Guardian | The First Ever Safety Chinstrap

What’s happening: Guardian Sports has launched the first-ever safety chinstrap, engineered with SoftShox™ hydraulic technology to absorb impacts and slash facemask force transmission by up to 35%. It's debuting this preseason and is available for pre-order—compatible with helmets from any brand. ‍

Why it matters: Roughly 50% of helmet impacts happen to the facemask, a zone where traditional helmets fall short. By focusing protection there, Guardian addresses a high-risk blind spot in player safety. ‍

The tech behind it: SoftShox layers hydraulic gel in the chinstrap—imagine the softness of a waterbed combined with fluid shock absorption to dampen force. In lab testing at 7.4 m/s impact speed (typical of college and NFL plays), it delivered the lowest Head Acceleration Response Metric (HARM) among six top chinstraps.

Voices that matter:

• Erin Hanson, Co-Founder & CEO of Guardian Sports: “The Guardian Chinstrap addresses a critical gap in football safety … safer, but uncompromising on comfort and performance.”
• Gordon Avery, SoftShox Co-Founder & CEO: “Football needs its seatbelt — and I’m happy to say it has arrived.”

Quick specs:

• Hydraulic safety tech by SoftShox™
• Up to 35% reduction in HARM
• Works with all football helmets; comes in sizes S/M and L/XL, in black and white
• Pre-orders live now; official launch in Jan 2026
• Temper comfort standards (fit, feel) maintained or exceeded

Why it matters: Most safety gear barely changes design—they just tweak foam. Guardian reshapes how you protect the face, giving high-impact athletes real cushioning where it’s needed most. This isn’t just a better chinstrap—it’s safer thinking for athletes, by people who get it.