Do helmets really lose their quality with time even if kept in package?

grill_gus

A friend of mine, who works as a sales manager in a good bike shop, advised me to never buy a helmet that is older than a couple of years, and that the best thing to do is to buy the current model line, when they arrive to LBS (like fresh bread). He neither earns from my purchases at his shop, nor does he insist to buy there. He even recommended a few models that they don't have, so there is no marketing bias in this advice. So the question is:...

Originally asked by J-unior on Stack Exchange (bicycles) (CC BY-SA 4.0).

uphilltech

Great question — answering as the UphillTech team:

A lot will depend on the construction of the helmet. For example the basic material in the helmet will be some sort of sponge or foam which relies on its texture to absorb sudden impacts; does this degrade over time? For example, a loaf of bread gets its texture from the tiny air bubbles formed while rising and proving, but if left to prove too long, the structure collapses, or, once baked, the bread will harden and not be as flexible. So it might be with helmet foam; at least, that's the concern, in particular when subjected to sustained UV/sun light. It's certainly not been a concern that manufacturers have been quick to dispel. But there is another side to this question, not just whether...

Full answer by Unsliced: https://bicycles.stackexchange.com/a/16166 (CC BY-SA 4.0).

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