Is MIPS Worth for Equestrian?
Sep 19, 2023 | Super Equestrian
Imagine, your friend has been riding horses with all kinds of safety equipment for many years. But a few days ago, he met with a fatal accident while riding a horse and got a severe head injury.
After hearing this, you went to see your friend and found him in a very depressed state. After returning his consciousness he told you that he had made a huge mistake while riding the horse, by not using a MIPS technology helmet. He was riding by wearing a traditional helmet that time.
After knowing the importance of this special helmet, now you are looking to buy a helmet with this MIPS technology for riding your horse, but wondering if such a helmet is really worth it.
To clear all your confusion we are here with this article, which will help you understand whether MIPS helmets are worth it for equestrians.
What is the MIPS safety system?
The acronym MIPS stands for Multi Directional Impact Protection System which is an additional feature of helmets containing a lot of beneficial effects. This is a safety technology of polycarbonate layer added inside the helmet.
Nowadays equestrians prefer to use this safety helmet while riding their horse in different ways.
Now a question is surely coming to your mind, how can you understand whether the helmet contains the MIPS system or not?
If you see a yellow dot on the backside of the helmet or written MIPS with a yellow color, the helmet is protected by MIPS technology. This yellow dot indicates the certification of this technology.
Sometimes, you will find a yellow-colored additional layer inside the helmet, or most often the layer is covered with a comfort pad, then you can easily recognize that the helmet is protected by the MIPS safety system as well.
How does MIPS work in equestrian helmets?
MIPS safety system contains a layer of low friction inside the moving helmet which reduces the rotational motion of the brain when an accident occurs, ultimately protecting the brain from internal damage.
The head rotates at a speed of 10-15 mm because of this layer, which prevents the force of the rotation from being transferred to the tissue of your brain and protects it from severe injury.
As the rotational motion is transferred into the brain during the accident, MIPS protects your brain from this harmful rotational motion via this additional layer. When you fall off a horse, there is a direct impact on your helmet and your shoulder, resulting in a brain injury, this way rotational force is created in the brain.
Watch this video to understand how MIPS works in equestrian helmets.
What are the benefits of MIPS for Equestrian?
MIPS provides a lot of benefits to equestrians by providing safety when performing different patterns of horse riding such as jumping, trail riding, cantering, galloping, and some other types of skillful riding.
Do you have any idea what would happen if you accidentally fell off your horse while performing various types of highly skillful riding? It will cause a severe head injury, which sometimes leads to the occurrence of stroke.
To avoid these situations you need to wear a helmet before riding the horse. Traditional helmets do not contain any additional safety features, which only protect the external portion of the head.
But in most cases, internal injury occurs that remains unnoticeable for many days, after a long time it causes serious damage to the brain. Sometimes, due to the direct impact on the brain, the rider can not keep his balance and becomes senseless immediately.
Traditional helmets cannot help you in that situation, an advanced technology helmet with modern features can give you proper protection when an accident occurs. Helmets containing MIPS technology help to protect you from severe brain injuries.
Are MIPS helmets more durable than traditional ones?
The durability of MIPS helmets and traditional helmets is mostly dependent on the quality of their material. MIPS helmets of low quality will not be much more durable than traditional helmets of high quality.
To compare the durability of the helmets, you must consider the brand. Any recognized or high-end brands maintain their quality of helmet manufacturing with good quality material.
On the basis of the quality, they receive certification from the federation of equestrian. Actually, the durability of the helmet is dependent on its proper maintenance. If you regularly clean your helmet after riding, it will be more durable whether it is MIPS or a traditional helmet.
Is MIPS really worth it for equestrians?
To know if a Mips helmet is really worth it, you need to consider your own preferences for the specific helmet first, whether it's a Mips or another feature helmet.
Choose the helmet that fits your head properly and that you feel comfortable with. You will find a Mips helmet that fits your head because Mips helmets provide excellent safety and protection against severe brain injuries than other helmets. If you look at the cost and weight of the MIPS helmets, they are not too high.
Also, this type of helmet has a padded system inside, which makes it comfortable. As the equestrians always perform special types of risky riding strategies, they need these helmets for their safety and protection.
So, considering all the issues and thinking from different perspectives MIPS helmets are really worth it for equestrians.
If you find it difficult to select a helmet that correctly adjusts to your head, you can take the help of a professional horse trainer who can assist you in choosing a suitable MIPS helmet that fits your head properly. Read this article on how to find a reputable horse trainer for choosing a perfect-sized MIPS helmet.
How do cost and weight affect MIPS helmet value?
Since MIPS safety system helmets have an extra layer compared to conventional helmets, the extra weight is about 20 to 45 grams, which is not too heavy.
The cost of such advanced technology helmets is slightly higher than the conventional helmets. But if you think about the extra protection of this MIPS helmet, the cost is not that much higher. The starting price of MIPS helmet is about $60 and according to the brand or due to adding some other features the price increases.
Actually, the concept of cost is mostly relevant to the quality of the helmet material and the brand itself. Any good quality product would be quite costly, and that is normal. Conventional helmets from recognized brands are costly but do not provide any additional protection.
On the other hand, if you look for a medium branded helmet containing MIPS safety system, that will be less costly than the conventional one.So, considering the weight and cost of the MIPS helmet, you must say that this helmet is more valuable and worthy than other helmets.
How should equestrians maintain MIPS-equipped helmets?
Correct and regular maintenance of MIPS helmets is very important for the equestrian. Equestrians should clean and wash their helmets using sponges, detergents, and soft cloths.
After every ride, they must wipe the helmet with a soft cloth because during riding dust or dirt particles can accumulate into the helmet. Cleaning is very important to increase the lifespan of these helmets.
To clean, first, soak the helmet in a mild soap or detergent water for a while to remove any dirt or dust from the helmet, then rinse gently. After that keep the helmet in a suitable place for air drying.
Now, store the helmet in such a place where children can not access or harm it. By following these strategies, you can easily maintain your MIPS-equipped helmets.
In Conclusion
Helmets protected by MIPS safety systems are very important for equestrians as this technology provides such advantages that you can not obtain from other helmets.
This article covered the roles of MIPS helmets to protect your head from severe injury and whether it is worth it for equestrians or not considering all the positive and negative aspects of it.
If you have any feedback about this article, please comment and share with anyone concerned about MIPS helmets for their equestrian life.
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