TIME Names Schutt F7 Pro Top 2026 Invention
The football helmet earns recognition for its innovative lattice structure and weight-reduction design.
Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Football
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TIME magazine named the Schutt F7 Pro, a football helmet featuring a 3D-printed DNA CORE lattice, to its annual list of the best inventions of 2026. Manufactured by Schutt Sports, the helmet is currently the fastest-adopted model in NFL history.
Why it matters
The helmet's design aims to reduce the force transferred to the head while minimizing user fatigue caused by neck strain. Its engineering successfully removes eight plastic components common in traditional helmets.
The Schutt F7 Pro incorporates a DNA CORE lattice that distributes energy through thousands of columns, helping eliminate eight plastic components found in traditional designs. Schutt Sports, founded in 1918, produces this helmet.
The players
Schutt Sports
This equipment manufacturer has produced football gear since 1918 and currently operates as a subsidiary of Certor Sports.
Certor Sports
The parent company of Schutt Sports serves as an Official Corporate Champion for the National Federation of State High School Associations.
TIME
This global media brand publishes annual lists highlighting significant technological and product innovations.
The details
Engineered in-house, the DNA CORE lattice distributes energy across thousands of microscopic columns that buckle and bend in controlled sequences. This structural change allowed designers to significantly reduce the helmet's overall weight.
Timeline
1918: Schutt Sports began operations.
2026: TIME named the Schutt F7 Pro one of the year's best inventions.
Roadmap
The F7 Pro represents a significant shift in football equipment toward additive manufacturing and lattice-based energy management systems. This move challenges traditional helmet construction as manufacturers compete to reduce weight and improve impact absorption for players.
The adoption of this technology may influence the types of equipment available to players from the youth level to the NFL. Through a partnership with the NFHS, Certor Sports provides support to 20,000 high schools and administers $750,000 in annual grants via USA Football.
The takeaway
The Schutt F7 Pro illustrates how 3D-printing technology can solve long-standing equipment challenges like excessive weight and energy distribution. Athletes and organizations can look for continued advancements in lattice structures to further enhance protective capabilities.
Further reading
For more on the latest trends in the sport, see our coverage of Football.
More information
Review the full Schutt Sports product information to learn about the F7 Pro technical specifications.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News-Gazette.
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