Originally Posted by
MinnMan
There are these new helmets on the market with so-called
MIPS technology. The idea, if I understand it, is that they limit the effects of rotation on impact, as this is supposed to be an important contribution to concussions. So, perhaps this is a "safer" helmet? I don't want to start one of those "are helmets safer" threads (and if one starts I may ask the mods to close the thread - been there, done that too many times), but does anybody know anything about this new class of helmets?
This is the most important new thing in helmets.
I spent a lot of time studying this after my son wound up with a severe traumatic brain injury from a skiing accident. I also spent time talking with some of the manufacturers that were incorporating this technology and how it works. It certainly can't hurt and I think it adds a significant benefit. Even a small reduction in the acceleration the brain experiences can pay off with significant injury reductions or even eliminate the brain injury. Believe me, anytime you can do that, it's worth the money. Been there, done that.
We've switched the entire family over to MIPS skiing helmets and we'll complete that effort with cycling helmets this year now that there are more choices.
With respect to the cost, it's common for even a mild concussion to cause issues for 6 months or more that can be quite debilitating - sensitivity to light/sound, cognitive impairment, impulse control, visual impairment, motor skills. In my son's case, it was in the hospital for 3 weeks in a coma, almost 6 weeks in inpatient treatment, and 9 months in outpatient treatment. He was a university student and had to take a full year off and then ease back into it for another semester. All told, the whole event was about 18 months to get back to normal. Deficits still remain and will be life long. When you look at it that way, the marginal cost difference from the cheapest to the best helmet is really kind of immaterial.
J.