Riddell makes football helmets and protective athletic equipment, and has been a long-standing leader in football head protection for more than 90 years. The company says its innovation has advanced from the original plastic helmet to smart helmet technology and digital 3D imaging and manufacturing.
SAFR SportsFrom Chester Springs, Pennsylvania, SAFR Sports makes patented football helmet covers designed to reduce the force of head impacts. Its polyurethane-foam covers fit existing Riddell and Schutt helmets, can be customized with team colors and decals, and are permitted by the NFHS for practice and game use. SAFR backs the product with research including a Virginia Tech Helmet Lab study and a three-year Pennsylvania university field study, while supplying teams from youth football through the college and professional levels.CHESTER SPRINGS, PA
H.I.P. Head Impact PreventionFounded by former NFL linebacker Tim Johnson, H.I.P. Head Impact Prevention develops biomimetic helmets designed to distribute impact forces and protect the brain for soldiers, first responders and athletes. Its segmented, multi-layered design draws on structures found in ram horns, armadillo armor and woodpecker anatomy, with flexible joints that help move energy around and away from the head. The company participated in the NFL Helmet Challenge and holds a filed U.S. provisional application for its force-distribution helmet.VIENNA, OH
Team WendyFounded in Cleveland in 1997 as a memorial to Wendy Moore, Team Wendy makes head-protection systems for people working in defense, law enforcement, search and rescue, and adventure settings. The company began with ski helmets before turning its attention to protective gear for those who risk their lives, and today operates as an Avon Technologies plc company with more than 900 people. Its HEADSTRONG program pairs helmet education and hands-on evaluation with live ballistic testing, giving users a direct look at how the equipment performs.CLEVELAND, OH
Gladiator GuardsBorn from co-founder Bobbie Quinn’s son suffering a hockey concussion, Gladiator Guards makes custom-fit mouthguards that athletes can order without a dental visit. Founded in 2001, the Philadelphia-based company builds each high-heat, multilaminated Gladiator from an impression of the athlete’s teeth, using 3D scanning and lifetime digital impression storage to support future reorders. Its custom guards are personalized with team logos, colors and player identification.PHILADELPHIA, PA