The exact ingredients of d3o are highly classified, but rest assured that it is not cornstarch.  In order to ensure that the material could be used in protective gear like the Ribcap, it had to be cast into a shape so that it would remain in place on your head and not flow down to your neck.  This was the tricky part and took many years for scientists in the UK to solve.  The final result is a material that is soft and flexible, and although it is no longer a liquid, it still retains the same properties of stiffening on impact! 

IS RIBCAP A REPLACEMENT FOR MY HELMET?

Ribcap was not created to compete against helmets.  Ribcap's goal is to offer a safe alternative to athletes that refuse to wear a helmet for their particular activity or sport.  Common activities in which Ribcap will be found are skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating, shinny hockey, kite-skiing, kiteboarding, curling, cross-country skiing, toboganning and winter hiking.  If you are participating in an activity that may result in a fall, and you currently just wear a toque, the Ribcap just makes sense.  You can stay warm and comfortable, look good and be safe all at the same time.

DOES RIBCAP MEET ANY HELMET SAFETY CERTIFICATION STANDARDS LIKE CSA?

At some stage Ribcap and d3o may apply for certifications, but at the moment this is not the intended use of a Ribcap,  If you are participating in a sport of high-risk that requires use of a CSA helmet, please use a CSA-approved helmet.  Ribcap and d3o have not been tested by CSA, but have been tested against well known protective materials.  In a test against EVA, a material commonly used throughout athletic shoe outsoles as a shock absorber, it was found that 10mm of d3o absorbs as much impact as 16mm of EVA! The second evaluation tested Ribcap against a competitor’s protective toque made by a well-known brand in the snowboarding community. Ribcap, padded with d3o was found to be more than four times more protective than the competitor’s toque, which was padded with PE foam, a foam commonly used in protective gear and helmets!

WHEN d3o GETS ROCK HARD, WOULDN'T IT JUST TRANSMIT FORCE RIGHT THROUGH IT AND DIRECTLY TO YOUR HEAD?

Yes, something that is rock hard would transmit impact force through it, but this is NOT how d3o works. To understand, first you must realize that d3o is not a single layer of molecules. It is 1/4" to 3/8" thick in the Ribcap beanies and has molecules throughout. Upon impact, the molecules on the outer edge of the d3o padding receive the most force and lock together, absorbing and dispersing the force over a wide area. Now less force is left to be transmitted to the molecules in the inside or core of the padding. These inner molecules lock together less dramatically (the material does not harden as much) as they have received less force from the impact, however it does harden more than its original state, so the force is again absorbed and dispersed over a wide area. Finally the molecules on the inner side of the d3o padding (against your head) receive much less force from the impact and therefore the material hardens much less. It still absorbs impact, but the material remains relatively soft in comparison to the outer molecules.

This is similar to how a helmet works. A helmet has a hard outer shell with softer, inner padding. Most helmets will have three layers: a hard outer shell, a medium density foam, then soft, low density foam against your head.

This is not just theory.  Drop tests have been conducted on d3o to prove that it absorbs and disperses force better than any other material currently used in protective sports equipment. Watch THIS VIDEO.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE RIBCAPS FREEZE?

d3o, in the form it is used in Ribcaps, is not affected by freezing temperatures.  It will be fine and retain its properties even if it is frozen.

CAN YOU WASH A RIBCAP?

d3o, in the form it is used in Ribcaps, is completely washable.  We do suggest air-drying however.

IS A RIBCAP WARM?

Yes, the caps are warm, yet breathable, making them perfect for outdoor winter activities.

WILL THE CAPS STAY ON YOUR HEAD IN A FALL?

All Ribcap models are elastic and designed to grip your head, however some have additional features.  The Marley, Billie and Palmer caps are fitted with a pull-string at the back of the cap to lock it on your head.  The Janis cap has tie strings to lock the cap under your chin.  The Hendrix and Jimi caps have velcro on the ends of the ear extensions to lock them under your chin.  The Percy and Redding have enough material folded over at the base that they hug your head and lock under your ears.

WHAT DOES THE STATEMENT, "Does not offer complete head protection" MEAN?

The Marley, Janis, Redding and Percy are padded with ribs of d3o.  Because the toques are wool and stretch to fit your head, there may be small spaces between the rips, hence it is not complete head coverage.  Hendrix and Jimi models have padding that covers the major impact zones, but there are areas of no coverage.  The Billie and Palmer models have padding that covers all areas of the toque, so complete coverage is available with those.  The statement also refers to the fact that the toques do not cover your whole face, hence "do not offer complete head protection."