With winter being in full swing, your mountain adventure may not be that far off! Imagine yourself shredding powder and whistling through the groomed slopes. Or maybe, the pristine backcountry is your calling. Either way, you are having the time of your life! The last thing you want to happen is to forget something on your trip such as your gloves or your helmet. Use our Snow Packing List so you don’t forget anything on your adventure and cause some unnecessary worry. Our last blog post was on goggles and helmets. This time, we’ll discuss a safety feature that is commonly overlooked for skiing and snowboarding- MIPS.
Part 1- Apparel
Part 2- Gloves and Mitts
Part 3- Ski Boots
Part 4- Snowboard Boots and Bindings
Part 5- Hats and Beanies
Part 6- Goggles and Helmets
What is MIPS?
MIPS stands for Multi-Directional Impact Protection System. You can find MIPS integrated into many helmets including those for snow sports and cycling. Traditionally, helmets utilize a foam interior to help prevent shock or rotational damage to the head. During a fall, the foam in the helmet would be crushed while helping absorb the impact. While many helmets are still constructed this way, a helmet with MIPS has the added benefit of reducing rotational damage further with an interior liner that moves with the head during a fall or collision.
How Does MIPS Work?
As mentioned before, traditional helmets tend to help absorb the energy reaching the head from a direct impact. However, studies have found that another source of injury during a fall from a bicycle or, in this case, skiing or snowboarding, was from a rotational impact. As your head strikes the ground or an object, the sudden movement of the head causes the brain to jolt around, which can cause potentially catastrophic head injuries. A helmet with MIPS helps mitigate this by having a movable interior liner that moves with the head in an impact. This moves the impact energy laterally, reducing the overall impact to the head.
MIPS is an important piece of safety technology that can make a difference if anything were to happen on your adventure. For more information about MIPS, come see us at your local Sun & Ski Sports, where you can talk to a local expert or even find the right helmet for you.