How often should you change your riding hat?

[MyBoyChe]

Assuming the one you wear has never been dropped or landed on? Do they last forever or do they start to lose some of their toughness as they get older? Anyone know?

 

[Joyous70]

No they do not last forever, i read recently they should be changed every five years.

 

[Woolly Hat n Wellies]

They definitely don't last forever. I recently got a new hat when I started jumping again. When we thought back, my previous one was at least 15 years old! We pulled the lining out, just to see what I'd been riding in, and there was nothing left inside it to make it tough at all. It was virtually an empty shell with some crumbly polystyrene-like stuff inside it, which had become so brittle it gave way under the pressure from a finger. It may have had a couple of little knocks in it's lifetime, but I'd never fallen on it or dropped it. It gave me a really sick feeling to see it, I might as well have been wearing my woolly hat, for all the protection it could give! The girl in the shop who fitted my new one was horrified. As Joyous70 said, they should be changed every 5 years.

 

[Tnavas]

Every five years, or after a fall that has involved your head, or if you have thrown it across the tack room floor trying to carry everything at once.

Helmet should be stored in the dark or at least out of direct sunlight or excessive heat.

 

[kal40]

Helmet should be stored in the dark or at least out of direct sunlight or excessive heat.

Didn't know this. You learn something new every day!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Excellent, excuse to go shopping! Mine's ancient! And another q: would you get the same size online, for example, or would you want it fitted properly?

 

[DiNozzo]

Not as often as I should!

However, I did change it last year, not for falling on it, or damaging it. The padding inside had squashed down and was a cm too big!

I ordered the same hat online, in a size 1cm smaller (57- I have a huge head!), and then fell off wearing it three weeks later, queue a bad concussion...

My hat had apparently been properly fitted before I decided I needed a smaller one... Do they not take into account that the lining does squash down?!

 

[MerrySherryRider]

They definitely don't last forever. I recently got a new hat when I started jumping again. When we thought back, my previous one was at least 15 years old! We pulled the lining out, just to see what I'd been riding in, and there was nothing left inside it to make it tough at all. It was virtually an empty shell with some crumbly polystyrene-like stuff inside it, which had become so brittle it gave way under the pressure from a finger. It may have had a couple of little knocks in it's lifetime, but I'd never fallen on it or dropped it. It gave me a really sick feeling to see it, I might as well have been wearing my woolly hat, for all the protection it could give! The girl in the shop who fitted my new one was horrified. As Joyous70 said, they should be changed every 5 years.

That's scary but if hats need to be changed every 5 years, how do you know how long a newly bought hat has been sitting in the factory, in a warehouse and then a tack shop?

You could buy a hat that is already 2 years old without knowing. Manufacturers should date them if their life is so limited.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I think use over the years might dictate the life of a hat rather than it being sat on a shelf, squishing down the padding, sweat working its way into the structure of the hat etc.

 

[Lottiedots]

Ive just changed mine which i have probably had about 5 years, however the shock for me was when i started trying new ones on i realised that my old had really didn't fit me anymore! It has got very loose and def. not safe had i fallen off. Guess the padding inside goes. Anyway, just got a Uvex which is fab as you can adjust the size to fit always.

 

[Lottiedots]

Didn't know this. You learn something new every day!

don't leave it in the car!

 

[MerrySherryRider]

I think use over the years might dictate the life of a hat rather than it being sat on a shelf, squishing down the padding, sweat working its way into the structure of the hat etc.

Yes, most probably. I rotate my hats around, so lose track of when I bought a particular one.

 

[Mike007]

The modern hats are rubbish anyway, they are made to pass tests set by the manufactureres ,and guess what , they pass!

 

[cattysmith]

Every 5 years/after a fall/as soon as I feel it's become so yucky I can't stand putting it on my head any longer! Whichever comes first.

 

[Tnavas]

The modern hats are rubbish anyway, they are made to pass tests set by the manufactureres ,and guess what , they pass!

The standards are not set by the manufacturer but by the relevant safety authority. In the UK the BSEN.

