Buying a brand new 'old stock/model' helmet

5:12

5:12

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hi all,

as we know, manufacturers recommend that you replace your helment between 3-5 years.

how about buying a brand new, never been worn old stock/model helmet? For example the helmet was released back in 2009, but the store still has some stock left. would you buy it still? i guess provided that it was stored properly, off of direct sunlight, controlled temperature etc etc.

how does this affect the helmets safety level being an older helmet stored in the stores warehouse or storage? i've read online that there are recommended shelf life for helmets (diff manufacturers have diff time frame). since the helmet has never been worn and practically brand new in the box, it would still be better than a new used helmet (ie: bought in 2011, used for a couple of months etc etc). though it is not suggested to buy a used helmet. im just saying.

any thoughts? opinions? experience? any input would be very much appreciated.

btw, helmet is hjc fs-15 trophy/elbowz/prism/terror/ben spies >> does anyone know the actual release dates? ben spies is from 2009. and trophy i believe.


thanks,
5:12


* moderator: if this was posted on the wrong section, i apologize, please feel free to move it.
 
I would not worry at all and treat it as a new lid... (now if your talking 10-15 years, there have been some good advances in the product for sure)

Replacing a well worn helmet is advised due to packing of the padding material and break down to due sweat, and other plesant elements.
 
Unlesss the "old but new" helmet is discounted appropriately, don't even consider. The 3-5 yr clock of a helmet starts ticking whether it is used or not if it is not kept in a vacuum.
 
Another in favor of buying it. I whacked my head against the track 3 weeks ago and rashed up my Scorpion helmet. I only had 5 trackdays on it. 3 weeks later I haven't had any symptoms of any kind. The build date on it was 2006. It did it's job. Maybe I was lucky? I bought it on close out, and I'll be picking up another soon enough.
 
The reality is nobody is 100% sure, they do know that resin based laminates and composite plastics start to breakdown the day they are manufactured. How fast that happens is a crap shoot, so they pick a date that hits what should be worst case scenario. You get to pick your own comfort level on helmet dates.
 
Although, I was wrong about the sweat thing!

http://www.bhsi.org/replace.htm

Occasionally somebody spreads rumors that sweat and ultraviolet (UV) exposure will cause your helmet to degrade. Sweat will not do that. The standards do not permit manufacturers to make a helmet that degrades from sweat, and the EPS, EPP or EPU foam is remarkably unaffected by salt water. Your helmet will get a terminal case of grunge before it dies of sweat. Sunlight can affect the strength of the shell material, though. Since helmets spend a lot of time in the sun, manufacturers usually put UV inhibitors in the plastic for their shells that control UV degradation. If your helmet is fading or showing small cracks around the vents, the UV inhibitors may be failing, so you probably should replace it. Chances are it has seen an awful lot of sun to have that happen. Otherwise, try another brand next time and let us know what brand faded on you.

At least one shop told a customer that the EPS in his three year old helmet was now "dried out." Other sales people refer to "outgassing" and say that the foam loses gas and impact performance is affected. Still others claim that helmets lose a percentage of their effectiveness each year, with the percentage growing with age. All of that is nothing but marketing hype to sell a replacement helmet before you need it. There is some loss of aromatics in the first hours and days after molding, and helmet designers take account of that for standards testing. But after that the foam stabilizes and does not change for many years, unless the EPS is placed in an oven for some period of time and baked. The interior of your car, for example, will not do that, based on helmets we have seen and at least one lab crash test of a helmet always kept in a car in Virginia over many summers. Helmet shells can be affected by car heat, but not the foam. The Snell Memorial Foundation has tested motorcycle helmets held in storage for more than 20 years and found that they still meet the original standard. EPS is a long-lived material little affected by normal environmental factors. Unless you mistreat it we would not expect it to "dry out" enough to alter its performance for many years.


An honest manufacturer: MET
The Italian company MET says in their 2010 catalog:
"We are often asked 'For how long is a helmet safe?', or 'how often should I replace my helmet?”' Until now it has been difficult to find any reliable figures to help answer these queries. MET have now developed a series of tests which are conducted on aged helmets to determine a 'best before' date (unless the helmet is involved in an accident. In that case it should be replaced immediately.). The results indicate that, if used properly accordingly to our owner manual, our helmets will still do their job up to eight years after they have been made. Not only is that good news for the customer, it’s great news for the environment!"

We applaud MET for undertaking an actual testing program on helmet life and for making that statement. We regard it as a triumph of integrity over marketing. MET's helmets are made with industry standard shells and liners, so there is no reason we can see that their recommendation should not be good for many other helmet brands as well. If another manufacturer comes up with a testing program that shows earlier deterioration in the protection from their products we will review this page.

In sum, we don't find the case for replacing a helmet that meets the ASTM or Snell standards that compelling if the helmet is still in good shape and fits you well.
Click to expand...

From SHOEI

http://www.shoei-helmets.com/Maintenance.aspx

Helmet Replacement
Ultimately, the useful service life of a safety helmet is dependent on the intensity and frequency of its use. Helmet replacement is recommended even if only one of the under-mentioned points applies:

1.The helmet was subjected to an impact.
2.The comfort padding or the retention system has become loose due to heavy use or display signs of deterioration.
3.The synthetic foam padding displays signs of heavy use and the helmet feels too loose. Test: with the retention system fastened, the helmet turns to the side when you gently shake your head.
4.There are indentations in the EPS liner and/or white scratches can be seen on surfaces with black paint.
5.Even if none of these is applied, we, SHOEI, recommend replacement in 5 years after it's first purchased at retail.
Click to expand...

Buy the helmet... don't think about it again.
 
half-a-tiger said:
Unlesss the "old but new" helmet is discounted appropriately, don't even consider. The 3-5 yr clock of a helmet starts ticking whether it is used or not if it is not kept in a vacuum.
Click to expand...
See, this is just brainwashed propaganda...
So you apparently believe in the mythical 3-5 yr clock?
The timeframe recommended by (heheh) helmet manufacturers?
I'm surprised Ford and Chevy haven't caught on...
"No - you can't drive that Trans Am, that's dangerous, it's more than 5 years old!
You need a new car every coupla years, friend."
Could be very good for new car sales - just like helmet sales.
For the record, I have six helmets.
My very newest is 2 years old, while my oldest Simpson was manufactured in 1993.
I will happily wear any of them at 250 kph.
Why? Well, it's something hard between you and the road, with soft padding and foam all around your head.
In a low-speed crash (the most common) it'll work just fine. Much better than nothing.
In a high-speed crash, it doesn't really matter because the very finest helmet just means open-casket at your viewing.
A perfectly preserved head attached to an exploded body...
So come on guys, don't quote that BS manufacturer crap about needing a new lid every 3-5 yrs, LoL, like ****ing sheep.
Try to use your wits, question everything! Accept nothing without thought, especially Advertising.
Their only responsibility is to their shareholders. Nothing else matters, don't forget.
They want your money. (It's a recurring theme in life.)
 
Gryphon, although I agree with you that the manufacturers might stick a much "shorter" lifespan onto their helmets so that you will buy a new model every few years, it does make sense to replace an older helmet once in a while. The foam that you mentioned that's all around your head will get hard with time and will start deteriorating/cracking/etc, so even in the low-speed impact it may not save your melon.
 
From my post

The Snell Memorial Foundation has tested motorcycle helmets held in storage for more than 20 years and found that they still meet the original standard. EPS is a long-lived material little affected by normal environmental factors. Unless you mistreat it we would not expect it to "dry out" enough to alter its performance for many years.
Click to expand...
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