<p>A load-diverting helmet (40) contains an interface layer (45) disposed between inner (41) and outer helmet layers (43, 44). The inner helmet (41) layer is attached to a helmet retention system (42) that can be used to hold the inner helmet layer (41) to a wearer's head. When a tangential impact force is applied to the outer helmet layer (41), the interface layer (45) allows the outer helmet layer (41) to displace with respect to the inner helmet layer, thereby absorbing and/or diverting forces that would be transferred in a conventional helmet design to the wearer's head and neck as rotational acceleration.</p>
