Back to the Los Angeles Chargers Newsfeed

Are lighter football helmets safer? Carlsbad company banking on it

CARLSBAD —

Gripping the facemask, Nick Esayian held up a football helmet from one of the most recognized brands in the game.

He put it down and then offered the helmet his company has begun to manufacture out of a small warehouse space in Carlsbad.

The difference in weight was striking. The Riddell Speed Flex helmet comes in at 5.2 pounds. The new LIGHT Helmet LS1 is 3 pounds.

“Tell me,” Esayian said, “that if somebody duct-taped 2½ pounds to your head and you walked around with that all day that you wouldn’t notice it.