Three new helmets in the Sweet Protection 2026 bike lineup — the Fixer Carbon 2Vi Mips, Strayer 2Vi Mips, and Fixer Composite 2Vi Mips — have earned five-star ratings from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, the highest possible rating in the lab’s independent bicycle helmet safety evaluation.
Sweet Protection now has seven five-star rated bike helmets in the Virginia Tech system, including five helmets in the top 20 rankings. The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab works in collaboration with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
It evaluates helmets using the Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk (STAR) testing system. It assesses how effectively helmets reduce linear acceleration and rotational velocity of the head during a wide range of impact scenarios representative of a cycling crash. Helmets with higher star ratings are associated with a lower risk of concussion in these scenarios. The lab recommends that consumers choose helmets rated 4 or 5 stars.
“Our mission has always been to push helmet technology forward,” said Ståle Norman Møller, Co-Founder and Head of Product at Sweet Protection. “Seeing multiple models across our range earn five-star ratings confirms that our approach to design, engineering, and safety, including our advanced 2Vi technology platform, continues to deliver best-in-class protection for riders.”
Sweet Protection’s most advanced downhill full-face MTB helmets are specially designed and engineered for downhill racing, slopestyle, and park riding. The modern way of riding bikes has been taken into account, with the field of vision tailored to the extended reach required. Built on Sweet Protection’s 2Vi helmet technology platform and known for its impact performance and comfort, the helmet strikes a perfect balance between low weight and volume with proven impact protection.
Fixer Carbon 2Vi Mips
The Fixer Carbon 2Vi Mips helmet is Sweet Protection’s highest rated in the Virginia Tech testing. It features a progressively engineered carbon shell made of linear, unwoven fibers in optimized direction to optimize strength, stiffness, and weight.
This complete shell construction allows for a low-density EPS shock-absorbing structure to maximize travel upon impact. It is complemented by four impact shields in each corner of the head for optimizing impact dissipation where the head has a sharper radius. It also features an exclusive 2-Layer Mips System. The two layers are designed to move in the event of an impact to help redirect rotational motion away from the head, which reduces the risk of brain injury.
The Fixer Carbon 2Vi Mips helmet offers a well-vented, removable lining and quick-release cheek pads for emergency situations. The integrated, adjustable visor will rip off in crash situations. The helmet features rubber trim for goggle compatibility and to protect the shell if placed on a surface. Eleven penetration-resistant vents will provide great airflow to the rider.
Key Features of the Fixer Carbon 2Vi Mips helmet
- 2Vi Helmet Technology Platform for increased performance and comfort, including a 2-layer Mips Safety System for protection against rotational forces.
- Carbon fiber pre-preg shell, which ensures an optimum combination of rigidity and elasticity
- Multi-density EPS Impact Shields in each corner for improved impact dissipation
- Adjustable (two-position) break-away visor designed to tear off at an impact to improve protection performance
- Emergency removable cheek pads
- 11 Penetration-resistant vents
- Titanium Double D Buckle (Moto-inspired)
- Adapted Fit: Built to fit perfectly with Sweet Protection goggles
Fixer Composite 2Vi Mips
The Fixer Composite 2Vi Mips helmet is a high-performance helmet is designed for downhill racing, freeride and park riding. This helmet shares the 2Vi features used in the Carbon version, but uses a variable elastic composite material in the shell instead of carbon fiber.
This helmet and its innovative 2Vi® helmet technology platform provide high-performance protection and comfort in a low-profile package. It includes a 2-layer Mips Safety System to minimize the rotational forces during an impact. This system is complemented by multi-density EPS Impact Shields front and rear for improved impact dissipation.
Strayer 2Vi Mips
The Strayer 2Vi Mips is an advanced in-mold full-face mountain bike helmet. It is designed for aggressive trail riding and enduro racing when lightweight performance and maximum protection are essential. Developed alongside the Fixer model, it shares the same distinctive geometry while balancing strength, ventilation and comfort.
Built on Sweet Protection’s 2Vi technology platform, the Strayer 2Vi Mips helmet integrates multiple protection systems into one cohesive design. An injection-molded ABS/PC chin guard is fused directly into the helmet structure. This provides exceptional strength while maintaining a lightweight feel.
The helmet uses a five-shell construction paired with a low-density EPS liner to effectively dissipate impact energy. A front impact shield and EPP structure behind the chin guard add targeted protection in critical areas.
Understanding the Ratings
Virginia Tech’s bicycle helmet ratings provide an independent, objective assessment of helmet performance, free from manufacturer influence. Each helmet is evaluated through 24 laboratory impact tests designed to replicate helmet-to-ground conditions commonly seen in real-world cycling crashes.
Using a specialized drop tower, researchers measure peak linear acceleration and rotational velocity during impacts. These two key factors are correlated with concussion risk. Helmets are tested at six locations around the helmet shell under both medium and high impact energies. Velocities are selected based on helmet damage replication studies of typical cyclist crashes.
Each impact scenario is weighted according to how frequently a cyclist might experience a similar impact in real life. Concussion risk is calculated from the measured acceleration and rotational velocity for each test. Then it is multiplied by its weighting factor and summed to generate an overall STAR score. Lower scores indicate better overall helmet performance and a reduced estimated risk of concussion.
Because testing methods and impact scenarios vary between sports, the scores in bicycle helmet ratings are not comparable to helmet ratings for other sports.
