Should You Buy a New Helmet Every 3-4 Years?
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Should You Buy a New Helmet Every 3-4 Years?
I just read an article that states:
"Conventional wisdom and manufacturers’ guidelines state one should get a new helmet every three to four years, even if you have not had an accident or dropped your helmet."
Do you think this is
a) a good rule to observe
b) something the bicycle industry puts out there to boost helmet sales
"Conventional wisdom and manufacturers’ guidelines state one should get a new helmet every three to four years, even if you have not had an accident or dropped your helmet."
Do you think this is
a) a good rule to observe
b) something the bicycle industry puts out there to boost helmet sales
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 12,905
Bikes: (2) ti TiCycles, 2007 w/ triple and 2011 fixed, 1979 Peter Mooney, ~1983 Trek 420 now fixed and ~1973 Raleigh Carlton Competition gravel grinder
Mentioned: 129 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4806 Post(s)
Liked 3,928 Times
in
2,553 Posts
That's like telling people they should drink X glasses of water a day. The construction workers in 100 degree heat will end up in the ER and Joe Blow who does nothing in an air conditioned building will be flushing valuable electrolytes from his system.
What has that helmet seen? A lot of miles? A few drop? Ozone? Sat in the sun? Spent 10 years in a cool, dark closet?
What has that helmet seen? A lot of miles? A few drop? Ozone? Sat in the sun? Spent 10 years in a cool, dark closet?
Likes For 79pmooney:
#3
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,625
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1668 Post(s)
Liked 1,821 Times
in
1,059 Posts
I had a fella at the LBS tell me the helmet age 'rule'. I pointed out that the helmet I was holding had been manufactured eight months prior and requested a prorated price. He further explained that helmets age differently before and after they're sold.
I might have been born at night, but it wasn't last night.
I might have been born at night, but it wasn't last night.
Likes For tcs:
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 2,190
Bikes: Ti, Mn Cr Ni Mo Nb, Al, C
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 942 Post(s)
Liked 527 Times
in
349 Posts
I had a fella at the LBS tell me the helmet age 'rule'. I pointed out that the helmet I was holding had been manufactured eight months prior and requested a prorated price. He further explained that helmets age differently before and after they're sold.
I might have been born at night, but it wasn't last night.
I might have been born at night, but it wasn't last night.
Likes For jadocs:
#5
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,625
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1668 Post(s)
Liked 1,821 Times
in
1,059 Posts
Ever wonder why the styrofoam that lasts thousands of years in the landfill (or wetlands) breaks down in a few years in a bike helmet?
Helmet age testing:
https://helmets.org/helmetlineraging.htm
Helmet age testing:
https://helmets.org/helmetlineraging.htm
#6
Tragically Ignorant
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: New England
Posts: 15,613
Bikes: Serotta Atlanta; 1994 Specialized Allez Pro; Giant OCR A1; SOMA Double Cross Disc; 2022 Allez Elite mit der SRAM
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8186 Post(s)
Liked 9,098 Times
in
5,054 Posts
Ever wonder why the styrofoam that lasts thousands of years in the landfill (or wetlands) breaks down in a few years in a bike helmet?
Helmet age testing:
https://helmets.org/helmetlineraging.htm
Helmet age testing:
https://helmets.org/helmetlineraging.htm
That link is definitive--a 3-4 year rule is absurd.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Kentucky
Posts: 2,599
Bikes: 06 Lemond Reno, 98 GT Timberline mtn.bike
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 427 Post(s)
Liked 700 Times
in
436 Posts
Definitely a sales boost. Or maybe they meant decades instead of years? (but don't think I'd have a helmet around for 30 years!)
#8
Palmer
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Parts Unknown
Posts: 8,625
Bikes: Mike Melton custom, Alex Moulton AM, Dahon Curl
Mentioned: 37 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1668 Post(s)
Liked 1,821 Times
in
1,059 Posts
My Bell Biker just turned 40. I dug it out and wore it on a tweed ride (admittedly the first time it's been out of the closet in years).
Note: Modern helmets are far lighter, have better ventilation, are more comfortable and can offer better protection.
Note: Modern helmets are far lighter, have better ventilation, are more comfortable and can offer better protection.
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Posts: 7,880
Mentioned: 38 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6963 Post(s)
Liked 10,964 Times
in
4,689 Posts
And actual safety improvements seem to come only very occasionally… And they are difficult to prove empirically, at that. See for example the MIPS technology.
Likes For Koyote:
#11
Full Member
I had a Giro helmet that was probably 10 years old and had not been crashed and the foam started cracking all over like it was drying out. I am sure the foam does break down with age but I also think the "best before date" is likely artificially early both for increased sales, and for liability issues by the manufacturer.
