How much wear can a helmet take before its no longer safe. I know theres some material in a helmet that expands when hit hard. I dropped my helmet about bike height and am wondering if thats enough force to ruin the helmet.

 

What kind of helmet? - if it's more than 3-4 years old and used on a regular basis I'd replace anyway as sweat from your head breaks down the saftey liner over time. Then if it's been dropped it may have damaged the saftey liner, even if it didn't leave a visable make on the shell.

What it really comes down to is: What's your head worth to you or your family?

 

I'm no expert, but I would think after a drop from just a few feet your helmet is still safe to use. Mine's fallen off of my seat a couple times. I think the only issue is if the fall has engough impact to crush the impac-absorbing liner, which I can't see happening from just a few feet. Try contacting the helmet manufacturer and see what they say, although they may tell you to get a new one just to make another sale. But's it is best to play it safe in this situation.

 

well i am not claiming that i know everything but from the msf class i took they say that even a drop forthe seat will make the helmet damaged. they say that if the helmet has any impact on it then it should be replaced.

 

read the manual. unless you droped it on a soft surface than that impact is enough to put it out of cpmission.

 

^^ Yep. Waist height drop onto a hard surface usually means replacement of a helmet.

 

The owner manual for my HJC says that one good drop and the helmet should be replaced. Mine feel off a table on to hard flooring, but it was the face gaurd that took the hit so i'm not to worried about that, but if it hit the top or the side of the helmet I would replace it.