Equipt wear out - helmets

[pete]

Perhaps my subversive way to keep Helmet treads alive but ... I know Ski's, Boots, Bindings wear out and having last spring a nice WP store cashier recommend I replace my old helmet as they had 30% off, and noting they get old and less effective, decided to pick up one for me and youngest.

So like biking helmets that dry out, shrink, etc I noted a sale this last Sunday and picked up an inexpensive Giro w/MIPs if only for glancing blows. Part of my trigger pull was my old one was nearing 10 yrs old, so pretty sure it was down on it's life even though stored in pretty tame conditions.

Other folks replace these on regular basis? Anyhow, too a bit of a note to those using helmets but perhaps not thinking about their age. (helmets age that is!)

 

[scott43]

Yeah, hockey, motorcycle, bicycle..5 year is the "rule". I don't worry about the hockey helmet so much..or bicycle really..but was religious on the motorcycle helmet. Especially as you can't get on the track if it's over 5 years old. Ski..mine is 5 years old now..probably won't replace it..but will think about it..

 

[cantunamunch]

*shrug*
I'm on my 11th bike helmet, 5th or 6th ski helmet and 3rd kayak helmet. 1st and only caving helmet.

 

[Chris Walker]

Yeah, all y'all's helmets are worn out and you need to buy a new one to replace it!

 

[Carl Kuck]

They say 5 years, I know that my Snell-rated helmet for autocross and time trialing had a specific standard date on it and helmets for racing cars are not something I would cheap-out on. I've heard it claimed that ski helmets are ineffective above 15 MPH (injuries at higher-speeds are more likely blunt force trauma), but I don't see any downside to wearing a helmet while skiing (see profile pic)...

 

[Bad Bob]

Read a fairly recent report that broke down fatalities per million in different sports. Skiing came out extremely low on the list of fatally dangerous sports. I think backpacking came out as more dangerous.

The point of this. I do wear a helmet because I promised my wife I would. I will wear a helmet because I promised her. I will not replace my helmet if there is no visible damage to mine. Besides, I like the stickers on mine.

 

[crgildart]

I'm in the something is better than nothing category when it comes to helmets. If it is comfortable and has no visual flaws I just keep using them. Yes, they recommend replacing every 5 years and after every substantial impact. However, I also don't replace the air bags in my cars unless they deploy, and I use stock seat belts instead of 5 point harnesses. I didn't wear one competing in the early 80s, few did. But, if I were spending 100 days a year on the snow hitting high risk and high exposure terrain I'd invest more in protection.

 

[scott43]

Read a fairly recent report that broke down fatalities per million in different sports. Skiing came out extremely low on the list of fatally dangerous sports. I think backpacking came out as more dangerous.

The point of this. I do wear a helmet because I promised my wife I would. I will wear a helmet because I promised her. I will not replace my helmet if there is no visible damage to mine. Besides, I like the stickers on mine.

And this is a very sensible approach I think. People should understand relative risk. The nearest I got to death was nearly getting clipped at an intersection walking across the road on a green light. Does that mean I should be wearing a helmet while walking? I've never felt close to being hurt while mountain biking. Why wear a helmet? They're ridiculously hot. Motorcycles, yeah, I get it. Hockey, haven't hit my head in years. Doesn't mean it can't happen, but how likely? Mostly just sticks and pucks which won't kill you. Skiing..yeah, I can see that for myself. I'm much more likely to wear one skiing, but that's me. Relative risk.

 

[hbear]

We replace ours every 5 years. Small price to pay for the piece of mind. I've smacked my head more than a few times and know the helmet surely saved me from significant injury. (hot laps on a race course and some miss rotated "landings" in the park or ackward airs off some natural jumps)

EPS helmets are replaced after any significant blow.....oddly more often occurring on course or in the park where the track or features are very firm.

 

[Monique]

I tend to want a different color for my helmet long before it hits 5 years.

 

[crgildart]

I tend to want a different color for my helmet long before it hits 5 years.

If you do paint, get the auto paint that's recommended for trim. Some cheap paints can actually weaken the plastic, rare, but possible.

