If you’re gonna go fast, you better protect that melon on top of your neck. It’s not rocket science. Mountain biking in Utah can often mean steep and fast descents with plenty of technical sections; exactly the type of riding where having a top-notch helmet could save your bacon. Sweet Protection knows a thing or two about keeping your brains intact, and I’ve been using their Dissenter MIPS helmet all summer long. My future as a mathematician has never felt more secure.
Dissenter Helmet highlights
- Single piece polycarbonate shell
- EPS Liner: Expanded Polystyrene construction helps boost protection during a crash
- In-mold construction: fuses the EPS liner and shell together together for added strength
- MIPS technology: plenty more info on this coming up
- Occigrip turn dial: makes for easy adjustments to the Dissenter’s fit
- STACC ventilation: Superficial Temporal Artery Cooling Channel. Whoa!
- Removable and shatter resistant visor
- Reinforced molded strap anchors
Sweet Protection touts the Dissenter as a “bang for the buck” helmet, and I can’t disagree. I’ve seen helmets above this price point (the Dissenter costs $170) that don’t pack as much tech as this lid. The other good news? The Dissenter has performed outstanding on every one of my rides.
Trail performance
Dialing in the fit on the Dissenter helmet is a breeze. The Occigrip turn dial makes it easy to adjust the height and overall tightness, and the silicon pads are pretty comfortable. On the trail, the Sweet Protection helmet stayed put during bouncy sections and high speed cornering. My favorite feature of this skullcap is the ventilation. STACC sounds almost comically high-tech, but it works! Even during 95 degree climbs in July, my head did not overheat (I sweat plenty, but never felt like my brains were frying). The removable brim is one of the better ones I’ve used, and honestly I don’t know why you would want to take it off.
Overall the Dissenter is very comfortable, kept my head from overheating, and looked quite stylish while doing it. Unfortunately for this review, I did not have any major crashes while testing it. I can’t honestly tell you if this will protect your noggin in a worst-case-scenario, but what I can say is that I have no problem trusting it to do just that. This is due largely in part to the inclusion of MIPS technology.
What is MIPS?
MIPS= Multi directional Impact Protection System. This technology was developed specifically to reduce brain injuries. In the event of a crash, the helmet can rotate slightly to absorb more rotational forces. When you crash, your head and body will be moving around. The MIPS layer allows the helmet to move slightly in the direction of the force, thereby absorbing more of the impact until the crash is complete. MIPS has been gaining plenty of traction over the last few years both for snow and MTB head protection. Personally, I will not buy a helmet without MIPS technology in the future; turns out my modeling career just hasn’t taken off, so I need to rely on my brains at this point.
The Verdict
The inclusion of MIPS in the Dissenter helmet is huge, and in my opinion validates Sweet Protection’s claim of maximum bang for buck. The helmet looks good, performs good, and has every available modern technology to protect you during a crash. It even comes with a silky-smooth storage bag. All of this at a sub- $200 price is a big thumbs up in my book. Go ahead mathematicians, run the numbers. You’ll undoubtedly come to the same conclusion as this rocket scientist.