I bought a new helmet with MIPS. I was surprised at how large the helmet was. It sat high on my head, and extended more in every direction. Is this due to the MIPS? I am comparing the new Giro Vanquish (with MIPS) to the old Air Attack…
FWIW I have an air attack and I think it has the smallest profile of any of my road helmets. I have a small face and head, so most helmets make my head look like a mushroom cap. Not the air attack, so comparing any helmet to it for profile might be a poor comparison.
My brief shopping experience this year led me to believe that MIPS helmets are both larger and heavier than the former non-MIPS helmets.
I have not noticed them being larger on average. Doesn’t MIPS just add that thin rotating layer on the inside of the actual helmet? I just bought my 2nd MIPS helmet and tried on about 6 different models at my LBS. Some were definitely larger than others, but that’s no different than pre-MIPS.
Yes, MIPS helmets are larger and heavier. The older the helmet, the more that is true – they’re getting better. And they wobble a bit on the head, too.
And keep in mind, there is still no independent, third-party study indicating that MIPS provides any safety benefits. Like helmet aerodynamics, to this point, we just have to take their word for it.
I did the same helmet replacement as you…I have a small head…I find the new mips helmet to be a little heavier and quite a bit larger!
A lot of MIPS helmets for the the first few years were an ‘add on’ to existing designs. So in those cases the outer shell didnt get bigger, but the fit got a bit smaller on tue inside due to the extra MIPS plastic being shoehorned in. This was certaintly so in mtb helmets.
In new helmets where the MIPS has been designed in from new, they do seen to be bigger on the outside (but at least keep the same fit range).
As per other posters… they still rattle and i still await properly representative tests that actually mimic hair and skin that can itself move in shear easily for 5-10mm etc on a head rather than a rigid chrome-dome. I wonder why the MIPS folks don’t want to do such a more representative test methodology 🙄
Yes, MIPS helmets are larger and heavier. The older the helmet, the more that is true – they’re getting better. And they wobble a bit on the head, too.
And keep in mind, there is still no independent, third-party study indicating that MIPS provides any safety benefits. Like helmet aerodynamics, to this point, we just have to take their word for it.
You discounting the VT testing?
Yes.
I wonder why the MIPS folks don’t want to do such a more representative test methodology 🙄
They’re in the business. I would guess that they have. That doesn’t mean they want to publish the findings.