For the second time in 15 days, the VICIS ZERO1 football helmet is being lauded as the safest around. On May 1, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab awarded five stars for VICIS’ 2018 ZERO1. The helmet beat out sixteen other competitors.
The goal of VT’s research, which has been ongoing since 2011, is to identify which helmets reduce the risk of head injuries most effectively. The testing process involves hitting helmets with a weight swung on a pendulum arm and attempts to copy the trajectory and severity of an in-game impact. Sensors placed on dummies’ heads record linear and rotational impacts to produce an overall ‘star’ rating.
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“Virginia Tech provides objective, scientifically rigorous ratings that help parents, coaches, schools and players select the best performing football helmets for high school and collegiate athletes,” said VICIS CEO and co-founder, Dave Marver, in a statement. “We are proud our ZERO1 helmet is now top-ranked in both Virginia Tech Helmet Lab and NFL/NFLPA testing.”
It’s unanimous. The 2018 VICIS ZERO1 is the Top-Rated and Top-Ranked helmet by Virginia Tech and the NFL/NFLPA, respectively. #ELEVATE pic.twitter.com/BE9tCrNQpG
— VICIS (@VicisPro) April 30, 2018
Here’s what else you need to know:
– The NFL/NFLPA testing that Marver alludes to is another annual ranking of the safest helmets on the market. Just last month, VICIS was awarded the top NFL/NFLPA ranking for a second-straight year. The only difference between the two rankings is that the NFL focuses strictly on helmets used at the professional level. Virginia Tech, on the other hand, includes those used in high school and collegiate play as well.
– What makes VICIS’ ZERO1 helmet unique? It has a deformable outer shell that slows impacts just as a car bumper would. For a complete explanation of the science behind the design, check out this video.
– ZERO1 was frequently used at the NFL and NCAA level in 2017. You may have recognized former Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith as a frequent wearer of the helmet. VICIS has been able to lower the cost of production, making the helmet available to more athletes at the high school level. However, it still retails for $950, more than four times that of some lower ranked competitors.
SportTechie Takeaway
Helmet testing hasn’t just identified the best. For the first time in league history, the NFL banned the use of a handful of helmets. Based off the NFL/NFLPA’s testing, helmets from manufacturers like Rawlings, Schutt, SG Helmets and Riddell have been deemed ineligible. The majority of those were used by NFL players last season.
Future helmets might also be position-specific. NFL researchers have suggested a move away from universal helmets and toward ones that might provide counter-measures for the rigors of each individual position.