Varsity Football Helmet Ratings
A total of 26 varsity football helmets have been rated using the STAR evaluation system. Our impact tests evaluate a helmet's ability to reduce linear and rotational acceleration of the head resulting from a range of head impacts a football player might see on the field. Helmets with more stars provide a reduction in concussion risk for these impacts compared to helmets with less stars.
Don't see your helmet listed below? Check out our legacy football helmet ratings for older models that are no longer produced.
For varsity football helmets, we recommend any 5 star helmet. While there are some differences in impact performance within this group, other factors such as cost, fit, and comfort should be considered when purchasing a helmet.
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: Best Available
: Very Good
: Good
: Adequate
: Marginal
: Not Recommended
A lower score offers better protection.
Cost shown is what we paid for the helmet at the time of testing.
See our test methodology.
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VICIS ZERO2 TRENCH
Cost: $859.00
Weight: 4.7 lb
Score: 0.52
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VICIS ZERO2
Cost: $759.00
Weight: 4.3 lb
Score: 0.73
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Schutt F7 LTD
Cost: $975.00
Weight: 5.1 lb
Score: 0.75
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Riddell SpeedFlex Diamond
Cost: $499.99
Weight: 4.8 lb
Score: 1.69
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Xenith Shadow XR
Cost: $679.00
Weight: 4.7 lb
Score: 1.91
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VICIS ZERO1
Cost: $950.00
Weight: 4.4 lb
Score: 1.92
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Schutt F7 VTD
Cost: $975.00
Weight: 4.1 lb
Score: 2.54
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Xenith X2E+
Cost: $289.00
Weight: 4.1 lb
Score: 2.92
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Riddell Precision-FIT
Cost: $1,700.00
Weight: 4.8 lb
Score: 3.23
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Xenith Shadow
Cost: $479.00
Weight: 4.3 lb
Score: 3.35
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Xenith EPIC+
Cost: $349.00
Weight: 4.2 lb
Score: 3.79
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Riddell SpeedFlex
Cost: $409.99
Weight: 4.4 lb
Score: 4.49
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LIGHT LS1-CV
Cost: $550.00
Weight: 3.2 lb
Score: 4.76
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Schutt Vengeance Z10 LTD
Cost: $499.00
Weight: 3.4 lb
Score: 4.97
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Schutt Vengeance Pro LTD
Cost: $299.00
Weight: 3.8 lb
Score: 5.24
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SG DBS.001
Cost: $329.00
Weight: 2.9 lb
Score: 5.39
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Schutt Vengeance Z10
Cost: $210.00
Weight: 3.7 lb
Score: 6.28
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Schutt Vengeance Pro
Cost: $225.00
Weight: 3.3 lb
Made after April 2018
Score: 6.44
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Schutt F7
Cost: $649.00
Weight: 4.1 lb
Score: 6.50
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Riddell Speed
Cost: $279.99
Weight: 3.7 lb
Score: 6.67
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Schutt Air XP Pro VTD II
Cost: $219.95
Weight: 4.5 lb
Score: 6.98
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Schutt Vengeance VTD II
Cost: $249.95
Weight: 4.2 lb
Score: 7.35
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Schutt Air XP Pro Q10 VTD
Cost: $335.99
Weight: 4.1 lb
Score: 8.42
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Riddell Speed Icon
Cost: $280.00
Weight: 3.8 lb
Score: 9.95
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Schutt Air XP Pro
Cost: $199.95
Weight: 3.7 lb
Score: 18.22
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Schutt Air XP Pro Q10
Cost: $210.00
Weight: 4.0 lb
Score: 25.77
Notes
A lower score offers better protection.
Cost shown is what we paid for the helmet at the time of testing.
Weight includes the helmet shell and facemask tested. We chose the lightest standard facemask for each helmet.
Documents
See our test methodology.
*Any player in any sport can sustain a head injury with even the very best head protection. This analysis is based on data trends and probabilities, and therefore a specific person’s risk may vary. This variation is likely dominated by genetic differences, health history, and impact factors such as muscle activation.