#12
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721
Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes
Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times
in
1,286 Posts
No you don't have to replace your helmet every 3-4 years. I am still using a helmet which I purchased back in 2007, that's almost 13 years....
#13
Mother Nature's Son
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Sussex County, Delaware
Posts: 3,118
Bikes: 2014 Orbea Avant MD30, 2004 Airborne Zeppelin TI, 2003 Lemond Poprad, 2001 Lemond Tourmalet, 2014? Soma Smoothie
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 853 Post(s)
Liked 1,437 Times
in
819 Posts
I am one that never bought into that idea. As stated above, why would styrofoam and plastic break down that quickly on a helmet when it takes forever in a landfill. I have a Giro, still in use, that is at least 15 years old. Other than a few scrapes and some fading, it is still in great shape.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,753
Bikes: 1986 KHS Fiero, 1989 Trek 950, 1990 Trek 7000, 1991 Gary Fisher Hoo Koo E Koo, 1992 Trek 1400, 1997 Cannondale CAD2 R300, 1998 Cannondale CAD2 R200, 2002 Marin San Rafael, 2006 Cannondale CAAD8 R1000, 2010 Performance Access XCL9R
Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 284 Post(s)
Liked 385 Times
in
207 Posts
I crashed 8 years ago, and destroyed a 12 year old helmet in the process. As far as I'm concerned, it saved my life. Yes, I was out cold for over 5 minutes, and have some memory loss. But I'm alive... People on here certainly were split on this topic back then...
#16
Non omnino gravis
Likes For bpcyclist:
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Pacific Northwest
Posts: 1,993
Bikes: Argon 18 Gallium, BH G7, Rocky Mountain Instinct C70
Mentioned: 11 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 800 Post(s)
Liked 512 Times
in
306 Posts
3-4? Nope. That's a little too often. Every 10 years? Yeah, I could be in agreement with that.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The banks of the River Charles
Posts: 2,029
Bikes: 2022 Salsa Beargrease, 2020 Seven Evergreen, 2019 Honey Allroads Ti, 2018 Seven Redsky XX, 2017 Trek Boon 7, 2014 Trek 520
Mentioned: 19 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 696 Post(s)
Liked 910 Times
in
487 Posts
I’ve found the head retention thing on my Giro helmets breaks first.
Likes For Ghazmh:
#21
Rouleur
Just like anything used for safety - inspect it once in a while. If you see cracks, delamination, breakdown in the structure, throw it out. If it's only funky helmet pads, just replace them. And wash that helmet once in a while with mild detergent. I have 10yr old helmets in near perfect condition which I don't hesitate to wear.
The only cardinal rule I follow is if I find damage to a helmet or have crashed and the helmet took a hit - I destroy it before tossing it in the trash.
The only cardinal rule I follow is if I find damage to a helmet or have crashed and the helmet took a hit - I destroy it before tossing it in the trash.
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: new berlin wi
Posts: 232
Bikes: trek 720 multitrack hybred, 92 trek 2300, 2010 specialized roubaix, 2014 specialized roubaix
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 14 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 17 Times
in
14 Posts
because the UV rays help break down the plastic and stryofoam. there are no UV rays buried in a landfill.
do a test for yourself. take a piece of old styrofoam cooler. cover 1/2 of it so the sunlight can't hit it. them leave it out in the sun for a month or so. you will easily see damage in the exposed area over the non exposed area.
i don't replace my helmet every 3-4 years. i give my helmet a good visual inspection every month or so. once i see the plastic starting to crack, dry out i replace the helmet.i usually have to do this about the 6th or 7th year.
#23
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,636
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4735 Post(s)
Liked 1,532 Times
in
1,003 Posts
Then again.. was MIPS really around 4 years ago? Ie. spending about the same money, if you were to buy a new helmet today, would it likely be markedly safer than the one you bought 4 years ago?
#24
Super Modest
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Central Illinois
Posts: 23,466
Bikes: Trek Emonda, Giant Propel, Colnago V3, Co-Motion Supremo, ICE VTX WC
Mentioned: 107 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10963 Post(s)
Liked 4,620 Times
in
2,123 Posts
#25
• —
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Land of Pleasant Living
Posts: 12,239
Bikes: Shmikes
Mentioned: 59 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10170 Post(s)
Liked 5,862 Times
in
3,155 Posts
If you eat a healthy, non-processed, locally sourced, GMO-free diet, you should never have to replace your helmet.
Likes For MoAlpha: