What is the difference between a youth football helmet and an adult football helmet?

The difference between adult and youth football helmets varies by manufacturer. Here's a list of major manufacturers and the differences between their adult and youth football helmets.

Schutt

For Schutt helmets, there are a handful of differences between their adult and youth helmets. These differences include materials, size of jaw pads, and sizing in some models.

Adult

• Shell made from PCA (polycarbonate) plastic
• Come standard with hard cup chinstrap, TPU padding, and 7/8 inch jaw pads
• Usually recommended for ages 14+

Youth

• Shell made from ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene) styrene plastic*
• Padding varies based on model selected
• Come with soft cup chinstraps*
• Standard jaw pads range from 1 1/8 in to 1 1/4
• For players 14 and under only

*The only exception is the ION 4D. Both the adult and youth versions are made from PCA plastic and come with a hard cup chinstrap

Adams

There aren't many differences between the Adams youth and adult helmets other than size and length of warranty.

Adult

• Shell made from PCA (polycarbonate) plastic
• Padding varies by model
• 5 year warranty on shell
• Higher liability coverage in case of injury
• Usually recommended for ages 14+

Youth

• Shell made from PCA (polycarbonate) plastic
• Padding varies by model
• 2 year warranty on shell
• Lower liability coverage than adult helmets in case of injury
• For players 14 and under only

Xenith

With Xenith, the differences are in the details. The shells are basically the same, but you will find differences in the padding, face mask thickness, and materials used for buckles and clips.

Adult

• Shell made from PCA (polycarbonate) plastic
• Metal chinstrap buckles
• Clear facemask clips
• Usually recommended for ages 14+

Youth

• Shell made from PCA (polycarbonate) plastic.
• Softer shocks throughout bonnet
• Plastic chinstrap buckles
• White facemask clips
• For players 14 and under only

What about the difference between adult and youth football face masks?

This also varies by brand.

Adams: Adams facemasks aren't classified as youth or adult. Any Adams facemask can be used on both adult and youth helmets.

Schutt: Schutt facemasks also can fit on both adult and you helmets. They do have face masks labeled as youth, but they are youth by design only, not size. For example, the youth flex facemasks are made of lighter weight material and have more flex to help young kids get their helmets on and off, but they will still fit on an adult football helmet.

Xenith: Xenith facemasks are size specific for adult and youth. A youth Xenith facemask will only fit on a youth Xenith football helmet, and an adult Xenith face mask will only fit on an adult Xenith football helmet. The youth facemasks also have thinner wires to keep them light weight.

On another note, there is a common misconception that youth facemasks are made entirely from plastic; however, this is incorrect. For any brand, both adult and youth facemasks are made from high quality steel, titanium, or other metals, and are coated with polyvinyl plastic to add color and additional padding.