I feel like it's where helmet companies make their money, since (thankfully) the majority of users aren't cracking their helmets during use once a year---but the little sweat pads in the helmet just die after a year's worth of use. I wear my helmet all year long for commuting (and every other time), sometimes with a hat underneath for warmth, but mostly just on my hairy head. And yes, i sweat.

Once they're dead, underneath is sometimes cheap velcro-like strips, or nothing at all (the pads were glued in). I've attempted to use pieces of fabric laying around: a recycled head sweatband, some pieces of old t-shirt---they all extend life for about one or two months before dying themselves (by dying, i mean the fabric falls apart, threads come un-knit, the fabric just gets unacceptably nasty).

So, what do you do to prolong helmet life? (If you don't wear a helmet, don't bother answering.) Is there someplace with acceptable OEM-ish helmet replacement pads? Do you just suck it up and buy another helmet?! Help me find the solution!