Sports protective equipment

Protective sports equipment — helmets (cycling, motorcycle, skate, ski), protection vests (motocross, downhill, combat sports, paintball/airsoft), knee and shin guards, goalkeeper gloves, hockey and rugby protections, mouth guards — uses PU in multiple functional layers. The critical function of PU in this equipment is progressive impact energy absorption: ideal materials are flexible in normal use (comfort) but rigid under sudden impact (protection). Technologies like D3O (intelligent material based on PU) and Poron XRD work exactly this way — remain soft at rest but instantly stiffen under rapid deformation. Helmets combine rigid external shell (polycarbonate or ABS) with traditional EPS foam lining or new-generation absorbent PU. Market in strong growth globally, driven by: growth of outdoor sports, increasingly rigorous safety regulations, demand for professional equipment in recreational sports, and continuous technological innovation.