Store Locations
Arguably the most important piece of safety gear for the mountain, a quality helmet is definitely worth the price. While it may be true that high quality helmets are designed to withstand frequent impacts, even the toughest of materials will fail under the right circumstances.
Like an egg that loses its stability and integrity after a crack, the same principle applies with helmets. When the outer shell or inner polypropylene padding has been cracked, misformed, or compressed, the shock absorption and dispersal becomes less effective. Instead of absorbing and dispersing the incoming energy evenly and harmlessly across the skull, a crack or deformation in the layers allow more of the impact energy to pass directly through.
So, how can you avoid these poorly performing helmet issues? Frequent inspection, on-time replacement, and verifying the right fit is all that it takes.
Inspect for Damage After an Accident
The most likely reason behind your average helmet replacement, forceful impacts are the most likely source of premature helmet updates. While a costly crack in your helmet may seem like a devastating blow to your wallet, that massive crack in your helmet is actually a huge blessing! That crack indicates that your helmet did its job correctly. Even though helmets are designed to take repeated hits, multiple forceful impacts can cause hairline fractures and other structural inconsistencies that reduce the overall efficacy.
Since many of the newest ski and snowboard helmets contain a hard shell and a soft liner covering the padding, you may need to remove the various components to inspect the surfaces thoroughly.
Your Helmet May be Past Its Prime
Depending on the materials and overall helmet use, your average helmet can last anywhere from 3-10 years. Of course, this depends entirely on the frequency of use, if it was involved in a serious accident, and how well you cared for the helmet. Each manufacturer offers their own recommended replacement timeline, with ~5 year approximations the average for undamaged products.
While older helmets that are undamaged are better than wearing nothing, an issue with older helmets is the gradual breakdown of materials. The resin bonds in the padding weaken with time, and older helmets often lack the superior protective innovation that newer models have to offer.
Check the Fit
Just as important as using a damage-free helmet, a helmet that fits properly is essential! Before a loose or tight helmet leads to an avoidable concussion, check out our growing selection of ski & snowboard helmets. Our brands are trusted by professional skiers and riders, and feature a wealth of modern amenities like fluffy liners, audio additions, and goggle mounts for the best in safety, comfort, and slopeside style.
