Helmet test: How well do MIPS and co. protect?

In 2007, a Swedish company shook up the helmet industry. Back then, the manufacturer launched the first helmet MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) equipped bicycle helmet onto the market. A system designed to reduce the rotational energy generated in the event of an angled impact and thus significantly reduce the risk of concussion. To achieve this, the low-friction MIPS shell is designed to allow the helmet to slide in an offset position in relation to the head. This converts rotational energy into translational energy. As with a fall on ice, the head can continue to move in the original direction. The typical yellow shell has become an integral part of bicycle helmets and is used by a large number of manufacturers. There are now numerous versions of the MIPS Systems - and also some manufacturers who have developed their own rotation system. 100% calls its system Smartshock, Leatt uses its so-called 360° Turbine Technology in its helmets and Kali relies on the Low Density Layer. Bontrager and POC also have their own protection systems in their programmes - WaveCel and SPIN.

The entire test article on these 20 helmets with all the results including points tables, technical data and grades from BIKE 12/2020 is available as a PDF for € 1.99 in the download area below.

Why not free of charge? Because quality journalism has a price. In return, we guarantee independence and objectivity. This applies in particular to the tests in BIKE. We don't pay for them, but the opposite is the case: we charge for them, hundreds of thousands of euros every year.

• 100% Altec
• Alpina Anzana Tocsen
• Bontrager Rally Wavecel
• Cratoni Alltrack
• Fox Speedframe Pro
• Giro Manifest MIPS
• IXS Trigger AM
• Kali Maya 2.0
• KED Pector ME-1
• Lazer Impala MIPS
• Leatt DBX 3.0 All Mountain
• Met Terranova MIPS
• O'Neal Pike
• POC Tectal Race Spin
• Rudy Project Protera+
• Scott Stego Plus
• Specialised Ambush Angi MIPS
• Troy Lee Designs A2 MIPS
• TSG Scope MIPS
• Uvex Quattro Integrale

BIKE tests with its own test bench

But how much marketing strategy is behind all these systems and how great is their actual benefit for the wearer? The existing test standard for helmets, EN 1078, does not provide any information here and existing studies also largely come from the environment of one manufacturer or another. In order to test the current generation of helmets realistically, we have developed a helmet test stand ourselves and orientated ourselves on the methods used in science and by researching manufacturers. For the test, the helmet is fitted to an aluminium test head weighing 4.9 kilograms. During the simulated fall, the helmet and head are guided on a sled and hit a steel surface inclined at an angle of 45 degrees at a speed of 21 kilometres per hour. Sandpaper with a grain size of 40 imitates the roughness of the surface - this is similar to the test facilities at Virginia Tech, Folksam and other research institutes. The sled whizzes past the contact surface and releases the helmet, which bounces away after the impact. A six-axis sensor in the test head records acceleration and rotation rates around the three axes in space on impact and in the subsequent flight phase. In the first approach, the helmet hits head-on, in the second on the side. We analyse the acceleration according to the highest resulting value - the lower the better. The average value from four measurements is given. We convert the head rotation into the BrIC criterion (Brain Injury Criterion), which indicates how damaging the movement is to the brain. This method is widely used in science and enables statements to be made about the probability of a concussion via the so-called AIS code.

Ventilation test with mini wind tunnel

In addition to the important topic of safety, we also analysed the ventilation properties of the MTB helmets on a specially developed test rig. We test the ventilation with the help of a wind machine. For this purpose, a heated, helmeted test head is exposed to the air flow. We use the temperature difference between the start and end of the measurement to calculate the cooling capacity in watts.

MIPS brings measurable benefits

Our test clearly proves: MIPS works. On the other hand, we can only assign a partial or, in one case, no additional protective function to the other systems. Read more about this in the helmet test in the current BIKE issue 12/2020.

The Trail Blazer MIPS from Sweet Protection, which unfortunately didn't make it into our comparison test, shows just how well the yellow sliding shell works. It reduces the probability of a concussion to just five per cent. By comparison, the worst model in the test has a 50 per cent probability. The Sweet Protection also achieved a good residual value of 102.8 g in terms of acceleration.

Sweet Protection Trailblazer MIPS in test

• Price 179,95 Euro >> e.g. available at Alltricks
• Weight 378 g (58cm)
• Sizes 53-56 cm / 56-59 cm / 59-61 cm
• Blades 102 g / 5 % / 101.8 watts

Conclusion: Thanks to convincing values for shock absorption and one of the best values for rotation protection, the Trailblazer offers its wearer very good protection. The ventilation of 101.8 watts is also acceptable. The helmet fits comfortably and can be easily adjusted to the wearer using the automatic height adjustment. Only the wheel on the headband is a little difficult to operate. The visor is infinitely adjustable and stays securely in the set position.

BIKE judgement very good / 51 points

The results of the other 20 trail helmets tested, as well as all the information on the effect and function of the rotation systems on the market, can be found in the current issue of BIKE 12/2020 - in stores from 3 November.

Interview: How well do current MTB helmets protect?

