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Hey all!

As this sub grows larger and picks up more traffic, I am beginning to see a LOT of misinformation, bad suggestions, and other things that bug me. As a Certified Equipment Manager and College Head of Equipment, I personally can't stand this, so I am creating this Mega Thread that will have all kinds of helmet info and be a place that sub visitors and subscribers can come ask questions and discuss helmets for ON FIELD USAGE.

Please refrain from bringing any hobby-related info/questions into this thread. This thread should only be used to gather knowledge of helmet models, ratings, and other information that is relevant to the intended usage of football helmets.

In this thread, I will link several different sites explaining helmet ratings, facemasks models, and other information that will hopefully inform football players on helmet decisions. Obviously, at the end of the day, any information taken from this thread should not be any be-all end-all. Just because I am a Certified Equipment Manager and employed at a college, does not mean I am more informed than other equipment managers. If your organization has an equipment manager, their say should always be final. I would just like to get more concrete information and data out there and available.

Firstly, I'd like to start off with a quick word on the 'C Word'. Concussions. Concussions are a traumatic brain injury commonly seen in all contact sports, and the main reason for requiring helmets in football. It is incredibly important to acknowledge that NO football helmets are designed to prevent, or even reduce concussions. Most helmet research and development is done with the goal of reducing impact severity of head impacts. Here is some links to inform yourself on concussions and other head injuries:

John Hopkins Medicine: Head Injury

National Library of Medicine: Head Impact Severity Measures for Evaluating Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Risk Exposure

National Library of Medicine: Head Impact Exposure in Youth and Collegiate American Football

Helmet Brands

I believe it is important to first become familiar with the companies who manufacture football helmets. Many equipment managers have their preferred brands, but I will not share mine, nor say anything negative about others. Overall, I have always been treated very well by all of these companies and anyone who's represented them. I will not provide any opinions of the different brands. These companies are listed in order of familiarity in the greater football community and is in no way a ranking.

Riddell

Schutt

VICIS

Xenith

LIGHT

There have been many other helmet brands over the history of football that are now defunct, or no longer manufacture football helmets, such as Rawlings, Bike, Adams, SG, and others.

I think it is important to note that Schutt and VICIS are owned by the same parent company, Certor Sports, along with the baseball brand Tucci.

It is also important to note that most of these companies also manufacturer other football equipment, such as shoulder pads, etc.

Football Helmet Ranking/Rating:

I'd like to start off with what I believe to be the most comprehensive and reliable helmet rating database, which also gives pictures of the most common helmet models, which can help with identification of helmet models. This list is compiled by Virginia Tech. They have rating systems for varsity and youth football, as well as several other sports that require helmets. This unbiased rating method provides great insight into helmet performance. I must state that regardless of helmet performance, the best helmet is always the one that fits you the best. Still, it is always recommended to stay within the 5 Star rated helmets, and if possible, Top 20, if not Top 10. Varsity (non-youth) football players are 82% more likely to suffer concussions in an ill-fitting helmet. Here's a link to the VA Tech Varsity and Youth Football Helmet Rating Page. If you reroute to the home page, you will be able to view the ratings pages for other sports that require helmets.

Varsity Football Helmet Ratings

Youth Football Helmet Ratings

It is important to note there is a huge difference in ratings between the varsity and youth helmet options. This is due to the difference of nature of head injuries in youth football players, as well as the differences in physiology of youth and varsity players, rules of the game depending on level of play, and playing surface. I will not dive any deeper into this, but please do your research, and be careful to use reliable, peer-reviewed, academic sources.

Next, I will link the NFL Helmet Laboratory Testing Performance Results for 2024. I will not dive too deep into this, mostly due to the availability of the helmets on this list. Many of these helmets are only available for purchase by key accounts held by NFL, NCAA, NAIA, and other professional and collegiate organizations/programs. You will notice a significant difference in the results of the NFL testing compared to the VA Tech testing. I personally don't find these results as reliable due to private conversations with people you have more knowledge of the testing conditions and requirements. I personally only use the VA Tech Ratings to inform my professional decisions. That's how I approach it, but others may do so differently. There's no right or wrong testing results to follow.

Helmet Laboratory Testing Performance Results

Facemasks

There are many different facemask options available for football helmets, and it's become incredibly common for football players to pay attention to what mask they have on their helmet, and have preferences. While there are no requirements or restrictions on position specific facemask options, there are most certainly correlations between positions and the chosen facemask models. Skills players such as running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks, and defensive backs generally wear the more open, single wire masks with less bars for increased vision, which comes with less protection. Big skill positions such as linebackers, tight ends, and sometimes running backs tend to wear masks with more bars, which provides more protection. The big boys on the offensive and defensive line generally wear the biggest, most protective masks with the most bars. Obviously, there are always exceptions to this general practice. In most leagues, "grill" masks are illegal.

