Every winter, French ski resorts welcome millions of snow sports enthusiasts to a world that is both exhilarating and demanding. Wearing a helmet is therefore essential for all skiers, regardless of their age. Although more than 95% of children under the age of 12 wear ski helmets, many teenagers and adults continue to hit the slopes without this vital protection. However, studies show conclusively that helmets significantly reduce the risk of head injuries.
In this context, MIPS technology represents a major advance: it does not replace the helmet—it improves it. The aim is not to instill fear, but to encourage every skier or snowboarder to make an informed choice: when you go skiing or snowboarding, choosing a helmet equipped with MIPS® simply means opting for a higher level of protection in a world where risk management is always desirable.
MIPS: an innovation born from science
Behind the MIPS brand lies more than 25 years of research and development, conducted in collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet and the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm. According to the company, its testing laboratory has examined more than 75,000 helmets with the sole aim of “reducing head injuries.” Originally, helmets were designed primarily to protect against direct impact: a vertical fall or a frontal collision. However, the reality of skiing and snowboarding accidents is often more complicated: the impact is frequently oblique, with a rotational effect on the head. The consequences? The brain, which is by nature not very compressible but very sensitive to shearing movements, can suffer particularly damaging stresses.
MIPS technology is based on a relatively simple but effective principle: adding a low-friction layer inside the helmet—a kind of “sliding plane”—that allows the helmet and head to move slightly relative to each other (a few millimeters) during an oblique impact. This movement redirects some of the rotational energy—less twisting for the head, more cushioned sliding.
Independent studies confirm the effectiveness of this approach:
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A 2019 study (oblique impact) showed that helmets equipped with MIPS reduced maximum rotational speed by 26% and angular acceleration by 22% compared to models without MIPS.
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Another study, conducted under various conditions, indicates that the inclusion of MIPS resulted in reductions in angular acceleration of approximately 30% to 40%, depending on the test conditions.
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With regard to snow sports, a study measured that the probability of concussion decreased from 89% (standard helmet) to 67% for a helmet equipped with MIPS under the conditions tested.
In other words: MIPS innovation represents real added value, offering an additional layer of protection against a type of impact that has long been underestimated in conventional helmets.
Why this is particularly relevant for snow sports
When skiing or snowboarding, impact conditions are often… unique: sideways slips, collisions with obstacles, unexpected angles of attack, moments of imbalance or body rotation. Simply skidding, hitting the snow when coming out of a turn, or colliding with a rock or tree off-piste can generate an oblique impact and therefore rotational forces on the head.
In this context, a well-fitting, standard-compliant helmet is essential—but it is even better if it incorporates additional technology adapted to this type of impact. MIPS technology addresses this issue by aiming to reduce the effects of rotational energy, which are not adequately captured by traditional standards.
In addition, MIPS claims to collaborate with more than 150 helmet manufacturers worldwide, and that its technology is integrated into more than 1,000 different models. This adoption rate is an indicator of industry confidence as well as technological maturity.
This winter, several major outdoor brands are already offering helmets equipped with MIPS®, combining protection, comfort, and modern design. For example:
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Salomon – Brigade Index MIPS®
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Scott – Flow MIPS®
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Décathlon – PST 950
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Cairn – Rise MIPS®
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Bollé – Keystone MIPS®
This growing availability makes equipment more accessible to snow sports enthusiasts—at all levels.
What this means for you, skier or snowboarder
As a practitioner:
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Choosing a helmet equipped with MIPS does not change the essential steps: adjust the helmet properly, check the straps, integrate it with your glasses, and wear a helmet that is suitable for your size and activity.
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What MIPS adds: better management of a specific type of impact, one that combines lateral or oblique displacement + impact, which is common on and off the slopes.
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It’s not about eliminating all risks—no helmet can guarantee “zero injuries”—but about optimizing your own protection. In a context where you are willing to ski down blue and red slopes, or even go off-piste, your equipment becomes an ally: conditions can change, the snow can be unpredictable, and the terrain can be unpredictable.
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Finally, this choice is also a sign of foresight: manufacturers and users are moving towards more demanding protection standards. Making this choice also means being part of a more responsible practice.
The helmet remains the primary weapon in achieving this peace of mind—and with this goal in mind, MIPS technology represents a new standard in protection, without causing alarm, simply representing progress.
By incorporating a low-friction layer capable of limiting rotational movements of the head during an oblique impact, MIPS innovates in an area where most traditional helmets focused solely on vertical impacts. Scientific studies support this approach, and the industry is adopting it en masse.
So, whether you’re a recreational skier or a seasoned off-piste powder enthusiast, considering a MIPS®-equipped helmet is like saying: “I ski down the slopes with style, but also with discernment.” Innovation is not about scaring people, but about offering a better choice.
And as the golden rule reminds us: never leave home without your helmet—but you might as well take the best helmet possible.
