Guardian SoftShox™ Chinstrap
IMPACT-REDUCTION FOOTBALL CHINSTRAP
Guardian SoftShox™ Chinstrap Benefits
WHY GUARDIAN CHINSTRAP?
Guardian Chinstrap is an impact-reducing football chinstrap developed by Guardian Sports in partnership with SoftShox. Its hydraulic technology is designed to compress during facemask impacts, helping absorb and disperse force before automatically resetting after the hit.
In independent laboratory testing, Guardian Chinstrap ranked #1 in HARM reduction among six chinstraps tested at 7.4 m/s. Designed for comfort, fit and impact reduction, Guardian Chinstrap adds another piece of protective technology to the football helmet system.
Guardian Chinstrap is designed to help reduce impact forces; it does not prevent concussions or eliminate the risk of serious head injury.
Guardian Chinstrap is an impact-reducing football chinstrap powered by SoftShox hydraulic technology. Designed to help address forces associated with facemask impacts, where approximately 50% of impacts occur, Guardian Chinstrap combines a secure, comfortable fit with independently tested impact-reduction performance.
SoftShox™ is an impact-reduction technology company focused on using advanced biomechanics and hydraulic technology to help reduce forces associated with sports impacts.
SoftShox hydraulic technology uses fluid-filled chambers designed to compress during impact, helping absorb and disperse force before automatically resetting to respond to subsequent impacts.
Guardian Sports partnered with SoftShox to integrate this technology into the Guardian SoftShox™ Chinstrap, bringing impact-reduction technology directly into the chinstrap to help address forces associated with facemask contact.
Guardian SoftShox Chinstrap is designed to address a critical gap in helmet protection. Research shows that approximately 50% of impacts occur to the facemask1, an area where traditional helmets underperform in reducing force transmission.
Engineered for superior impact absorption, the Guardian SoftShox™ Chinstrap is the newest innovative chinstrap.
1 Arbogast et al, “Kinematics of Facemask Impacts in Professional American Football.” International Research Council on Biomechanics of Injury. September 2024. Stockholm, Sweden.
In independent laboratory testing and peer-reviewed study published by the Biomedical Engineering Society, Guardian Chinstrap reduced HARM by up to 35% more than the other chinstraps tested at 3.0 m/s and 31% at 7.4 m/s, signifiantly outperforming all competitors at both test velocities.
At a test speed of 7.4 m/s, Guardian Chinstrap ranked #1 in HARM reduction among six chinstraps evaluated.
Testing evaluated the effect of different chinstraps on measured head acceleration response under controlled laboratory conditions.
Results:
- Read more about the peer-reviewed study HERE
- Study on the need for position-specific helmets and where impacts occur HERE
- Why SoftShox was developed HERE
Finding the right fit is key to comfort and protection. Use our sizing guide to measure your head and choose the correct chinstrap size for your helmet. A proper fit ensures your helmet stays secure during impact, giving you the safety and performance you need on the field.
In most cases, your chinstrap size will match your helmet size. The chinstrap is in adult sizes only.
-
If you wear an Adult Medium helmet, choose the S-M Chinstrap.
-
If you wear an Adult Large helmet, choose the L-XL Chinstrap.
- For smaller athletes, we recommend the S-M.
-
For larger athletes, we recommend the L-XL.
“Approximately 50% of impacts in football are to a player’s facemask, where helmet innovation has lacked for decades.”
We’re excited to introduce our newest piece of safety equipment for athletes. The Guardian Cap helps address impact reduction on head-to-head, or head-to-ground blows, and now the Guardian Chinstrap is the first to improve an area where approximately half of all impacts occur. The Guardian Chinstrap addresses a critical gap in football safety. We’re happy to offer a product that is not only safer, but also uncompromising on comfort and performance.
Athletes, coaches, moms and dads shouldn’t have to sacrifice performance for better safety. Our partnership of two safety-minded companies is bringing the best of science to the field so people now have a choice for safer sports without compromise. Football needs its seatbelt and I’m happy to say it has arrived.
The hydraulic impact reduction technology was first invented and tested in my laboratory at Stanford University, supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health. After many years of research and millions of dollars of investment, I am excited to bring this technology to the field to enhance athlete protection.
As a neurosurgeon who treats athletes following a concussion, it is so exciting to see the impact of this innovative liquid shock technology on the athlete to make the sport safer.
Our goal is to reduce concussion risk and the effects of repeated head impacts in as many individuals as possible. The Guardian Chinstrap powered by SoftShox was made with this goal in mind, and is the first of many SoftShox products that will come to market under our rigorous, science-backed product development process.
