A helmet equipped with Mips works the same way - but also adds an extra level of protection. The Mips safety system is designed to dissipate some of the powerful kinetic energy released after an oblique impact to the head.

A blow hitting the helmet at an angle can cause a sudden and violent jolt of the head immediately after impact. This exposes the brain to a twisting rotational motion - which in a worst case scenario can result in concussion and severe tissue damage.

The best helmet is the safest one!

The Mips safety system is a Swedish invention that aims to add extra safety to a variety of helmets. The system - visible as a yellow shell on the inside of the helmet - consists of a layer that can move slightly, independent of the helmet. This adds a certain elastic quality to the helmet; a little extra room for the head to move, no more than 10-15 mm. But this small margin can make a big, significant difference when you really need it.

In the event of an oblique impact followed by rotation, the Mips system allows the head to follow the direction of movement, while still being firmly anchored and enclosed by the protective helmet. The system thus helps to redirect the energy of movement and mitigate its effect on the brain.

Safety has been our focus since we started making helmets. Back on Track is constantly working to increase safety awareness, and we have long fought for the safe practice of equestrian sports.

Our cooperation with Mips goes way back in time. Back on Track was even the very first brand to equip its helmets with the Mips system. This means that the yellow shell has now been in our helmets for more than 15 years! And for just as long, Back on Track's riding helmets have been considered among the safest on the market. This has been confirmed as we have managed to place ourselves either first or as "Good Choice" in independent tests.

In 2018, for example, the EQ3 Lynx helmet was named "Best in Test" in the Swedish insurance company Folksam's independent test of riding helmets.

But most importantly: Our helmets have proven their reliability in real-life situations and contributed to the successful outcome of serious incidents.

Mips safety system is a direct result of scientific research

In Mips' test laboratory outside Stockholm, our riding helmets are subjected to one hard impact after another. The effect is documented using high-speed cameras and sensitive sensors.

The impacts on both flat and inclined surfaces aim to realistically recreate what usually happens in a riding accident. Most high-quality helmets can effectively absorb the energy of a hard, straight blow.

But in real life, the helmet is rarely hit by linear, well-balanced blows straight to the surface. Instead, the impact is oblique, at an angle, and on impact can create strong rotational forces that cause the head to accelerate in a new direction. Unfortunately, the twisting and turning forces after the impact have been shown to be particularly damaging to the brain.

It was when Peter Halldin, a researcher at KTH Royal Institute of Technology, and Hans von Holst, a neurosurgeon and professor emeritus, began to realise this connection, that they also began to work on developing the Mips safety system - with the aim of reducing the number of severe brain injuries among riders, who often wear their helmets at the time of an accident.

Rotation twists the brain

The brain is soft, malleable and fragile. It rests surrounded by a fluid that cushions and delays the effect of violent head movements. In an accident, however, the kinetic energy transferred to human tissues can become too strong and overwhelming.

During violent, rotational movements, the brain is twisted in a way that causes internal tears in its jelly-like mass. It can be said that the Mips system protects in the same way as the cerebrospinal fluid does, by creating an inertia which in turn provides a slight delay in the effects of the rotational force. The Mips system thus takes into account both the physiological characteristics of the brain and how the forces of physics therefore act upon it.

Together with the shock-absorbing properties of the helmet, the Mips system provides very good protection, resulting in a riding helmet designed to dissipate several types of kinetic energy - so the helmet breaks, instead of your most important asset!