Is the five-year rule a fallacy?
Lifting the lid on the durability and lifespan of the helmets we wear
It’s easy to know when your tyres are past their best, but when it comes to the performance of your lid, how do you know it’s still protecting you as well as it did when new? If you’ve looked after it, it won’t be clear just from looking at it, which is why all helmet manufacturers recommend replacement five years from the first-worn date.
We’ve all heard the claim that a helmet’s EPS (that’s the liner inside the hard outer shell) breaks down over time, but is that really the case? Bell Helmets UK told us that, although no certain products have been proven to weaken the EPS, Bell has seen that a combination of sweat, solvent-based cleaners, hair products and exposure to different temperatures over the years can affect the EPS and the adhesives within the helmet. However, they add that the Mips liner – which is designed to reduce rotational force to the head during certain angled impacts – inside Bell’s Star DLX has been designed to outlast the service life of the helmet.
Impacts, too, no matter how small, can also reduce the protective performance of a helmet, with Bell telling us that even if your helmet has fallen from the seat of your bike, its shell in that area won’t be able to manage a subsequent impact in the same place quite as well, so the helmet should be replaced.
Experts agree that the best way to prolong the protective qualities of your helmet is to clean and dry it as soon as possible after every ride, avoiding harsh solvent cleaners and high temperatures. You should also replace worn parts, such as the foam comfort padding which also helps ensure a snug fit, regularly.
The cynical amongst us may argue that the five-year rule is just a tactic helmet brands use to get us to buy lids more frequently, but the reality isn’t necessarily that clear cut as every wearer’s helmet will suffer a different rate of degeneration. But with helmet design advancing all the time, and enjoying a recent boost in focus thanks to the advent of the latest safety standard (ECE 22.06) and new technologies such as the Mips safety system, the best way of knowing whether you’ve got the best protection available is by ensuring the helmet on your head is bang up to date.