50 Specialized Tactic named safest helmet by Imperial College research [Video]

The Specialized Tactic MIPS is the most protective helmet according to research from Imperial College London, which used new oblique impact tests to rank 30 of the most popular models around. The Tactic comes out on top and offers better protection from side impacts than cycling helmets from other brands tested.

Before we get too excited though, there were few other mountain bike-specific helmets on test, meaning the Tactic MIPS was mostly up against roadie helmets. These naturally prioritise low weight and aerodynamics over extended protection, meaning you shouldn’t go out and bin your Troy Lee A3 just yet – it’s still one of the best mountain bike helmets out there, and my personal favourite.

All the helmets tested also passed minimum safety requirements including the EN 1078 standard, which ensures they offer a good level of protection.

Imperial researchers used a …