Another thing to check on your helmet is the straps. Look for worn or frayed straps, first of all. More information below on hidden damage to watch for too.

More so that the other parts of your helmet, the straps are vulnerable to wear over time. The most obvious places to check your straps for wear and fraying is roughly between your chin and ears, and in particular at any points where the strap material may rub against another part of the helmet. Look to make sure the material through this area is still good and will hold adequately. If you're in a crash, your helmet will not do you any good if it goes flying off your head.

Also inspect both the snap/buckle and material where the straps go into the buckle. Depending on how your helmet is made, the stitching here can give way over time or the material itself can begin to weaken due to constant use, rubbing and deterioration from moisture.

A hidden place to be sure to check is where the straps are anchored into your helmet. Again, depending on how the helmet is made, the straps can go up into your helmet and be secured by wrapping around the styrofoam and/or hard shell, particularly on less expensive models. Sometimes the rubbing action of the straps against the styrofoam can cause it to compromise the inner styrofoam cushion, but this isn't a real common problem. Check to make sure the straps are not worn at the top and that they are still anchored firmly to your helmet.