A lot of the bodies that have ended up here second (third, fourth!) hand as head stands have issues. The Shire is very much like a no kill shelter for TPE girls. So I know of pretty much all the issues that these girls can develop, the different sorts of skeleton, and the different types of TPE. Some I can fix, some the girls live with and they are posed around their issues.
Good quality TPE is like fine wine. There are really good years and not so good years as manufacturers vie with each other for realism to the touch versus longevity.
I would say that the early TPE was more robust than it is now but the TPE now feels more realistic. My oldest, River (on Yvettes WM body) in now 12 and except for an issue with her hands caused by poorly wrapped copper finger wires during manufacture that I rectified by replacing her hands, and a loosening of her joints, she is still in very good condition. I’m sure at 12 she’s probably outlived even some Silicone girls. I’m hopeful of her seeing at least her 20th birthday.
WM166C from 2018 has one arm that will not stay posed, Irontech 150A from 2019 is perfect, YL 151C from 2019 can no longer stand unsupported, but that aside is also perfect. Those are the oldest girls here that were purchased new.
I think that TPE’s bad rap comes from them generally being peoples first doll. Often purchased without knowing how to look after them. So many first purchases develop issues which are attributed to the girl rather than how they were looked after in those first few months.
I think of it like buying a manual car that you do not know how to drive. overreving before the engine is properly bedded in and then blaming the manufacturer when it needs major repairs after 20k miles.
Back in 2010 I was lucky to find a great little community in UKLDF (RIP) espechially Karrot and Samurai who I learnt a lot from about how to care for TPE girls.
My girls have longevity, and the waifs and strays that end up here have won the golden ticket of extended lives because I know to put UV film on the windows, Lower the house temperature, powder (I use cornflour) when they need it, and clean occassionally with Extra Virgin Olive oil.
Yes, TPE can last a long time, probably still not as long as most silicone. But it does take time, effort, and love for the girls to give them that life.
Yours, like mine have that luxury but I fear one cannot simply say that TPE will last 10+ years to newbies as there are too many variables involved with ownership. i.e. who manufactured them, when they were born, how they are looked after, the environment that they live in.
That aside, always great to see your girls (especially the three Elves there. I remember when you first acquired them 
). There is something seriously sexy about the YL #286 head isn’t there.
All the best,
Shamus.
(First Shamus diatribe of 2026 
)
