FEATURE
far and one HEXR commuter model, its place on the market is yet to be determined. Cost trends and market evolution
Range clarity vs. duplication Stocking multiple helmets that all claim rotational mitigation but use different terminology can confuse customers and be difficult for salespeople to justify. Without clear segmentation, ranges risk appearing redundant rather than comprehensive.
Price does not reliably correlate with rotational mitigation performance The cost curve has shifted significantly in recent years. Where rotational impact mitigation once defined premium helmets, it is now diffusing downward, and price does not correlate directly with safety performance. The highest-rated helmet in the latest Virginia Tech rankings, the Pikio Si with OBLIK technology (not yet EU-certified), retails above £300. The second-best rated model, Canyon’s Deflectr RLS mountain bike helmet, sits at around £160. This decoupling of price and protection complicates
merchandising. Retailers cannot assume that a higher price automatically signals higher safety, nor can they rely on a single technology as shorthand for quality. Entry-level helmets increasingly include MIPS or equivalent systems under £100. Premium helmets focus on proprietary systems, aerodynamics, and weight alongside safety. The acquisition of Koroyd by Mips signals a broader trend
toward consolidation and hybridisation rather than outright competition between concepts.
The rise of dual-system helmets More and more helmets not only use one rotational impact protection technology, but two. This is the case for some Giro and Bell helmets that combine a Mips’ inner liner with Spherical technology, a dual-density foam system designed to integrate rotational movement into the helmet structure. Mips acquired Koroyd in December 2025, and some helmets
by Smith and Endura now combine both technologies. Max Strandwitz, CEO of Mips, explains how they complement each other: ‘While Mips focus is on rotational motion, the Koroyd technology is aimed at energy absorption, and the merger combines the knowledge of these two innovation-driven companies’. Helmets offering more than one type of protection are
generally upscale ones costing over £200, but not always, as the Endura SingleTrack Helmet Mips comes in at just over £100.
The top-rated helmet under Virginia Tech’s system, the Pikio Si, also combines ‘macro-cavities inspired by bone structure’ within the shell to increase shock absorption with a system
18 | June 2026
photo (right): rider with kask heLMet by greg kabuLski
of nodes connecting two outer layers, deflecting rotational impacts.
Avoiding overcomplication at point of sale Despite the technical complexity, most customers are not looking for a detailed engineering explanation. They want reassurance: a helmet that is safe. The recent upgrade in the CEN protocol to include rotational impact in helmet protection sets a good baseline, but retailers will need to dive deep into competing brand claims to deliver more specific information. Pointing to independent testing, such as Virginia Tech
provides an external benchmark, even if imperfect. For every helmet it rates, Virginia Tech also provides a graph showing where the helmet’s price sits relative to others, which can serve as a quick reference. Offering direct comparisons and presenting any system as
definitively superior risks undermining credibility, as there is no straightforward comparison available. Finally, fit, comfort, and intended riding style remain critical.
A well-fitting helmet with credible protection is more relevant than the specific technology it uses.
Bottom line Independent ratings such as those from Virginia Tech provide a useful reference point, highlighting that performance and price do not always align. At the same time, pushback from brands like KASK underscores that no single protocol has universal acceptance. For the trade, the implication is clear: technology
fragmentation is not going away. The role of the retailer is to curate, simplify, and contextualise, translating a complex and sometimes contradictory landscape into a clear, confidence- inspiring offer for the end customer. ●
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