Had this MET Camaleonte for just about a year. Look at the state of the forehead pad. Grim.



Had a look around for replacements which are a) hard to find and b) about €10 for .50 cents worth of material.

Most of you guys put in a lot more miles than me. Is this ever an issue for you? Is it just an issue with MET helmets? I wrote the manfacturer and, in fairness, they are sending me new pads.

PS: under the other pad I once found one of these:

I found him before heading home from work which means he was probably along for the ride from home where I keep my helmet on a hook near the bike. I'm now in a habit of peering under the pad before setting off!

Looks like a Fish Spider. I found one in my workshop last year that had a leg span of about 5 inches. I let him be, hoping that he would help with the mouse problem.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolomedes

The pads on my Giro helmet get like that. I shoot them an email and they send me new pads. I'll keep buying helmets from them.

Man, if I found a spider in my helmet I would get pretty OCD about checking evey single hiding spot before I put it on. And right now I'm uneasily staring at my head cover trying to figure out where one of those things could be hiding... I do not approve of this post.

My current helmet's (bell) pads are a bit more durable than those in the helmet you pictured. They're quite a bit thinner, though, and I do take them off often especially in the summer to rinse out all the salt that comes from my sweat but there isn't much sign of wear. The back is an adjustable dial so the fit is more precise making the pads used more for sweat absorption/comfort rather than fit.

I think Glynis27 has the right idea on sending an email to the manufacturer about replacing the pads.

Having the same issue with a Lazer O2 helmet. All I can find is the bug net insert and the warm winter insert. Everyone that lists the replacement pads online says Out of Stock. My LBS said they werent able to find them either.

I think it's a Pardosa amentata (irish wolf spider). In late spring they are everywhere!


But that's the thing about Ireland... we've nothing poisonous. The worst we got are nettles.

I did email and they are sending replacements. One online shop had replacements in stock for €10 which, in principal, is too much for what it is.

I never rinse the pads... never even occurred to me. Do you think the sweat and salt destroyed them? I just thought the material for what it was couldn't take a year of average use which is pretty lame.

Gel inserts would probably make more sense.

Spiders are pretty fast at their craft. I had a web spun across my front door overnight
face height..

Its good to take off the pads and rinse with soap, lots of grey nastiness to get rid of, I use straight spic-n-span floor cleaner.

I've had to sew up the edges of helmet pads for every helmet I've owned which include Bell, Giro and Specialized. I wish one of the manufacturers would take a stand on quality and make pads that don't delaminate.

+1. I've had a Specialized Echelon helmet for about 2 years and the pads were pretty much shot. I did break down and buy replacement pads from the Specialized website - pads and shipping ran close to $15, which is ridiculous considering what the cost is for Specialized. Oh well . . . .

I have a MET helmet but crashed in it so never got to wear out the pads. I really liked the fit of it though.

Any suggestions for cleaning the straps? Laundry detergent, shampoo, Spic and Span, or..?

That's a good question about sweat affecting the longevity of the pads. I wonder if hair products (i.e. gel, pomade, etc.) would have a bigger effect? My reasons for doing that were mostly that it started to look gross, but it may be possible that it could decrease the life of the pad. It seems more likely that it's just the type of foam wore out more quickly. I think the kind on my helmet doesn't move around as much since it's thinner so it would wear more slowly.

When I "washed" it I normally would spray it out with the garden hose while the pads were still on the helmet, and less often take the pads out and rub some laundry detergent into them to help keep them from getting smelly.

I also hate the feeling of buying something and expecting it to last but have fall apart from normal use. That's awesome that they are sending replacements though!

My pads on my Giro starting wearing out so I went out and bought two extra sets while the helmet is still in production. When I buy my next helmet, I am going to do the same thing buy them while they are plentiful.

my met helmet is he same, the pads are completely gone now but i dont think that the helmet is still in production so...

My helmet fits fairly snug to my head size, so I tore out the pads and velcro and wear a Headsweats sweat-vac skull cap. The skull cap helps protect my fairly bald head from the sun, and gets washed a couple of times per week. I have a bunch of these so there is always one dried out and ready for use. This would eliminate the "spider hiding under the helmet pad" problem too. I hang my helmet inside a bike locker at work. I have not seen any critters inside, but you never know.

This sounds like a good idea. The fabric and the foam on the old ones have completely separated. I'll see if I can I can bribe my wife to sew up the sides of the new ones.

This is another good idea. The stiff velcro hooks against the skin is the problem alright. When the next set of pads go hopefully the velcro can be removed. I doubt the pads add much comfort anyhow.