Pro-Tec
Pro-Tec is a San Diego-based private action sports protection company, founded in 1973, selling certified skate, BMX, snow, and water helmets and pads through DTC e-commerce and a global B2B dealer network.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1973
- HeadquartersSan Diego, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Pro-Tec does
Pro-Tec is a San Diego-based private company founded in 1973 that designs, manufactures, and distributes certified protective helmets and pads for action sports, including skateboarding, BMX, snow sports, and water sports. Its product portfolio spans skate/BMX helmets ($67–$95), premium snow helmets with MIPS rotational impact protection and proprietary SLIMTECH CORE and FLEXLOCK FIT systems ($89–$124), water sport helmets (Ace Wake, Ace Water, Full Cut Water), a full pads line (Street and Vert series, snow Undercover pads, Impact Shorts), and a growing apparel and accessories range (balaclavas, beanies, hoodies, liners, keychains, stickers). Core technology combines ABS outer shells, EPS foam liners, MIPS in select snow SKUs, and proprietary fit systems, with EN 1077B and ASTM 2040 certifications anchoring the snow line.
The company monetizes through unit-priced DTC sales on its Shopify storefront (protecbrand.com) and through a B2B dealer network accessed via dealerportal.triple8.com, supplemented by a store locator for physical retail partners and a "yard sale" clearance channel offering up to 70% discounts. Free shipping kicks in over $99 and the brand runs recurring promotions (e.g., 4th of July). Customer segments are four vertical use cases — skateboarders, BMX riders, snow sports enthusiasts, and water sports athletes — plus a youth/junior persona, with no enterprise or contracted-revenue exposure.
Brand building is driven by signature edition collaborations with heritage skate brands (Santa Cruz's iconic 1985 Screaming Hand, Spitfire, S&M, FIT, Bicycle Union) and pro-athlete ambassadors (e.g., Steve Caballero), leveraging the company's 50-year heritage in skate culture. Distribution reach is global (EU conformity documentation, dealer network, social presence on Instagram/Facebook/YouTube/Pinterest), but the firm operates with a 1–10 person team and discloses no revenue, funding, or institutional ownership, indicating a lean consumer-brand business rather than a venture-backed growth entity. The dealerportal.triple8.com URL implies an operational affiliation with Triple Eight, a sibling/affiliated action-sports protection brand.
Pro-Tec firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Pro-Tec
- Legal name
- Pro-Tec
- Website
- https://protecbrand.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1973
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Pro-Tec is a San Diego-based private action sports protection company, founded in 1973, selling certified skate, BMX, snow, and water helmets and pads through DTC e-commerce and a global B2B dealer network.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Pro-Tec industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Action Sports Protective Gear
- NAICS
- Sporting Goods Retailers (45911), Sporting and Athletic Goods Manufacturing (33992), Sporting Goods, Hobby, and Musical Instrument Retailers (4591)
- SIC
- Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Team Sports Protective Gear & Sports Medicine Retail (CRAMAEAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Ski & Snowboard Protective Gear Retail (Helmets, Goggles, Pads, Back Protectors) (CRAMAJAC), Helmets & Protective Headgear Retail (Motorcycle/ATV/Snow) (CRAMANAB), Protective Armor & Impact Protection Retail (Body/Back/Chest) (CRAMANAC)
Keywords
Where Pro-Tec is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Diego
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Pro-Tec business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Helmet Sales: Direct-to-consumer sale of protective helmets across multiple sports categories: skate, BMX, snow, and water. Products sold at various price points from budget to premium signature editions.
- Protective Pads Sales: Sale of knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards, and complete pad sets for skate, BMX, and snow sports. Includes signature edition collaborations.
- Apparel and Accessories: Sale of branded apparel including hoodies, sweatshirts, beanies, caps, and accessory items like stickers and keychains.
- Replacement Parts and Accessories: Sale of liner kits, replacement pads, fit kits, and other helmet/pad accessories for maintenance and customization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium Snow Helmets (Signature Editions) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Snow Helmets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Classic Certified Snow Helmets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Youth Snow Helmets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Signature Edition Pad Sets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Pads |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Skate/BMX Helmets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Water Sport Helmets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories and Replacement Parts |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Pro-Tec product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Pro-Tec designs, manufactures, and sells certified protective helmets and pads for action sports athletes in skateboarding, BMX, snowboarding/skiing, and water sports. The portfolio spans Low Pro, Classic, Full Cut, Old School, and youth helmet formats, plus street and vert pad sets, snow-specific protective pads and impact shorts, with recurring Signature Edition collaborations alongside established skate brands and athletes. Products are sold primarily direct-to-consumer through the company's Shopify storefront, with B2B wholesale through a dealer portal and physical retail partners.
