Could have been a defect in that helmet. I've had many last 5 years or more. And even then I change just to have a newer one (different color, more vents, etc.)

SS

I bought my giro transit helmet brand new for thirty bucks with free shipping. Great helmet for commuters, cheap and good, and hell its a giro helmet.

You guys probably don't want to hear this, I wear Protec(Yup, skateboard helmet!) and loving it. Pads are replaceable($10.-), cheap(I bought my latest one $24.- at Sportmart online), fits much better than Giro which I thought was the best fitting helmet when I bought it. Protec helmets are much more likely to stay on your head when you hit the ground head first. If those guys can trust it when they go up 50feet in the Big Air event(that scarey thing), you can trust it too.

dont be cheap! whats more important than keeping your brains in your skull?!?!?!
Anyway, newer helmets often have higher safety standards than the older ones, new materials and the like. If you are going to be cheap, expect a sore head when you actually take a serious spill!

It's still just styrofoam with a chinstrap. Styrofoam and nylon don't cost more then $0.10 to make.