The helmet is the most important piece of kit in American football, and the most expensive. Before you look at colours or brands, check four things: certification, independent lab results, the right size and what is actually included in the price. This guide walks through each point using only official sources: NOCSAE, Virginia Tech and the manufacturers.
Contents · 10 parts
The 2-minute summary
- Safety first: insist on NOCSAE certification, issued through the SEI.
- Virginia Tech ratings: a lower score is better, and 4 or 5 stars are recommended.
- Young players: they have their own ratings and, from 1 September 2027, their own NOCSAE standard (ND006).
- Size: measure your head circumference, about 2.5 cm above the eyebrows according to Riddell, and compare it with the chart for the exact model; sizes vary from one brand to another.
- Price: check what it includes. In Europe the Riddell SpeedFlex is sold without a facemask, whereas the Schutt F7 AiR comes with one.
- Our catalogue: the F7 AiR has the best adult score (5 stars, 0.92).
NOCSAE certification: the non-negotiable
NOCSAE (National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment) writes the performance standards for American football helmets. It does not test or certify helmets itself: certification is carried out by a separate, accredited body, the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI). Before a manufacturer can put the NOCSAE mark on a helmet, it must sign a licence agreement with NOCSAE and receive a certification letter from SEI.
In practice:
- look for the NOCSAE mark on the helmet and in the product information;
- you can check a model in the SEI certified product database;
- the adult standard is ND002. The Riddell SpeedFlex, for example, is certified to NOCSAE ND002-17 by SEI, and Riddell also publishes an EU declaration of conformity (PPE Regulation 2016/425) for it. For its F7 range, Schutt states NOCSAE compliance in general terms.
Virginia Tech ratings: how to read the stars
The Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings are an independent lab assessment, free from manufacturer influence. Each helmet undergoes 48 impact tests with a pendulum that reproduces helmet-to-helmet hits: front, front boss, side and back, at low, medium and high energy. The lab measures linear and rotational acceleration, converts them into concussion risk and weights each impact by how often a player experiences it.
What to remember:
- the lower the score, the better the helmet performed;
- helmets with more stars are associated with a lower concussion risk in these scenarios, and Virginia Tech recommends choosing a helmet rated 4 or 5 stars;
- check the test year: the Riddell SpeedFlex was tested in 2018 (3 stars, score 4.49), while the Schutt F7 AiR was tested in 2025 (5 stars, score 0.92);
- some models have no rating at all, such as the Schutt F7 Pro, which Virginia Tech has not tested.
Virginia Tech is clear about the limits: any player can suffer a head injury, even with the best protection, and individual risk varies.
The star thresholds and the scores in our catalogue are set out in our guide to reading the Virginia Tech helmet ratings.
Adult or youth helmet?
Virginia Tech publishes a separate youth ranking (45 helmets, against 40 in the varsity ranking). The dummy is sized to match a 10 to 12-year-old boy, and the tests are based on impact data collected from 10 to 14-year-old players. Compare youth helmets with each other, not with adult scores.
On the standards side, NOCSAE finalised the first youth football helmet standard (ND006) in February 2025, for players below high school level. It caps helmet weight at 3.5 lb and uses a youth-specific headform. It becomes mandatory on 1 September 2027; until then, youth helmets certified to ND002 remain protective when properly fitted, according to NOCSAE. The Riddell SpeedFlex ND6 is already certified to ND006.
Among youth helmets in our catalogue, the Schutt F7 AiR Youth (5 stars, 0.95) and the F7 AiR Youth Elite (5 stars, 0.81) come out on top in the Virginia Tech youth ranking. Other youth helmets on the market are not in that ranking at all, such as the Riddell Victor-i, NOCSAE certified according to Riddell but not tested by Virginia Tech. See all youth helmets.
On the chin strap side, the Schutt Youth Soft Cup Chinstrap, one of the chin straps in our catalogue, is designed specifically for youth football, with quick attachment to the helmet. Our guide on how to fit a football chin strap covers the fitting procedure in detail. The Youth F7 LX1's inner pads are also sold separately, piece by piece: the crown liner and the lateral liner, the latter in four sizes from Small to X-Large.
