Study: Helmets do not degrade with age and use

[OakLeaf]

http://bhsi.org/up1505a.htm

I'm honestly stunned by this. You may remember I've vigorously defended regularly replacing helmets, because I've found LOTS of old styrofoam cups just crumbling, beads separating from each other, when doing river and forest cleanup. But the testing seems plenty extensive.

Guess I'll be keeping my current helmet for a while.

[BikeDutchess]

Wow, that is surprising. Guess I can no longer use that as an excuse when I simply want a new one.

[thekarens]

Wow, that is surprising. Guess I can no longer use that as an excuse when I simply want a new one.

I'd still use it as an excuse

[nuliajuk]

Some years ago I contacted Louis Garneau after replacing a helmet, to ask if I should just throw the old one away. I was surprised when they got back to me to say that the old L.G. helmet should be just fine and I didn't need to toss it even if it was 7 or 8 years old. I still have it as a backup, although it's not as good a fit as the Specialized helmets I replaced it with.
The first of the Specialized helmets did break up after about 5 years, but not in the foam section. Rather, it was the plastic holding the nylon straps to that helmet body that disintegrated. Built in obsolescence, I suppose.

[azfiddle]

That's fascinating!

[khg]

Apparently the aroma of a helmet doesn't count in the study's determination of "deterioration." A couple years of sunscreen and buckets of sweat, and I'm happy to call a helmet done...

[OakLeaf]

Haha .... I do miss the old white Bell helmets' removable/washable/replaceable pads!

You can wash the whole thing in the sink with dish soap. But yeah, the last motorcycle helmet I replaced was barely of an age I would've replaced it before reading this, but the liner was completely deteriorated. If I'd known, I might've spent the extra money for one with full replaceable pads!

[malkin]

Apparently the aroma of a helmet doesn't count in the study's determination of "deterioration." A couple years of sunscreen and buckets of sweat, and I'm happy to call a helmet done...

Exactly!!

My current one isn't stinky yet, but I need a new one because my hair is big enough now to make it not fit right anymore.

[Crankin]

I am such a head sweater, that, even with cleaning, I have to have 2 helmets. If I don't rotate, it's ugly. The one i wear more always gets crapped up on the straps and the inside pieces. We do keep a supply of the replaceable pads, because with my sweat, they always start getting loose and disintegrate. I've only replaced one helmet for a crash, the rest all for just age/sweat/smell.