A total of hockey 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 hockey player might see on the ice. Helmets with more stars provide a reduction in concussion risk for these impacts compared to helmets with less stars.

• infoUnderstanding the rating system
  Our ratings are an independent and objective assessment of helmet performance for consumers, free from manufacturer influence.
  
  We rate each hockey helmet based on the results of 48 impact tests in our laboratory. A pendulum designed to match impact characteristics in hockey is used to test the headgear. We measure linear and rotational accelerations for each impact, which are correlated to concussion risk.
  
  
  We test the helmet's front, top, side, and back at low, medium, and high impact energies. The low impact severity represents the most common impacts in hockey. The medium impact severity represents the typical concussion in hockey. The high impact severity represents the hardest impacts hockey players experience.
  
  Each lab impact is weighted to highlight performance at concussive severities and to consider all locations equal. We compute concussion risk from measured peak linear and rotational accelerations for each test. Each risk is multiplied by its weighting factor and then summed together to compute an overall score. The overall score estimates the number of concussions the average person would see if they experienced identical impacts at rates matching their weightings while playing hockey.
  
  A lower score indicates better helmet performance.
  
  The score values in these ratings are not comparable to score values in our helmet ratings for other sports. This is because there are differences in test methods, impact conditions, risk calculations, and impact weightings specific to each sport.
• file_downloadTechnical Documents
  Test Protocol: Begonia, M., Tyson, A., Rowson, B., & Rowson, S. (2020). Hockey STAR Methodology.
  
  Ratings Update: Rowson, S., Begonia, M.T., Rowson, B.M., & Duma, S.M. (2022). Virginia Tech Hockey Helmet Ratings Memorandum.
• sticky_note_2Notes about these ratings
  A lower score offers better protection.
  
  Cost shown is the price of the helmet at the time of testing.
  
  *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.