Exposure
So as long as your kid hasn’t damaged the shell or EPS and I keep replacing the interior liner – they can use their ATV helmet forever?
Nope. Because of Exposure!
New helmets are filled with resins and oils and that makes them spongey. But these thing evaporate over time, leaving your kids ATV helmets a brittle shell of their formers selves.
So even if the helmet passes the shell and EPS test, it will eventually crumble into retirement. It happens very slowly in a box, but when using it outdoors, you have it battling the elements such as the wind, the rain, the heat, dirt snow etc.
OK, So When Do You Replace Kids ATV Helmets?
So here’s an approximation that I go by to know when the lifespan of kids ATV helmets.
- From the born on date – 8 years after it left the factory.
- From the day it came out of the box on purchase – 5 years.
Which brings us on to another question regarding costs:
Is it better to buy a $200 kids ATV helmet (so basically an expensive one) and replace it every 5-6 years, or to buy a $50-$100 helmet and replace it every 3?
Trick question – price and safety are not directly related. So you’re better off with that newer, good value helmet than an expensive older one in the long run. However, with kids they grow quickly, so it’s likely you’ll be replacing their helmet every couple of years anyway.
All youth ATV helmets have to meet approved safety standards, otherwise they couldn’t be sold. Also materials and safety standards improve over time, so the cheaper one you buy three years from now will be safer than the more expensive one you have for longer.
Overall, I recommend you replace your kids helmet every 3 years providing they haven’t damaged it in some way as mentioned above.
As kids grow, they’ll need a new helmet anyway to fit properly, so 3 years is a good lifespan for safety. Plus they make great gifts!