MIPS vs Non-MIPS Helmets — What's the Difference?

What Is MIPS?

If you've been shopping for a bike, ski, or snowboard helmet recently, you've almost certainly seen the acronym MIPS. It stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, and it's become one of the most widely adopted safety technologies in helmet design.

But what does it actually do — and is it worth paying extra for? Let's break it down.

How Helmets Protect Your Head

Traditional helmet design focuses on absorbing the energy of a direct, linear impact — the kind where your head hits a surface straight on. The foam liner (usually EPS, or expanded polystyrene) compresses on impact, slowing the deceleration of your skull and reducing the force transmitted to your brain.

This works well for straight-on impacts. But most real-world crashes don't happen that way.

The Problem MIPS Solves: Rotational Force

In the majority of head impacts, the blow comes at an angle. When that happens, your head doesn't just stop — it rotates. And rotational motion is particularly dangerous because the brain is more vulnerable to rotational forces than linear ones. Rotational acceleration is a leading cause of concussions, diffuse axonal injury, and other serious traumatic brain injuries.

A standard helmet does a good job absorbing linear energy, but it's not specifically designed to manage rotational forces. That's the gap MIPS was built to fill.

How MIPS Works

MIPS adds a thin, low-friction slip liner inside the helmet — typically a yellow plastic layer that sits between the foam and the comfort padding. This liner is attached to the helmet shell by elastomers that allow it to move independently by 10–15mm in any direction.

When an angled impact occurs, the slip liner rotates slightly relative to your head, redirecting some of the rotational energy away from your brain. The movement is small — you'd barely notice it — but the effect on rotational force reduction is significant.

Independent testing has consistently shown that MIPS-equipped helmets reduce rotational acceleration to the brain compared to equivalent non-MIPS helmets in angled impact scenarios.

MIPS vs Non-MIPS: A Direct Comparison

Protection

MIPS helmets offer an additional layer of rotational impact protection on top of standard linear impact absorption. For angled impacts — the most common type in real crashes — they perform measurably better in lab testing.

Non-MIPS helmets still meet all required safety certifications and provide solid protection for direct impacts. Many non-MIPS helmets are excellent products. But they don't have a dedicated system for managing rotational forces.

Weight

The MIPS liner adds a small amount of weight — typically around 30–40 grams. For most riders, this is imperceptible. For weight-obsessed XC racers, it may be a consideration, though many top-tier XC helmets now include MIPS without significant weight penalty.

Cost

MIPS typically adds $20–$40 to the price of a helmet. Given what it does, most safety experts consider this excellent value. You're paying for a meaningful, independently validated improvement in protection.

Comfort

Some riders notice the MIPS liner during fit adjustments, but once the helmet is properly fitted and on your head, the vast majority of people can't feel any difference. Modern MIPS integration has become increasingly seamless.

Are There Alternatives to MIPS?

MIPS is the most widely known rotational protection system, but it's not the only one. Other technologies include:

  • WaveCel (used by Trek) — a collapsible cellular structure that manages both linear and rotational forces
  • SPIN (used by POC) — silicone pads inside the helmet that allow the liner to move
  • Koroyd — a co-polymer tube structure that absorbs energy differently from EPS foam

These are all legitimate technologies with their own testing data. MIPS remains the most widely adopted and independently studied, which is why it's become the benchmark most shoppers use.

So, Is MIPS Worth It?

For the vast majority of riders — yes. Here's the simple logic:

  • Rotational forces are a major cause of serious brain injury in crashes
  • MIPS is independently tested and proven to reduce rotational acceleration in angled impacts
  • The cost premium is modest ($20–$40)
  • The weight and comfort trade-offs are minimal

If you're choosing between two otherwise equal helmets and one has MIPS, choose the one with MIPS. If budget is a constraint, a well-fitting certified non-MIPS helmet is still far better than no helmet at all.

Demon United Helmets with MIPS

We offer several helmets with MIPS technology built in, across both snow and bike disciplines:

Browse our full helmet collections:

The Bottom Line

MIPS doesn't make a helmet bulletproof. No helmet does. But it addresses a real, documented vulnerability in traditional helmet design — and it does so at a modest cost premium with minimal trade-offs.

If you're buying a new helmet and safety is a priority (and it should be), MIPS is worth it.

Still figuring out which helmet is right for you? Read our full guide: How to Choose a Mountain Bike Helmet