Product overview
Pro-Tec is a protective sports gear company offering a comprehensive portfolio of certified helmets and protective pads across multiple sports disciplines. The core product lines include LOW PRO Certified helmets for skate/BMX, Classic helmets, Full Cut helmets, and specialized snow helmets with MIPS technology (Old School Snow, Classic Lite Snow, Riot Snow). Water sports helmets include the Ace Wake and Ace Water lines. Protective pads span Street Gear 3-Pack sets, individual knee pads, elbow pads, and wrist guards for skate/BMX, plus snow-specific Undercover pads and Impact Shorts. Signature Edition collaborations with Santa Cruz (featuring the iconic Screaming Hand graphic), Spitfire, S&M, FIT, Bicycle Union, and legendary skater Steve Caballero extend the product portfolio into limited-edition sub-brands. Accessories include liner kits, replacement parts, helmet keychains, and stickers. The company also offers apparel including balaclavas, beanies, hoodies, and flat caps. The portfolio is organized by sport (Skate, BMX, Snow, Water) and product type (Helmets, Pads, Accessories, Apparel), with signature editions representing premium collaborative offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Skate & BMX Helmets Certified helmets for skateboarding and BMX spanning Low Pro (slim profile), Classic (gloss/matte finishes), Full Cut (full coverage), Old School Low Pro (retro styling), and JR Classic Fit (youth) variants; available in multiple color options and signature edition graphics.
- Snow Helmets Certified snow sports helmets including Low Pro Snow with SLIMTECH CORE EPS Matrix Foam and FLEXLOCK FIT, Classic Certified with heat-sealed premium pads, and MIPS-equipped Old School, Classic Lite, and Riot models. Junior Classic Certified Snow features the Pro-Tec Twist Fit System. All certified to EN 1077B and ASTM 2040.
- Water Sports Helmets Helmets designed for kayaking, wakeboarding, surfing, and rafting including Ace Wake (wakeboarding), Ace Water (kayaking/surfing/rafting), and Full Cut Water (aquatic/kayaking) with quick-drain construction and replacement ear pieces available.
- Skate/BMX Protective Pads Protective pads for skateboarding and BMX including complete Street Gear 3-Pack sets (knee, elbow, wrist) with abrasion-resistant nylon and EVA padding, individual Street open-back Knee Pads, Street Elbow Pads, Street Wrist Guards, and heavy-duty Vert Knee and Vert Elbow Pads for vertical skating.
- Snow Protective Pads & Impact Shorts Snow-sport protective pads and impact wear including Undercover Snow Knee Pads and Wrist Guards, plus Impact Shorts providing hip and tailbone protection for snowboarding and skiing.
- Signature Edition Helmets and Pads Limited collaborative helmet and pad collections featuring iconic skate heritage graphics from Santa Cruz (Screaming Hand, celebrating 40 years in 2025), Spitfire (flame patterns and Black Swirl), S&M (Sharpie signature, Shield designs), FIT (Checkered), Bicycle Union (skate crew graphics), and pro skater Steve Caballero.
- Helmet Accessories and Replacement Parts Customization, replacement, and maintenance parts for Pro-Tec helmets and pads including the Low Pro Fit Kit (multiple padding thicknesses for fit adjustment), heat-sealed replacement liners (Classic Certified, Full Cut Certified), Ace Wake replacement ear pieces, and Vert Knee replacement caps.
- Action Sports Apparel Branded apparel for action sports lifestyle including the Regulator Snow Balaclava, Edge Under Helmet Cap, Patch Cuff Snow Beanie, hoodies (Lump Head, Spade Doom Card, Spade Splatter graphics), and flat caps (Spade, Stacked designs).
- Lifestyle Accessories (Stickers & Keychains) Branded novelty and lifestyle accessories including the PRO-TEC Sticker 4-Pack featuring the Spade logo and the Mini Full-Cut Helmet Keychain in matte black or white.
