What Is the Helmet Safety System “MIPS”?

MIPS: A System Designed to Protect the Head

MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is an inner protective layer installed inside helmets to help protect the head.

Developed through a collaborative research effort between Sweden’s Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) and the Karolinska Institute, MIPS is a patented technology designed to reduce brain injury in the event of an impact, such as a fall.

The mechanism is simple: a special movable layer is placed between the helmet’s outer shell and the part that contacts your head. When the helmet experiences an impact, the MIPS layer shifts independently from the outer shell, helping to disperse the energy and reduce the force transferred to the brain.

To understand the MIPS system in action, check out this official video from the sports helmet brand GIRO:

As explained in the video, the MIPS layer mimics the function of cerebrospinal fluid — the liquid that naturally cushions the brain inside the skull — by allowing slight movement between the head and the helmet during an impact.

Why MIPS is Ideal for Bicycle Helmets

So, why is MIPS increasingly being adopted in bicycle helmets? The reason is simple: MIPS is especially effective at reducing rotational impacts caused by falls.

In cycling, the most common scenario where a helmet proves useful is during a fall. When a cyclist crashes, the head typically strikes the ground or an obstacle at an angle. Many assume the impact is purely linear — a direct hit — but in reality, rotational energy also affects the head, causing it to twist.

MIPS is designed to reduce this rotational energy, thereby lessening the impact on the brain during a crash. While the helmet’s outer shell helps absorb linear forces, the MIPS layer adds protection by managing rotational forces. As a result, helmets equipped with MIPS can mitigate a wider range of damage during a fall.

However, it’s important to note that MIPS-equipped helmets are not invincible. While MIPS reduces rotational shock, if the impact is strong enough to damage or break the helmet, linear forces can exceed rotational ones, and brain injury may still occur.

Manufacturers Selling Helmets Equipped with MIPS Layers

Most manufacturers that produce helmets specifically for road bikes, mountain bikes (MTB), and similar use, offer helmets equipped with MIPS layers.

Major brands include:

1. SPECIALIZED
2. GIANT
3. GIRO
4. BBB
5. OAKLEY
6. SMITH EXPRESS

Among these, SPECIALIZED offers MIPS layers in almost all their current helmets, and their higher-end models feature an evolved version called “MIPS SL.”

Are MIPS Helmets Expensive?

Because MIPS is a patented technology with a special mechanism, you might expect helmets with MIPS layers to be expensive. However, there are surprisingly affordable MIPS-equipped helmets available.

For example, SPECIALIZED’s road helmet, the CHAMONIX HLMT MIPS CE, is priced under 9,000 yen in retail and includes a MIPS layer, making it a relatively affordable option.

MIPS is becoming a new standard for helmets designed to protect the head. It is said that most fatal and serious injury accidents in cycling are caused by brain damage. This background partly explains why MIPS is gaining attention.

A helmet that helps prevent accidents is essential. As a last line of defense to reduce serious consequences in the worst-case scenario, keep MIPS helmets in mind as a valuable option.