Safety Guide

WHAT HELMET,
WHAT RIDE?

Not all helmets are created equal — and not all rides are the same. Here's everything you need to know to protect the most important thing you own.

WEAR YOUR HELMET ✦ RIDE SMART ✦ BE HEADSTRONG ✦ MIPS MATTERS ✦ PROTECT YOUR BRAIN ✦ CLICK IT ✦ WEAR YOUR HELMET ✦ RIDE SMART ✦ BE HEADSTRONG ✦ MIPS MATTERS ✦ PROTECT YOUR BRAIN ✦ CLICK IT ✦
MIPS Technology 🪖
Outer Shell — absorbs direct impact force
MIPS Slip Plane — redirects rotational energy away from brain
Inner Liner — cradles and cushions the skull

Why MIPS Matters

THE TECHNOLOGY
THAT SAVES BRAINS.

Most helmet impacts don't happen straight on. They happen at an angle — and that rotational force is what causes the most serious brain injuries, including concussions and traumatic brain injuries like the kind our son sustained.

MIPS stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System. It's a low-friction slip plane built inside the helmet that rotates independently of the outer shell on impact — redirecting that dangerous rotational energy away from your brain in milliseconds.

Standard helmets protect against direct impacts. MIPS-equipped helmets protect against the way most real-world impacts actually happen. For e-scooters, bikes, and skateboards — where falls are unpredictable and often angled — MIPS isn't a luxury. It's the standard to look for.

10–15
mm slip plane rotation
40%
reduction in rotational force
1ms
protection response time

The Right Helmet

MATCH YOUR
RIDE.

Different rides carry different risks. Using the wrong helmet type can leave you unprotected where it counts most.

🛴

E-Scooter

Electric Scooters · Mopeds

E-scooters reach speeds of 15–30mph on roads and bike paths — making them one of the highest-risk rides for head injury. A multi-sport or skate helmet with MIPS is your best protection.

  • Multi-sport or skate style covers temples and back of head
  • Look for MIPS slip plane technology
  • CPSC or ASTM F1492 certified
  • Chin strap must click and fit snugly — two fingers under strap max
  • Replace after any impact, even if no visible damage
🧠 MIPS Recommended
🚲

Bicycle

Road · Mountain · Commuter · E-Bike

Bike helmets are CPSC certified and designed for forward-facing falls. E-bike riders should look for helmets rated for higher speeds — and always MIPS for rotational protection.

  • Road helmets: lightweight, ventilated for speed
  • Mountain helmets: extended rear coverage, visor
  • E-bike: look for NTA 8776 or EN 1078 speed rating
  • MIPS available across most major brands
  • Must sit level, two fingers above eyebrows
🧠 MIPS Recommended
🛹

Skateboard

Skateboarding · Longboard · Cruiser

Skate helmets have a harder outer shell designed for multiple low-speed impacts. They cover more of the back and sides of the head — critical for the falls skaters typically take.

  • Hard outer shell — designed for repeated impacts
  • ASTM F1492 certified for skateboarding
  • Fuller coverage than bike helmets at sides and rear
  • MIPS options available in skate style
  • Do not use a bike helmet for skating — different protection
🧠 MIPS Recommended
⚡

E-Bike

Electric Bikes · Speed Pedelecs

E-bikes can reach 28mph+ — speeds where standard bike helmets may not provide adequate protection. Look for helmets with a higher speed certification and MIPS technology.

  • NTA 8776 certified for e-bike speeds up to 28mph
  • More coverage than standard road helmets
  • MIPS slip plane is essential at these speeds
  • Consider integrated LED lighting for visibility
  • Visor helps with wind and debris at speed
🧠 MIPS Essential
🛼

Inline Skates

Rollerblades · Roller Skates

Skating combines speed with unpredictable falls in multiple directions — making rotational protection especially important. Use a multi-sport helmet that covers the back of the skull.

  • Multi-sport certification covers skating use
  • Extended rear coverage protects occipital region
  • MIPS recommended for rotational impact protection
  • Pair with wrist guards and knee pads
  • Fit check: helmet should not rock side to side
🧠 MIPS Recommended
🏔️

Snow Sports

Skiing · Snowboarding · Tubing

Where the helmet culture shift began. Snow helmets are now the norm on the mountain — and HeadStrong exists to bring that same norm to every campus and every ride.

  • ASTM F2040 or CE EN 1077 certified
  • Designed for cold temps and goggle integration
  • MIPS widely available across snow helmet brands
  • The gold standard that started the cultural shift
  • This is what campus helmet culture should look like
🧠 MIPS Available

What to Look For

CERTIFICATIONS
THAT MATTER.

When you pick up a helmet, flip it over and look for these certifications. If it doesn't have one, put it back.

CPSC
Consumer Product Safety Commission

Required for all bicycle helmets sold in the US. The baseline standard — look for this on any bike or e-scooter helmet.

MIPS
Multi-directional Impact Protection System

Not a certification but a technology. Look for the yellow MIPS logo inside the helmet — it means rotational protection is built in.

ASTM
American Society for Testing and Materials

F1492 covers skateboarding. F2040 covers snow sports. Specific to the activity — don't substitute one for another.

NTA
NTA 8776 E-Bike Standard

The speed-rated certification for e-bikes. If you ride an e-bike regularly, this is the certification to look for.

Fit Guide

A HELMET THAT
DOESN'T FIT IS A HELMET THAT DOESN'T WORK.

The best helmet in the world won't protect you if it's sitting wrong. Follow these steps every time.

01

Measure First

Wrap a tape measure around your head 1 inch above your eyebrows. Match to the brand's size chart — don't guess.

02

Level It

The helmet should sit level on your head — two finger-widths above your eyebrows. Not tilted back. Not pulled down.

03

Check the Sides

Straps should form a V-shape just below each ear. Adjust until both sides are even and snug against your face.

04

Click the Strap

Buckle the chin strap. You should be able to fit two fingers between the strap and your chin — no more, no less.

05

The Shake Test

Shake your head side to side and up and down. The helmet should move with your head — not rock or slide independently.

NOW GO GET
A HELMET.

You know what to look for. You know what fits. Now make it happen — and then take the Brain Freeze Challenge to tell everyone else.

🧊 Take the Brain Freeze Challenge Get Free HeadStrong Stickers