How old is too old – FF helmet edition

My trusty TLD D2 is probably 10+ years old. It’s been tucked away for most of that since my DH bike was sold years ago (aside from the odd trip it), but this year sees some more gravity oriented riding with a BPW trip and a few days in Morzine planned. It’s in good nick, never crashed (at least with a head impact), but I’m not sure whether these things have a lifespan.

Not sure whether I should be replacing, but if I can avoid spending another £100+ it would be good. Thoughts?

Many will tell you to follow the manufacturer recommendation, usually replace in 3 years.

Others have looked for evidence of age or UV related degradation of EPS and found none.

If it’s been stored out of the light it should be initially ok, but you may find that the liner inside of it disintegrates after a few wears, as the sweat you put in it originally will have start off the degradation process. Me personally, I’d wear it, but replace it at the first sign of the liner falling to bits.

Al – I have looked at both the above, hence my conundrum. My assumption was that helmet manufacturers recommendation is based on wanting to sell a new helmet / avoiding risk of litigation when someone is injured riding an ancient lid.

Sobriety – liner is in surprisingly good condition.

Both my D2s are well over 10yrs old and neither will be getting binned until they’re actually broken.
I recently washed the pads and hot glued the inner shell back into the outer on one of them.
feels good as new again.
I’m in Scotland though and we don’t have any of that scary UV here 😉

Which one is it? (colour/design)

Geex – bit of googling shows it as a 2004 Sprocket in red/blue

Razor, my implication is to keep using it. One of mine is 8 years old and had many as my daily commute helmet.

You’ve also got stw’s biggest hitter saying the same, and some people even respect his views!

*awaits comeback*

You’ve also got stw’s biggest hitter saying the same, and some people even respect his views!

*awaits comeback*

I thought it was a thread about Fire Fighters helmets *is disappointed*

Hmm, 10 years is quite a time. I’d be concerned about it.

I still have a D3 which according to R&R photo’s, the first time I raced in it was April 2012 -i’m concerned about using that these days. other than the fact it hasn’t been used so much in the last few years due to a general lack of racing DH, so when I took it out of the back it had developed some new species in the liner..

It’s also horrible & stuffy to wear now compared to the Proframe I got for racing the ‘E’ word.

Hmm, 10 years is quite a time. I’d be concerned about it.

Why>

You’ve also got stw’s biggest hitter saying the same, and some people even respect his views!

*awaits comeback*

This was (obvs) a reference to geex/GW/Gary Extreme.

Why

Lots of talk about helmets degrading over time, some of which fuelled by manufacturers no doubt to benefit from people replacing them every 3 years, which is a bit often if you haven’t nailed yourself I think.

But not a huge amount of information for older helmets. For the sake of a bit of money, i’d rather not take the risk, personally 🙂

Lots of talk about helmets degrading over time

Talk, indeed. No evidence tho.

FWIW when i bought my Bell Full 9 in 2015 new boxed from Evans, its manufacture date was July 2013. It replaced a TLD D2 that was from 2005. I’m still alive.

I think I’ll hold onto the D2 given that it appears to be still in good condition.

Given the lack of LBS in my area that carry a single FF to try, let alone a few, I’ll wait until my BPW trip in March and try on some lids there for fit and then if bargains pop up before my summer trip to the alps at least I know my size.

@ Geex – this is the one – actually looks better in the flesh.