Skip to main content

High school players get access to the Zero1 football helmet used by some pros

Vicis creates the football helmet of the future
Concerns over Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) in football have escalated to a new high in recent months. And while the NFL has been at the center of much of the controversy, perhaps less closely examined are the games played at the high school level. Now, in an attempt to protect athletes from the earliest stages of play, Vicis has announced the launch of its online marketplace for individuals, which includes availability of the Zero1, heralded as “football’s most technologically advanced helmet.” The helmet can now be ordered and customized to individual needs, as the company aims to protect high school football players across the U.S.

The Zero1 can already be found throughout the professional arena, as the helmet is said to be worn by players on more than half the teams in the NFL, and at over 20 NCAA programs. And now that its availability is being expanded to a younger subset of players, the hope is that athletes can protect themselves from the potentially damaging sport as soon as possible. All helmets will also feature the Vicis Edge Shield by Oakley, which promises a wide field of vision.

Related Videos

“Though we started with NFL and NCAA players, our goal has always been to protect players of all ages,” said Dave Marver, Vicis CEO and co-founder. “We’ve launched our online store to make the world’s most technologically advanced helmet more widely available, particularly to parents, grandparents, and boosters who want to better protect high school athletes.”

The Zero1 is meant to reduce impact forces by making use of a multilayered structure that is meant to provide improved impact absorption. And to ensure that players will want to keep the helmet on, the Zero1 is said to feature a comfortable, anatomically optimized fit. While traditional helmets have hard shells, the exterior of the Zero1 claims to yield upon impact, much like a car bumper.

“Football is a violent sport, so it’s important that we have access to the best protective equipment. The Zero1 is a game changer – I believe the helmet will save the game of football,” said Doug Baldwin.  “And starting now, the Zero1 is not just available for NFL and NCAA players – you’ll soon be seeing it on high school fields across the country.”

Helmets ordered should be delivered by July 31, 2018.

Editors' Recommendations

Check out the first-ever roller coaster on a cruise ship
check out the first ever roller coaster on a cruise ship bolt  mardi gras

Taking a roller-coaster ride right after a big lunch is always a brave move, with those endless twists and turns risking an unwelcome second look at your recently consumed meal.

Florida-based Carnival Cruise Line, however, clearly wants to push things to the limit, having built what it claims is the first-ever roller coaster on a cruise ship.

Read more
Bottle+ creates sparkling water on the go with the push of a button
Bottle+ mounted on docking station on marble counter.

A new Kickstarter project promises to keep your water bubbly for longer, while also cutting plastic waste from your daily beverage routine. Bottle+ incorporates a refillable CO2 canister in its base that can produce roughly 15 bottles of carbonated goodness before needing a top-up at its home docking station. A press of the button lets you carbonate to your preference.

Beyond the purported long-term environmental benefits of owning a Bottle+, the Swiss designers are making pledges at the production end, too. They say packaging will be recyclable and kept to a minimum. Factories will also be monitored to meet environmental regulations and social equity standards. To top it all off, Bottle+ has partnered with Cleanhub to collect 1 kilogram of plastic waste for every bottle sold.

Read more
GoSun’s new portable power stations use the sun’s ray to charge devices
gosun new portable power stations gets you through outages power550 hero

GoSun's diverse lineup of solar-friendly products is expanding this week with two new portable power stations. The GoSun Power 550 and Power 1,100 are high-capacity batteries designed to help keep your appliances running when off the grid, whether that's due to an outage or being on a camping trip. Much like its other eco-friendly devices, these portable power stations can be charged using solar panels.

These portable power stations have plenty of power output options, including a 600-watt AC, a 1,000W AC, USB-A with QuickCharge 3.0, two 5V 2.4A USB-A plugs, a 60W USB-C plug, and a 12.3V DC. For charging, they use a 12-24V adapter, 18-24V input for solar, or 12V if you're charging it from the car.  Both AC outlets are pure sine wave, meaning your electronics get a more consistent feed of power. That's good news for your phones and laptops. It also has a Maximum Power Point Controller (MPPT) built-in, which helps to optimize the gain from solar panels. Other batteries lose a lot of efficiency on this front.

Read more