 

[Monique]

If you do paint, get the auto paint that's recommended for trim. Some cheap paints can actually weaken the plastic, rare, but possible.

Okay, fine, you are forcing me to tell the truth. I just want new *stuff* before 5 years. Color is a handy excuse.

 

[Guy in Shorts]

Two years unless it starts to smell bad then sooner. Tons of dents due to my love of tight trees. Leading with head thru tight spots is the trick to finding great powder stashes.

 

[cantunamunch]

. Color is a handy excuse.

If you want a better excuse, you could do the Sweat in Styrofoam Cups At Body Temps Overnight experiment. As a first attempt, use blue Gatorade.

 

[Monique]

If you want a better excuse, you could do the Sweat in Styrofoam Cups At Body Temps Overnight experiment. As a first attempt, use blue Gatorade.

I don't want to know, do I?

 

[chemist]

My issue is that I am very sensitive to comfort, and my current helmet (no longer made) fits the shape of my head just perfectly. Every year I try on new helmets, in the hope that one will fit as well, and every year they don't, so I put off replacing it for yet one more season. One shop owner said it's unfortunate they stopped making that model, because it had a different shape from everything else on the market, and thus accommodated people for whom the other brands' helmets didn't quite work. Yes, you can adjust the fit of helmets by playing with the foam, but that's like using fit adjustments to a liner to make up for a sub-optimal fit on a boot shell. Much better to have a helmet shape that fits you from the start. Of course, I haven't tried on every helmet on the market. Maybe I'll need to do that as a project starting next season.

 

[cantunamunch]

My issue is that I am very sensitive to comfort, and my current helmet (no longer made) fits the shape of my head just perfectly. Every year I try on new helmets, in the hope that one will fit as well, and every year they don't, so I put off replacing it for yet one more season. One shop owner said it's unfortunate they stopped making that model, because it had a different shape from everything else on the market, and thus accommodated people for whom the other brands' helmets didn't quite work. Yes, you can adjust the fit of helmets by playing with the foam, but that's like using fit adjustments to a liner to make up for a sub-optimal fit on a boot shell. Much better to have a helmet shape that fits you from the start..

I do this. It's funny how few shop owners are understanding when you tell them that none of the helmets they have on offer fit properly.

 

[pete]

My issue is that I am very sensitive to comfort, and my current helmet (no longer made) fits the shape of my head just perfectly. Every year I try on new helmets, in the hope that one will fit as well, and every year they don't, so I put off replacing it for yet one more season. One shop owner said it's unfortunate they stopped making that model, because it had a different shape from everything else on the market, and thus accommodated people for whom the other brands' helmets didn't quite work. Yes, you can adjust the fit of helmets by playing with the foam, but that's like using fit adjustments to a liner to make up for a sub-optimal fit on a boot shell. Much better to have a helmet shape that fits you from the start. Of course, I haven't tried on every helmet on the market. Maybe I'll need to do that as a project starting next season.

side masters program for a boot fitter .... or thermal/heat moldable liner, ah ... 160F and pop your noggin right in.

 

[Don in Morrison]

I only wear a helmet because Mrs. Claystone gave me one for Christmas a couple of years ago. Otherwise I wouldn't be using one. If nothing bad happens to it, it will be the only helmet I will ever own.

 

[Monique]

My issue is that I am very sensitive to comfort, and my current helmet (no longer made) fits the shape of my head just perfectly. Every year I try on new helmets, in the hope that one will fit as well, and every year they don't, so I put off replacing it for yet one more season. One shop owner said it's unfortunate they stopped making that model, because it had a different shape from everything else on the market, and thus accommodated people for whom the other brands' helmets didn't quite work. Yes, you can adjust the fit of helmets by playing with the foam, but that's like using fit adjustments to a liner to make up for a sub-optimal fit on a boot shell. Much better to have a helmet shape that fits you from the start. Of course, I haven't tried on every helmet on the market. Maybe I'll need to do that as a project starting next season.

My husband has this issue. He bought a new helmet, but still uses the old one because it is more comfortable. I'm pretty sure the old one predates our marriage ... so like 13 years? Yikes!