By Lars Hundley
Mips announced that its safety system has been adopted by a significant number of World Tour cycling teams. In 2024, 87% of women’s teams and 83% of men’s teams are using helmets equipped with Mips technology, reflecting a strong commitment to athlete safety.
Max Strandwitz, CEO of Mips, highlighted the growing recognition of the dangers of rotational motion and its impact on head injuries. “The widespread adoption by World Tour teams underscores the increasing awareness and commitment to addressing head injury risks,” Strandwitz said.
The Mips safety system aims to mitigate the effects of rotational motion, which can cause concussions and other traumatic brain injuries. The system incorporates a low-friction layer in helmets to redirect rotational forces away from the head, potentially reducing the risk of brain injury.
This trend among World Tour teams mirrors a broader market movement. Over 150 helmet brands worldwide offer models featuring the Mips safety system. In addition to cycling, the technology is used in helmets for snowsports, motorsports, equestrian activities, and industrial safety.
Mips specializes in helmet safety and operates on an ingredient brand business model, providing its safety system to helmet manufacturers globally. The technology is the result of over 25 years of research and development, conducted in collaboration with the Royal Institute of Technology and the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. Mips is headquartered in Stockholm. The headquarters also houses its product and technology testing facility.
For more information, visit Mips Protection.
MIPS is for dummies…..crash test dummies.
My non-MIPS helmet can rotate a bit on my head because unlike a crash test dummy I have a scalp that acts as a slip plane. Also, crash test dummies helmets are secured very tight so they don’t move. Testing the efficacy of a helmet is rather difficult if each test article can wriggle an uncontrolled amount on the test fixture.
MIPS is designed to pass a lab test. I’m sure there’s plenty of folks who believe that MIPS saved their noggins. They don’t honestly know how a non-MIPS helmet would have performed in the same crash.
Can bike helmets be improved? Of course they can. IMO retention systems need some improvement.