Your helmet is the most important piece of protection you bring to the mountain. It supports your confidence, sharpens your focus, and helps you perform at your best in every condition. Like any technical equipment, it needs proper care, regular inspection, and timely replacement to continue delivering the protection you count on.
This guide gives you everything you need to know about helmet care: how to inspect it, understand wear, manage impacts, maintain comfort, avoid mistakes that degrade protection, store it correctly, and know exactly when it is time to replace it. It merges engineering insights from SHRED. Co Founder Carlo Salmini, real world experience from Olympic champion Ted Ligety, and knowledge from safety standards and field testing.
1. Why Helmet Care Matters
A helmet is not a permanent piece of gear. It is a safety system built from materials that age, compress, and degrade over time. Protection depends on three factors: material integrity, proper fit, and the absence of significant impacts. When any of these change, performance decreases. Knowing how to evaluate them is essential.
2. Inspection: What to Check and Why It Matters
The first step in helmet care is inspection. A helmet must be free of cracks, structural damage, foam deterioration, or strap failure to work as designed.
2.1 Shell Damage (A, C, D)
Check the shell for cracks (A), deep scratches (C), or indentations (D). Even small cracks compromise structural strength because damage spreads under load. Indentations indicate impact energy was already absorbed, which reduces remaining protection capacity.
2.2 Impact History
Every helmet is designed to manage a single meaningful impact. Even if the shell looks fine, the internal foam may have compressed. If your helmet has hit the snow hard, struck a tree or gate, fallen with force, or been dropped from height, consider it compromised.
2.3 Buckle and Chinstrap Condition (B)
Check for buckle damage (B), loose stitching, fraying straps, or slipping adjustments. A helmet protects only if it stays in place during impact. Any damage here requires immediate replacement.
2.4 Internal Foam Condition (E)
EPS or EPP foam can crack, crumble, or permanently compress over time. Internal breakage (E) reduces impact absorption capacity. Foam deterioration is one of the most common reasons to replace a helmet.
3. Assessment: Understanding Wear, Materials, and Lifespan
3.1 How Long a Helmet Lasts
Most helmets should be replaced every three to five years, even without crashes. UV exposure weakens plastics, temperature cycles stress materials, sweat degrades adhesives, and padding loses volume. As Carlo Salmini puts it, “Helmet materials degrade with time and environmental exposure. Regular inspection and timely replacement keep protection performing as designed.”
3.2 Cosmetic Wear vs Critical Damage
Small superficial marks are normal. Cracks, deep gouges, crushed foam, or strap issues are not. When damage affects structure or fit, replace the helmet.
4. Fit and Retention: Protection Works Only If It Fits
Ted Ligety explains, “A helmet must fit properly to work as intended. Level, snug, and secure.” The helmet should sit level, without side to side movement, with even pressure around the head. The chinstrap should be snug but comfortable. A helmet that feels loose or requires aggressive tightening is no longer suitable.
5. Care and Maintenance
5.1 Cleaning
Use mild soap, lukewarm water, and a soft cloth. Avoid solvents, harsh detergents, or abrasive products. These can degrade the shell or foam. Always let the helmet air dry in the shade.
5.2 Interior Padding
Padding affects fit and stability. Replace padding if it becomes compressed, loose, or ineffective at holding the helmet securely in place. Many SHRED. helmets have replaceable padding kits.
5.3 Storage
Store your helmet in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight and heat. Avoid leaving it in a hot car or under heavy objects. Use a protective bag when transporting it. Poor storage accelerates material aging.
6. Accessory Use: Cameras and Lights
Only use accessories with approved mounting systems. Added weight affects rotational energy performance. Never drill holes or attach heavy or rigid accessories not intended for helmets.
7. When to Replace Your Helmet
Replace your helmet if it has cracks or dents, has suffered a meaningful impact, has crushed or broken foam, has worn straps or buckles, no longer fits snugly, or is more than three to five years old. If you do not fully trust it, replace it. Confidence is part of safety.
8. FAQ
If my helmet has taken several small impacts, should I replace it even if I see no damage
Yes. Multiple small impacts can compress the foam and reduce its ability to protect in a major crash.
Is it safe to attach a GoPro or light to my helmet
Only if the helmet has an integrated mounting system or the attachment is approved by the manufacturer. Unapproved mounts can affect impact performance.
What cleaning agents are safe
Mild soap and water. Avoid solvents, alcohol based products, and abrasive cleaners, as these degrade both shell and foam.
Does a helmet expire even if I barely use it
Yes. Materials age even in storage. Heat, humidity, and UV exposure accelerate aging even when the helmet is not worn.
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