VIX Protection

What VIX Protection does

VIX Protection is a U.S.-based, founder-owned manufacturer of cut-resistant ski base layers headquartered in Queens, New York. The company sells two core SKU lines — Comfort Pro ($449, stainless steel wire) and Cut Pro ($549, tungsten wire) — both FIS 5-star certified and constructed using proprietary whole-garment knit technology that integrates ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber and metal wire directly into the fabric rather than sewing protective panels onto conventional textiles. The technical differentiation centers on removing seam weak points and providing continuous cut-resistance coverage from the iliac crest to the boot cuff, in line with FIS rule requirements.

The business model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce via Shopify (vixprotection.com) with international shipping, supported by a B2B team orders portal (teams.vixprotection.com) serving ski clubs and federations, alongside enterprise-style sponsorship relationships with national ski teams including the U.S. Ski Team, Ski Austria, the Norwegian Ski Team, and the Greek Ski Team. Pricing is unit-based, one-time purchase, with a 90-day return policy, 1-year warranty, and an add-on FIS 3-star conformity label ($10) for legacy products. The customer base spans professional World Cup racers (75% adoption), Continental Cup and youth competitive racers, and recreational skiers, with localized storefronts in English, German, French, and Italian supporting European market reach.

Name

VIX Protection

Legal name

VIX Protection

Website

https://vixprotection.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VIX Protection designs and sells FIS 5-star certified cut-resistant ski base layer pants (Comfort Pro and Cut Pro) using UHMWPE fiber and metal-wire whole-garment knit technology, serving professional World Cup racers, competitive ski racers, and recreational skiers via direct-to-consumer e-commerce and national team supplier relationships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cut-Resistant Sports Apparel

NAICS

Apparel Knitting Mills (31512), Apparel Knitting Mills (3151)

SIC

Knit Outerwear Mills (2253), Sporting & Athletic Goods, Nec (3949)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski & Snowboard Protective Gear Retail (Helmets, Goggles, Pads, Back Protectors) (CRAMAJAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Outerwear & Cold-Weather Apparel Manufacturers (CRAAAAAI), Sports Team & Promotional Apparel Cut & Sew (Screenprint/Embroidery-Ready) (IMAOAEAK), Cold-Weather & Thermal Protective Workwear (CRAAALAJ)

Keywords

• Cut-resistant ski apparel
• FIS-certified base layers
• Ski racing protective gear
• UHMWPE protective clothing
• Cut-proof ski pants

Headquarters

HQ city

Dover

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Cut-Resistant Base Layer Sales: Direct e-commerce sales of cut-resistant ski base layer pants (Comfort Pro and Cut Pro) to consumers, teams, and through sponsorship relationships with national ski teams.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VIX Protection designs, manufactures, and sells cut-resistant ski base layer pants and protective apparel made from UHMWPE fibers integrated with metal wire (tungsten or stainless steel) via whole-garment knit construction. Its flagship products, the Comfort Pro and Cut Pro pants, are the first FIS 5-star certified cut-resistant base layers on the market, sold directly to ski racers and national teams to prevent severe lacerations from sharpened ski edges.

Product overview

VIX Protection is a specialized protective gear company offering cut-resistant ski base layers and leggings worn as base layers under ski race suits. The product portfolio consists of two flagship cut-resistant pants (Comfort Pro and Cut Pro), a FIS certification label add-on for legacy products, and a limited-edition branded hat. Both pants achieve FIS 5-star certification (the highest available) but differ in wire material: Comfort Pro uses stainless steel for enhanced comfort while Cut Pro uses tungsten for maximum protection density. Products are available in Men's, Women's, and Youth sizes and are sold direct-to-consumer with worldwide shipping and a 90-day return policy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Comfort Pro: FIS 5-star certified cut-resistant ski base layer with stainless steel wire reinforcement. Marketed as the most comfortable option, feels like underwear, doubles as warm base layer.
• Cut Pro
• VIX 3-Star FIS CRG Label
• The Iconic VIX Cowboy Hat

