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Built around Nuro.
The right way.
Not the easy way.

Every Hardknock helmet is built around the innovative brain-protection technology called Nuro. A true brain protection solution isn’t something you can just “add on” after the fact. You start with Nuro Core, then design the rest of the helmet around it. So what if it’s not easy and nobody else does it like this? It’s the right way. So for us, it’s the only way.

We’re not interested in
putting lipstick on a pig.

Pretty much every other safety helmet follows the same approach: Design a basic shell and liner using off-the-shelf materials. Then tell the world how well it works using vague claims that sound kind of impressive, but aren’t backed by any substantial proof. They’re not going to be too happy with us for calling this out. But we’re here to protect workers, not make friends.

EPS foam had its time. Thankfully, that time is done.

EPS foam had its time. Thankfully, that time is done.

Nuro Core is designed to do a lot more than just compress upon impact. Far beyond glorified styrofoam, it responds dynamically against rotational forces - the kind of forces that do the most damage. It doesn’t just sit there, it reacts. All to far more effectively combat brain torque. Foam can’t do that. Not even close.

Nuro is also super porous. So it’s super light. And keeps workers super cool.

Built to handle what happens on actual job sites. Which actually makes sense.

We get it. Nobody loves talking about accidents. But to understand why we built Hardknock around Nuro, it’s important to know that brain injuries almost never happen as a result of being hit straight on. They usually involve a glancing blow, bump, or collision at an awkward angle. And even when they seem like no big deal, these impacts can result in torque to the brain. And let’s just say that ain’t good.

Nuro is about minimizing brain torque.
Because brain torque is what does the damage.

Minimum standards are exactly that. Minimum.

Most helmet brands don’t want you to know that the standards only require testing for direct impact. But look at this video from the lab at Nuro. Turns out the “egg analogy” is the best way to show why testing for brain torque is so important.

Watch the Video

If we made the standards, they’d be anything but minimum.

Tested. Tested. And tested again.

Tested. Tested. And tested again.

We can go on and on about how important and fundamentally different Nuro works to protect the brains of our workers. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Download the peer-reviewed whitepaper here.

To build something right, you start with the right foundation. For us, that’s Nuro.