Brain Bucket Life Span

[SKIQUATTRO]

I've had my Boeri for 5 yrs now. With cycling, they recommend getting a new Helmet every 2 years as the sweat breaks down the protective foam. Same holds true with ski helmets?

[RossiSkier]

Originally Posted by SKIQUATTRO

I've had my Boeri for 5 yrs now. With cycling, they recommend getting a new Helmet every 2 years as the sweat breaks down the protective foam. Same holds true with ski helmets?

I've never heard that but it sounds scientifically plausable. Imagine that the same would hold true for ski helmuts.

[BeanoNYC]

Welcome aboard Quattro, I grew up in Seaford. I always assumed that I would wear mine until I crack it. (hopefully never) .... I'll be watching this thread to find out when I should change it. Judging by what you said about the sweat, it could go either way. If moisture gets into the helmet then it freezes .... it could shorten the lifespan. Ski helmets may be made to resist that.

[bvibert]

I just found the following here about bicycle helmets:

Originally Posted by 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. UV can affect the strength of the shell material, though.

[BeanoNYC]

Guess your a better searcher than I am BV .... I was looking for some information before....thanks.

[Charlie Schuessler]

I was reading in one of the bicycling magazines that a regularly used helmet should last 5-6 seasons...they did state that sunlight UV created a lifespan issue for the product as well as the cracks it took...as I recall, the instructions that came with my cycling & skiing helmets stated that I should replace it if involved in crashes...it didn’t say anything branch snags though…

[ctenidae]

UV will definately break down the plastic shell, though I have no idea how long it would take to have an appreciable effect on a helmet. Probably quite a long time. Sweat will have no effect on the styrofoam- you'll stink yourself out way before you sweat out the foam.

Basic helmet rule (of any sort) is that if there's a crack or a significant scratch (deep gouge rather than a cosmetic scrape), replace it. A gouge is a structural weakpoint, and may cause the shell to break under less than test pressures.