Helmet Question

[MartianDestiny]

Actually, helmet warranties generally run 7 years from manufacture or 3 years from purchase, whichever is sooner. So I'll go with what I've always heard and read, that an unworn, properly stored helmet degrades very little if at all. It's the acids and oils from your skin - and to a lesser extent UV and ozone exposure - that degrades the EPS. So I go with 3-5 years from first use.

Not according to the manufacturers.

Bell:

WHEN SHOULD I REPLACE MY HELMET?
How often should a helmet be replaced under normal wear and tear?
Bell has a general recommendation of replacing a helmet every three (3) years. If you have any questions as to the condition of your helmet please call us for information or to set up a free inspection....

What kind of warranty does Bell offer?
Any Bell helmet determined by Bell to be defective in materials or workmanship within one (1) year from the date of original purchase will be repaired or replaced, at Bell’s option, free of charge when received at the factory freight prepaid, together with proof of purchase. If you have questions regarding the warranty coverage on your helmet, call us or refer to the helmet owner’s manual."

Specialized:

Question
How long can I expect a bicycle helmet to last?

Answer

Most helmets should last 5 to 6 years, after that the Styrofoam just ages and gets brittle. Then it is not as able to absorb an impact, and that is the whole reason to have a helmet!

Have you ever seen a very old Styrofoam beer cooler? One that when you pick it up, if there is anything inside it, the bottom tends to fall out? or it just crumbles & cracks?

That is an example of Styrofoam losing its unique properties & flexibility over time. And this is exactly why we recommend changing your helmet after 5 to 6 years.

Of course any helmet that has been involved in a crash should be replaced even if no damage is visible. You can crush that Styrofoam, or there might be cracks in it under the plastic molded cover that you can't see.

There are things in life that you can "put off replacing" over and over and have few ill effects. Personally, I think helmets are not one of those items.

Question
Is there any kind of warranty on your helmets?

Answer

All of our accessories, including helmets, have a 1 year warranty from the date of purchase against manufacturer's defects in workmanship or materials.

Giro:

Any helmet subjected to a violent impact should be discarded and destroyed,
although helmet damage may not always be evident. In addition, it is
recommended that helmets be replaced after three years from the date of
purchase.

WARRANTIES
Giro warrants to the original purchaser of this product that the product is free
of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the

original date of purchase.

SNELL (safety certification company): http://www.smf.org/faqs.html#10

ALL of the above (all of the main manufacturers) recommend 5 years or less (ok, Specialized is 5-6) and All of them offer only a 1 year warranty against defects. That's a far cry from a 7 year warranty!!!

I think I'm going to stick with what I'm reading from the safety people and the manufacturers; it degrades to some extent regardless of use (or lack thereof) with effects starting to be potentially fatal to me somewhere in the neighborhood of ~5yrs. I know enough chemistry and about the material to believe them as well.