Finding the right size
Helmet size is based on head circumference. Riddell recommends measuring it about 2.5 cm (1 inch) above the eyebrows. Size charts differ from one brand to another, so never assume that a medium is a medium everywhere:
| Size | Riddell SpeedFlex | Schutt F7 AiR |
|---|---|---|
| S | up to 52 cm | 47–51 cm |
| M | 52–56 cm | 51–55 cm |
| L | 56–60 cm | 55–58 cm |
| XL | 60 cm and over | 58–62 cm |
| 2XL | — | 62–66 cm |
Most current helmets are then fine-tuned with an inflatable liner: the Air Fit Liner on the SpeedFlex (5 inflatable zones), AiR-Lock on the F7 AiR. Our guide to measuring and fitting a football helmet walks through the full procedure, chart by chart.
Facemasks and visors: often sold separately
Check what the price includes. The Riddell SpeedFlex is sold without a facemask at the European retailers we checked, and Riddell lists 13 compatible SpeedFlex facemasks, for example the Riddell SF-2BD-SW, which Riddell recommends for quarterbacks and wide receivers, or the Riddell SF-KICKER, the only one the brand files under kicker and punter. The Schutt F7 AiR comes with a carbon steel facemask; the F7 AiR Elite is supplied with a titanium facemask and a visor. F7 facemasks are also sold on their own, for example the Schutt F7 ROPO-SW-NB-VC, which Schutt lists for quarterbacks, receivers, defensive backs and kickers, or the Schutt F7 RJOP-DW-NB, which it keeps for line players and linebackers; both fit the F7 2.0, VTD and LX1. The same F7 2.0, VTD and LX1 line-up also includes the Schutt F7 EGOP V-NB-VC and F7 EGOP VI-NB-VC, which Schutt recommends for running back, wide receiver, tight end, defensive back, linebacker and the defensive line. On the visor side, the Schutt F7 Exclusive Shield comes fitted as standard on the F7 AiR Youth Elite and is listed as fitting every helmet in the brand's range. Battle Sports takes the opposite approach with its Eclipse visor, a wrap-around shield engineered specifically for the SpeedFlex platform. Not every tint is legal in every competition: see our guide on which visor tints are allowed. Browse facemasks and visors. Our guide on how to choose a football facemask goes through these references one by one.
Reconditioning and recertification
NOCSAE sets a standard for helmet recertification (ND004). According to NOCSAE:
- recertification is not required but strongly recommended;
- the interval depends on each manufacturer and is counted in years elapsed, not in use. If the interval is exceeded, the certification expires until the helmet is recertified;
- some models cannot be recertified: they must carry a permanent label showing when their certification expires, with a useful life of no more than five years;
- for helmets made before January 2017, NOCSAE recommends recertification every year;
- NAERA, the reconditioners' association, does not recondition or recertify helmets that are 10 years old or more (a NAERA policy, not a NOCSAE requirement).
Prices in Europe and comparison table
Prices below are the lowest found at European retailers in September 2026, in euros. Where no European price was found, the cell shows a dash.
Adult helmets (Virginia Tech varsity ranking)
| Model | VT stars | VT score (year) | Indicative price | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schutt F7 2.0 (discontinued) | 5 | 1.35 (2022) | €499.95 | — |
| Schutt F7 AiR | 5 | 0.92 (2025) | €539.95 | S to 2XL |
| Schutt F7 AiR Elite | not rated | — | — | S to 2XL |
| Schutt F7 Pro | not tested | — | — | M to XL |
| Riddell Axiom | 5 | 0.85 (2023) | €885.00 (facemask and visor included) | L to 2XL (58 cm and up) |
| Riddell SF Echo | 5 | 1.48 (2025) | — | hat sizes 6 3/4 to 8 |
| Riddell SpeedFlex Diamond | 5 | 1.69 (2020) | — | 1 to 6 |
| Riddell SpeedFlex II | 4 | 2.27 (2026) | — | S to XL |
| Riddell SpeedFlex | 3 | 4.49 (2018) | €459.90 (no facemask) | S to XL |
| VICIS ZERO2 Elite | 5 | 0.73 | — (no European retailer found for this model) | Medium to X-Large |
| VICIS ZERO2 Trench Elite | 5 | 0.52 (2021) | €1,214.99 (preorder, custom build) | Large to X-Large |
| Xenith Shadow | 3 | 3.35 (2019) | €298.54 | Medium to X-Large |
| Xenith Shadow XR | 5 | not published | €415.08 | Medium to X-Large |
| Xenith X2E+ Varsity | 5 | not published | €177.87 | Small to Large |
| Schutt Vengeance Pro LTD II | not tested | — | €300.99 (facemask sold separately) | S to 2XL |
Schutt also sells a spare crown liner for the Vengeance Pro LTD II on its own, in two sizes. See all Riddell helmets and all Schutt helmets in the catalogue.
