The LOOP Earned a 5-STAR Virginia Tech Helmet Rating
The Guardian LOOP earned a 5-star Virginia Tech Helmet Rating. Ranked #3 of 38 helmets tested, solidifying its status as a top-tier choice for headgear. This recognition places the LOOP among the best headgear options available, emphasizing our commitment to reducing impact forces and enhancing athlete safety. With player welfare at the forefront of sports technology, this rating underscores the LOOP’s innovative design and effectiveness in minimizing linear and rotational forces. But what does this rating mean for athletes, coaches, and the future of helmet safety? Let’s dive into the impact of this achievement.
Understand the Rating System and Testing:
The Virginia Tech Helmet Rating System is an independent testing protocol that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of helmets in reducing head injuries. Using extensive laboratory testing, helmets are subjected to impact simulations that mimic real-world sports collisions. Each helmet is assigned a STAR (Summation of Tests for the Analysis of Risk) rating. A 5-star rating represents the highest possible score, indicating superior protection. This system helps athletes, coaches, and consumers make informed decisions about helmet safety based on rigorous, data-driven analysis.
The score values in these ratings are not comparable to score values in our helmet ratings for other sports. This is because there are differences in test methods, impact conditions, risk calculations, and impact weightings specific to each sport. For flag football headgear, Virginia Tech recommends any 4- or 5-star headgear.
Understand the Rating System and Testing:
The LOOP has achieved a 5-star rating from the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, underscoring its superior performance in mitigating head impact forces. The LOOP secured a STAR value score of 0.03, ranking #3 out of 38 helmets evaluated in the flag football category. Covering 57% of the head and 78% of the headgear contains padding.
The LOOP earned a 5-star Virginia Tech Helmet Rating and is the most affordable flag football headgear. Ranked #3 out of 38 helmets, the LOOP is highly recommended for flag football and 7v7 use.
