After Victor Wiacek nearly bled to death when a ski edge severed his artery in 2019, he founded VIX Protection to make cut-resistant base layers for ski racers. Its garments knit UHMWPE and stainless-steel fiber throughout the fabric, creating full-leg protection in a layer designed to feel like ordinary underwear. VIX says its FIS 5-star leggings are worn by 75% of World Cup racers and supplied officially to the U.S. Ski Team and Ski Austria.
FIS 5-Star Certification
FIS Cut-Resistant Garment (CRG) Label
Compliance program
FISCRG
Quality certification
2nd Skull, IncBorn from founder Federico Olivares’s 2010 determination to protect his son after a bicycle accident, Pittsburgh-based 2nd Skull makes thin protective skull caps and headgear designed to add impact protection beneath a helmet or worn alone. Its products use lightweight XRD® material that stays flexible during play but hardens under sudden pressure, and are made in the USA after testing at independent laboratories. The company’s headgear has also been developed for industrial workplaces, extending its original sports-safety idea beyond the field.PITTSBURGH, PA
Seraphina Safety ApparelSeraphina Safety Apparel was founded to close a neglected gap in industrial personal protection: the base layer worn next to workers’ skin. The company makes flame-resistant undergarments for people facing thermal hazards on the job, with fit and comfort treated as part of the protection rather than an afterthought. Its apparel is made in the USA of imported fabric, and many garments are SFI certified.CORTLAND, OH
DuzterDuzter is a father-and-son hockey business making cut-resistant compression base layers after 14U player Martin E. struggled to find protective apparel that fit properly. Backed by his father’s more than 25 years as a manufacturing engineer, the company developed position-specific protection for players from youth leagues through the professional ranks, including its goalie-focused Duzter Wall line. Duzter’s BNQ-certified neck protection has been worn on NHL ice since 2023, and the company secured a deal with Mark Cuban on Shark Tank in 2025.
Arctic CoolArctic Cool makes cooling performance apparel for active lifestyles, including shirts designed around its HydroFreeze X technology. Its garments combine moisture-wicking ActiveWick fabric with anti-microbial protection, UPF 50+ coverage and four-way stretch to help wearers stay dry, protected and comfortable in heat.New York, NY