Helmets have come a long way in a relatively short amount of time. If we look at the sport of motocross in the 1980s, it featured racers like Jo Jo Keller who would roll up to the start gate wearing an open-face brain bucket—eating roost like it was America’s favorite pastime. Thankfully, things are a bit different now with considerable research and development having gone into making helmets much safer. While this is especially important for a crash-prone sport like motocross, companies like Mips are making their tech ubiquitous for helmets of all different types.
Mips recently came out with a new technology called Integra Split, which aims to further reduce the chances of brain injury during a crash. Sticking with their ethos of leading the world to safer helmets, the brain-saving tech can also be found not only in bicycle helmets, but also snow helmets, motorsports (including MotoGP) helmets, horse riding helmets, climbing helmets, and construction/ industry helmets.
What Is MIPS Helmet Technology?
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The Multi-directional Impact Protection System (MIPS) is a helmet safety system that aims to reduce the rotational motion of your head during a crash. Fox Racing was the first to implement the new technology in its Proframe RS mountain bike helmet and all-new V3 RS motocross helmet—seen above.
Mips realized that most crashes rarely happen in a straight line; in the unfortunate event that your head strikes terra firma, your noggin is much more likely to strike at an angle—similar to how a tennis ball strikes the ground. Mips’ research team learned this rotational motion presents a much higher risk for brain damage compared to linear impacts.
Mips
Early variants of the system, which first arrived in the early 2010s (take Mips Essential Core for example) incorporated a low-friction layer beneath the padding of the helmet that allowed for some movement during a crash. The aim was to negate some of that rotational motion experienced in a get-off or direct impact. The essential lineup was then replaced by Mips’ Integra line of products, which focused much more on simplifying the integration of the technology in helmets.
Mips technology is much more widespread than you might be led to believe.
While safety is obviously still the focus of Mips’ latest Integra Split technology, there’s quite a lot more that goes into the helmet design process. The new Integra Split system aims to bring the same levels of protection without compromising comfort and ventilation.
How Does MIPS Work?
The first two variants of Mips incorporated a movable low-friction layer beneath the energy-absorbing layers. Integra Split incorporates the same low-friction layer, which now sits sandwiched between two energy-absorbing layers—allowing for 10-15mm of movement during a crash.
Looking at the video above you can see that the “split” design features two different sections that are connected to the helmet through “woofers”—which allow it to move. This means that these helmets can not only be made more comfortable but also more ventilated. Mips specifically notes that its low-friction layers can be tailor-made to fit the ventilation, shape, and other features of any given helmet style.
ON TWO WHEELS
While Mips has a working relationship with Fox Racing, the new Integra Split design allows for easier (and more seamless) integration in helmets. And this actually makes a lot of sense seeing that Mips doesn’t actually sell helmets—they merely just sell the safety systems that go inside. This means that Integra split helmets will be more comfortable and ventilated, all while providing the same level of protection as before.
What’s Next?
While Mips remains committed to steadily improving helmet safety, raising awareness is an equally important part of its mission. A major component of this involves pushing the boundaries of the existing helmet standards that are used worldwide. At current, the latest Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) 22.06 helmet ratings are the only in the world that evaluate the effects of angled impacts—these are what produce the rotational motion that Mips wants to prevent.
Mips believes that these ECE standards could include rotational motion within three to four years. You may have also heard of the DOT certification that’s used in the United States—which also doesn’t include tests for angled impacts. However, this shouldn’t be cause for concern as ECE-certified helmets can also be purchased in the United States.
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