I have a ABUS HS-10-S-Force Peak that was made in 12.2009.

It says that it conforms to EN 1078.

I guess it's going on 10 years and hasn't had any serious falls. How long should it last?

As long as it can be adjusted to fit, it should indefinitely provide the same level of risk reduction as when new. See the Helmet sticky thread for discussion about just what that level is believed to be by BF posters.

Helmet salesmen would like consumers to periodically replace the helmet and have raised all sorts of stories about undetectable "deterioration" of the materials in order to prompt such purchases; believe it if you need justification buy a new helmet.

Three years seems like great advice...for the helmet marketing team. Here's a good link where they suggest that older helmets are only inadequate insofar as the newer designs provide superior protection.

Generally I would replace every 3-5 years. It is a safety item people I get we all love to be cheap and some of us love to be really cheap (rinse out your condoms they are good for at least 6 more go's) I know we love to believe that the replacement time is all marketing hype so we can save the few bucks on a new helmet but why always so cheap? Sure if it comes down to getting food and shelter vs. buying a new helmet then yeah food and shelter but if not replace your helmet sometimes. Unless you never sweat and never use the helmet in the sun or places that have UV rays and are in very mild temps, you probably want to replace with some regularity.

I know that helmet has your special funk and is growing some really cool mushrooms and is super vintage from the 80s but you don't have to Eroica everything!

Barring the fitness of the straps, the plastic shell, and the glue that holds it together, it should last indefintely. Polystyrene has a lifespan of longer than your life.

A couple of posts mention UV rays deteriorating the foam inside the helmet. I'm wondering how the UV rays make their way inside the helmet. Sounds like creative marketing to me.

-Matt

You're likely to get responses from a few years, to use it till you crash. You'll likely even hear that the recommendations to replace the helmet is a conspiracy promoted by helmet manufactures to get more of your money.

It is a fact that the shock absorbing properties of the foam in the helmet change over time and that is why a manufacturer typically has a recommended replacement time. Does that mean a helmet offers no protection after x years? Of course not. Just that it doesn't offer the same level of protection. Can you know exactly how much protection is lost after x years? Not that I know of.

Personally I tend to follow the manufacturers recommendation, but everyone makes their own choice in regards to safety and risk. I was in a serious motorcycle crash about 6 years ago and fairly confident I would not be writing this if not for the full face helmet I was wearing so I'm a bit biased on the helmet subject.