Alpine racing

Downhill, slalom, or GS. When it comes to shaving seconds in the pursuit of speed, Mips focuses on safety so you can focus on performance.

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Conquer the mountain

When split seconds count, you need a helmet that can keep up. Mips® safety systems in ski helmets give you confidence and comfort in your race against the clock.

It takes a certain mindset to pin a race bib on and fly down a snow-covered mountain. You need skills, confidence, and the right gear. That’s where Mips alpine helmets come in. Designed to give you a competitive edge, these-purpose built helmets are built specifically for downhill, slalom and GS racers. This style of racing helmet typically has a slightly thicker shell than recreational ski helmets. It’s designed to protect you from higher-speed impacts and often has added coverage over the ears. When a racer falls and hits their head, it is almost always an angled impact, and this is why Mips’ products exist. Our low-friction layer inside the helmet allows multi-directional movement of 10-15mm on certain angled impacts, intended to help reduce rotational force to the head.

Helmet safety

Checklist for choosing an alpine helmet

Alpine racing helmets are designed for speed and safety. Here are some of the key factors to consider when choosing one:

Comfort and fit

The best alpine race helmet is one that fits properly. It typically fits a bit tighter than a recreational snow helmet, and an in-store fitting is recommended.
Face protection

Some alpine racing helmets come with an attachable and adjustable chin bar for added protection that’s especially useful for slalom racing.
Race certification

Make sure the helmet meets the safety standards in your country. Most competitions require that the helmet meet basic standards (including EN1077 and/or ASTM2040).
Added safety features

Modern alpine racing helmets put an emphasis on protection including Mips® safety systems and other innovations.
Rotational management

Make sure the helmet is designed with a low-friction layer that’s intended to help reduce rotational force to the head during certain angled impacts.

Comfort and fit

The safest alpine race helmet is one that fits properly. A poor fit isn’t just uncomfortable, it can compromise safety. The first thing you need to know is your head circumference. You can find this by wrapping a flexible tape measure around your head about 2cm above your eyebrows. Or you can wrap a string around your head and measure it with a yardstick. Once you know your size, you can fine-tune the fit with retention systems and straps to make sure it’s right. Alpine racing helmets typically fit a bit tighter than recreational snow helmets, and an in-store fitting is recommended.

Face protection

Some alpine racing helmets come with an attachable and adjustable chin bar. This is especially useful for slalom racing, which can offer added face protection when flying through the gates at speed. These chin bars can either be fixed in place or breakaway style, which allows the bar to snap off at a certain impact level for added safety. For racers competing in both downhill and slalom events, a removable chin bar makes it possible to compete in both styles of racing with a single helmet that can be modified with or without the bar.

Race certification

Make sure the helmet meets the safety standards in your country. Most competitions require that the helmet meet basic standards (including EN1077 and/or ASTM2040), and some require that the helmet be approved by the FIS and has the FIS RH 2013 logo on it. Visors are typically not allowed on helmets during competition.

Added safety features

Modern alpine racing helmets put an emphasis on protection, including Mips® safety systems and other innovations such as lightweight carbon shells and inserts to help deflect energy from gates or absorb larger impacts. Some also utilize proprietary padding technologies, using materials such as silicone.

Rotational management

This is the reason Mips exists. We have done the research. We have the data. Studies show that when you crash and hit your head, it’s most often an angle. This creates rotational motion, and the brain is very sensitive to this. So, this part is easy: just be sure to pick a helmet that’s equipped with a Mips® safety system, which is intended to help reduce rotational forces to the head when falling at an angled impact.

Frequently asked questions about our alpine racing helmets

Read all frequently asked questions

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Science & Technology

Mips was born from science and research

Our founders have spent decades studying the relationship between brain injuries and helmet construction. This deep knowledge and unrivalled experience are behind the latest Mips technologies for safer helmets.

Read more on the science and technology behind our product

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Alpine racing

Conquer the mountain

Checklist for choosing an alpine helmet

Comfort and fit

Face protection

Race certification

Added safety features

Rotational management

Frequently asked questions about our alpine racing helmets

Featured alpine racing helmets

FIS Onyx Mips

Medalist Carbon Pro Mips

Icon Mips

Volata Mips

Avance Mips

Mips was born from science and research

Showing ### brands with Mips® safety system in this product category

We value your integrity

Alpine racing

Conquer the mountain

Read the full story Close

Checklist for choosing an alpine helmet

Comfort and fit

Face protection

Race certification

Added safety features

Rotational management

Read more Close

Frequently asked questions about our alpine racing helmets

How does a Mips® safety system work?

Where is Mips® safety system located on a helmet?

Which alpine racing helmets have Mips® safety systems?

Does a Mips® safety system add a lot of extra weight to the helmet?

Featured alpine racing helmets

FIS Onyx Mips

Medalist Carbon Pro Mips

Icon Mips

Volata Mips

Avance Mips

Mips was born from science and research

Showing ### brands with Mips® safety system in this product category