I like that they are testing them but I very much dislike the way they are showing the ratings. The #1 helmet has a rating of 2.11 but #4 is already 3.05. That’s a HUGE jump. Then the difference between helmet #7 and #11 is .33.
The testing has shown that some helmets are wildly more protective than others. Hopefully helmet manufacturers will use the data to improve their product.
PS: I lawn darted head first into my arena about a month ago in #15
Interesting, a big move up for the faux cowboy hat scenario. As I recall it was something like a 12 in the first round. My head is so oval that a CO certified fitter asked me if I was born with forceps and said to get a helmet that fits from their current range I’d have to order custom to the british standard and essentially smuggle it over. I will continue on with my samshield which is, to some peoples perspective, the devil’s helmet but scores pretty mid range here, it seems. There still seems to be a pretty strong correlation with size/presence of brim to scoring on this test. Not sure how I feel about that
I owned 2 Traumavoid Eq3 helmets and they were fine, but I didn’t love how they felt. They didn’t hurt my head, just didn’t feel the most secure. My favorite helmet that I own (by a long shot) in the CO Halo with MIPS. It feels the most secure on my head, but I am at the top range for liner sizes for the shell size I have, so I don’t show in it since I can’t even remotely put my hair into it. I also have a CO Kylo that I like quite well that is a hair up only helmet. Even with the dial fit, it’s not tight enough if my hair is down. Then I have a Samshield Shadow Matt that I generally only show in, but I have 2 liner sizes for it. It’s the standard visor, not the Miss Shield. If I could own any helmet, I’d buy another halo with the larger shell so I could get a liner that fits with my hair up. I really love that helmet.
My Helmet Saga
I ride in a OneK with MIPS that fits me better than any other helmet I’ve worn, except for the OneK without MIPS that fit pretty much the same way. But I decided to try. I went to Dover about a month ago. The very nice store manager measured my head and I tried on some helmets to get a sense of my head shape (apparently not very oval nor very round). She noted that a helmet that doesn’t fit you isn’t likely to be protective. We discussed the ratings, including the fact that they include both high- and low-speed falls and some of the helmets that don’t fare very well overall are pretty good at higher-speed falls. Also, the head dummy that they use is a specific (pinhead?) shape so helmets that don’t fit that well are not going to fare well. I suppose that if your head happens to match the shape of the dummy head, it’s better.
After ascertaining that my head might be a match, she ordered the Champion helmet that is #1 in the above-linked rating list. It is covered in fabric which would not be my first choice given that I use the same helmet for shows and home and we do ride on the trail. It came it. Its look gave definite Charles Owen vibes. It came way down on my head which was weird at first but I got used to it. But, it was like having a vice grip on my head. She suggested that I walk around the store for a bit. The headache got worse. I removed the hat and had a noticeable crease on my head. It went back in its box and got returned.
I am still wearing the OneK.
I just ordered a Charles Owen Kylo wide brim w/ MIPS on Horseloverz.com with a coupon and shipping $132. Seemed like a good deal. I tried one on at Equine Affaire and liked it.
I’ve ridden in Samshields for the last decade- I realized one is 9 years old (from Facebook memories photos haha)- time to toss it probably and replace. I also got a Pardus helmet from Back on Track I think 2 years ago but it never was really comfortable so it just sits in my tackroom.
A helmet that fits well and is comfy is probably the best helmet for people. Not all helmets as we know fit all head shapes.
Just coming here to make sure that folks are up to speed on what you’re seeing currently on the VT helmet ratings page.
These are the current results of the new batch of testing that now includes an oblique impact test that was not part of the testing prior to now. You will see many helmets that were tested before are not showing up in the results. This is because the lab is in the process of acquiring more helmets so that they can bring the test up to speed for the helmets that are on the market currently.
Certainly the helmets that are there are tested and are very solid you should expect to see the MIPS equipped helmets rise in the rankings now that the oblique test is included. This is the type of impact that most shows off the effect of MIPS in a helmet. This type of impact being excluded in the first go-round of testing is mostly the reason for the disparity of results of the MIPS equipped helmets.
I emailed back and forth with Dr Miller the other week, they are in the process of procuring more helmets for more testing of the current helmets on the market.
So stay tuned they will put up updates throughout the year this is not the final moment of the testing.
For anyone interested in learning more about MIPS equipped helmets, please feel free to look at our MIPS group on Facebook. “MIPS Protection System Equestrian Helmets”
Many thanks,
Emily
I was hoping you’d chime in, but I couldn’t remember your screen name. “Em” didn’t get me anywhere. 
will they be testing arro?
Rhys (Owner and designer of Arro) has said yes.
I believe they have to figure out the Tariff situation a bit since Rhys has temporarily stopped shipping helmet inventory to the USA given the tariff imposition. And VT has to buy their helmets from a distributor, cannot buy direct from brand, so that has to be sorted. But maybe it’s already sorted. I wouldn’t know.
Em
Have you tried the Suomy Apex? (Fellow oval pin head here)
No. Never heard of it, but I’ll look. Thanks!
Welp, I had one of “those” falls today, the completely freak ones. Horse was cantering along, caught a toe, face planted and swam, and luckily didn’t flip over on me. I was able to roll off to the side, and my MIPS helmet did a great job protecting the noggin! Horse and I are both okay 
On another note, is anyone familiar with the warranty/helmet replacement for Charles Owen? I just bought this Kylo about a month ago.
Horses, never a dull moment!
Glad you are okay!
Thank you!! Me too 
Glad you are all right, @Hoofbeat_Heartbeat.
CO should give you a discount on your replacement helmet if their policy is still in effect (I used it in 2021). Check their website --you fill in a form describing the fall and submit it with a photo of the helmet damage and your receipt. I believe it applies to helmets purchased in the last year.
I emailed them earlier this year for clarity and they responded pretty quickly.
My helmet was 2.5 years old so barely qualified for a discounted replacement from CO. I wound up not following through, mostly because things in my personal life exploded in the worst possible way a couple of weeks later. But again, they responded quickly and I think would likely be good at helping to guide you through the process (Pretty sure it involves sending your old helmet to them for research purposes).
And yeah, sh** happens! I’m glad you’re okay! Sucks that you have to replace your helmet, but it is good to replace it, since we do only have one head and better safe than sorry.
Yes CO is really quick to reply. I took the same fall last year - my horse partially fell on me so had a broken rib but thankfully nothing else. I didn’t think I hit my head and got back on. Later I looked at my helmet and it had a huge “rug burn” from the sand so clearly I did! CO myps did it’s job as I didn’t even have a minor headache or feeling that I had hit. They require a photo with the harness cut to get the discount.
I ended up buying a Tipperary Windsor as I needed one asap and that’s what fit best at Dover.
I fell in my Kylo shortly after buying it in fall of 2023. I had gotten it during helmet awareness week, so didn’t pay full price. At that time I got 50% I believe off the retail price but I did have to pay for shipping from the UK because that time they weren’t stocked in a US warehouse. So with that, it wasn’t as much less than buying one full price as the normal replacement costs allows.
Thanks everyone! Going to fill out an accident form and see where it goes from there. I’m at least glad that the Kylo is a relatively “cheaper” helmet, given helmet prices these days 
!
I was heartbroken that the Suomy did not fit me well. She’s beautiful. For reference, the One K oval is my go-to.
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