Riddell's New Football Helmet Is Designed to Reduce Concussions

[OhSnap]

The SpeedFlex is similar to the helmet players wore last season, with one major difference. It features a large, compressible cutout panel in the crown, part of the Flex System, which is designed to reduce impact force transfer to the wearer. The panel can depress up to a quarter of an inch, according to an ESPN interview with Thad Ide, Riddell’s senior vice president for research and development.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/riddells-football-helmet-designed-reduce-094516294.html

 

[TheCowboy]

I'm suprised this isn't a mandatory helmet for all players in the NFL since Goodell is trying to make the game safer.

 

[Denim Chicken]

This should be the route they should go down as opposed to rule changes. Better and safer equipment that us mandatory.

 

[jrumann59]

1/4" compression on the cutout what about hard part of helmet to soft part of the helmet, or face mask to soft part.

 

[Nova]

I wonder why they don't put a thing layer of padding on the outside of the helmet to help decelerate and absorb collisions.

 

[OhSnap]

I wonder why they don't put a thing layer of padding on the outside of the helmet to help decelerate and absorb collisions.

It's been around for 20 years but for some reason hasn't caught on.

 

[Nova]

It's been around for 20 years but for some reason hasn't caught on.

I can see why it didn't, but surely they can make it more aesthetically appealing.

 

[Wheeltax]

It's been around for 20 years but for some reason hasn't caught on.

I think I remember reading that the added weight was causing neck and back issues. Something like that.

Bill Simpson (of racing safety equipment fame) also has a helmet design that's in limited use around the league that has seen really good results.