Quantifiable outcome
- 22% thinner profile with SLIMTECH CORE technology compared to standard helmets
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Pro-Tec
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Pro-Tec technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Pro-Tec partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- Santa CruzflagshipCollaboration on Santa Cruz Signature Edition helmets and pads featuring the iconic Screaming Hand graphic originally designed by Jim Phillips in 1985. The partnership celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Screaming Hand artwork in 2025. Products include Low Pro Snow Certified helmets, street pad sets, and apparel items with the classic Santa Cruz branding.
- SpitfireflagshipSignature Edition collaboration featuring Spitfire's flame energy and iconic skate heritage. Products include Street Gear 3-Pack pad sets with distinctive swirl patterns and bold styling. The 'Live to Burn - Burn to Live' theme reflects both brands' skateboarding culture roots.
- S&McoreSignature Edition helmets featuring S&M graphics including the Sharpie signature collection with distinctive matte black styling and S&M Shield designs.
- Bicycle UnioncoreSignature Edition Full Cut helmets featuring Bicycle Union branding and graphics for BMX and skate use.
- FITcoreSignature Edition collaboration featuring FIT Checkered branding on helmets. Includes Low Pro and Full Cut certified helmet options.
- Steve CaballerocorePro athlete signature helmet series featuring Steve Caballero branding on Low Pro certified helmets.
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Pro-Tec competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Bell Helmets:
- Giro Sport Design: Giro is a major incumbent in cycling and snow helmets with MIPS across most premium SKUs. It overlaps Pro-Tec's snow helmet category and brings significantly larger scale, goggle-helmet integration, and specialty-channel depth.
- Smith Optics: Smith is a much larger incumbent in ski/snowboard goggles and helmets with MIPS-equipped premium offerings. It competes directly with Pro-Tec's snow line at the premium tier and dwarfs Pro-Tec in R&D, retailer relationships, and international footprint.
Direct peers
- Triple Eight: Triple Eight is a sibling brand selling certified skate, snow, and water helmets plus pads. It shares the dealer portal with Pro-Tec and operates in the same action-sports protection category with overlapping SKU breadth and price points.
- Bern Helmets: Bern makes skate, snow, bike, and water helmets with a focus on lifestyle-driven design and all-season versatility. It directly overlaps Pro-Tec's multi-sport helmet strategy and competes for the same specialty retailer shelf space.
- Sandbox Helmets: Sandbox is a Canadian action-sports helmet brand covering skate, snow, and water with a similar lifestyle-led, subculture-rooted brand identity. Comparable target customer (skate/snow youth) and comparable DTC-led distribution.
- TSG (Technical Safety Gear): TSG is a direct competitor specializing in skate and snow helmets and pads with strong European distribution. Comparable product mix (helmets, knee/elbow pads, wrist guards) and similar price-point positioning make it one of the closest like-for-like peers to Pro-Tec.
Market position
Strengths1 record
Weaknesses1 record
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Pro-Tec social profiles
Digital presencePro-Tec compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Pro-Tec financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Pro-Tec leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Pro-Tec funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Pro-Tec M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Pro-Tec
What does Pro-Tec do?
Pro-Tec designs, manufactures, and sells certified protective helmets and pads for action sports athletes in skateboarding, BMX, snowboarding/skiing, and water sports. The portfolio spans Low Pro, Classic, Full Cut, Old School, and youth helmet formats, plus street and vert pad sets, snow-specific protective pads and impact shorts, with recurring Signature Edition collaborations alongside established skate brands and athletes. Products are sold primarily direct-to-consumer through the company's Shopify storefront, with B2B wholesale through a dealer portal and physical retail partners.
Is Pro-Tec a public or private company?
Pro-Tec is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Pro-Tec founded?
Pro-Tec was founded in 1973. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Pro-Tec based?
Pro-Tec is headquartered in San Diego, United States, in the North America region.
How does Pro-Tec make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Helmet Sales are the primary driver. The others are protective Pads Sales, apparel and Accessories and replacement Parts and Accessories.
Who are Pro-Tec's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Bell Helmets, Giro Sport Design and Smith Optics. Direct peers are Triple Eight, Bern Helmets, Sandbox Helmets and TSG (Technical Safety Gear).
Does Pro-Tec have an API?
No public API is recorded for Pro-Tec.
What industry is Pro-Tec in?
Pro-Tec's product category is Action Sports Protective Gear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAMAEAJ, Team Sports Protective Gear & Sports Medicine Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMAJAC, Ski & Snowboard Protective Gear Retail (Helmets, Goggles, Pads, Back Protectors). Its NAICS code is 45911 and its SIC code is 3949.