada); EN 1078 not stated
- Owner rating
- 4.8/5 (396 reviews, specialized.com)
Component scores
Where the score
comes from.
Four components, equal weight, each on a 0–10 scale and each resting on a named source. The overall score is their mean — the full procedure is in the methodology.
What we liked
- Virginia Tech STAR score 9.55, five stars
- Folksam grade 4 'Bra val' in the 2021 adult test
- €55 on specialized.com (Ireland)
- 4.8/5 from 396 owner reviews on specialized.com
- Mips liner and dial fit system in three sizes
Worth knowing
- Weight not published by Specialized (Folksam measured 275 g)
- EN 1078 not stated on the product page
- Owners report awkward strap adjustment and no spare pads
- No integrated light
Comparison
How it compares
within the category
All values come from the same analysis and are comparable only within the category Bike Helmets.
| Product | Score | Virginia Tech STAR score and stars | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Align IIThis product · top score | 8.7 | 9.55 — 5 stars (Virginia Tech, rank 40 of 311) | €55 |
| ModeRunner-up | 8.1 | 8.80 — 5 stars (Virginia Tech, rank 23 of 311) | €75 |
| Category average10 products analysed | 7.5 | — | — |
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is the Align II rated by Virginia Tech?
Yes. On the list we opened in October 2026 the Specialized Align II has a STAR score of 9.55 and five stars, rank 40 of 311 bicycle helmets.
How much does the Align II weigh?
Specialized does not publish a weight on the product page we opened. Folksam measured 275 g for the Align II MIPS sample in its 2021 test.
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The same protocol, the same key parameter, the same set of sources.
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