As adults most people don’t fall off their bicycles that often. For some reason I am still a big kid and like to push my limits and lets just say I have hit my head more times than I like to admit. However, I recently was introduced to a helmet with MIPS technology. It is a thin plastic layer that acts as a glide layer to help reduce the amount of shake your brain receives and reduces brain injuries in the event of a crash ... I need all the help I can get. I have the Smith Forefront with MIPS and it has been awesome if any moms or dads out there are looking for an upgrade. Warning, helmets with MIPS cost a bit more due to the manufactures having to licence the technology.
All bicycle helmets sold in the North American markets follow strict governmental guidelines and testing to be sold and all are safe to minimum standards. However, MIPS seems to be taking helmets to a new standard. MIPS helmets are designed to reduce rotational forces on the brain caused by angled impacts to the head by seperating the shell from the liner with a low friction layer. When a helmet with MIPS Brain Protection System is subjected to an angled impact, the low friction layer allows the helmet to slide relative to the head. Check out the video for a more in depth explanation.
So often it takes a long time for bike technology to trickle down into kids cycling gear, but MIPS is now in kids helmets and is really exciting for parents. If you're in the market for a new helmet check these out, but always remember that the safest helmet is the one that is on your and your child’s head. Click on the pics for more info.
[…] spoke about helmets in a previous post but the best helmet is really the one that fits. Make sure chin straps are tight and the […]