Products and services

• Comfort Pro FIS 5-star certified cut-resistant ski base layer pants made with whole-garment knit UHMWPE fabric and stainless steel wire reinforcement. Designed for ski racers who want maximum comfort (feels like standard underwear) while maintaining FIS's highest cut-resistance rating. Available in Men's, Women's, and Youth sizes. Priced at $449 USD.
• Cut Pro FIS 5-star certified cut-resistant ski base layer pants with tungsten wire, graphene, and military-grade UHMWPE fiber. Provides maximum protection density rated at 7+ stars in independent testing, designed for speed events and high-risk skiing where maximum cut protection is prioritized over comfort. Available in Men's, Women's, and Youth sizes. Priced at $549 USD.
• VIX 3-Star FIS CRG Label Official FIS 3-Star conformity label kit for existing VIX pants purchased between October 1, 2023 and summer 2025. Required for World Cup and Continental Cup racing events to make older VIX pants race-legal. Priced at $10 USD and includes application kit and instructions.
• The Iconic VIX Cowboy Hat Limited edition 100% wool cowboy hat with custom leather band and VIX symbol. Sold to raise awareness and fund the athlete protection mission. Priced at $75 USD.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of World Cup racers trust and wear VIX products
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.

• U.S. Ski TeamflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial cut-resistant supplier to the U.S. Ski Team. Athletes including Olympians Breezy Johnson and Lindsey Vonn use VIX products. Partnership provides high-visibility endorsements and credibility in professional ski racing community.
• Ski AustriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial cut protection supplier to the Austrian national ski team. Validates product quality for European professional racing market.
• FIS (Fédération Internationale de Ski)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormal partnership to offer official FIS 3-star certification labels for existing VIX pants. Collaboration to provide racers with affordable certification options without requiring new product purchase.
• Shopify Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform provider powering vixprotection.com online store. Handles payment processing, order management, and store infrastructure.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Under Armour: Global performance apparel brand with heatgear/coldgear base layer systems used widely in training and competition. While not a cut-resistant specialist, Under Armour is a broad incumbent in the base layer category and could credibly add protective variants.
• Spyder: Performance ski apparel brand with deep roots in ski racing (US Ski Team long-time supplier). Spyder is a broad incumbent whose product portfolio includes racing suits, base layers, and outerwear — overlapping directly with VIX's end-user.
• Helly Hansen: Norwegian heritage ski apparel giant with broad base layer, mid-layer, and outerwear lines for alpine skiing, ski racing, and sailing. Helly Hansen is a much larger incumbent with overlapping product categories and could credibly enter the cut-resistant base layer segment.
• Burton: Snowboard and ski apparel/equipment giant with protective outerwear, base layers, and youth product lines. Burton is a broad incumbent that could credibly enter cut-resistant snow sports apparel given its scale and existing distribution.

Direct peers

• Dainese: Italian manufacturer of protective apparel for motorcyclists and skiers, including cut- and impact-resistant garments, back protectors, and racing suits. Dainese's Manis and Racing Shield lines overlap directly with VIX's protective-apparel positioning in ski racing.
• POC: Swedish protective gear brand specializing in helmets, body armor, back protectors, and impact protection specifically designed for ski racing and cycling. POC is the closest direct peer in the ski racing protective apparel category and competes for the same FIS-certified safety budget.
• Klim: Technical apparel and protective gear manufacturer for powersports (motorcycle, snowmobile, off-road) with proprietary cut- and abrasion-resistant technologies. Comparable in high-end protective-apparel positioning for speed-sport enthusiasts.
• Alpinestars: Protective apparel specialist serving motorcyclists, racers, and action-sports athletes with cut- and abrasion-resistant gear, with an expanding ski protection line. Directly comparable technology, customer base (high-speed racers), and category overlap.
• G-Form: Sports protection brand making flexible, impact- and cut-resistant padding for athletes across skiing, cycling, and contact sports. G-Form competes in the same niche of flexible, wearable protective gear targeting amateur and professional athletes.
• EVS Sports: Body protection brand making knee braces, elbow guards, roost guards, and impact-resistant apparel for motocross, mountain biking, and snow sports. Comparable in offering body-protective gear for high-velocity action-sports athletes.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vixprotection
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vix-protection

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about VIX Protection