How long do helmets retain flexibility?
- Thread starter Texasron
- Start date
16 years old!
Mine are lucky to last a year, I tend to crash and buy a new one..as they are junk after a crash. ( Dirt bike )
B
Bburrap
Active member
16yrs old really?
Uh I think your helmet is done? I was under the impression that they are only tested for a life of 5 yrs after purchase date and 7 from the manufacture date. After that they can't be guaranteed to do the job.
All that of course under perfect conditions, no impact or wear. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to update your lid?
Uh I think your helmet is done? I was under the impression that they are only tested for a life of 5 yrs after purchase date and 7 from the manufacture date. After that they can't be guaranteed to do the job.
All that of course under perfect conditions, no impact or wear. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to update your lid?
At work we wear industrial hard hats, we are required to replace them every 5 years. Helmets depending on use should be about the same.
Planned Obsolescence. It's what made America rich, so of course your helmet's manufacturer sets a recommended service life--they want you to buy more helmets.
Helmet shells made using a fabric or fiber matrix impregnated with resin, either poured or pressure injected, such as those typically found on snowmobile helmets, will typically outlast all the other components in the helmet.
I used to build custom fit flight helmets for fighter pilots. Those helmets were disassembled, inspected and cleaned every month and we were very anal. If the paint accumulated too many dings we could and would strip them of parts, sand them down and repaint them. Those shells were thinner than the average motorcycle/snowmobile helmet and unless dropped or impacted those helmets would last a pilot up to his entire career. Ten years of hard use was more typical, but twenty years was not uncommon. We replaced liner systems every 1-2 years.
My point is if your helmet fits and has not sustained impact damage there is no practical reason to replace it. If you want a new helmet, by all means get one, but the protective qualities of your helmet don't "evaporate" with age.
Inspect it for deep scratches or gouges. Inspect the liner for dry-rot and the hardware for rust/corrosion. Check the chinstrap for damage, especially at the attachment point on the shell. If your helmet has a removable fabric liner/pad system you should remove that after any ride where it gets damp with sweat so everything dries out. You should wash the liner regularly.
If your helmet is compromised in any of these areas you should replace it but if it's undamaged and in otherwise good condition, wear it with confidence.
Helmet shells made using a fabric or fiber matrix impregnated with resin, either poured or pressure injected, such as those typically found on snowmobile helmets, will typically outlast all the other components in the helmet.
I used to build custom fit flight helmets for fighter pilots. Those helmets were disassembled, inspected and cleaned every month and we were very anal. If the paint accumulated too many dings we could and would strip them of parts, sand them down and repaint them. Those shells were thinner than the average motorcycle/snowmobile helmet and unless dropped or impacted those helmets would last a pilot up to his entire career. Ten years of hard use was more typical, but twenty years was not uncommon. We replaced liner systems every 1-2 years.
My point is if your helmet fits and has not sustained impact damage there is no practical reason to replace it. If you want a new helmet, by all means get one, but the protective qualities of your helmet don't "evaporate" with age.
Inspect it for deep scratches or gouges. Inspect the liner for dry-rot and the hardware for rust/corrosion. Check the chinstrap for damage, especially at the attachment point on the shell. If your helmet has a removable fabric liner/pad system you should remove that after any ride where it gets damp with sweat so everything dries out. You should wash the liner regularly.
If your helmet is compromised in any of these areas you should replace it but if it's undamaged and in otherwise good condition, wear it with confidence.
Maybe the shell doesn't deteriorate but the epa foam sure does, and thats the important part for your noggin.
No disagreement there, but the life span of the various rigid foams used in helmet construction last well beyond 5 years so long as they are not exposed to petroleum solvents/vapors or prolonged exposure to heat (like in the trunk of a car during summer). Again, as long as your helmet is undamaged, inside and out, you're safe.
5 years has become the industry standard on helmet life. Take this with a grain of salt depending on how often you use it, how you store it, how you take care of it etc.
Here is the concern. The interior polystyrene is tasked with absorbing the brunt of an impact. It is also the component that degrades first. Body oil and sweat will begin to break it down and lessen it's ability to absorb an impact. Heat (sunlight) will also have an effect. Obviously don't store it in a hot place. Ever see what happens to polystyrene when it gets hot? In winter this isn't so much of a concern, but it something to consider if you use your helmet year round.
Most of you don't hesitate to drop $10,000+ on a sled and accessories. Why would you hesitate to spend a couple hundred on a good helmet? The technology is constantly improving with helmets. Just the safety advances would justify a new one every 5 years, but also consider the venting and comfort improvements as well.
Here is the concern. The interior polystyrene is tasked with absorbing the brunt of an impact. It is also the component that degrades first. Body oil and sweat will begin to break it down and lessen it's ability to absorb an impact. Heat (sunlight) will also have an effect. Obviously don't store it in a hot place. Ever see what happens to polystyrene when it gets hot? In winter this isn't so much of a concern, but it something to consider if you use your helmet year round.
Most of you don't hesitate to drop $10,000+ on a sled and accessories. Why would you hesitate to spend a couple hundred on a good helmet? The technology is constantly improving with helmets. Just the safety advances would justify a new one every 5 years, but also consider the venting and comfort improvements as well.
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