A Guide to Helmet Technologies
Jack Riffee
Helmets are at the center of action sport safety. They prevent concussions and other forms of brain damage, which can be seriously damaging years after the injury occurs. By preventing injury, helmets keep riders healthy and happy doing what they do best.
On today’s market, there are all different kinds of different helmets suited for different conditions, so it can be difficult to decipher which one is right for the customer. Below is an explanation of the different helmet technologies organised by which brand offers them.
POC Helmets
MIPS- This technology was developed by an independent company and is used in various brands. MIPS allows the helmet to be separated into two layers that have the ability to slide against one another. This technology mimics the cerebral fluid, and helps neutralize the force of oblique impacts to a degree conventional helmets can’t match. (Oblique impacts occur when the head strikes an object at an angle, rather than straight on).
Aramid Bridges- Aramid is a super stiff fibrous material that is closely related to kevlar. The bands of Aramid inside the helmet do not bend when an impact occurs and thus serve to distribute the impact to the entire helmet, increasing shock absorption.
EPP Foam- EPP (expanded polypropylene) does not permanently compress like the conventional helmet foam does (EPS foam). This means that an EPP helmet does not lose its shock absorbing capacity after it has been used for a while. An EPS helmet will crack and start to compress after it has been hit multiple times, and will therefore need to be replaced more often.
Pro Core- By using two different densities of foam, these helmets can deal with light and heavier impacts more effectively.
In-Mold Helmets- These helmets have a liner that is molded together with a thin outer shell. As opposed to other helmets that are constructed with a thick shell that is bolted on to the foam, in-mold helmets have better shock absorption.
Bern
Hard Hat- While these helmets don’t pass safety certifications and are thus not technically ‘helmets’, they do excel in certain areas that no other helmet does. They are built with Brock foam, a liner much softer and more responsive than EPS. Brock foam is lightweight and super effective at dealing with many small impacts, but can’t handle very heavy ones.
Giro
MIPS- (see POC list)
Form Fit 2- Uses two different shells in the same helmet, allowing for unprecedented levels of fit customization.
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