It's about 3 years old, I haven't had a crash in it and it looks fine with only a few scratches etc. from branches or rolling around in the back of the car.
Normally I wouldn't bother but I recall reading somewhere that they should be replaced regularly. However that may have been a press release from the International Bicycle Helmet Makers Federation
Manufacturers say you should, yet provide limited evidence to back this up bar UV exposure, which is at least variable, and should be evident I'd have thought?
So if it looks/feels OK I'd asy don't bother. I tend to break mine before they're 3 years old tho 😳
I think 4 years is a general consensus....
I rode a Switchblade for 10 years though....
5 years is another common figure but they're obviously pulled out of the air.
My brother's Giro is pretty ancient and does feel it- the eps has gone pretty hard and feels like it'll be brittle. He won't replace it though as he's got a weird shaped head. At a guess it's 12 years old.
Thanks, looks like I can divert funds somewhere more fun in that case!
it's a good excuse to get a nice shiny new one. About the only justification i can 100% get away with.
Motorcycle helmet manufacturers say 2 years for polycarbonate which is what I assume cycle helmets are. Having said that I usually replace about every 4 years which may be because I am a cheapskate
I'm not entirely convinced about deterioration of inanimate objects like crash helmets. I think lifetimes are like date stamps on food simply a way to make us buy more. Met used to say seven years for their lids and up until recently I had a Giro Exodus from the late 1990s that hadn't visibly or functionally deteriorated.
FWIW I also have an Arai Giga motorbike helmet that is probably 8 years old - never been dropped or anything like that - and when I got it checked over by those nice people at Arai they said it was fine. A new set of pads and it was good to go.
my Giro Xen is now 6 years old and i'm still using it.
i suppose it depends on how the helmet is treated by the owner...if you abuse it and don't care for it it wont last as long as one thats been well looked after.
i remember finding a box of old helmets at my last work place that were about 10 years old, but because they'd been kept in a damp musty garage, they weren't in the best nick...i even managed to crush a few between my elbow and ribs!
the rest i bashed with a hammer and told the boss to give me some funding so i could get some new ones.
I replace mine fairly regulalry, usualy after a crash. The only one that's survived majorly crash free is my current E2 which I think was 3yr old NOS stock when I got it! Maybe beig an XC lid i've tried notto crash as much whilst wearing it.
New Xen arriving for christmas 🙂
only replace mine when they are unfashionable, rather than 'they may have deteriorated'.
Give it another year and just make sure you don't fall off.
the Xen's a brilliant helmet. as its now discontinued there are some really good bargains out there. plus if you do trash it you'll be able to get a Xar for £55 as a replacement!!
i'm seriously tempted to get another Xen, but i really like the look of the Hex.
just give ita polish 😉
If it aint broke, don't fix it.
My E2 was getting for 6 or 7 years old. God know if it will still do its job, but its been relegated to night riding only now.
Got an XAR for £23 brand spankers from Wiggle, so question is now moot for me.
Got an XAR for £23 brand spankers from Wiggle
how?
I got lucky with their pricing I think. Its was a metallic brown 2011 one in small. Im guessed they only had a couple left so they reduced them to get shot, checked a week later and they were back up to £63. So possibly pricing balls up?
Actually my mistake, it was £24.15. 😳 
glad this thread came up, cause i was wondering is there a shelf life/replacement time for helmets, mines ok never damaged just noticed date stamp inside which started me wondering
my Xen says dec 05.
i've contacted Madison to find out what the recommended shelf life of Giro helmets is.
i'll let you know what their response is...but i'm guessing they are going to say every 3-4 years.