How often do you change your helmet?

[Sam the Mut]

Fell off my bike today hit my head pretty hard, so I need a new helmet, I've had it about 3 years. How long do you keep your helemt until you change it?

[Elsiee]

m/bike or push bike

[Sam the Mut]

m/bike

[Gizmo!]

I change after a fall, not otherwise..

[matt-ITR]

They recommend you change them every 3 years or after a crash even if there is no visible damage.

3 years because UV can degrade them and sooner if you have a crash, because often they are damaged, but cracks/damage are not visible.

[Sam the Mut]

Sam the Mut said:

m/bike

Doh! saw m/bike as mountain bike! It's a push bike, In the local woods I went over my handle bars and head butted a tree.

[amnesia182]

Pretty sure there's a 'replace by' date in my helmet.

Usually every other year if I don't have a spill.

[Watchman]

You're all mad. If the ecomentalists are to be believed, expanded polystyrene will last until the dinosaurs rise again or the earth is consumed by the dying Sun.

Time to replace is when you put it on your head and the strap comes off in your hand, or somesuch, surely? You'd know by just squeezing it or similar.

[matt-ITR]

Watchman said:

You're all mad. If the ecomentalists are to be believed, expanded polystyrene will last until the dinosaurs rise again or the earth is consumed by the dying Sun.

Time to replace is when you put it on your head and the strap comes off in your hand, or somesuch, surely? You'd know by just squeezing it or similar.

What a load of nonsense. If you value your brain then do not listen to this advice.
Helmets don't cost a fortune, worth changing to be on the safe side if you are not sure. Any signs of damage change immediately.

[Watchman]

matt-ITR said:

What a load of nonsense. If you value your brain then do not listen to this advice.
Helmets don't cost a fortune, worth changing to be on the safe side if you are not sure. Any signs of damage change immediately.

I don't disagree if there's signs of damage but you don't just change them because a year or two has passed, surely?

[matt-ITR]

Watchman said:

I don't disagree if there's signs of damage but you don't just change them because a year or two has passed, surely?

3 years is the guideline.

[Dan67]

Every 2 years no matter what for me

[Paul Drawmer]

Looked it up on the Bell website, and they recommend 3 years.

Mine has a August 2006 sticker, so I've just ordered a new one. Never occurred to me that they'd lose their effectiveness through time alone.

[shouldbworking]

Just replaced mine (well.. actually bought a specific MTB helmet - the other one will still see road use). I got it back in 2003.

[paranoid airbag]

Paul Drawmer said:

Looked it up on the Bell website, and they recommend 3 years.

Mine has a August 2006 sticker, so I've just ordered a new one. Never occurred to me that they'd lose their effectiveness through time alone.

any actual studies, tests, etc. done to confirm this actually happens?

Mine's a little over three years old, and I've just noticed two fairly significant cracks in it. So... soon.

[matt-ITR]

paranoid airbag said:

any actual studies, tests, etc. done to confirm this actually happens?

Mine's a little over three years old, and I've just noticed two fairly significant cracks in it. So... soon.

Forget the age or studies, if it has cracks get it changed ASAP!
Most brands offer a good crash replacement policy which gives you a discount. Worth looking into.

[Jimbo.]

After every major impact whilst wearing, or every two years-ish, depending upon what bargains can be had. Overkill (and a massive "each to their own" disclaimer, here!) maybe, but having had a lid quite literally save my life, I don't wish to take any more chances: I can confirm that head injuries are really, really st.