The addition of MIPS protection to Limar’s Air Pro road racing helmet didn’t sound like a big deal, until you look closer and see an all-new MIPS Ai system inside that is lighter and more vented than any yellow plastic liner that came before it. It seemed odd that Italian helmet maker Limar had not previously adopted additional MIPS protection, or something similar. But now it seems they were looking for a higher-performance solution for their flagship aero & vented road helmets.
Limar Air Pro road helmet gets all-new MIPS Ai protection
We’ve been asking for a while “what would be next?” for the company that put rotational impact protection on everybody’s minds (and onto all of our heads). The helmet industry has jumped up with any number of other solutions. And this year, we’ve been thinking MIPS Spherical might even be the new answer. But that still requires quite a large helmet, so MIPS has also been working on a new thinner, lighter solution – MIPS Ai.
Multi-directional Impact Protection System gets ‘Artificially Intelligent‘ Tech?
Limar calls the new integrated MIPS Ai “much lighter and more ventilated” than any previous MIPS solution, improving rider comfort and airflow through the helmet.
MIPS Ai is the latest, low-profile Brain Protection System, employing a number of separate low friction layer inserts that can move independently to redirect impacts without the need for a single rigid liner. MIPS apparently hasn’t given the new system a name, instead Limar dubbing it Ai. Those individual liners are attached to the helmet’s EPS shell at many points with small clips that allow for local rotation, in addition to letting the pad/liner combo slide for further movement. MIPS claims allowable movement of 10-15mm in any direction to reduce rotational force in an impact.
What remains unclear, is how comfortable this new system will be on your head. The Limar Air Pro + MIPS Ai helmet integrates the new liner insert elements directly to the helmet’s comfort padding. And it uses 15 or more of the new MIPS Ai clips to secure the pad/liner, while allowing for movement. The clips appear to sit higher than the pads, likely directly against the rider’s head.
Limar Air Pro + MIPS Ai – Pricing & availability
For the time being, it seems MIPS Ai is exclusive to Limar and their flagship Air Pro Road helmet. Adding the new protection liner adds just 40€ to the price of the helmet, bringing the Air Pro+MIPS to 300€.
The new protection doesn’t seem to come with a weight penalty, with the new helmet still claiming weights of 230g (S), 250g (M), and 270g (L) depending on size (53-61cm). The in-mold carbon-structured helmet is available in three colors now – matte black, gloss red or white – direct from Limar.
No official word if or when the rest of their Air Revolution road helmets will also get a MIPS Ai option, or if their pro riders will start racing with the new tech?
Limar.com (in EU) & LimarItalia.com (in US)
