adele87

Anyone use MIPS Helmets (Multi-directional impact protection system)? Some reports do say they're a little safer. https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2018/06/ictas-bikehelmetratings.html

I have a MIPS white helmet from Cannondale.

MoAlpha

What that report says is that they perform better in bench tests, which someone thinks model events, which lots of people, in turn, think probably have something causative to do with the mechanism of concussion. The theory is plausible enough, but for me, as a neurologist involved with research on TBI among other things, there's enough uncertainty in that chain of inference that I am not going to trade in my non-MIPS helmet at this time.

wphamilton

I'm not inclined to go out of my way for MIPS either, but (as a data scientist) more because the reduction of risk is going to be insufficient in absolute terms. I'd go with the neurologist on this but I think it probably does (or could) help to some degree, because it's more solid that rotational forces can cause concussions and less solid that MIPS actually mitigates it.

MoAlpha

As a neuroscientist, I listen carefully to data scientists.

indyfabz

Is there a downside to getting one, other than having to dust off your wallet?

MoAlpha

Can't think of one and if I were shopping for a new helmet, it would certainly be a consideration.

adele87

I wasn't implying you should trash your nonMIPS helmet. Simply wanting to know if others used it and what they thought. It' fairly new.

HOWEVER I got one and in the past I went cheap on helmets (Like Target cheap). Bike store helmets seem to offer a better fit (sizes vs 1 size fits all) which I assume offers more protection in and of itself. MIPS or not.

OBoile

I have one... but it wasn't a significant factor in my choice of helmet, more like a small, nice bonus.

johnny99

Personally, I think this test included so few different models of helmets that I do not think the data can be meaningfully extrapolated to make conclusions about other helmet models that were not tested. If you're in the market for a new helmet, then looking at the top rated helmets from this study may be worth your time, but I still think that a good fit is more important than test results. Since so few helmets were tested, some people will not be able to get a good fit from any of their top rated helmets.

livedarklions

My first rule of helmet is that I shouldn't spend so much on a helmet that I get reluctant to dump it if it gets dinged. I like to have two helmets on hand just so I don't get tempted to try to stretch the use of one I should discard, and I just ordered a $45 helmet with MIPS. Depending on how it fits, it will either become my new primary helmet, my back-up helmet, or get returned.

Second rule, BTW is that it has to fit snugly but comfortably.

Loving the data scientist/neurologist conversation, BTW. Thanks!

79pmooney

Some of you have heard me say this before. I was sold on MIPS as soon as I read about it because 3 weeks earlier I had a hard crash, over the bars and landing on my leftside helmet and shoulder/ I felt my helmet hit, was fully aware of it grinding into the pavement. Then, mercifully, my brain stopped recording. The injuries kept piking up - broken collarbone, a couple of cracked ribs, acres of road rash. Apparently I flipped over and had more bruising and road rash on the other side.

Two things stood out. 1) no concussion what-so-ever. I am very familiar with concussions. I had a massive TBI 40 years ago and have NFL caliber LBS. (Loose Brain Syndrome. My words but any NFL player would get what I am talking about immediately.) And 2), apparently my helmet strap was loose. The helmet spun on my head, knocking off my glasses and the chinstrap nearly removing my ear. (My face was a mess.)

That I had no concussion at all blew me away, I have had many concussions from far more minor crashes, some even when my head never touched the pavement. (That LBS.) (Yes, there was that moment when I "blacked out" but that was just my brain saying "you don't need to witness this". I had no discontinuity of time. I knew there was a car a ways behind me before I crashed. When the crash stopped, my mind snapped back to "on", I looked back and the car was right where it should have been. I got up and walked around the adjacent park The rider behind me questioned me for evidence of concussion and I passed his quiz nicely. (He obviously had some experience/training. He didn't stick around but didn't leave until he had called a taxi for me. I knew I was messed up with broken bones but there was no emergency; that the local urgent care would be just fine and it was a mile away. $6 out of pocket vs $1000.)

The lack of concussion with my helmet slipping so much was so striking that when I heard about MIPS I knew that was my next helmet. I see the CPSC standard as keeping us alive. MIPS as improving the long and short term health of our brain and the connective tissue supporting and protecting it. At this point in my life, I see brain health as more important. If I have another TBI as serious as my first, I would rather not live. I am thankful I survived and went through the following "crazy years" but doing it again? Nah.)

Ben

jefnvk

I wouldn't let the presence or lack of MIPS influence my buying decision. It comes down to 1) comfort, 2) price, 3) color/styling, then 4) MIPS.

TBH, I simply don't hit my head cycling that I am worried about any sort of brain damage build up. I'd be much more interested in such technology on my hockey helmet, where all sorts of head contact happens regularly, than on my cycling helmet which may go decades between hits.

adele87

I agree. Thanks for sharing.

superdex

just replaced my (6yr old) helmet with a new one, and mips was a consideration, and almost a requirement from the wife. so while I've not used it, I have a helmet with it (Bontrager Velocis) As far as the helmet itself goes, I've been very pleased with it...

db9091

The key is to not let a salesman oversell you a helmet. You don't need a $200 helmet to be MIPS safe. A $30-60 will work.
Until we see safety data on such price differences. I haven't see that in studies yet. Price is all over the place.
So just read the studies and get the helmet that suits your taste and ability to afford.

But yes, before the studies MIPS made perfect sense to me. My mom was a vehicle crash side investigator and anything that keeps the head from impact lowers mortality stats.

THink of MIPS like this, smearing down the road vs slamming into a wall. The inner shell allows slippage across the impact to a degree.

MoAlpha

db9091

While that part may be true, there is still crash testing, which automakers use and independent crash testing is what cars are reviewed on in terms of safety.
Typically new safety features are evaluated based on real human crash data, but new vehicles use dummies. Dummies are powerful evidence.

superdex

for your bedtime reading....

https://www.beam.vt.edu/helmet/bicyc...t-ratings.html

adele87

agree

MoAlpha

livedarklions

You said you wouldn't trade in your current helmet for a MIPS, which is clear enough. But, all other things being equal, IF you were shopping for a new helmet, would you choose MIPS over non-MIPS? Assuming equal price, comfort, etc.

That's a circuitous way of asking a neurologist if you know of any theoretical problems imposed by MIPS--i.e., increased danger from some kind of risk, whatever.

Thanks!

MoAlpha

Yes, I would choose MIPS. I think it's a good idea and I haven't heard of a downside.

TimothyH

I just bought a MIPS helmet. Why not, apart from cost?

I had Backcountry ship me both a MIPS and non-MIPS versions of the same helmet. The MIPS version fit my particular head better because of the way the pads are placed.

The decision was a no-brainer. <-- see what I did there?

You don't have to spend $200 to get MIPS. There are MIPS helmets for $75.


-Tim-

jefnvk

If the only difference is MIPS v non MIPS, sure, I'll take it. There is no downside, but I also haven;t seen much actual data showing a benefit. it is also why every other consideration will come before MIPS in picking a helmet, though.

Have you looked at the actual tests involved for certifying bike helmets? They're pretty insignificant in determining how protective a helmet is on a neurological level.

livedarklions

The fact that no one can identify a drawback compared to conventional helmet designs actually makes me suspicious of the state of knowledge in this field. Ususally, with safety measures, if you make something stronger against one kind of risk, you can identify some protection against another risk that you had to sacrifice.

These tests are basically unverifiable guesses as to the types and amounts of forces the head will experience in an accident. We really can't know whether they're good or bad guesses.