How reliable are cheaper and second hand helmets

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Buddyboo

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Just been looking around for helmets and noticed very big differences in prices. Seen as low as £12 and as high as £200. Surely the cheapest must still stand up to the safety standards as the dearer ones if not wouldn’t be safe to use. Just wondering what the average price paid for helmet is. And any thoughts from those wearing the cheaper ones do you feel any less protected.
I know can’t really put price on your health etc and shouldn’t be issue but as with many, times are tight and at moment just beginning return to riding, not sure if possible to keep it up. So don’t want to splash out on gear if not going to be used much.
 
Never buy a second hand hat. You don't know its history. Just
because it looks ok on the outside, it could still have interior damage from a fall that will stop it protecting you properly. And even a hat bought new should be replaced after max. 5 years as they offer less protection over time. You don't have to spend a fortune on gear for riding but if there's one item you simply shouldn't skimp on it's your hat!
 
Never buy a 2nd hand hat.

Buy a hat that meets the safety requirements rather than the price tag. Want do to xc? Buy a skull (ie. no peak) and put a silk on it.
Dublin and champions are around £60 i think and are both good makes
 
Would not buy 2nd hand hats.
I've got a Charles Owen child's hat, they go up to large sizes.
They seem to be about £60 at the moment; you have made me think it's time to replace mine.
Fitted me better than any other kind: I needed an oval shape rather than round.
Do wish my bonce was not so large!
 
I would never, ever buy a second hand hat, no matter how much seller assures you it has never had a fall or whatever. When I used to fund raise for animal rescues I often had second hand hats donated to re sell and had to surreptitiously dispose of them safely (cut straps off etc and send with rubbish to the dump) It worries me how often I am contacted by parents looking to buy cheap second hand protective head gear for their children :(

On the other hand if a hat has all the current safety standards and it is new and unused I would be quite happy with it whatever it cost, if it cost £40 or £500 if it has passed the same safety testing standard then my money would go on the one without the fancy designer name and price tag every time.
 
I'd second Charles Owen or Champion. Or a Harry Hall. Go Outdoors often have them at good prices. I'm curious to see the £12 hat! Do you have a link? I can't imagine it'd meet current standards...
 
If it passes the relevant safety standards, I wouldn't hesitate to buy a cheap helmet if it fits me well. I think much of that cost diffence between £12 and £200 has to do with fit and comfort, and branding. People seem to have much less of a problem accepting a £12 bike helmet as serviceable, so I do think there's the typical equestrian extra cost on top as well.
I also did some researching some time ago on the risk of aging on a helmet (as many manufacturers want you to buy a new one ever y 5 years, whether it's been dropped or not), and there is little evidence that the helmet material degrades over even 20 years, so long as you don't leave it baking in extreme heat.
With second hand ones, I'm really on the bench. I have one myself that I absolutely know is ok (barely worn, just not a good fit) and can't get rid of, and find it an utter waste that I can't even give it away. I'd probably take one if it was from a trusted friend.
 
Some people can fit a child size - no VAT? When you see how some people treat their hat, dropping it on the floor, etc. don't touch a second hand one. You don't see the damage that might have been done.
 
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Provided it meets the current standards and is kitemarked a cheap and expensive helmet should be comparably safe. The safest standard is still the snell which only a few helmets have but they're in the mid price range, the hs1 being around the £100 mark. Some retailers were selling very cheap helmets that only meet the old safety standard, either the EN1384 or the BSEN1384 which you wouldn't be able to compete in or might not be able to ride in at a riding school for insurance reasons. You're best off trying different hats on in a shop or at a trade stand, some hats only fit round heads, some fit ovals and a hat that doesn't fit will be mildly uncomfortable to headache inducing not to mention less safe.

I personally wouldn't consider a helmet secondhand, some people do but I just think my head isn't worth the risk.
 
I wouldn't buy a 2nd hand hat. I do have a £12 hat from decathalon though which both my son and I wear, and fight over in summer as our other hat (charles owen black velvet affair) gives you horrible sweaty head syndrome! We are the same size
 
I would not buy a second hand hat apart from in very special circumstances for instance I sold a hat to a friend .
I bought it it was too small I wore it twice and got awful head pain but there was trust between us I would buy hat in those circumstances.
I don’t know if I would buy a cheap hat I have Charles Owen hats atm .
Want I don’t get is those super expensive hats the cost of chucking them when you have a fall would make me ill.
 
Yet the reviews state it is not PAS... it would be nice if it was made clearer by Decathlon if the hat has now passed the PAS standard or not because their reply stated that they were aiming for summer 2019.

Our helmets are only suitable for private riding in the UK and I am aware that the riding schools are requesting this PAS015 standards to ride in clubs. We are working hard to ensure that all our Fouganza helmets will be validated PAS015 for summer 2019.
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As has been said, second hand hats may have unseen damage to them thus making them dangerous to use as their integrity may be suspect. As for price, as long as they have the relevent safety codes on them then why not buy them. As for recomme nding a specific hat it is very difficult as everyones head is a different shape, some have round heads & others have oval. You will find that certain hats fit & others do not. You have to try them to find out which ones suit your head shape.
 
I once bought a second hand hat for £10. I made it into a lamp. It looks lovely. I'd never consider riding a horse, bike or anything else in it.

Decorative reasons are the only reason to buy a second hand hat. As a lampshade I find it to be perfectly reliable. Comparing it to the cost of a new designer lamp, it was absolutely worth the money, It needed a £5 basic lampstand and I made a wire frame to hold the hat a safe distance from the lovely Edison bulb.
 
I wouldn't buy second hand. I am however lucky enough to fit into a kiddos hat so it was cheaper! I think branding has alot to do with it. Some like a name I suppose (and some like to malke sure they show it off) and some aren't too fussed. As long as it passes all safety tests I'd say it should be fine - that said I would be skeptical of a helmet at £12??
 
I think it's also worth noting that I'm not sure the decathlon (and others) even if/when they do obtain PAS015 are BS kitemarked.
 
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