MIPS

MIPS

WHAT IS MIPS?

Your brain is everything you are, and it is very sensitive. That’s why it is so important to protect it. Giro helmets with the Mips Brain Protection System offer more comprehensive protection that can help to reduce the energy transmitted to your brain in the event of an impact. Less energy transferred to your brain during a crash equals more protection for you.

MIPS IS AN ADDITIONAL
MEASURE OF PROTECTION

Mips is a patented Brain Protection System (BPS) available in every Giro helmet model. It adds a measure of protective capability in certain impacts beyond the helmet’s outer shell and impact-absorbing foam liner and helps to reduce rotational motion transferred to the brain—especially during those first critical milliseconds. That’s why we encourage you to look for the yellow dot on Giro helmets.

 

HOW DOES THE MIPS BRAIN PROTECTION SYSTEM WORK?

When a helmet with the Mips Brain Protection System is subjected to an angled impact, the low friction layer inside the helmet (identified in this image in yellow) allows the helmet to move. That movement during those crucial first .0002 seconds can reduce the amount of rotational motion (a combination of rotational energy and rotational forces) transferred to the brain and reduce the risk for minor and severe brain injuries. It’s important to acknowledge that no helmet, including Mips-equipped helmets, can prevent all potential injuries. But by reducing energy transmitted to the brain, the potential for and the severity of a brain injury can be reduced and you likely won’t even notice Mips, but your brain will when it needs it the most.

 

MIPS IS THE MARKET-LEADING TECHNOLOGY

Mips are pioneers when it comes to brain protection, and they are a key partner in our effort to improve helmets. With data from more than 25,000 tests to-date, plus top ratings from independent test labs and ongoing research, we believe that the Mips Brain Protection System is the leading brain protection technology. It also allows us to create a wide range of helmets for different styles of riding, without compromising comfort, ventilation or other performance criteria. That’s why we believe Giro helmets equipped with Mips are a step forward in head protection, and helmets with Spherical Technology, powered by Mips, are the best helmets you can get.

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“probably the most important thing to look for when starting your helmet search…”

 

“the protective qualities you need… to help reduce the rotational effects of side impacts…”

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

SAFETY

Does MIPS provide protection for multiple impacts?

No. The MIPS® BPS is not a multi-impact technology, and currently there is no helmet that can guarantee to be truly “multi-impact”.

Do I have to have a big crash to be at risk of brain injury?

No, because every impact is a unique event and every rider is different. Nobody can say when, where or how a crash will occur, or how severe the impact might be. But we do know that brain injuries often happen in an instant and without excess speed or force.

Does a MIPS helmet prevent concussions?

We wish it was possible to claim that helmets could be 100% effective. But the truth is that NO HELMET CAN PREVENT ALL INJURIES, and there is no standard threshold for defining a concussion. Every impact is a unique event involving many factors that cannot be predicted, and every rider is a unique being. While helmets are proven to be up to 85% effective according to valid studies, it is not possible to claim that a helmet can prevent a brain injury in every case.

TECHNOLOGY

What is Spherical MIPS?

Developed at the Bell+Giro Dome in partnership with MIPS®, Spherical Technology’s unique Ball-and-Socket design, powered by MIPS, redirects impact forces, bringing market leading design, performance and brain protection together without compromising comfort, ventilation, weight or style. It’s available in our most premium helmets road, mountain, ski and snowboard helmets.

Is MIPS exclusive to Giro helmets? Does Giro own MIPS?

MIPS® Technology is a step forward in helmet design, and a market-leading technology. We do not have any ownership in MIPS. But unlike other brands, we don’t simply add this “off the shelf technology” to our existing helmets. Giro™ helmets equipped with the MIPS BPS are designed specifically with MIPS from the start, and many models incorporate unique features and benefits, including what we call Integrated MIPS® and Spherical Technology™, that are only possible because we’ve spent years collaborating with the designers behind MIPS

PERFORMANCE & STANDARDS

Does MIPS add weight or compromise comfort?

The system is unique to each helmet model, and designed to work without compromising fit, function or ventilation compared to a traditional helmet. There is some added weight, but it’s only a few grams per helmet.

Can I add MIPS to my existing helmet?

No. The MIPS® is permanently integrated into the helmet when it is built, and it cannot be retrofitted.

Do MIPS helmets meet global standards?

All helmets must meet the required standards for the market they are sold in, regardless of whether they include the MIPS BPS or not. The MIPS® BPS does not affect standards requirements or certification, but it can provide an additional measure of protection in certain impacts.

Does the MIPS system require special care?

You should inspect your helmet regularly for any signs of damage, especially after a fall. If you have any questions about the condition of a helmet, please contact us to set-up an inspection.