Riding hat expiration?

[sychnant]

I have an unused hat, bought in 2018. I'm just about to start riding again - will it be safe to use or do I need to buy a new one?

It's been stored in my wardrobe, out of the light and never got damp.

 

[Neversaydie]

I have hats that are no longer safety standards but have never been dropped or fallen off with or had any sort of knock. I still wear them I just don’t wear them at competitions, for that I have a current hat. Many will say this is bad advice and advise against it, I’m just stating what I do.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Yeah I would wear it ?

 

[sychnant]

I'm pretty sure it will still be ok, I've never had this long a break from riding before so the situation has never come up! I'll probably wear it

 

[MuddyMonster]

I'd probably buy a new one, but I'm pretty hot about replacing my hat.

A bit dark but I always think I'd rather 'wasted the money buying a new hat than lie in hospital wishing I had.

I realise I'm probably being OTT.

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

They do expire but it's from regular use. As previous have said, safety standards will have moved on and you will be able to get better now but I wouldn't be too shocked if you found something older in use at a riding school (with lockdown reducing use).

As with motorcycle helmets, everytime you put it on it stretches a tiny amount, not enough to reduce the safety in a short period, but over a number of years it reduces the structural integrity.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Its probably fine as 2018 isn't that long ago....but I have known the foam to break down in really old hats, glue to degrade etc but we are talking 10yrs plus.

If you are competing just check the hat still meets current regulations etc

 

[sychnant]

Foam still feels good, it's a PAS 015 so still current. i won't be competing for a while, none of the horses have been ridden since 2018 or earlier, so it'll just be quiet hacking and a bit in the round pen. I think it'll do for a bit, and I'll buy a new one when we start faster work

 

[Bobthecob15]

Foam still feels good, it's a PAS 015 so still current. i won't be competing for a while, none of the horses have been ridden since 2018 or earlier, so it'll just be quiet hacking and a bit in the round pen. I think it'll do for a bit, and I'll buy a new one when we start faster work

You'll be fine then ?

 

[Skib]

The foam is said to last 4 years. I would buy a new one. Thats what I did. And found the hat model had improved

 

[criso]

2018 isn't that long ago, it could have been sitting in a shop that long if it wasn't a popular size/model and still current standards.

Be aware though there are 2 pas 015 standards and the older has some competition limitations.

 

[sychnant]

I'll definitely buy a new one if I start competing again, or once we start doing more

Mine's a 2011 PAS 015, is that the old standard?

 

[w1bbler]

Im still wearing the hat i bought beginning of 2017. Its had virtually daily use since then.
I have only just realised its that old & it's on the list to replace, but I'm not panicked about doing it.

 

[TPO]

Get a new hat.

People have had catastrophic life changing accidents in a walk. It's doesn't work that someone can wait until competing or doing fast work etc.

I always thought the rule was 3yrs and replacing a hat every three years is a small price to pay to potentially save your life.

 

[Gloi]

I'll bet there's plenty of hats that have been on shelves in shops longer than that.

 

[TPO]

I'll bet there's plenty of hats that have been on shelves in shops longer than

Apologies, I did the no.1 error of not reading OP correctly.

I read it as used then stored, not unused.

 

[teacups]

I would ride in it.

But then I’m a cynic and suspect that ‘get a new hat every three years’ is part sales technique, part covering themselves against any potential insurance claims should a hat fail or be damaged. If the plastic used really was so weak it should not be used for safety at all. As others have said: it is likely to sit on a shop shelf longer than three years.

This is my personal and highly subjective opinion of course, and should not be relied on by anyone: please rely on official advice and guidelines only!

 

[criso]

Just had a quick look online and Charles Owen suggest 5 years from 1st wear.

 

[criso]

I'll definitely buy a new one if I start competing again, or once we start doing more

Mine's a 2011 PAS 015, is that the old standard?

Not at the moment. Pas 015 1998 was the one retired. I've just retired my skull cap which was Pas 1998, it's not 20 years old though, I bought it for xc as I needed one without a peak and that would have been 2011 at the earliest.

However next year things are changing for certain disciplines.

 

[Skib]

Out of date hats in shops can be returned to the maker - that is up to the shop. There should be a date on the hat or on the box, though I confess that I cant find one on my hate (no box). But as the saddler ordered it in for me last winter, I assume it is in date.

 

[criso]

None of my hats have a date and no longer have the boxes.

Be interested if anyone has bought a hat recently and if there is a date on the box and what it says, use by, sell by, best before?

As I said Charles Owen say 5 years since first use. Champion say 3 if used daily as the materials degrade from use and exposure to light. Gatehouse 3 - 5 years for leisure riders depending on how often used.

 

[Leandy]

It will be fine. PS I'm not an expert! I bet that most people riding today are wearing hats older than that and have also been in regular use for the four years. It has a current safety standard and has been stored in suitable conditions so it wouldn't even have entered my head to worry about it.

 

[2ndtimearound]

Be interested if anyone has bought a hat recently and if there is a date on the box and what it says, use by, sell by, best before?

I bought a new one on Saturday, and no, it doesn't have a date on the box. I tend to keep my receipts for things like this so I'll at least know how long I've had it.

My main issue was finding somewhere with a decent range (including the ones I thought might be a good fit) where I could go to try them on. I ended up with an hour's drive in each direction, but I've at least ended up with one I like that does fit well (and was within my budget). There were a couple of places closer to home, but they either had a rubbish range or none of the ones I wanted to try in stock in my expected size (some of which have been out of stock for months).

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Motorcycle helmets come in 2 standards: 3 year blue stickers (might be green, can't remember) and 5 year gold stickers, that gives the lifetime of the helmet from first wear.

I'd assume they have similar foam and construction materials. I wonder if the 3 to 5 years mentioned for riding hats is based on research for Motorcycle helmets?

 

[MuddyMonster]

Be interested if anyone has bought a hat recently and if there is a date on the box and what it says, use by, sell by, best before?

I can't find an end date for mine on the box - bought last week.

It has the manufactured date on the box though

 

[criso]

Manufactured date is useful but meaningless if the manufacturer says 5 years from first wear with no guidance as the impact of the length of time in storage.