We spoke to an expert to find out how important it is to reduce rotational forces in the event of a fall and how technologies such as MIPS and the like should be categorised from a medical perspective. Prof Stefan Lorenzl, MD, is head of the neurology department at Agatharied Hospital and a board member of the German Society of Neurology. He criticises the fact that the current standard is no longer up to date and that the limit value set there can still lead to serious brain injuries.

BIKE: How well do helmets protect against head injuries?

Prof Dr Stefan Lorenzl: Today's helmets provide good protection, especially in the case of linear, frontal impacts. For example, if you go over the handlebars and fall onto a car.

The standard sets the limit at 250 g. What consequences can be expected?

250 times the acceleration due to gravity - that sounds like an incredible amount at first. But that can add up if you fall head-on from about one and a half metres. Without a helmet, this can actually be fatal. Put simply, the skull bone breaks.

The best MTB helmets in our test weigh around 80 g. What about the injuries here?

That really is an acceptable figure. Since more and more cyclists are wearing helmets, there are significantly fewer serious and fatal injuries, especially among mountain bikers.

What consequences do you observe when you fall while wearing a helmet?

We often see external injuries such as lacerations and abrasions to the skin. However, internal injuries are much more dangerous. In addition to micro haemorrhages in the head, subdural haematomas can also occur, i.e. bleeding between the meninges and the brain. These are the worst injuries. These microhaemorrhages in particular cannot be seen on images of the head, not even on CT scans. What must also not be forgotten are shearing injuries in the area of the nerve processes in the brain. These are injuries that cannot be visualised at all. They occur at a molecular level and can lead to concentration and attention disorders.

When do we speak of a concussion?

Concussion is just a clinical symptom. It can be anything from a slight bruise in the brain to a small haemorrhage or a subdural haemorrhage on the surface of the brain.

How do I recognise a concussion?

Symptoms such as headaches, nausea, vomiting and even changes in consciousness or speech disorders can hide numerous changes in the brain. From a slight bruise to a haemorrhage. Unconsciousness or a speech disorder are particularly acute warning signs of a concussion. Symptoms such as confused speech, nausea and vomiting or even paralysis usually conceal significant brain damage.

What should I do after a fall?

First call the emergency doctor. They will then initiate the most important measures. After a fall, stop the tour in any case. Especially because you should not exert yourself after a head injury. In this way, you may be able to prevent worse developments and promote the healing process. What people often don't realise is that most people only talk about obvious head injuries. However, it is also easy to suffer a so-called vertebral dissection. The arteries leading to the brain are injured. This can happen if you are hit in the front and your head is pulled backwards in a very rapid movement. The walls of the arteries can then tear and the spaces between them can fill with blood. This quickly becomes dangerous because such damage can lead to strokes. These injuries are often overlooked because they initially only cause mild headaches or neck pain.

Can symptoms only appear well after the fall?

Yes, and that is very dangerous. It can happen with epidural haemorrhages, for example. People fall off their bikes, are a bit dazed for a short time, but then feel great and continue cycling. And then, as a second instance so to speak, after a certain interval they show symptoms such as a speech disorder, lateral paralysis or reduced consciousness. There is often a small haemorrhage after the impact. This then spreads slowly and can lead to a second loss of consciousness. This can be life-threatening. Therefore, any neurological symptom is an absolute warning sign. I would not take this too lightly because, as I have already said, something can still develop after a certain time interval.

Wouldn't it make sense to lower the limit value in the standard?

I would definitely recommend that. We can also see that even with the current helmets, sometimes serious injuries can still occur. Particularly in road traffic, the forces at play are often quite different. Especially as the helmets are not tested for the different types of impact, but only for the linear impact

In practice, however, the biker usually hits the surface at an angle. What injury patterns can be expected here?

The above-mentioned dissections and injuries to the vessels caused by rotational forces occur much more frequently here. All it takes is a quick movement backwards. The most serious consequence of this can be strokes.

So you shouldn't underestimate the rotational forces that occur during a fall?

Exactly. They are not only harmful to the intracranial vessels (in the skull), but also to the vessels supplying the brain. Especially for the vertebral arteries. However, it cannot be said across the board that rotations tend to cause internal injuries and linear impacts tend to cause external injuries. Both mechanisms can lead to severe haemorrhaging. This is initially completely independent of the process. The decisive factor is, on the one hand, the vascular status of the person in question, i.e. how healthy the vessels are. On the other hand, how hard the impact was.

MIPS has been on the market for several years. How is the mode of action to be seen from a medical point of view?

This technology is still the subject of controversial debate. To date, there have been very few good scientific studies on the subject in which a certain degree of objectivity can be ascertained.

According to our test results, MIPS reduces the probability of an average concussion by an average of 50 .

Under these test conditions, the results are really interesting and the system actually seems to make sense. The values are highly significant. In research and development, risk reductions of ten to 20 per cent would make people sit up and take notice. In any case, the range measured in the test is considerable. For me, the effectiveness seems plausible.

Downloads:

Test mountain bike helmets (pdf)