Each country has its own set of standards and some clubs such as Pony Club list the different approval numbers

FOR ALL MOUNTED ACTIVITES AT PONY CLUB
• AS/NZS 3838 (joint Australian/New Zealand standard) • PAS 015 (British standard)
• BSEN 1384 (joint British/European standard)
• EN1384 (European standard)
• ASTM F1163 (American standard)

 

[AmieeT]

I was told when I bought mine to replace every 5 years if no drops or falls.

Regards to buying online- although they can be cheaper, a friend pointed out to me that you can never guarantee that they have been travelled safely- could have been dropped and you'd be non the wiser.

Ax

 

[MyBoyChe]

Thank you everybody, time to go shopping then

 

[Dumbo]

That's scary but if hats need to be changed every 5 years, how do you know how long a newly bought hat has been sitting in the factory, in a warehouse and then a tack shop?

You could buy a hat that is already 2 years old without knowing. Manufacturers should date them if their life is so limited.

There should be a manufacture date printed on the label. My hat says 7 Jun 2011 but I bought it late 2012 brand new from a tack shop.

 

[Tapir]

I was told when I bought mine to replace every 5 years if no drops or falls.

Regards to buying online- although they can be cheaper, a friend pointed out to me that you can never guarantee that they have been travelled safely- could have been dropped and you'd be non the wiser.

Ax

How do you think they get from the manufacturers to the wholesalers and from there to the track shop?

Also, hats should have the date of manufacture on them so you know how old they are when you buy them. The last one I bought online, I said I only wanted it if it had been made within the last 6 months.

 

[Tnavas]

Buying a helmet on line would be crazy, how would you be sure that it fitted? When I bought my last one I tried on several before I found one the right shape

 

[LessThanPerfect]

Buying a helmet on line would be crazy, how would you be sure that it fitted? When I bought my last one I tried on several before I found one the right shape

I look at styles I like, try them on in a shop then look online for best price. Don't think that's crazy, is it?

 

[Tnavas]

I look at styles I like, try them on in a shop then look online for best price. Don't think that's crazy, is it?

That's a good idea, never thought of that

 

[moana]

Riding hats should be replaced every five years and ideally stored out of sunlight. They should always be fitted by a qualified fitter.
I am afraid I disagree with trying on goods in tack shops then buying online. This is the reason tack shops are closing and becoming hard to find.

 

[Tapir]

I've bought on line because I was replacing my hat with the exact same make, model and size as my old one.

 

[DD265]

I will happily buy a hat online as I'm trained to fit anyway and can always return but when I was looking for a jockey skull and hadn't had one for about 10 years, I went to a large tack shop so I could try a few on because I wasn't sure what would fit. As it was, I tried on about 4 different Charles Owen ones and they all fit differently! I also needed a body protector (we were going to go XC) and that isn't something I would buy online as just because I fall between the measurements doesn't mean that it will be comfortable!

 

[Tnavas]

Riding hats should be replaced every five years and ideally stored out of sunlight. They should always be fitted by a qualified fitter.
I am afraid I disagree with trying on goods in tack shops then buying online. This is the reason tack shops are closing and becoming hard to find.

No such thing as a qualified hat fitter! For your first helmet a tack shop assistant will hopefully help ensure that your helmet fits. The final fit is how comfortably it fits you. Only you know where the helmet is too tight or too loose.

I agree with you about buying online, however if tack shops didn't put such a mark up on everything they sell people wouldn't use online stores.

 

[Cinnamontoast]

I was told when I bought mine to replace every 5 years if no drops or falls.

Regards to buying online- although they can be cheaper, a friend pointed out to me that you can never guarantee that they have been travelled safely- could have been dropped and you'd be non the wiser.

Ax

Good point, but I've never seen this one in a shop!!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Harry-Hal...prg=20131017132637&rk=4&rkt=4&sd=201036419094

 

[LessThanPerfect]

Riding hats should be replaced every five years and ideally stored out of sunlight. They should always be fitted by a qualified fitter.
I am afraid I disagree with trying on goods in tack shops then buying online. This is the reason tack shops are closing and becoming hard to find.

With a large purchase I do this as I am on a fixed income, I do always buy SOMETHING from the "trying on" shop, though. Same as if you are desperate for the bathroom, you buy something from the cafe in order to use the facilities.