himespau 

Hi, I'm sorry if this has already been covered to death or is in the wrong forum, but I tried searching and only found links to whether or not people should wear helmets in the first five pages of results, which isn't what I want to know about.

I seem to remember seeing somewhere someone make an offhand remark about how the foam in helmets hardens after a couple of years and then they're not really good anymore and should be replaced. Is this true, or is it just some urban legend floated out there by helmet makers wanting to sell some new helmets?

I got my helmet probably 9 years ago intending to go on a poorly prepared and ill-planned century with some college buddies which (fortunately) fizzeled out for one reason or another. I say that was a good thing as at the time I was riding a mountain bike with a frame 5-6 inches (no really, it was a 17" frame and I ride a 22.5" that feels a bit cramped) too small for me and while we thought we were in shape, none of us had ridden more than 4-5 miles at a time in a couple of years.

So anyway, helmet went on the shelf where it stayed save for a couple of 10-30 mile rides a year for the next 9 or so years. Fast forward to today and I've recently started communting to work again and saw that thing saying helmets go bad over time. Do I really need to buy a new helmet? I like the one I have, it's hardly seen any use and is quite comfortable. I can see throwing it out if I'd ever landed on it in a fall or it had cracked or something, but I can't say that's been the case. Has anyone else ever even heard this about helmets going bad, or am I misremembering something I dreamt?

thanks

Ed Holland

This has come up before - you're not dreaming . It might be interesting to see what the manufacturers have to say on the subject, but of course they will be interested in selling you a new helmet as frequently as possible
However, I don't think that polystyrene foam is going to degrade seriously unless you left the helmet outside in the sun and rain for the last 9 years - at which point it would be crumbling. Take a close look at it and see what you think. In the event of falling on your head, it will likely still offer the protection it did when new.

Ed

Treespeed

I don't know about wearing out, but some of mine have been used so much I can't get the stink out and I have to buy a new one. But that's just me.

Hill-Pumper

I was on one of the helmet manufactures websites a couple of days ago and noticed that they recommend getting a new helmet every three years. I'm sure that they want to sell you a new helmet, but I know that the certification standards were changed in March 1999. They use to be Snell or ANZI or ASTM ratings which were voluntary standards. Since then they have gone to the federally mandated CPSC standard. If there is any real advantage to the change, I don't really know but, I thought it was worth mentioning.

himespau 

Thanks, the helmet still looks fundamentally sound, so I'll stick with it for now unless I hear otherwise from someone who's got scientific proof that my old helmet is going to start sucking my brain out through my ears or something...

UmneyDurak

I would get a new helmet on a pure hypothesis that design and construction of helmets improved in the last 9 years. Thats just me thought. I seem to replace helmets every year or so. Seems like thats when plastic shell starts to separate from the foam.

Speedo

You can see what the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute has to say about it here.

In a nutshell, As long as it is reasonably current and undamaged you can keep using it.

Speedo

genec

So this begs the question... are helmets in the stores "age stamped" so you can ensure that the one you get is fresh and new?

How much do they age on the shelf out of the way of UV?

Just for the record I just replaced mine... but more due to the foam pads no longer sticking and fit as well as the general grunginess of the thing a'la Treespeed's comments.

Personally I'd love to see a lightweight hardshell helmet like the old Bell V1 Pro, rather then the simple styrofoam hats that exist today.

jfmckenna

I still have the Avenir helmet I bought in 1989. It's fine though the design is not as good as some of the new ones. For example it only has a chin strap not a strap around the back of the head. I will say this though as old as that helmet is it was built very well the crap I've bought recently for A LOT of money seems to just break. Like straps pulling out of their mounts and what not.

So the helmet is probably fine but the modern designs might be better.

yes

Helmets should have a manufacturers date.
I just had my second Bell Delerium fail. Both developed a crack on the front just left of center. The crack went through the foam, and you could pull it apart a bit. It was purchased 1 year and 10 days ago, so I was told it was outside of the warranty.
Purchasing new old stock helmets on the cheap at Performance or Nashbar might make them stingier on the warranty, as they asked about the manufacturers date. It was kind of stinky anyway, so I guess I'm up for the yearly helmet tax.

I-Like-To-Bike

But doesn't a cracked helmet indicate that it somehow saved your head from cracking instead? More anecdotal evidence of helmet effectiveness, eh?

To answer the OP, I have no doubt that your older helmet offers the same amount of risk reduction as it did when brand new, for whatever that is worth.

Orbital57

I know mine has a 3 year 'expiry date' (Bell). I tend to crack the shells within that time by hanging them from my bag and shutting doors on them anyway so it doesn't bother me.

I think the best rule of thumb is probably if the shell isn't bonded to the foam or it doesn't have an adjustable cradle for the back of your head then it's worth replacing. Only because a newer style will stay on so well though.

meanwhile

If you are riding in circumstances where you think a helmet is beneficial, replace those cracked ones. An intact shell is needed to ensure liner compression; no compression, no benefit. Helmets are delicate, treat them carefully. Or switch to the $15 ones and replace frequently. If they're certified to the same standard as the one you're using now they'll be just as effective.

City_Smasher

You can't LOOK at a helmet, and tell if it's good, or not (sans cracks in the shell). A helmet is designed to protect your head, and they do degrade. Recommending a new helmet every three years is not trying to get you to buy something you don't really need. The recommendation is there, because helmets do lose their ability to protect your head, over time!

It's doubtful that your helmet is still good at this point. The other posters may say keep your helmet if it still looks ok, but it's YOU, who'll have the severe head injury from a helmet that failed to protect your head, and should have been replaced, should you ever get into an accident wearing your old helmet.