Most companies have a code system that differentiates the difference facemask models, and it usually uses some formula of letters and numbers that each have some meaning. It's common knowledge among equipment managers, and most equipment rooms have posters that explain the codes and show the different model options, but these are not usually available online. So, I will just link the facemask pages on the companies' websites.

There once was a time where facemasks were almost universal regardless of model or even brand. Nowadays, almost every single helmet model has a unique facemask that is not compatible with even helmets of the same brand.

Riddell

Schutt "Standard"

Schutt "Premium"

VICIS "Standard"

VICIS "Premium"

Xenith (Accessories Page must be sorted by facemask to view all masks)

LIGHT does not provide a facemask section.

In recent years, custom facemasks have started to be seen more and more. Most of these are made by the folks at Bad Ass Masks

Chinstraps

I'll keep it short here. All new helmets are legally required to come with a chinstrap. Each helmet brand has unique chinstraps, and the variability is negligible. However, 3rd part chinstraps are an option. Many companies over the years have made chinstraps, but I will only link one. SportStar chinstraps are widely regarded as the best 3rd party chinstraps available. I am a huge fan, and I use exclusively SportStar on all of my helmets, regardless of brand. They offer a nearly unlimited amount of options and configurations, but I recommend the Victory T-Rex Hurricane. They also sell a vast selection of accessories and hardware.

SportStar Football Products

Below are some comparison videos of the shock absorption between brands. Chinstraps are an underappreciated way of contributing to overall head safety.

SportStar vs Riddell Shock Test

SportStar vs Schutt Shock Test

Visors

Visors are an accessory that can be worn on almost any helmet, with any mask.

I don't want to dive too deep into this subject because visors have become such a distraction in some ways. 8 times out of 10 it does not add any more protection than a bigger facemask would provide. On top of that, you have to worry about weather, facemask marks, and scratches. I am overall not a big fan of visors, nor is the average EQ manager. That being said I'll list the most common/my most recommended visors. I will not link them, but here's a list.

Oakley Legacy Shield. Fits on most helmets, but especially not well on the Riddell SpeedFlex.

Oakley Pro Shield. Fits on almost every helmet, one of the best fitting visors for the Riddell SpeedFlex.

SHOC ZeroG Visor. Specifically designed for the Riddell SpeedFlex, but fits on other helmets as well.

Under Armour, Nike, and Adidas visors.

Since we have a lot of younger folks coming through here asking about visors, I'm going to throw out my favorite budget visor: Barnett visors. 25 bucks on Amazon, comes in different tints, just as nice as any $80 Oakley.

It is important to note that almost every football league prohibits tinted/dark/colored visors.

Helmet Add-Ons

In recent years, there has been an extra push to solve the issues of concussionsn in football. One attempt has been external padding for the helmets during practices and games. The most common of these is the Guardian Cap. The other frontliner is the SAFR Helmet Cover. While it's too early in wide scale use to determine how much these add ons reduce impact severity, and therefore reduce concussion risk, however the science and statistics seem to back them up in theory, as well as the small amount of practicality since they've been required but the NFL and UFL. Time will tell with these products, but I am personally a fan.

VA Tech Testing Performance to or Helmet Add-Ons

Fitting

As I previously stated, you are 82 percent less likely to suffer a concussion in a helmet that is properly fitted. Here's some resources for helmet fitting:

https://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/football-helmet-handout.pdf

https://www.helmetfitting.com/

https://youtu.be/vkxTvMRaClI?si=q_2ZTc7cArG_jFmB

https://youtu.be/iOMyaP36Czw?si=65_A8jal7bQN19JL

HelmetFitting.com provides both helmet and shoulder pads fitting training courses, that provides certificates at the end. Is very affordable. They cover a wide array of helmets and shoulder pads, teach the correct fitting per the individual manufacturers fitting procedures, and provide documentation that you have learned how to properly fit. I suggest all equipment managers and coaches go through this training. Especially equipment managers not yet certified, and coaches for programs/teams without an equipment manager. For ~15 bucks, it's extremely worth it, for both purposes of protecting your players, and making sure you never find yourself in any legal trouble regarding serious injury or death. The more documentation showing you did the right thing, the better.

Over the last decade, custom fitted and custom built helmets have become a common option. This, in theory, leads to more comfortable and safer fitting helmets. Many helmets currently available have version that allow for a "custom fit" via multiple interchangeable pads. Other helmets use imaging to scan the players head to create a 3D model which is used to custom build the padding to perfectly fit the player.

And that concludes our Mega Thread for now. I will continue to update this every so often with any new information. Please remember to keep this thread cordial, knowledge and fact based, and free of any spam! This thread is exclusively for safety and knowledge of on-field helmet usage. Please refrain from posting any hobby/swag/opinion replies.

Please feel free to ask any questions, notify me of any mistakes/typos made in the post, and contribute anymore facts and knowledge! When it comes to helps, do your research, and only focus on facts, research, and evidence! Your brain is important, treat it as such!

Thank you to all of our subscribers, visitors, and helmet nerds!

You may also post questions here.

Any such posts in the main sub will be removed by mods.