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Please settle a 'we are locked down so have too much time to whats app' debate
I just said I was going to get a cheap planet x helmet to replace my old troy lee lid which has seen better days to be frank. My mate said don't get a cheap lid - its your only head - you spend more on a base layer than you are about to on a helmet......
Now my mate has a top of the range Giro helmet (roadie) which cost him over £200 but about 6-7 years ago. Its been used for thousands of km but never crashed. However its seen plenty of UV.
So I reckon that a cheap £15 lid which is replaced every couple of years will be way better in a crash than a top of the range lid costing 100's thats 5 years old no matter how many fancy acronyms its got on the box.....
What do you lot think?
They're all tested to the same standard.
I’ve got one of those cheap on one trail helmets. Bought it to replace an expensive bell that got dinged in a crash. It hurts my head because it’s not the right shape but I trust it just as much. Going to have to replace it soon though as it’s not comfy.
The one that fits best
As scotroutes said, all helmets have to meet a minimum safety standard so it's not like you're wrapping your head in just a plastic bag for protection.
As well as the potential UV effects on an older helmet, although the helmet my not have been in a crash I be tit' been dropped multiple times over the years if it's been used regularly. Each of those drops individually my not have much impact but added up there's no telling what internal damage has been done.
I'm sure I've read somewhere that it's only recommended using a traditional EPS filled helmet regularly for a max of 5 years because of the detrimental effects of exposure to the elements.
I don't see how a 200 quid helmet could give 13 times the protection and benefits of a 15 quid one.
And a 15 quid one hurts less to replace after a stack.
Knew I'd read it somewhere. Admittedly this is from the Giro site and they're always going to want to sell more helmets, but...
We make a general recommendation of replacing a helmet every three to five (3-5) years depending on use and handling. This is based on observation of the average user, and factors like wear over time, weather, handling, the potential for degradation from personal care products like sunscreen or bug spray, and the simple fact that helmets do improve over time.
While helmets kept in good condition can provide protective capability beyond the 3-5 year recommended lifespan, it’s also true that they can degrade over time. This is why we recommend replacing the helmet within this regular interval.
If you fall and the helmet is impacted, you should have the helmet inspected or replace the helmet immediately, even if no damage is visible. The reason is that helmet liners are made to absorb energy from impacts and they do this through their own degradation or destruction – like an airbag in a car. If the liner is compromised from an impact or other factors, it may not offer the full protective capability it was designed to provide.
The option that doesn't involve punting a still good helmet to landfill?.
The option that doesn’t involve punting a still good helmet to landfill?.
How do you know it's still "good" without headbutting a paving slab?
TBH I'm a cheapskate and therefore want to believe my PX special is every bit as good as a top end Giro...
As already pointed out they all have to pass a minimum standard to be on sale, that's not to say anyone can tell you the margin by which either passes, or what the actual effects of age will be on an older lid...
The only comfort I really draw is that all the extra money you spend on a fancier brand won't have really bought you "more safety" it might buy more lightness, more airflow, less aerodynamic drag, more brand cachet. Your extra spend probably also buys the company more advertising, covers sponsorship and nicer premises. But in the end an EPS hat is an EPS hat, spend £20 or £200 neither actually has any guarantee of superior performance...
Classic waffle there from Giro, with a perfect dose of fear.
Let's see ANY evidence that UV, weather (WTF?) etc damage helmets?
Or shall we go straight to "it's the difference between life and death" ad hominem?
A woman on FB told me today she understood when helmets should be replaced because she's seen a lot of cyclists crash and also works for a brain charity. She did concede that neither gave her any knowledge on impacts and how helmets mitigate them.
I store all of my helmets in the dark.i recon pisspot helmets last longer than xc helmets as they are alot tougher unless of course they are exposed to lots of UV.even then they will last longer.
And another...
The one that fits best
Ive joined the group that now agree with TJ.
We are the Borg
Resistance is Futile...
A while back I took a club hammer to a batch of helmets I’d bought at the same time for various members of the family. They were about 4, 5 years old
The hammer really struggled to do much visible (note visible damage) to a couple of the helmets.
