In the world of sports, helmets that are fitted with MIPS are becoming increasingly more common. In the workplace too, we are seeing the first safety helmets equipped with MIPS.

But just what is MIPS? And why should your next helmet be a MIPS helmet? We are happy to explain so help you make the right choice when buying your next safety helmet.

Mips or “Multi-directional Impact Protection System”

MIPS is short for "Multi-directional Impact Protection System", a ground-breaking technology that helps diminish the risk of severe head injuries. The technology adds an extra layer between head and helmet, which leaves the helmet some leeway to move and turn in case the wearer hits their head. This helps to reduce the force of impact and the risk of traumatic brain injury.

How does MIPS work?

Inside a helmet fitted with Mips®, a so-called 'Low Friction Layer' is placed between the hard outer shell and the soft lining that is able to move independently.

When the helmet is subjected to an impact at a particular angle (as experienced by people in real life situations when hitting the ground after falling with their bike), the low friction layer sees to it that the helmet is able to move in relation to the head. This absorbs a large part of the rotational forces, which results in a reduced likelihood of brain damage.

Based on scientific research

In 1995, Swedish brain surgeon Hans von Holst of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm began investigating how the design of bicycle helmets could be improved upon, setting out from the finding that too many cyclists continued to sustain brain damage despite wearing a crash helmet at the time of their accident. Working in tandem with the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, he set out to find a technical solution to a medical problem.

To simulate the brain damage incurred in falls, he used a computer model based on the data obtained from nine accelerometers in a Hybrid III crash test with a dummy head.

The dummy was fitted with a helmet and then subjected to an impact at a certain angle in the MIPS testing machine. This illustration shows the difference in the amount of brain damage when using a MIPS bicycle helmet and when using a helmet without MIPS.

The first MIPS prototype was tested in 2000 at the University of Birmingham and, after years of scientific research, was eventually incorporated in numerous sports helmets that were launched on the market.

Brain damage is always a risk

Needless to say, regular safety helmets are also extensively tested, with all helmets in the Vandeputte range complying with applicable EU standards. But the test a helmet is required to pass in practice does not always reflect the kind of situations people working on the factory floor end up in. For instance, the standard helm test is based on a vertical fall onto a flat surface. This test is important to measure whether the helmet will stand up to a vertical impact, but says nothing about a scenario in which you bump your head with a sideways impact or where you hit the ground at a particular angle.

Which is why MIPS has been designed to not only withstand vertical impacts but to also provide added protection in case of falls at certain angles.

The main lesson to be drawn from this is that a brain injury can be sustained at any time and in any situation. Whether as a result of a fall (even same level falls), bumping into a fixed structure or catching a falling item.

Are there any specific tests or standards for Mips®?

The MIPS test protocols are geared to common practices for testing standards for measuring rotational accelerations and speeds that are generated by rotational movements.

Independent testing institutes such as Virginia Tech, FIM, Folksam and the ECE use a lot of these methods.

Alongside the tests which Mips® carried out itself, there are also independent testing institutes that have tested the Mips® technology. As such, in early 2021 the independent testing institute of Virginia Tech put over 100 helmets through their paces, only to find that 42 of the approximately 50 helmets that had received a five star rating (Virginia Tech’s highest safety rating) were helmets fitted with the Mips® system.

Are Mips® helmet equally (un)comfortable?

The low friction layer of Mips® is designed in such a way that it only gives rise to a minimal increase in weight and volume. Every Mips® layer is tailor-made to match the shape and ventilation holes of your favourite helmet. Which explains why the weight increase is confined to 25 to 45 grams, depending on the model.

As the Mips® layer is so well integrated into the helmet, the helmet retains its original shape and aspect.

How do I know if my helmet has Mips®?

You will recognise a helmet that has been fitted with MIPS by the small yellow logo that is applied around the back of the helmet shell. In a lot of helmets you can see the added layer. In other helmets, the layer is integrated into the comfort lining and consequently less visible. If in doubt, be sure to check the helmet’s packaging, which will confirm if it has a Mips® system.

Which brands use Mips®?

MIPS is the name of the added protective layer and is not specific to any particular helmet manufacturer.

Discover the helmets with Mips® technology

Want to find out more?

For further background information on MIPS, please check the official MIPS website.