Abstract: Protective headgear is provided having cushioned ear guards and a head support connecting the ear guards and cradling a wearer's head to provide a comfortable and stable fit during use. The head support comprises first and second lateral straps interconnecting the ear guards, and a transverse strap having a central portion and forward and rear legs for interconnection with the lateral straps. The ear guards include an outer later having a nylon laminate, a shell portion having a plurality of slots for receiving ends of the head support, a landing pad attached to the perimeter of the shell portion, and an inner layer attached along the perimeter thereof to the outer layer and including a cushioning material that aligns with the landing pad and cushions the head of a wearer. The ear guards also include a plurality of raised ventilation areas in the shell that align with apertures in the outer layer to provide ventilation for the wearer.