We encourage our customers to replace the helmet after a maximum of five years - from the time it is removed from its original packaging and begins to be used.
When the helmet is used, it is often exposed to small impacts, UV light, moisture, temperature changes, wear and other stresses - which leads to aging of the materials involved.
It is this aging during normal use that justifies the upper 5-year limit, as the process gradually and inevitably reduces the resistance and strength of the materials.
Most helmet manufacturers give similar advice. This is simply because both those who manufacture and those who sell riding helmets always want to be on the safest possible side. (In this context, it does not matter whether the helmet has Mips or not.)
The rate at which the materials age, however, is strongly influenced by how the helmet is used, how it is stored and how well it is cared for. A helmet's protective ability can therefore deteriorate quickly or slowly depending on what it is exposed to.
You usually cannot see from the outside of the helmet if it has been damaged - which is why it is important to always replace your helmet if you have fallen off your horse or dropped it hard on the ground.
Always replace your helmet after a fall from a horse.
If the helmet receives a hard blow, it should be replaced immediately, as the capacity of the materials to absorb and dissipate the forces of a blow is then considered to be used up in no time.
A helmet that, on the contrary, is stored unused in its packaging year after year will still age - but the process will then take considerably longer than five years.
The date of manufacture is therefore important, but it is above all the period of time during which the helmet is used that determines when, if all goes well, it should still be discarded.
Our call to replace the helmet after five years is based primarily on our helmet manufacturer's assessment of the properties of the materials and how these are affected over time by normal use. Our manufacturer has in turn consulted the independent German testing institute TÜV (Technischer Überwachungsverein).
What happens during a hard impact?
When the helmet receives a hard impact, the EPS (Expanded Polystyrene) material is activated and absorbs the energy. When this happens, the technology is considered worn out. The helmet will then have a lower energy absorption capacity.
It is impossible to determine the ability of the helmet by looking at it; therefore, we always recommend that the riding helmet be replaced after you hit your head.
To always have the best possible safety when riding, replace your riding helmet after a maximum of 5 years and after a fall from the horse.
Our riding helmets consist of four important layers, which together provide a very safe helmet with high comfort.
Outer shell
Absorbs the direct blow to the head and protects the helmet against moisture and weather. It is also the layer that gives the helmet its appearance.
EPS Foam
A shock-absorbing material that resembles a soft and elastic Styrofoam. EPS absorbs shocks so that the force from the impact is not transferred to the head. In this way, the risk of injury can be reduced.
Mips® Safety System
Rotational protection that protects against oblique impacts. Mips® acts as an extra shell inside the helmet and can rotate in all directions without affecting the head. In other words, the helmet takes care of the rotational forces in a fall from the horse, not your head.
Coolmax™️ inner lining
Technical fabric that provides a cool and comfortable feeling by breathing and transporting moisture away. The lining is available in several thicknesses to customize the fit. It is removable and can be easily washed clean with lukewarm water.