Is a 12yr old likely to need a new helmet again before adulthood?

[ChoccyJules]

DD has been riding for a year and borrowing helmets from the stables. We were told they prefer us to do that as they can check fit every time and only stock certain brands. However her Grandparents would like to buy her own one for Christmas and the stables are happy if we go to a proper place for it.

My question is, notwithstanding every child grows differently, is this likely to be the only one she needs for a while? We will definitely get a recommended one but that does rather affect the budget we can look at if we think it won’t last long. For reference she’s in age 13-14 clothes but I know that tells you nothing about her head!

No idea about riding helmets, but my lad was a skater and his head grew in bursts, i would expect her to grow out of a helmet at 12.

My head hasn't grown but, the general recommendation is they should be replaced every 5 years as a minimum. The foams and materials can deteriorate, and the required safety standards get updated regularly, so it's unlikely that a hat she buys now would still be in date enough for her to use at 18

She will absolutely need another in the next 5 years. Think of it almost as 'disposable' and look to get one at least every few years and after a bad fall. Her head will grow, and the hat must fit now, and not at a point in the future. Make sure it has the most up to date safety standards. You should be able to find the relevant info on the pony club or riding club websites, and make sure it's properly fitted in a proper tack shop.

Go to a proper tack shop and ask for a skull cap that conforms to current pony club standards and get a silk or velvet to go with it. You will have to change it within 5 years regardless.

A 12 year old’s head will probably grow. Not much, but enough they’ll need another hat before adulthood. Plus, as has already been said, hats should be replaced every few years. The materials deteriorate, they go fusty inside if you wear them enough, and I can guarantee a 12 year old will drop it eventually (they should be replaced if they are dropped or the rider has a fall and bangs their head.) Having said that, your own hat is a good thing - you aren’t wearing one that someone else has sweated in and they do tend to mould to your head, so your own hat will feel more comfortable than one you are sharing with everyone else.

Check if the riding school approve of adjustable hats. I wear an Uvex Exxential ii MIPS, an adjustable hat, the MIPS is an extra safety feature, and all the required safety standards. It also has removable washable lining pads. So it would grow with her if necessary and she will be able to clean its lining. There are other brands of hat that are adjustable too - everyone’s head is a different size and shape so even an adjustable hat will still need to be fitted.

Frankly if she’s not fussy I’d get the cheapest version of the type you want that has the correct safety ratings as in theory she could fall off in January and write it off , or keep borrowing and get the grandparents to buy riding tights / half chaps something else .

You should replace a hat after each fall + every 4 years as a minimum so yes she will need a new hat before she reaches adulthood. Skimp on other things, never a hat!

At that age, in my experience, between falls and growth, helmets are replaced every 2 years.

By comparison, my son who does MTB has been known to replace his helmet every 2 months due to falls. They are a disposable item. Expensive but how much do you pay for your child’s head?

I hadn't thought about the shared hats being dropped, I would definitely get her one as surely the shared ones could have had damage done to them.

My daughter is 14 and has had 2 new hats since she was 12 second one is now too small! I think you'd definitely be looking at a replacement. Or there are some perfectly good adjustable ones as long as you get them properly fitted.

As a PP said, get one which conforms to the most recent pony club standards.

I’m assuming it’s a responsible school where the hats are individually handed out by someone who knows what they are doing , not a free for all and that they would dispose of any that have been dropped or been in falls . My issue with shared hats is headlice ,so my kids always had their own .

Show me a child that hasn’t dropped a hat and I’ll show you a unicorn! My kids drop theirs all the time. No amount of me watching them and telling me to be careful avoids this. 😬😬 They really are old enough to know better, but they do it anyway. We replace them regularly though, so probably not too much problem.

Champion, Charles Owen and Gatehouse are the 3 big name helmet brands, and they all do a dial-fit hat, as do Uvex and Shires Karben (slightly more budget brands, but still complying with all the safety requirements.

Dc have Charles Owen skull caps that come in a shell size of small/medium/large with liners that make the specific size. Sod replacing it every time they fall off. They'd need a new hobby. Obviously I'd buy a new one if they fell head first on to a rock other wise hats can last years. You can also get fixed peak, show jumping style hats that have a dial adjustment

It will have to be replaced if she falls off and hits her head anyway. She is very likely to do this at some point.

Depends how often she falls off!

defo depends how often she takes a tumble - that'll definitely be before she out grows it!!

DTs had big heads, bought the Charles Owen skulls about three years ago, they have grown but their heads haven't! I wouldn't expect a hat to last until adulthood through. Shell no doubt be dumped off before then anyway.

Lovely to have your own hat so I would definitely encourage it if she is keen to keep riding and a good quality one at that. Decathlon do decent quality riding gear if she would like some basics. Tiny fit in kids sizes though.

My DD's have worn theirs for 4-5 years [ranging age 7-13] during which time they grew like weeds but not their heads apparently and despite regular rechecks by a decent hat fitter were told they still fit fine. But the point remains, if they're damaged they will need replacing. It's not something you can buy to grow into but a good hat fitter will take it into account that you would like a model that offers some adjustment.

That's a really odd policy your riding school has. They can still check the fit of a hat owned by the rider and I doubt many riding schools would really replace every hat each time there is a fall.

Your daughter is much safer with a hat that fits well and is well looked after than a riding school hat which has been dropped/involved in falls etc.

Decathlon are inexpensive, up to latest safety standards and could be a solution until her head stops growing.

I only change mine after a bad fall where there has been a proper knock to the head. The modern ones are built to withstand being dropped a couple of times and the falls where you land on your arse then knock your head. Have brushed arena sand off many a hat and have no worries about safety. Where I or one of my kids really have taken a proper knock to the head then I replace.

I have updated my hat numerous times since then but my hat size hasn’t changed since I was 12!

Thanks everyone this is all very useful. I think we will get ourselves to a local place which does bookable helmet slots, they have two of the brands people have mentioned and the stables approves of them.

I also agree that head safety has to come over cost, so I think one of the skull cap ones will fit the bill, not quite got a MIPS budget but I rode as a child/teen and am still here after using those velvet covered ones, my first was second hand 😯

I'm old enough for riding without a hat to have been very normal when I was growing up and I'm still here... doesn't mean it's a good idea!