Key Takeaways
- Guardian Sports and Schutt announced the next generation of the LOOP headgear on October 15, 2025
- The LOOP is designed for non-helmeted sports including flag football, 7-on-7, lacrosse, rugby, soccer, cheerleading, and gymnastics
- Both the Xenith Loop and Guardian Loop received five-star ratings from Virginia Tech’s helmet lab, with the new version achieving an even higher protection rating
- The updated design features an “Occipital Hinge Fit” with a larger, wider cushion on the back of the head
Partnership Brings Together Two Football Equipment Manufacturers
Guardian Sports, the company behind the Guardian Cap, announced on October 15 the release of LOOP: Next Generation in partnership with Schutt. Schutt is a helmet manufacturer with decades of history in tackle football.
The LOOP is a soft-shell headband originally released in 2019 as the Xenith LOOP. It provides head protection for athletes in sports that don’t traditionally use helmets. According to the source material, playing flag football or 7-on-7 football instead of traditional tackle football lowers concussion risk significantly, though collisions and falls can still cause traumatic brain injuries.
Sports Covered by the LOOP Headgear
The LOOP can be used across multiple sports beyond alternative football formats. The headgear is designed for flag football, 7-on-7, 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.”
Virginia Tech Testing Results and Design Features
The next-generation LOOP includes updated protective features. The soft-shell headband has a larger and wider cushion positioned on the back of the head, which Guardian Sports calls an “Occipital Hinge Fit.”
Virginia Tech’s helmet lab is described in the source material as the leading research institute on helmet safety. Both previous versions of the LOOP, the Xenith Loop and the Guardian Loop received five-star rankings from Virginia Tech’s helmet lab. Guardian Sports states that the newest LOOP has received an even higher protection rating from Virginia Tech, though the specific rating was not provided in the announcement.
The updated model has what the company describes as a “smooth, sleek, and futuristic look” while incorporating the additional protective cushioning.
via: Guardian Sports / Prep Network
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