New Virginia Tech Helmet Study 2025

[eq_gem]

So I just saw that a new helmet study from VT was released. Interesting to see that the most popular helmets, and ones that the community deems “safe” (obviously not by these standards), received some really low rankings. What is interesting to me as well is that you don’t see any of the top 5 in the show ring (at least where I live – I can’t speak for an entire country) and rarely see anything in the top 10. I wonder why?

Equestrian Helmet Ratings

VT released a video about the testing, and said it’s going to have a large impact. With the way the horse world works, and how so many people stick to tradition over research, I wonder if there will be any change, or if it’s just another study most people will ignore?

Helmet Lab research will have big impact on equestrians | Virginia Tech News | Virginia Tech

Also interesting that polo and equestrian are separate studies… I wonder if many wide-brim helmets would test the same as polo helmets? I don’t know much in that regard, so simply throwing out an observation and a question.

Polo Helmet Rotational Testing Report

[blue_heron]

I love the idea of the helmet testing and maybe this does not negate the findings but I can’t get over that helmet fit is barely addressed in this work. All they say is that the sizes were selected based on circumference of the model head. I understand it would be difficult to develop additional criteria for fit but anyone who has shopped for helmets (or boots!!) knows circumference is almost irrelevant to the actual fit.

[Demerara_Stables]

@eq_gem

Also interesting that polo and equestrian are separate studies… I wonder if many wide-brim helmets would test the same as polo helmets? I don’t know much in that regard, so simply throwing out an observation and a question.

Polo Helmet Rotational Testing Report

I didn’t catch that before - is that why wide brimmed helmets such as the Miss Shield aren’t included? Or was that just because they couldn’t obtain a test helmet? Anyone know?

[eq_gem]

Yes! Part of me wonders if the results would be different for oval heads vs round heads etra… A person with a round head would be unsafe in an oval helmet… no?

[eq_gem]

I highly doubt that they were unable to obtain test helmets… some of the helmets they tested are more expensive and less popular, so I do wonder how they chose what helmets to test vs what helmets to not test

[endlessclimb]

I just want to know what Champion is doing that everyone else isn’t.

[fivestrideline]

There’s reasons! Some of it being they cannot get helmets direct from manufacturer and have to buy from retailers, which as we all know are as a rule having stocking issues (and only one size fits the head forms).

Head forms are standardized, and this is across all of this type of testing. So the testers pick the shape option that best fits the head form for each model. Yes, precise fit is key, but just having hair vs a naked form is a HUGE difference (and outside the scope of these tests).

@Xctrygirl I believe may have more insight on these questions. There’s also the MIPS Facebook page with LOTS of info on all these tests (not just MIPS helmets).

[fivestrideline]

Adding a link to a post by talking a bit about the range of results, in another thread.

New helmet ratings

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 mark…

I also want to know why Champion is knocking it out of the park, though!

[eq_gem]

Smart point! (that I feel like I shouldve known as I deal with helmet stock issues all the time… blame it on school stress making me blank out ) I know a lot of helmet brands have been holding stock in international shipping sectors to wait for tariff changes (NOT LOOKING TO START A POLITICAL FIGHT – THIS IS JUST A COMMENT ON WHY IT IS HARD TO GET HELMETS RIGHT NOW) or see if there is a way that they can get them over here without charging customers $$$$ as opposed to $$$.

Do we think they are going to add more helmets to the test?

And yes please, what is it about Champion???

[IPEsq]

In their first study, wide brim versions tended to be rated lower than their smaller rim or skullcap counterparts (for shells offered with different brims), but there wasn’t much on this list to allow that comparison. I think Kask was one included in this study.

[Demerara_Stables]

@IPEsq

In their first study, wide brim versions tended to be rated lower than their smaller rim or skullcap counterparts (for shells offered with different brims)

That’s very interesting. Did they speculate as to why? I love my Miss Shield but I think I love my brain more