MIPS Helmet Tech: What It Is, and Why You Need It

By Cameron Vanderhorst - January 9, 2020

MIPS technology is one more way to protect your noggin while navigating the concrete jungle.

Last month, in our 2019 Men’s Holiday Gear Guide, we put one of Bell’s new MIPS helmets front and center. In that article, we promised to explain in greater detail what MIPS is, how it works, and why you need it.

The technology may be new to the world of motorcycling, but it’s been around for quite a while. Bicyclists and skiiers have had access to the tech for a few years now.

“MIPS” stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It’s a fancy name to explain a very clever piece of technology, the “slip plane” concept.

So how does it work? The inside of a MIPS helmet has two layers that rotate against each other. This helps to deflect the sort of impacts that we face when our heads bounce off of the pavement in collisions.

The most interesting part of the technology is that it’s basically an upgraded, optimized version of our body’s natural defense systems. You see, the cerebrospinal fluid between the various layers of membrane surrounding our brain and spine do the same thing.

That “born-in” human technology works well enough at walking speeds, but on a motorcycle, it’s little match for concrete and asphalt. Using the same principle, a MIPS helmet can deflect much bigger impacts, working in concert with our brain’s natural protective system.

Basically, the slip plane can deflect more of the rotational crash energy than a normal helmet. Preventing those forces from reaching your brain can have a profound effect on reducing both minor and traumatic brain injuries.

Until now, most helmet development has been focused on protecting the rider from linear impacts. As research has shown, rotational impacts — the type of impacts MIPS is designed to protect against — play a much bigger role than helmet designers initially realized.

A new helmet is an expensive purchase any way you look at it. If you’re wondering if MIPS helmets cost more, the answer is, generally, yes.

However, that doesn’t mean you have to break the bank to be safer. MIPS helmets can be had for well under $300. Expect that price to drop as the technology becomes more widespread.

The next time you shop for a helmet, consider a MIPS-equipped unit. If you’re lucky, your brain will never have to thank you for it later.

Photos: RevZilla