Old helmet - still good?

[tygab]

I think helmets have a life of around 5 years, personally, if they are being used frequently (meaning not sitting on your shelf cause you never ride) but the guy on helmets.org says some models from the 90s are still good for now. Some of it will be common sense... if you're thinking it's time, you're probably right.

I have a 94 helmet, and I keep it as a spare/backup which has come in handy a few times - it looks solid and has never been damaged. But I ride and race with a newer one (06) which has a locking back strap thing, and that just fits a lot better.

Of course the conventional wisdom is that you should replace it after any crash or other forceful impact to the helmet.

[Aggie_Ama]

I read ANSI or Snell says they are good for 5 years, the manufacturer I use (Giro/Bell) says 3 years. Since my helmets get to see plenty of Texas sweltering heat, lots of sunscreen around my hair line and high UV indexes I went with 3 years. My brain is my important to me than getting the most out of my helmet.

[OakLeaf]

It's not (only) whether it's been crashed, it's whether it's been worn, and how it's been stored. After impacts, acids and oils from your skin and hair are what do the most damage to the EPS liner, and then there's damage from UV, ozone (produced by electrical appliances), high heat, and incidental substances like sunblock and chain lube. Once a helmet is exposed, it begins to deteriorate, and it will continue to deteriorate until the chemical reactions are exhausted, even if it's never exposed again.

A helmet that's stayed in a closed box away from fans, air conditioners, heaters, and light (not these open display boxes they have now), and that's never been tried on, likely has a very long shelf life. But what's "very long" and how do you verify how it's been stored all those years? I'd happily wear a 7 year old NOS helmet, but I don't know that I'd risk a 14 year old helmet, especially considering how inexpensive some new ones are.