Quality riding helmets are expensive. So it's tempting to purchase a pre-owned helmet at a discount price. But, there are risks in doing this.
Many factors impact how much protection a helmet can provide. These include:
- Prior history
- Age
- Condition
What you don't know can hurt you.
There are many unknowns when buying a used riding helmet. You don't know whether the prior owner was involved in a fall while wearing it. When a helmet suffers any kind of impact, no matter how small, its protective qualities will be compromised. You should replace your helmet before riding again.
Riding helmets are made from a combination of plastic, styrene, foam, and fabric. Over time, these materials will break down, making them less capable of protecting your head from injury. Experts recommend replacing your helmet every few years. Charles Owen considers the useful life of a helmet to be 5 years from the date of manufacture. Troxel recommends replacement no more than 5 years from the date of purchase.
Examine helmets carefully.
It's possible for a helmet to look great on the outside and still be damaged. Our photo shows a typical pre-owned helmet. Other than a little dirt, it looks very good on the outside. The underside looks pretty good too...until you look under the sweatband. That's where you'll find major damage. In this case, the foam under the sweat band had disintegrated over time.
We can't tell whether the foam core or shell are damaged. The helmet may have hairline fractures that we couldn't see. We tossed it in the trash. But, you'll find plenty like it at local tack sales.
Bottom line: Buying new is safer.
We recommend buying a new helmet that is certified by ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) or SEI (Safety Equipment Institute). While it's impossible to put a price on your safety, we understand the desire to save money. If you shop for sales, you can get both a safe helmet and a good buy.