StanSeven

Polystyrene doesn't wear our or degrade from age. It does lose it's ability to cushion and protect with crashes and even hard bumps from just throwing around.

If you have an old helment, consider replacing them. You can find real bargins if you shop around on older models. Newer helmets are lighter, have been straps for fit and adjustment, and more holes for cooling. Also you can find a new helmet for close to the price of the kits with replacment pads.

jim10040

I go for replacing the older helmet. Think "outgassing." Plastics do degrade over time, even just sitting on the shelf. More than a few years old, even with no cracks or dents, I'd replace it even with a (CERTIFIED!) X-Mart brain bucket. Those stickers on the back aren't there for nothing.

himespau 

So in what way is it losing it's ability? Is the plastic getting softer? Harder? Less cushiony? (It's been sitting on a shelf in a dark closet much of this time, so there's not been a ton of UV exposure.) It does have adjustable straps and web of straps at the back of my head to support it and make it fit better. It has more ventilation than my wife's newer helmet. I don't think it was that expensive when new (maybe $40-$50?) so it's not really a cost thing, it's more of a wasting issue. I don't want to throw something away just because there's a newer thing out there. You know it's sort of a conservation, good stewardship of my resources thing. Plus styrofoam isn't exactly good for the environment, so I don't want to necessarily contribute to the production/landfilling of more of it for no reason. As a scientist (though a microbiologist not a materials engineer) I'm sort of looking for documented evidence or at least a solid descriptive reasoning for why my helmet is no longer going to provide me with protection. That website someone linked to earlier (https://www.bhsi.org/replace.htm) seemed to indicate that as long as the shell looked new (and mine looks just as shiny as it did out of the box) and the foam wasn't crumbling, UV degredation wasn't a factor, but then who knows what you can trust on the internet these days. Not that I'm trying to say that you're wrong or am attacking anyone's opinion, I'd just like to see some sort of documented proof one way or the other, though I doubt that sort of thing exists...

Bekologist

if in doubt, throw it out is a maxim often applied in other recreational pursuits.

since you are questioning your helmet, replace it. they are inexpensive.

Personally, my helmets get so banged around from daily use and abuse I replace them once a year for 29.99 a lid.

Safety precautions that bring peace of mind- valuable.

Safety equipment you question the efficacy of- not so much.

City_Smasher

So you're a scientist.....but you don't have the common sense to know if your 9 year old helmet is good or not??

You're concerned about the environment quote:

....."a conservation, good stewardship of my resources thing. Plus styrofoam isn't exactly good for the enviromnment, so I don't want to necessarily contribute to the production/landfilling of more of it for now reason."

Yet you bought the helmet for a single use. I copied/pasted the quote below, from your original post:

"I got my helmet probably 9 years ago intending to go on a poorly prepared and ill-planned century with some college buddies which (fortunately) fizzeled out for one reason or another. I say that was a good thing as at the time I was riding a mountain bike with a frame 5-6 inches (no really, it was a 17" frame and I ride a 22.5" that feels a bit cramped) too small for me and while we thought we were in shape, none of us had ridden more than 4-5 miles at a time in a couple of years."

[color="Red"][color="red"]"So anyway, helmet went on the shelf where it stayed save for a couple of 10-30 mile rides a year for the next 9 or so years. Fast forward to today and I've recently started communting to work again and saw that thing saying helmets go bad over time. Do I really need to buy a new helmet?"

Do you really need to ask?

Honker

I thought you were asking i f anyones ever heard of helmets going bad, in your first post?

Now you say your looking for documented evidence of this?

Your post sounds likee a troll!

StanSeven

Another way to look at this is do you want to take a chance on an old helmet if you crash? It's your head and life. I've literally been saved from serious injuries from my helmets. Bith times were severe crashes with the helmet spliting in half. I survived without serious injury.

So it's up to you. If you want to take a chance on an old helmet, great. Hope it works!

keiththesnake

It's probably fine. But now you've go ME freaked out about MY helmet. Thanks.

himespau 

I'm sorry if I've offended you, but the idea of a helmt going bad to me just doesn't make a lont of sense (besides the uv damaging the plastic-which takes like 500 years to degrade a grocery bag, so I'm not super concerned about that, but I can see how it'd be an issue) and the link posted seemed to pretty definitively suggest the other way. So when presented with two opposing viewpoints my scientific side takes over and wants to see some sort of evidence to help me choose which is accurate. Though to be honest, I doubt that there's much evidence in this case, so I'll just have to use my judgement. As the helmet appears completely undamaged (and my only fall wearing it involved me landing on my chin, not the helmet) and isn't stinky, I'll probably keep it for now, but evaluate again in after I move to a new state (in a couple of months).

maddmaxx 

The foam in your helmet is designed to trade crush distance in return for reduced peak G loading on your skull. Because it is crushable foam, it is a one time use item. The second impact will not reduce the G loading as much as the first.

2 things that I know of reduce the effectiveness of that foam. First, something happens to it (I'm not a chemist but evidence from other posters mentions "dry crumbly foam") that degrades with time its ability to cushon the shock. When this leads to a dangerous condition............who knows. Second, routine day to day knocks and bumps (a poster above closes doors with his) are a cumulative form of the one time use provision. Eventually, the foam has been compressed enough that it will not cushon the shock it was designed to. Very serious race drivers helmets (really expected to save your life) are kept in a cushoned bag when not in use. They are replaced every year or after every crash.

You have to weigh this against the world of bicycle helmets and the general care or lack thereof that they receive. All in all, a 3 year recomendation is not unreasonable from the manufacturers point of view. After all, no one knows when or even if that one in a million occurance will happen where the presence of the helmet keeps those instantaneous g forces just low enough to save your brain. Its insurance.