Last time we looked at what to look for when buying leather gear; its types, strengths and weaknesses. This time we'll look at whether you need to replace a piece of gear, or whether you can extend its longevity.
Your first concern should always be the safety of your gear, and ultimately new gear is often better than old gear; this isn't only because of the younger age, so it's less fatigued, but also because newer technologies have come along that could mean that your older bit of gear could be significantly inferior to modern gear. It's also a subject that different people will have different ideas about, whether that's down to budget concerns, unwillingness to waste gear or simply because they like the kit they already wear!
One of the few pieces of gear with a hard and fast rule that can be applied to it is your helmet. We advise that you shouldn't continue using a helmet once 5 years have passed from its manufacture date. This isn't some money-making scam that gear dealers and helmet manufacturers have dreamt up to sell more helmets, it's an actual safety concern if you keep it beyond this point! Your helmet is one of those pieces of kits that can quite easily hide its age when looked after well, with the surface easily polished, and removable liners washed at will; but its internal materials can't be maintained very easily, nor repaired. Often polystyrene is used to absorb impact, and lines most of the helmet, however it isn't able to last forever and still absorb an impact. Use of the helmet slowly but surely compresses it, while any knocks ever so slightly reduces its impact absorption. A helmet also has to put up with your sweaty head(!), with the moisture and oils eventually going into the liner, and on top of that the shell also has to deal with UV radiation when outside which, over time, will weaken it. All these things together, and a five year lifespan is the figure arrived at. Even if you weren't using the helmet, you still have to take into account ageing of the helmet materials without any use, and if it's purchased late in its lifespan, you've no idea how well it's been stored (eg. has it been dropped?).
On top of this (yes, there's more!) do not drop your helmet! A helmet is a one-use impact protection, and if you drop it you're highly likely to compromise its integrity. If you've a super-duper expensive lid then you can get it x-rayed to check for damage, but if you're wearing a more normal helmet, then the cost of the scan will be prohibitive, even though you'll need to buy a new helmet! Visors are one of the few parts you can replace, and if there are significant scratches that could develop into cracks or are affecting your vision, they should be replaced. The same goes for Pinlock anti-fog inserts, you need your vision to be as good as possible.
Moving on from helmets, the waters muddy somewhat...
The material of the gear is probably the simplest way of dividing up gear. Leather and textiles are probably the most common materials used, so we'll cover these as they require different treatment.
Leather is a natural material, so it easily degrades with use if not maintained. If you keep using your jacket, not only will it get steadily grubby, but it'll run the risk of cracking, compromising its integrity irreversibly. Simply keeping on top of cleaning and maintaining the moisture in the jacket will make this much, much less likely, thus massively extending its lifespan. This goes for all leather gear. By using the gear in wet weather and not letting it dry fully naturally (do not use a hairdryer!) as well as using it under intense sun will both increase the speed at which the garment will age, and will require cleaning and protection more regularly. It may all sound like doom and gloom for leather gear, but just getting into a habit of sorting out the gear will massively extend its life and maintain its protection of you. Replenishing the oils and tanning agents in your leather gear will save you a hefty bill for new gear in the long run!
Sometimes you can't keep on top of this, or the gear just simply gets too old. The most obvious symptom of this is the leather cracking, just as your own skin does when it's too dry. It is possible for repairs of leather panels by expert tailors, but chances are other parts of the garment aren't far off from doing the same thing, so it's probably best to get a new bit of kit. Fraying seams are also a warning sign; once again it's sometimes possible for repairs to be done by a tailor, but sometimes there'll be a point of no return, and the tailor should tell you this.
Textiles are synthetic, so with this comes with its own set of issues. Unlike leathers, they don't run the risk of drying out, but that's not to say they don't need care. Ultraviolet radiation or poor cleaning habits will soon make short work of a piece of gear if left unchecked. Nikwax make a range of treatments that can be used in a washing machine to improve waterproofing, remove dirt and freshen gear up. One of the hardest things to keep on top of with textile gear is keeping any white sections looking remotely white, and hi-vis is equally tricky to keep clean! Similar rules to leather apply, if you notice damage to seams or panels it's worth seeing whether a tailor can work their wizardry, or see whether they think it's too compromised and needs replacing.
An overarching rule applies to checking all gear; if you don't think it's safe, or an expert (a reputable dealer or tailor) says so, don't use it, it's simply not worth the risk! It's also always worth checking whether your gear is simply outdated - new, uprated armour inserts, improved seams, higher quality leather, more advanced textile materials and airbag technology can all drastically improve your protection in the event of a crash. Not only that, more recent gear often has features that improve your riding life, with improved waterproofing, better design and compatibility with other pieces of gear, which, amongst other things, could sway you to part with your ageing kit. Casual, but protective gear, is becoming a major thing now too, so going for a different look that's more comfortable and less obtrusive off the bike could even be of interest to you.
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