Daily Commute

I just discovered a small broken piece on the strap of my helmet. The helmet will probably work just fine, but "probably" isn't good enough for my noggin.

I'm looking for a new, durable helmet. I'm not talking about surviving multiple strikes. I'm stalking about a helmet in which the little things are less likely to break or fall apart in normal use. I'm willing to pay more for a helmet that will survive longer under daily all-season riding. But I'm not willing to pay for more vents or to save a few grams.

Any thoughts?

cyclingshane73

I was thinking of getting a hard shell helmet for cold weather commuting. My current helmet has 19 vents and is getting a little drafty as the temps drop even with my balaclava on. Also I considered the longevity and durability of a hard plastic shell instead of a single impact styrofoam shell. There's a few of them that I think I like. I just haven't had the time to go shopping around yet.

Tree Trunk

One thought -- how long is "long"? My helmets get pretty grungy after a year or two.

Daily Commute

Two years would be great. My current helmet lasted only about 6-8 months.

cyclingshane73

Yeah I would have to say two years would be great too. As it stands, like DC, I replace my helmets once a year. I just feel better doing so after a season involving thousands of k's of sweat, sun, heat and other elements along with the occasional accidental drop and all.

MichaelW

My low-end Met Bad Boy has lasted well. It has fewer holes (better for winter), larger holes (for locking with a Kryptonite), and is moulded rather than glued into the semi-hard shell.

OhiOH

The biggest problem I have with helmets is the stench from the foam rubber and it’s eventual rot.

Hey cyclingshaaney73 - Couldn't resist.

"No drug, not even alcohol, causes the fundamental ills of society. If we're looking for the source of our troubles, we shouldn't test people for drugs. We should test them for stupidity, ignorance, greed, and love of power." -P.J. O'Rourke

I know this isn’t a political forum, but, I know of a certain North American President that should be tested and wouldn't pass.

Tree Trunk

Bill Clinton?

OhiOH

Nobody died from &$#~*# tracks on a blue dress.

bkrownd

Ouch!!! I've been riding with my original Advent Air helmet for 10.5 years. I just replace the padding every few years, and it's still waiting to meet Mr. Pavement.

closetbiker

Me too! (except I think mine is 7 years old)

I think some of us just like to buy, buy, buy! (not too good for the land fill)

kurremkarm

I just bought one of these, why not buy two of them for 40 bucks instead of spending tons of loot. Work great, last longtime.

https://www.nashbar.com/profile.cfm?c...eid=&pagename=

Seeker

No land fill for my old lids. I plan on using them as planters. If the straps are still good hanging baskets.

LightCycles

Helmets should be replaced every 2 to 3 years. Check the booklet that came with you helmet. I know you guys just threw away the instructions! lol Most will have a recommendation. Check Bell and Giro websites.

www.bellsports.com
www.giro.com

BTW, I am offering 20% off retail on Bell and Giro helmets. I know Performance and Nashbar are blowing out last years models. I'd like to think I might be able to match them.

Pedal On,

Bob Light

lightrj@plattsburgh.edu

bkrownd

Is there a specific reason, other than making boatloads of money for these companies?
If you asked the auto manufacturers they'd tell you to replace your car every 5 years.
(With a new overpriced one, of course)

catatonic

the grade of foam used prolly loses its elasticity over time, and possibly becomes more rigid. That would be my best guess.

Other is look at how nicked up and such the average helmet is after a year...then imagine two....pretty bad. My LG is so nicked up you can barely see the original designwork on the foam portions of it.

bkrownd

It might, it might not. I'm sure the helmet manufacturers would love me to believe that I have to buy a new overpriced helmet every 2-3 years, but I have no reason to believe that. The nicks in mine are only cosmetic.

cryogenic

I've had my Bell Nemesis Pro since early 1999 and it has some minor nicks in the foam but nothing major. Granted it wasn't used for a year or two, but it's still doing just fine. I see no reason to replace it yet.

catatonic

the way I look at it, it's $80 every two years....$40 a year. Crap we spend more than that on our internet connections...nothing overpriced about it unless you are one of those "I could have made this for xx" people...in that case, go buy an extra...

Just my observation, but the people that refuse to buy something based on how little it prolly costed to make, are usually the ones who have things break down at the most inopportune times...and are often like my mom's boyfriend, who in 3 months took a $9K car he got a deal for on ebay (A mercedes), and reduced it to something he possibly cant even sell for 5k just because he didnt want to buy a metal rail becuase it was overpriced....he managed to destroy two window assemblies figureing it out, then the windows dropped...and a rainstorm screwed up the interior...it was horible.

Needless to say, that was a case where spending maybe $500 would have saved him a lot....same goes for a helmet...it's aprotective device, and at least to me, it's worth about $40 a year to make sure my bean doesnt get any more impacted than it gets already

operator

Then again it might.

closetbiker

Sounds like they just want to sell more helmets (and place all that styrofoam that won't break down into the land fills)

But don't take my word for it,

From the Bicycle Helmet Safty Institute:

https://www.bhsi.org/replace.htm

...Most manufacturers now recommend that helmets be replaced after five years, but some of that may be just marketing...

... Somebody is spreading rumors that sweat and Ultraviolet exposure will cause your helmet to degrade. Sweat will not do that. The standards do not permit manufacturers to make a helmet that degrades from sweat, and the EPS, EPP or EPU foam is remarkably unaffected by salt water. Your helmet will get a terminal case of grunge before it dies of sweat. UV can affect the strength of the shell material, though. Manufacturers put UV inhibitors in the plastic for their shells that control UV degradation. If your helmet is fading, maybe the UV inhibitors are failing, so you might consider replacing it. Chances are it has seen an awful lot of sun to have that happen...

EPS is a long-lived material little affected by normal environmental factors. Unless you mistreat it we would not expect it to "dry out" enough to alter its performance for many years...

In sum, we don't find the case for replacing a helmet that meets the ASTM or Snell standards that compelling if the helmet is still in good shape and fits you well.

operator

Even if it is just marketing hype, every 2 to 3 years like come on. What do you have to do. Save like 5 cents a day for that.

closetbiker

Buy whatever you want to, but a helmet is just as effective after 10 years as they are after 10 days.

bkrownd

$25 is still $25, and $25 wasted is still $25 wasted. Every dollar counts, and pennies a day here and there add up to dollars, as well. That's just my 2 cents a day, YMMV.

bkr

bkrownd

Thanks for the link and info.

I suspect the 2-3 years may also be a lawyer-inspired thing, to set a time limit on product liability.