MIPS® stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System; a technology created in 2001 that is now a world leader in head and neck protection through years of medical technology and research.

MIPS® was created to reduce head injuries and save more lives. Developed through the partnership between a brain surgeon and a biomechanics scientist, the MIPS® Safety System has revolutionized helmet safety in sport and helped reduce the risk of brain injury.

MIPS® works by mimicking the brain’s protective structure by reducing rotational forces caused by angled impacts to the head. The helmet’s shell and liner are separated by a low friction layer which allows the helmet to slide, noticeably reducing trauma to the brain in the case of oblique impacts.

By complementing the helmet with a low-friction layer, designed to move slightly in the event of an impact, the system is designed to help redirect rotational motion away from the head.

These angled impacts are considerably more common in action sports compared to the blunt force impacts for which traditional helmets are typically tested.

When MIPS® first entered the market, the MIPS® layer was located in between the shell and liner, although this was more effective than standard helmets, this construct prevented the use of MIPS® technology in In-Mould construction helmets, the most common type of helmet construction method within action sports.

Today, the MIPS® Safety System has revolutionized the world of helmet safety. By complementing the helmet with a low-friction layer, designed to move slightly in the event of an impact, the system is designed to help redirect rotational motion away from the head. This is intended to help reduce the risk of brain injury.

Motorcyclists, snowboarders, equestrians, cyclists, skiers, and climbers all use MIPS® helmets. MIPS®  provides additional safety for helmets in accidents. For certain impacts, the MIPS® system can reduce harmful rotational motion that might otherwise be transferred to the user’s head causing injury and brain damage.

Watch our video below to see the power of MIPS® in the latest Oakley MOD1 + MOD5 Helmets:

When Von Holst began his research into finding an injury solution in high speed collisions, he found that contemporary testing systems were inadequate and didn’t account for the directional nature of the impact.

The MIPS® team set out to create a brand new mechanism to test their designs in a moving environment that is more accurately reflected the forces in motion.

The results spoke for themselves:

Discover the power of MIPS® for yourself this season with our fantastic selection of snowsports helmets, made for the slopes, powder, and backcountry at Snow+Rock: