What seems like an overkill for a groin protector, the U.S. Army wants. Nutshellz, which was developed Jeremiah Raber, of High Ridge, Missouri is intended for Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighters who needed protection for the groin in the contact sports. According to KSDK, Raber invested US$100,000 on this product perfecting it and with the extra protection he can provide for the groin, also made the product bulletproof, which made the military and law enforcement interested in the product.

There are attempts to provide groin protection for ground troops to avoid loss of reproductive capabilities and sexual incapacity brought about by injuries in the battlefield. And the loss of such can affect men, and we know how it feels being hit in the nuts, and it's not a good feeling to remember.

Nutshellz is made of several layers of Kevlar and Dyneema, which is said to be the toughest fiber in the world, and also known as high-modulus polyethylene or (HMPE). According to the developer, Nutshellz was designed to absorb, or to use his word "swallow" the round rather than deflecting it since the bullet might be deflected to other parts of the body, especially the thigh to avoid hitting the femoral artery or else it will cause a bleed out.

In tests, the Nutshellz can absorb the impact of 9mm or .357 round and more work is being done for more resistance to other high impact projectiles such as higher caliber bullets and shrapnel.

I guess it does more protection for the nuts other than kicks and punches during MMA cage fights and it would seem overkill to use for airsoft but I've seen airsoft players hit in the nuts howling in pain. Perhaps a more comfortable and cheaper nut-cup can be used for airsoft players wanting groin protection as the Nutshellz is over US$125 and being sold mainly to police, military and PMCs according to the SDK report.

No matter how we laugh at such a contraption, we have to admit seriously it's also an innovation that serves to protect your masculinity (if you're a male reader of ours) and maintain the survival of the human race due to preserving reproductive capabilities. If it passes the tests and the U.S. Army will procure the product, the  it's  big bucks for Raber and his innovation that has a funny name.