The Technology Behind CLOUD Halo

What soft-shell headgear actually does, how it is tested, and why coverage geometry matters more than thickness.

Written for coaches, athletic directors, and parents

The short version

CLOUD headgear is soft-shell protective headgear built for flag football, 7v7, and non-contact play. It covers the full circumference of the head - forehead, temples, and the occipital region at the back - in a design light enough that athletes keep it on. Both models are independently tested by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab under its flag football protocol. CLOUD Halo is rated #1 with five stars at 4 oz. CLOUD Halo Lite is rated #3, also five stars, at 2.5 oz.

The problem soft-shell headgear is solving

Flag football is non-contact by rule, not by physics. Head impacts happen anyway - collisions going for the same flag, players landing awkwardly, incidental head-to-head and head-to-ground contact. Researchers reviewing nearly a decade of emergency department records identified more than 22,600 injuries among female flag football players, with close to one in four involving the head, face, or neck.

A tackle football helmet is the wrong tool here. It is built for repeated high-energy impact, and it is heavy, hot, and restrictive in a sport played at sprint speed. The design problem for flag football is different: meaningful impact attenuation in something an athlete will actually wear for a full game.

Coverage geometry: why the back of the head matters

A lot of padded headbands cover the forehead and stop. That leaves the temples and the occipital region - the back of the skull - exposed, and those are precisely the areas involved in fall and collision impacts.

CLOUD headgear provides full circumferential coverage: forehead, both temples, and the occipital region, in one continuous band. This is also why it satisfies the Georgia GHSA requirement, which specifies full coverage rather than a forehead pad. Read the GHSA rule explained.

Weight is a safety feature, not a comfort feature

This is the part that gets misunderstood. Weight is usually framed as comfort. It is not - it is compliance, in the behavioural sense.

Protective equipment only works when it is on the athlete head. Headgear that is hot, heavy, or distracting comes off between series, gets worn loose, or gets left in the bag. At 4 ounces for the Halo and 2.5 ounces for the Lite, the product is light enough that athletes stop noticing it - which is the condition under which it actually protects anyone.

One size, and why that matters for a program

CLOUD headgear is one-size-fits-most, adjustable across an 18 to 26 inch head circumference. That covers nearly every youth and adult athlete.

For a coach outfitting a 30-player roster, this is the difference between measuring every athlete and ordering a single SKU. It also means a mid-season roster addition can be equipped immediately rather than waiting on a size-specific reorder. See the fit and sizing guide.

How it is tested - and who does the testing

We do not grade our own work. The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab is an independent university research group that buys protective headgear off the shelf, tests it under controlled laboratory impact conditions, and publishes the results publicly. Manufacturers cannot pay for a better rating.

Ratings are sport-specific. Flag football headgear is evaluated under a protocol built around how head impacts occur in flag and 7v7 play, which is a different problem from tackle football. A rating earned in one category does not transfer to another.

How the Virginia Tech ratings work, and what five stars does not mean

Halo or Halo Lite?

Both carry a five-star rating. The difference is profile and feel.

CLOUD Halo is the maximum-protection option and the highest-rated flag football headgear the lab has tested. Choose it when protection is the priority.

CLOUD Halo Lite uses a thinner, lower-profile pad at 2.5 oz. Choose it for athletes who resist wearing headgear at all - the lightest option they will keep on beats the best-rated one they take off.

Built in America, and washable

Every unit is manufactured in the United States. It is fully washable, which matters more than it sounds for shared team equipment used across a season.

Shop CLOUD Halo and Halo Lite · Request team pricing on 15 or more

Frequently asked questions

Does soft-shell headgear prevent concussions?

No. No headgear prevents concussions or eliminates head injury risk. Concussions result from forces the brain experiences inside the skull, and no external padding eliminates that. Virginia Tech ratings measure relative impact performance under controlled laboratory conditions - a legitimate basis for choosing between products, not a guarantee of outcomes on a field.

How is this different from a padded headband?

Coverage and testing. Most padded headbands cover the forehead only and have not been independently tested. CLOUD headgear covers the full circumference including the occipital region, and both models are rated by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab.

Can it be washed?

Yes, fully washable. See the support hub for care instructions.

Is it legal for GHSA play?

GHSA does not approve brands. It sets standards - 5-star Virginia Tech rating, full coverage, manufacturer requirements - and products either meet them or do not. Both CLOUD models meet the published standards. Always confirm current requirements directly with GHSA.

No protective equipment can prevent all injuries, including concussions. Virginia Tech Helmet Lab ratings measure impact performance in controlled laboratory testing. CLOUD Athletic is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Virginia Tech, the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab, or GHSA. Always confirm current ratings and any league or state requirements before purchasing.