helmets

[alanf]

most of my ppe stuff for work has use by dates stamped in it, does the same apply to cycling equipment? as my helmet is dated 06 02 97 :shock: thats nigh on 12 years of use! mind you it still works a treat! managed to head butt a low tree branch at speed yesterday while playing around at Woburn :? time for new hemet I'm thinking!

 

[dyna-ti]

Unless you've actually cracked it then theres no reason to stop using it.
And i dont think theres a sell by date on helmets :? ,some mag or other or forum thread would have covered it,and i havent read anything about it.

 

[The Ken]

I was told - probably by a bike shop - that you should replace your helmet every 5 years due to UV degradation. I assume that means if you use it daily or store it in a greenhouse.

It makes sense to me but then I generally buy mid range helmets so it only cost £30-40 every 5 years, which isn't too bad.

You might also want to consider how often you drop it in a five year period too, mine looks smooth on the outside but I'm sure there are a few dents under the shell.

 

[REKIBorter]

The past few days I have been wearing my old 1998 Specialized Air Banshee. My head must have changed shape, it was so uncomfortable.

 

[Average Mark]

I had one of those! saved for bloody ages, brought the blue one from Borwells in Norwich, crashed and wrote the thing off 2 months later - was gutted