While no helmet is concussion proof, Virginia Tech’s study rates popular football helmets for youth and varsity players by level of impact protection.  Their helmet ratings assist athletes by easily identifying which football helmets best reduce the risk of concussion. The more stars a helmet has, the better protection it provides. Five star helmets offer the best protection.

How are the ratings determined? The study used a series of impact tests focused on 2 fundamental concepts: 1) each test is weighted based on how frequently players experience them and 2) helmets that lower head acceleration reduce concussion risk. 

A lower score underneath each star rating equals better protection.  The best performing helmets are those with a 5 star rating and a low impact score.

For Varsity Football Helmet Ratings, the top 5 performing helmets are as follows:

• Vicis Zero2 Trench- 5 stars, with a 0.52 score
• Vicis Zero2 – 5 stars with a 0.73 score
• Schutt F7 LTD -5 stars with a .075 score
• Riddell SpeedFlex Diamond,- 5 stars with a 1.69 score
• Xenith Shadow XR- 5 stars with a 1.91 score.

Check out the ratings here:  https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/varsity-football-helmet-ratings.html

For Youth Football Helmet Ratings, the top 5 performing helmets are as follows:

• Vicis Zero2 Youth- 5 stars with a 0.19 score
• Xenith Shadow XR Youth- 5 starts with a 0.62 score
• Vicis Zero1 Youth- 5 stars with a 0.69 score
• Riddell SpeedFlex Diamond Youth- 5 stars with a 1.24 score
• Xenith Youth X2E+ – 5 stars with a 2.11 score

Check out the ratings here: https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/youth-football-helmet-ratings.html

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