How often do you replace your helmet?

[Salted_Peanut]

How often do you replace your helmet? When it gets too old (5 years?), too smelly, or whenever your racing sponsors give you a new helmet?

[Richtea1970]

Never have, but lost quite a few

[Steve vRS]

When too smelly.

Saying that, I still have a very expensive S-Works helmet in the garage I can’t face throwing out.

[Barchettaman]

When I forget it and leave it on the bloody train.

[Dannbodge]

3-4 years

Pretty sure my Met helmet has a replace by date on the inside.

Alternatively when I get bored and fancy a change.

[Bill]

When it breaks, either through age or impact*.




*TBF that's only happened once.

[bobbo89]

After an impact or if lasts long enough until the padding starts falling apart.

My lids tend to last a while as I run three, a POC Tectal, POC Kortal and a Giro Tyrant. The POC's I have in case one is too wet from a previous ride and the Giro for when I want a bit more protection or warmth.

[S600BSB]

I beg your pardon?

[WPA]

Every 2 / 3 years plus they have a replacement date inside.

[Squadrone Rosso]

Every couple of years. I ride a lot so it gets stinky. When the straps can’t be de-stinked with Detox or Fabreez they go.

[Stick Legs]

Giro Hammerhead 1990-1993 (broken in crash)
Giro Ventoux 1993-2014 (replaced after the glue holding the tape that secures the polycarbonate covering turned to dust.
Giro Foray 2014-present.

I always dunk my helmet in the bath when I finish riding, keeps it smelling nice.

I probably should change them more often but work on the principle that anything is better than nothing.

FWIW I’m only on my second pair of cycling specific eyewear since 1992. Oakley M-Frame replaced with Oakley Jawbreakers in 2016.

Excellent value for money!

[megaphone]

When it gets stinky it goes in the shower or bath with me.

[bakerstreet]

Think my first one was about 8 years. I was commuting ad bought a new one. Left that on a train afetr two short months. Bought a new one, that I only used for a few years due to pandemic. Was bulkier than the previous two, so never really liked it for commuting.

I have a Kask Mohito which is about 7 years old and I really like that. Should replace that I think, but I don't cycle very often any more. It was a £90 lid when new and is really quite nice compared to the Gyro lids I used for commuting.

[Salted_Peanut]

WPA said:

they have a replacement date inside.

They do? I must have missed seeing it! Is the replacement date when the helmet is 5 years old (like motorcycle helmets)?

[Bill]

Mine has the date of manufacture (I think/hope!)

[tertius]

Yes, this thread inspired me to check mine - it has a manufacture date (Nov 2021) but no replace by date.

[Dannbodge]

Salted_Peanut said:

They do? I must have missed seeing it! Is the replacement date when the helmet is 5 years old (like motorcycle helmets)?

Most of the manufacturers recommend 3 or 4 years for a replacement.

[President Merkin]

Don't be like me, replacing an old lid, then ttting yourself in the head on a low branch first ride & having to immediately replace the replacement.

[Bill]

Dannbodge said:

Most of the manufacturers recommend 3 or 4 years for a replacement.

They would, wouldn't they...

[paddy1970]

There is a lot of research done on this subject. The short answer is 5 years...

Liu, Y., He, L., & Yang, J. (2018). 'Impact performance and structural changes of motorcycle helmets: Influence of impact speed and helmet age'. Accident Analysis & Prevention, 111, pp. 309-319.

Traffic Safety Facts (2017). 'Motorcycle Helmet Use and Head and Facial Injuries'. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Brands, D. (2016). 'Long-Term Durability of Motorcycle Helmets'. Journal of Road and Traffic Safety, 27(1), pp. 12-21.

Snell Foundation (2020). 'Helmet Replacement Recommendations'. Snell Memorial Foundation. [Online] Available at: [Website URL]

Motorcycle Industry Council (2018). 'Motorcycle Helmet Lifecycle'. MIC. [Online] Available at: [Website URL]