Youth helmets (Virginia Tech youth ranking)
| Model | VT stars | VT score (year) | Indicative price | Sizes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schutt F7 AiR Youth Elite | 5 | 0.81 (2025) | — | 2XS to XL |
| Schutt F7 AiR Youth | 5 | 0.95 (2025) | — | 2XS to XL |
| Riddell SpeedFlex ND6 | 5 | 1.60 (2025) | — | S to XL |
| Riddell SpeedFlex Youth | 4 | 2.19 (2025) | — | S to XL |
| VICIS ZERO2 Youth Elite | 5 | 0.19 (2021) | — (no European retailer found) | X-Small to X-Large |
| Xenith Shadow Youth | 5 | 1.24 (2022) | — (no European retailer found) | Small to Large |
| Xenith Shadow XR Youth | 5 | 0.62 (2019) | — (no European retailer found) | Small to Large |
| Xenith X2E+ Youth | 4 | 2.11 (2019) | — (no European retailer found) | Small to Large |
The Schutt F7 2.0 has been discontinued by Schutt but is still in stock at some retailers. Its fit kit, the F7 2.0 Fit Kit with crown and rear sizers, is likewise only confirmed on Schutt's own store. For its Youth Vengeance A11 2.0 helmet, Schutt separately sells a replacement lateral liner, in three sizes. See all our football helmets and the Riddell SF Echo page. For the full picture, our football gear list also covers the facemask and chin strap budget.
FAQ
What is the safest football helmet?
No helmet prevents every head injury. Virginia Tech recommends a 4 or 5-star helmet; in our catalogue, the best adult score belongs to the Schutt F7 AiR (0.92) and the best youth score to the F7 AiR Youth Elite (0.81).
Is a NOCSAE-certified helmet necessarily 5 stars?
No. NOCSAE certification is a minimum performance standard; the Virginia Tech rating compares certified helmets with each other. The Riddell SpeedFlex is NOCSAE certified and rated 3 stars.
Can a teenager wear an adult helmet?
Virginia Tech's youth ratings are built for 10 to 14-year-olds, and NOCSAE's youth standard applies below high school level. Beyond that, size is decided by head circumference, using the manufacturer's chart.
How long does a football helmet last?
It depends on the manufacturer. Recertifiable helmets must be recertified at the interval the manufacturer sets; non-recertifiable models carry a label with their expiry date, five years at most after certification.
Sources
- https://helmet.beam.vt.edu/varsity-football-helmet-ratings.html
- https://helmet.beam.vt.edu/youth-football-helmet-ratings.html
- https://nocsae.org/about-nocsae/
- https://nocsae.org/overview-nocsae-youth-football-helmet-standard/
- https://nocsae.org/general-recertification-requirements-and-recommendations/
- https://www.seinet.org/search
- https://content.riddell.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/SpeedFlex-Platform-Helmet-Fitting-Guide-min.pdf
- https://content.riddell.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/2020_DeclarationOfConformity-121620-SM.pdf
- https://www.riddell.com/riddell/en/Open-Catalogue/Accessories/Helmet-Accessories/Face-Masks/c/t30000
- https://schuttsports.com/products/f7-air-helmet
- https://schuttsports.com/collections/helmets