Multi-Layer Shell and MIPS technology
In the Receptor Backcountry, there are three layers between your head and whatever object you’re trying to avoid hitting. From the inside out, the first layer is a multi-impact EPP foam liner*.
Next is a layer of Aramid (Kevlar), which prevents penetration of sharp objects (e.g., branches), and therefore allows the exterior shell to be lighter and thinner. On top of all that sits the exterior plastic shell. These three layers are only connected by a soft foam pin, which is where the MIPS technology comes in.
The idea is that when a rotational force is applied to the helmet from a significant impact, the layers will move independently: the exterior shell will slide first and absorb some of the force, thus reducing the amount of twisting that is directly translated to the brain. When holding the helmet, I can push the foam interior and feel that it does move independently of the exterior shell.
Crashes
I have crashed hard a couple of times while wearing the Receptor Backcountry. On one occasion, I did several cartwheels on firmer snow, to the point that I examined the helmet to see if the shells had slid over each other (they had not). And a week ago, after a failed attempt at launching Nightmare Rock in Alta 3 chute at Jackson Hole, I backslapped hard enough to leave me slightly rattled, with a sore neck and back, wondering whether I had concussion symptoms. Still no movement of the pin. I’ve crashed hard, but not to the point that I’ve done significant damage.
Based on my experience, it seems you would have to hit something immobile, or get in the type of crash where you truly rely on your helmet to prevent serious damage for the MIPS technology to make a difference.
Bottom Line
With the Receptor Backcountry, POC has certainly put an emphasis on safety technology over fancy features or color choices. That said, the only effective difference this makes is with the venting. If you find yourself constantly opening or closing your vents, there may be better helmets out there for you. Also make sure you get the correct size, and note that the removeable pads will pack out.
Otherwise, if you ski hard and fast and are serious about the safety of your most vital organ, the concepts that MIPS and POC have developed seem to make sense to protect yourself from the most serious crashes.
Footnote:
Most helmets use an EPS foam, either in a hard shell or in-mold construction. (Hard shell helmets have a thick exterior that surrounds an EPS liner, and can be heavy; in-mold helmets have a thinner, lighter exterior of hard plastic that is molded to an EPS liner.) EPS foam is designed to absorb impact through deformation: you hit a tree, the foam cracks, and the force of the impact is dissipated through the destruction of the foam. The EPP foam of the Receptor Backcountry, however, is said not deform permanently on impact. Most EPS helmets, then, typically have a single-impact designation, whereas the EPP-foam Receptor Backcountry, in POC’s words, is “suitable to absorb repetitive shocks.”