MIPS Helmet Technology – Multi Impact Protection System, is integrated within many ski helmets these days. It’s used by around 60 helmet brands now and is highly recommended when purchasing a helmet. But what is MIPS?
It can be difficult to understand the advances in technology that seem to increase year on year in the ski industry, but MIPS is definitely one to learn.
MIPS is a system that mimics the movement of the brain inside the head. Where regular helmets may protect your skull from an impact, the brain inside the skull may still move due to its fluid nature and cause you injury. MIPS on the other hand, moves with the head on impact and lessens the impact in certain cases.
The idea for MIPS was first born in Sweden in 1995 by a neurosurgeon Hans Von Holst, who noticed that many of his patients with brain injury had in fact been wearing helmets. He was interested in why their helmets did not seem to protect against brain injury and thus, MIPS was born. It has progressed massively since, beginning with equestrian helmets and moving into the snow and bike markets.