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Had my helmet for over 6 years, never had a fall on it. Is it still safe to use (apart from the rather nasty smell), or do the materials weaken over time? Not anxious to spend money, but also not anxious to discover too late that the shell has turned to mush.
I think the manufactures would like us to buy a new one every 3years or so. Certainly that's about the length of time I keep them before the smell is overpowering enough to make your eyes water to a point where it's dangerous. But I've no idea whether it has any impact on the plastic. As with all safety equipment really...
The EPS will degrade over time in sunlight, but the protective shell keeps most of that off. If the EPS looks badly faded I would say it's best to replace it. Press it hard with your thumb - it shouldn't feel soft. (I used to work for an EPS moulding co. many years ago)
Met reckon 8 years!
[url= http://www.bikeradar.com/fitness/article/how-do-met-make-their-helmets--21044 ]How do Met Make their helmets[/url]
3-4 yrs and change over as UV light degrades it but I have not seen the evidence myself.
Probably a fashion thing and if you look the dorkiest with the largest bowl on your head.
failedengineer - PS isn't particularly UV sensitive is it? The info I have here shows it as fairly UV stable, added to that the fact that as you say it sits below a shell and in a cupboard most of its life and you can effectively rule that out? I have a 10 YO helmet that isn't faded and appears as structurally sound as when new?