LIGHT Helmets’ Apache Earns #1 Rated Helmet Ever Tested

December 06, 2024 at 12:30 PM EST

LIGHT Helmets’ Apache football helmet receives #1 rating from Virginia Tech, setting a new standard for protection while leading the way in innovation and safety.

LIGHT Helmets, the maker of the lightest protective sports headgear, today announces the launch of its new line of Apache helmets, offering more options for football players at all levels, from youth to professional. With this new line, LIGHT Helmets has further refined its technology to set a new standard for football protection and overall player safety.

LIGHT Helmets is committed to improving player safety and elevating athlete performance through equipment that incorporates military, auto racing, and advanced technologies developed in collaboration with LIGHT Helmets’ technology partner Kollide. Kollide’s innovative impact technology, recognized during the NFL’s HeadHeathTECH Challenge, plays a crucial role in enhancing the Apache helmet’s design. With the Apache helmet, LIGHT is promoting a better and safer game for athletes at every level. Rated as the #1 football helmet by the independent helmet lab at Virginia Tech University, the Apache is engineered to provide the highest levels of protection while maximizing player performance through minimizing weight. The helmets are equipped with precise 3D printed “pod” technology that can be customized to the player’s head, maximizing protection while providing a comfortable and cool fit.

At launch, two models will be available for high school, college, and NFL level athletes, with youth helmets coming in early 2025. The Apache helmets are constructed with the same high-performance nylon shell as the NFLPA/NFL-recommended LIGHT Gladiator helmet, ensuring the same elite-level protection that is currently on the NFL field with the LIGHT Gladiator ATK. The new line also includes the latest ventilation technology, lattice materials, and adaptive fitment pads to establish quality, safety, and comfort.

“Player safety is central to our mission, driving us to advance our helmet technology for the best protection both on and off the field,” said Nicholas Esayian, CEO of LIGHT Helmets. “Our Apache helmets can be configured to weigh under 3.5 pounds, making it the lightest football helmet available today. Lighter helmets are critical for players, as heavier helmets can add strain to the neck and shoulders and significantly increase forces in common impacts. Our goals are simple: player safety and player performance.”

LIGHT Helmets have made huge strides in the industry in 2024, with its recent partnership with Pro Football Retired Players Association (PFRPA) aimed at further advancing their technology and building a safer sport for the football community at all levels. The Apache helmet represents continuous advancements in design and technology, pushing the limits of what's possible in head protection, with even more innovations to come in 2025 alongside the youth launch.

About LIGHT Helmets

LIGHT Helmets manufactures and distributes the lightest and safest protective headgear for professional, amateur and youth athletes. Its products are sold direct to professional, amateur and youth sports teams and leagues and are also available at retailers including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart and Scheels. LIGHT Helmets are worn by players in 24 out of 32 NFL teams, as well as in 29 NCAA locker rooms and have earned the highest rating of “Five Stars” by Virginia Tech. In conjunction with its advisory board of noted physicians, LIGHT developed its revolutionary products utilizing advanced materials from the battlefield, military aviation, and auto racing. The company is headquartered in Carlsbad, CA.