According to the United States Center for Disease control and prevention, around 3.5 million Americans suffer brain injuries every year. Within the past decade, head injuries have become more apparent in the sports world, often leaving victims in unstable conditions and damaging long-term health, memory, and learning. However, there is hope. With due time and increased awareness, American-based company 2nd Skull hopes to provide headgear designed for all sports and recreational activities, ultimately changing the view on head protection and making it safer for all.
“You can’t protect your kids from everything…but you can give them a 2nd Skull®”.
Based in Pittsburgh, 2nd Skull is a company dedicated to producing strong but flexible headgear that shields athletes from serious head-impact injuries. Its current patented technology has proven to add up to 35% more impact protection compared to the standardized school-provided helmets, reducing the massive short-term and long-term damage to the head, and consequently to the brain.
2nd skull provides the complete package for head protection: innovative absorption technology, convenience and ease in use, and a sleek yet athletic look.
“It all started on a summer day in 2010” recalls Federico Olivares, 2nd Skull CEO. “My kids were riding bikes and electric four wheelers. All of a sudden, I saw my son fall down and hit his head hard on the concrete. While he had his bicycle helmet on, I realized that in a split second his life could change from that head injury. I felt so helpless and knew at that moment that I had to do something about this, for me and for other parents. How could I ultimately achieve peace of mind? If there was one product that could add protection against head injuries that could work in any sport or activity, what would it look like?”
Just as any parent would, Mr. Olivares was troubled by the experience his children went through, and relentlessly pursued the idea of the perfect headpiece protection. With a little creativity and a determined mind, a product was created, a team was assembled, and 2nd Skull was born.
2nd Skull headgear protects an athlete via a thin layer of material designed to absorb repeated, and sustained impact at a high rate. This protection is exceptionally crucial for defense against traumatic brain injury, an affliction that is found to be more and more prevalent among American athletes. 2nd skull products are now available in over 100 retail stores and are trying to fight against such tragic injuries for all athletes alike.
How do these sturdy yet fashionable caps have such a huge impact?
Let’s look at the science and logistics.
Product Features and Technology
The key to 2nd headgear is in the material, known as Poron XRD. Every 2nd Skull product is made with a thin 2mm layer of lightweight Poron XRD, a type of extreme impact material made from special urethane molecules that can change its texture from soft and flexible at rest to extremely hard under sudden pressure.
Poron XRD Features:
-Absorbs more than 90% of energy when impacted at high strain rates
-Breathable and lightweight for a comfortable wear
-Microban® antimicrobial protection to defend against odors and stains
“We adhered to the same testing standards for new helmets and followed NOCSAE and ASTM standards to test helmets on their own and helmets with 2nd Skull” said Olivares. “These were tested for linear impact. The additional protection for our products is on average up to 35%. We tested different sport helmets including: football, hockey, lacrosse, baseball, softball, BMX, skateboard, skiing, snowboard”.
2nd Skull Cap
The most notable product to date is the 2nd Skull Cap. The cap fits neatly under almost all sports helmets, giving the versatility to add a layer of protection to any activity, whether that is in baseball, football, etc. Because of its athletic appearance, it also helps eliminate the notion of teenagers rejecting headgear due unattractive design.
Features
- Impact Absorbing Technology adds up to 35% more impact protection
- Spandex fabric blend for a stretchable but compressive fit
- Moisture wicking fabrics for sweat management
- Antimicrobial treatment for anti-odor
- Easy to Wash (Doesn’t require removing or inserting of anything)
- Permitted for High School use in Football, Baseball, Hockey and Lacrosse
Band
The 2nd Skull band contains all the same protection properties as the cap. It adds another layer of protection for athletes who participate in non-contact sports, and can save athletes from similar traumatizing experiences.
While including all of the similar properties found within the cap, the band also offers:
- Silicone grip to keep headband in place
- Ponytail access
- Recommended for Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball, Women’s Lacrosse and other sports
Testing and Anatomy
In order to fully understand the difference in protection that these 2nd skull caps provided, a series of tests were conducted by the 2nd Skull team through impact testing conducted at independent third party laboratories, adhering to NOCSAE and ASTM standards for new helmets. Helmet testing comparison featured standard unprotected head-forms and head-forms with 2nd Skull to measure variances in Severity Index. Similarly, for non-helmet activities, standard unprotected headforms were tested against headforms with 2nd Skull.
BASEBALL TESTS
The cap offered a staggering 63% increase in protection from side impact.
AMERICAN FOOTBALL TESTS
The cap offered a 26% reduction impact in head-first collisions
Videos
Through a phone interview, Federico Olivares revealed to SportTechie his philosophy behind superior headgear as well as the uniqueness behind its products.
In regards to contact sports, many kids and parent’s aren’t aware of how big of an impact head injuries can be for kids and young teenagers. Many will think: “Oh, it’s alright…they’ll just wear the standard school-provided helmet and they’ll be okay”. What kind of strategies are you guys implementing in order to reach out to people and explain to them that head protection gear is actually necessary?
Mr. Olivares: A lot of education about what our products do and not do. We are transparent about our claims. We cannot eliminate a concussion but we can certainly add protection against impact. We know from research from the Cleveland Clinic that even non-concussive hits can also lead to long term health issues. In some cases, minor, cumulative hits can also impact athletes long term.
How well do you think the 2nd Skull caps will perform in the sports market and what kind of niche does it currently have that differentiates it from other similar head products?
Mr. Olivares: We know that our products will do great in the market. We spent the last years optimizing the products and have been patient to get this right. Our main differences are two: 1) Our products look and feel great and no different than what professional athletes already wear. 2) Our products work in multiple sports as they have a simple yet versatile design to drive utility. No need for parents to buy protective headgear for football, another one for baseball and another one for hockey. 2nd Skull fits under any sports helmet giving athletes protection throughout the year. We do not want athletes to get ridiculed by wearing something that looks weird, that’s why we have made great looking protective headgear.
How much does each 2nd Skull cap or band currently cost and where can consumers find them? In addition, what plans does 2nd Skull have for the future?
Mr. Olivares: A cap can be bought for $59.99, and the band at $49.99. The products can be purchased online at 2ndskull.com and at key sporting goods retailers throughout the country.
This post was sponsored by 2nd Skull.