Is This the Future of Headgear? The Latest Tech from the Folks that Made the Guardian Cap

What is The Loop?

Guardian Sports, the company behind the now ubiquitous Guardian Caps, released the Xenith LOOP in 2019. The Loop is a sleek headband used to protect athletes in traditionally non-helmeted sports. Now, Guardian Sports is partnering with Schutt for the next generation of the LOOP to protect the best athletes in the game.

Football is still the most popular sport in America. But playing Flag football or 7-on-7 football instead of traditional tackle football lowers your risk for concussions immensely. Still, like most sports, a bad fall or collision can cause a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). That’s where the LOOP comes in.

Who Can Use It?

On October 15, Guardian Sports announced LOOP: The Next Generation in partnership with helmet manufacturer Schutt, a well-known company with decades of history in tackle football. 

Not only does the LOOP provide protection for alternative forms of football, it can also be used for sports like lacrosse, rugby, soccer, cheerleading, and gymnastics. 

“The LOOP is a testament to our commitment to athlete safety and innovation,” said Guardian Sports CEO Erin Hanson. “By partnering with Schutt, we’ve combined our expertise to create a headgear that offers enhanced protection, comfort, and style. Together, we’re setting a new standard in non-tackle headgear for athletes across all sports.”

Is it Safe?

The newest generation of the LOOP has a smooth, sleek, and futuristic look. The soft-shell headband adds more protection with a larger and wider cushion on the back of the head, for an “Occipital Hinge Fit.”

Most importantly, the LOOP gets high marks for safety. 

Its previous iterations, the Xenith Loop and the Guardian Loop, both received five-star rankings from Virginia Tech’s helmet lab, the leading research institute on helmet safety. Guardian Sports says that the newest LOOP has received an even higher “protection rating” from Virginia Tech. 

READ MORE ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH’S REVOLUTIONARY HELMET SAFETY RESEARCH

When They’ll Be Available

Though football is still the number one sport for high school boys, the number of high school football players has steadily declined since a peak of 1.11 million players in 2008. Parental concerns around concussions are a major reason. As such, the NFL has increased investment into flag football, especially ahead of its introduction in the 2028 Olympics. So, as safer forms of football become more popular, so too could the LOOP.

The LOOP: Next Generation is available for purchase this November.