But one it went through very easily fist blow.
Not scientific but interesting.
I’m in the change regularly camp.
In (my) industry, hard hats have to be replaced every 3 years. So I'd do the same for bike helmets.
I've just replaced a 3yr old Lazer Z1 with a KTM Factory Team helmet, its not as light (we're talking a few grams here) but in every other aspect its absolutely fine.
Let’s see ANY evidence that UV, weather (WTF?) etc damage helmets?
https://www.oatext.com/degradation-study-of-used-polystyrene-with-uv-irradiation.php
It was observed from the compiled results that UV irradiation has profound effect on the reduction of molecular weight of polystyrene samples.
TJ is spot on, the comfy one is the one you'll wear. IME more money, less weight, but that's pretty much it.
Interesting Tinas...So after UV exposure, dissolved EPA has a shorter molecular chain.
Any evidence there about its ability to absorb impact energy thereafter?
Nope.
Yes Al. The evidence is out there. It's well known that plastics like eps degade with uv
Also sweat degrades eps
I think it's almost the opposite...if you disregard extra features such as MIPs etc and you get a helmet that fits properly.
What sells helmets? Lightweight? Lots of vents? Expensive helmets (ignoring full face) are as light and airy as possible i.e cut away as much as possible whilst still passing the regulations for testing.
Cheaper helmets are likely to exceed the regulations because they have more material in them.
I'm in the wear it until it falls apart camp.
The difference in the amount of EPS foam in an average lid to a ultra light weight super vented helmet is massive - as is the difference in the shell coating that takes most of the UV. I would think a 20 year old lid that is a pretty bulky construction is better than a new ultra light lid.
A 20 year old ultra light lid might not be a great idea.
Met say you can wear a helmet for 10 years. I have a Met helmet that is 10 years old so was pleased to read this!
So after UV exposure, dissolved EPA has a shorter molecular chain.
Any evidence there about its ability to absorb impact energy thereafter?
Nope.
The material is degraded, do you really need an explanation as to the consequence? If you do I'd lay off the big hits.
Interesting tj, surely any effect is on the very outermost of the EPS only.
Squirrelking, I'm making a more nuanced point.
Similar thing for motorcycle helmets. Quick question about bicycle/motorcycle helmets...
retailers are also happy to sell you older models at cheaper prices. Sometimes many years old. Presumably that's ok because no UV or sweat then?
Similar thing for motorcycle helmets.
retailers are also happy to sell you older models at cheaper prices. Sometimes many years old. Presumably that’s ok because no UV or sweat then?
UV and sweat still exist on a motorbike helmet, and the inners are EPS just like cycle helmets. Motorbike helmet manufacturers also recommend replacing them after 5 years, that's a general industry recommendation. And if a helmet was made 3 years ago and stored correctly, it's not been used/exposed to wear and UV/sweat, so the five year time doesn't start until it starts being used.
Cheap vs expensive helmet - motorbike helmets have sharp testing and quite often cheap helmets are better than expensive ones, you're paying more for noise reduction, comfort, and features, and general fit and finish.
No different for bicycle helmets.
My 7idp M2 and Oakley DRT5 helmets mostly likely offer the same protection, but the oakley is better made, better finished, and has more features. But it's 2x the price.
The Germans tested a load of reader helmets at 7 years old And they passed.
Bell helmets say 7 years.
I'm in a rush for work but there was another firm testing (I'll find it later), older helmets and there was a step change in the standards that corralated to helmets complying fir ages.
As far as price goes, it's like so many things in life. There's no way that the really, really expensive stuff is worth 10times what the cheapest stuff costs but there are enough differences, fit, finish, appearance etc. to make you lean towards it if you can afford it.
Some of you are assuming that there is only one sort of "EPS"
Perhaps the more expensive helmets have added 'stabilising' chemicals in their EPS that slow down the inevitable degradation due to UV exposure etc...
I already know that other moulded materials can be modified to enhance their durability - maybe helmet materials are the same?
There's no way more expensive helmets would have benefits that weren't used in promotion