Story perspectives

Pikio’s Si Oblik Helmet Wins Virginia Tech Safety Top Score

By Drooid · Oct 10, 2026, 2:15 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Pikio introduced the Si Oblik helmet, achieving the top Virginia Tech safety score.
The helmet earned a 4.61 score, 2.21 points below the previous best 6.82.
That 2.21-point gap represents a 32 percent improvement over earlier five-star helmets.
Pikio’s Oblik Impact Management System uses modular EPS foam blocks with nodal connectors that detach in severe crashes.

History

Historical Context

In 1940 John T. Riddell patented the first plastic football helmet, replacing leather shells with a molded shell and chin strap. The shift to polycarbonate shells in the mid-1980s set a new safety baseline that modern makers such as Pikio reference; its 2024 Si Oblik model follows the same modular EPS foam and nodal-connector design pioneered by Riddell.

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Story summary

Pikio introduced the Si Oblik helmet, achieving the top Virginia Tech safety score.
The helmet earned a 4.61 score, 2.21 points below the previous best 6.82.
That 2.21-point gap represents a 32 percent improvement over earlier five-star helmets.
Pikio’s Oblik Impact Management System uses modular EPS foam blocks with nodal connectors that detach in severe crashes.

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