noodle soup

I'm just saying I wouldn't base a decision on whether it has MIPS or not.

I'd love to be proven wrong on this, but I haven't seen anything that proves MIPS actually helps to prevent concussions.

DrIsotope

I deliberately buy non-MIPS helmets. Compared to a "standard" model, MIPS-equipped models are heavier, hotter, and more expensive. A helmet only needs to work once, but I have to wear it every day. So I'll take a little cooler and lighter, until someone can show conclusively that MIPS actually does anything other than make a helmet heavier, hotter, and more expensive.

canklecat

MIPS works. I was skeptical too but went ahead and bought a Bell Formula MIPS last summer because it was in my budget.

This spring I was conked on the noggin by a railroad crossing arm that dropped unexpectedly quickly. Hard to explain -- I was tailgunner on a group ride with some new members. The group was split as we approached the railroad crossing. I called out for the rest of the group to stop, which they did. I was near the track edge, but the train itself was still 400 yards away and creeping slowly. I backed away from the tracks, and the crossing arm came down quickly before I could move. El Kabong!


The helmet did exactly what MIPS claims it does. It deflected the blow, while the harness stayed in position. The helmet barely had a scuff. No damage. I'm still using it.

Without a helmet, that blow definitely would have creased my scalp, possibly split the scalp open, and left a knot. With my old non-MIPS Bell, the helmet would have taken the blow and been dented or crushed. It still would have spared me from worse injury. But the helmet would be toast.

Would it have prevented a concussion? Dunno. Granted, I have an unusually hard head. I was an amateur boxer for several years, from lightweight light-middle (132-156) and usually sparred much bigger guys, up to heavyweight. Never was KO'd, never really even buzzed by some of the hardest punchers in my division. Body shots were a different story. I was knocked down by left hooks to the liver twice in sparring. But never head shots.

So I'm sold on MIPS.

As I mentioned in my previous post, recently I was considering a Bell Z20 MIPS when Amazon popped up the POC Omne Air SPIN as an alternative. What the heck, I was curious enough to try.

After a few wearings, the POC is much cooler than I'd expected. The vent design really scoops in the air. Better than my Bell Formula MIPS. The Bell's harness, pads, etc., seem to interfere a bit with air flow. The POC innards are minimalist, and the design directs plenty of air across my head. It's been fine on our 100+F days with high humidity.

It's comfortable. It looks... like a POC. They all look kinda gawky. The Omne looks more like a properly ventilated hipster commuter helmet or skater helmet, like a Bern or similar bowling ball with three holes kinda thing. It's a keeper.

But does POC's "SPIN" work as well as MIPS? Dunno. Hope I never find out. Frankly, it's unimpressive at a glance. The innards are just a plastic harness with adjustable dial, same as every other helmet. And the "SPIN" is just... some fancypants gel foam pad inserts, plus the way the harness deflects. It has more play to wiggle and wobble than my Bell MIPS. I'm assuming that will translate to effectively the same thing -- the helmet deflects while the harness keeps it on the noggin.

From the perspective of a former boxer, that seems like a good thing. One of the tricks to a good defense is the ability to roll and turn with punches that can't be avoided. Roberto Duran was a master of that craft. So is Canelo Alvarez. Duran often looked like he was taking a hard punch, but when you watch the slo-mo replay, he turned deftly with most punches, his hair flinging sweat everywhere, looking like he'd been hit. But the ringside judges knew better. Floyd Mayweather does the same thing but because he keeps his hair short it's obvious he's rolling and turning away from punches.

That seems to be the principle for MIPS and SPIN -- deflect and turn from the worst of a blow. And I can say from experience it's based on a sound principle.

topflightpro

I crashed with my one MIPS helmet. I don't know that it really did anything. MIPS is designed to prevent twisting of the head and neck in a crash. I hit pretty straight on. I haven't felt the need to buy another MIPS helmet.

Helmets aren't really going to stop concussions. They will keep your head from breaking open, which is good. But when you hit the ground hard, your brain can still smack the inside of your skull, concussing you.

noodle soup

Yep.

I always wear one while cycling, and have needed to replace several of them after they were smashed in a wreck. I've broken many bones cycling, but never fractured my skull.

dmanthree

Gotcha, thanks! I went with the MIPS because, well, I down to my last head.

dmanthree

Maybe, maybe not, but if I wasn't wearing one when I crashed I would have been concussed, at least. Like you, I have no idea if MIPS is a gimmick or not, but I got one anyway. Hopefully I'll never "test" this one.

Lava

Virginia Tech has a good list of how different helmets compare to each other safety wise. It's a good source to consider if you're deciding between a few different options.

I've used a Giro Savant MIPS for the last year. I like it, but the back of the head retention hasn't held up to using it with balaclavas, cycling caps, or really anything that applies extra pressure to the plastic. It still works well, but it's a little awkward to adjust now.