BMX is a sport that has grown and developed considerably since the 70s when children too young to drive motocross started bike-racing on dirt tracks. Today, it’s an Olympic sport practiced all over the world. But regardless of your level, or which BMX discipline you prefer, wearing a helmet while riding your BMX bike is always wise.
BMX racing on a dirt track with jumps and berms is fast and fun. But it’s also a tough sport with narrow margins and many BMX riders who race use an enduro or downhill helmet that offers protection for both the head and face.
Meanwhile, riders who are more into freestyle or street disciplines, where the speed is lower, but the jumps, curbs, steps, and other urban obstacles pose equal danger, tend to wear skateboard helmets instead. Which helmet you should choose is really a matter of taste.
Whatever type of helmet you pick, it’s vital that the helmet fits you properly. A helmet that is too big offers less protection. A helmet that is too small will be uncomfortable to wear and is likely not to be used at all. It should fit snugly on your head, without squeezing or chafing. Also, be sure that straps and adjustments are easy to use and in the right positions for you.
If you choose an enduro or downhill helmet, make sure to find one with good ventilation that will help keep you cool, even in the fiercest of competitions.
Another aspect to consider when it comes to BMX helmets is whether it addresses rotational motion. But what is rotational motion? Let us explain.
If you fall and hit your head while riding your BMX bike, your head is most likely to hit the ground at an angle. Now of impact, a rotational motion occurs that can cause the head to rotate more or less, depending on the object or surface of impact. The energy from the impact can be directed further into the head, where it can cause injury to the brain. Rotational motion is thus the result of oblique impacts to the head.
The Mips safety system mimics the brain’s own natural protection, which lets the brain move slightly inside the skull. Our safety system consists of a low-friction layer that allows the head to move 10–15 mm inside the helmet in all directions and is designed to help redirect rotational motion away from the head in an oblique impact.