The Science Behind LIGHT Helmets
At LIGHT Helmets, we’re driven by one simple goal – to make the highest-performance football helmet ever made. We’re committed to designing helmets that provide the best protection while improving performance and keeping players on the field longer. Here’s the science behind our innovation:
The Heavier Helmet Myth
Many helmets on the market today are heavier by design. This added weight gives the illusion of better protection because it performs better on traditional helmet tests. However, the reality is, on the field heavier helmets lead to more rapid fatigue, loss of control, and higher impact energies.
Lab Testing vs Real-World Performance
Standard lab tests measure helmet performance by conducting a series of impacts with a static head form. In these tests, a heavier helmet has an advantage. The more weight, the lower the measured impact severity, due to the laws of physics. This is called the conservation of momentum.
However, this doesn’t reflect how helmets perform in real-world situations where players are dynamic, not static. On the field, players are constantly moving, and the physics are much different.
An object at rest tends to stay at rest. An object in motion tends to stay in motion.
OUR TECHNOLOGY PARTNER: K3D
We’ve partnered with K3D (a Kollide brand), a cutting-edge technology leader who won the NFL Helmet Challenge and was awarded nearly $1M to develop innovative helmet technology. K3D’s advanced simulation technology allows us to replicate and optimize helmet performance much faster when compared to traditional testing.
With K3D’s expertise, we can simulate a wide range of scenarios, adjusting variables in real time. This capability allows us to iterate and refine our helmet designs at an unprecedented pace.
In addition, their 3D matrix structure printing technology also plays a key role in our innovations. By using 3D printing, we can rapidly test and modify our helmets, significantly reducing the time it takes to improve and innovate. The flexibility of this technology allows us to tailor our helmets for specific positions, ensuring optimal protection where it’s needed most.
Our Approach: Lightweight, High-Performance Helmets
By reducing the weight of our helmets, we’ve intentionally chosen a disadvantage in lab testing. But why? Lighter helmets don’t just perform better on the field—they help athletes stay quicker, more agile, and reduce fatigue, all while providing top-tier protection.
We’ve used advanced materials and innovative design to build helmets that are up to 40% lighter than competitors.
Despite this disadvantage, by focusing on energy absorption rather than added weight, we've achieved the highest rating ever by the independent lab of Virginia Tech.
The Math Behind Our Design
We know it might sound too good to be true, so here’s the science. A simplified formula for energy conservation looks like this:
E input = 1/2mv² + 1/2Iw² + E dissipated
Where:
- m = Mass of the helmet system
- v = Resulting linear velocity
- I = Moment of inertia of the helmet
- w = Angular velocity of the helmet
- E dissipated = Energy dissipated by the helmet's padding
Lab tests are scored based on the measured impact severity which is tied to the kinetic response of the head form. The kinetic response is directly proportional to the weight of the helmet.
The result is that heavier helmets, even with the same or less efficient padding, will appear to perform better in static headform tests. However, in the real world, LIGHT Helmets reduce the impact energy brought into a collision, and do a better job of dissipating that energy.
The Result: Highest Performing, Lighter Helmets
Despite being at a disadvantage in lab tests, our focus on energy reduction has led us to create the #1 rated Apache helmet¹ in terms of safety by Virginia Tech, and it’s one of the lightest helmets available today at just 3.5 pounds.
This is why we don’t just meet safety standards, we exceed them. We believe that performance and protection go hand-in-hand, and we’ve used science to prove it.
And that's a wrap!
We know that was a lot of science to digest, but hopefully, it gave you a deeper understanding of what goes into building the lightest, highest-performance helmet. If you've made it this far, you’ve definitely earned some extra credit in Physics!
Disclaimer - No helmet can protect against all possible impacts or prevent all concussions or other injuries. The information presented here is based on data collected and analyzed by the LIGHT Helmets team. While we’re confident in the accuracy and rigor of our calculations, this material is meant for informational purposes only and should not be used or extrapolated for any external application or third-party use.
(¹) https://www.helmet.beam.vt.edu/varsity-football-helmet-ratings.html