Oakley Mod 5 Helmet Review

The Oakley Mod 5 helmet is one of the most recent intro’s to the ski and snowboard helmet market for Oakley.  Given the long time that Oakley has been making ski goggles, it was only time until they got into the helmet market to complement their goggles.

When you carry the company name Oakley and you enter into a new product category, expectations are always high.  The new Oakley ski and snowboard helmet line including the Mod 5 was carefully thought out and the helmets not only look good in pictures, but they live up to the Oakley quality standard we come to expect.

Oakley Mod 5 Helmet Details

Testing the Oakley Mod 5 Helmet in Steamboat

BOA Closure Fit System

BOA Closure Fit System

To get a snug yet proper fit, the Mod 5 uses the BOA Fit System which allows you to adjust the helmet fit around your head by spinning a dial on the back of the helmet.  This fit system has been around for a while, but it is the trusted technology when it comes to helmet fit.

Carved out Foam in Ear Pads

Carved out padding in ear pads

On the earpads of the Oakley Mod 5, the foam is carved out to allow your ears a little room to breathe. This is something that stands out in the helmet as most ski and snowboard ear pads aren’t carved out much that puts additional pressure against your ears which can make your ears sore after a long day of skiing.  The benefit to non-carved out ear pads is that they keep your ears warm in frigid temperatures.  I’ve found on really cold days that my ears tend to get a little cold in the Mod 5 without any type of hat on my head.  I suggest wearing some sort of skull cap on the extremely cold days.

Integration with Oakley Goggles

Oakley Helmet Goggle Integration

Oakley Helmet Brim

The Oakley Mod 5 helmet has two brims that come with the helmet.  The two brims have different venting configurations which match up with different types of Oakley goggles.  I found while wearing this helmet with the Oakley Airbrake XL PRIZM goggle, I was able to get a perfect fit with just the right amount of ventilation which helps prevent the goggle from fogging up.

Fidlock – Magnetic Buckle on Chinstrap

Fidlock Buckle on Oakley Mod 5

Fidlock is a newer buckle technology that makes snapping your helmet chinstrap a breeze.  It uses magnets to connect the two ends of the chip strap instead of using the traditional snap-together clips.  All you need to do is get each end of the clips close to each other and they automatically connect by the magnetic pull.  The system also makes it a breeze to unclip, which comes in handy when it’s cold out and your fingers don’t want to work.

Other Helmet Details

There are a few other details worth mentioning, but I don’t see them as major benefits to using the Oakley Mod 5 Helmet compared to other helmets on the market.  To start, the chin strap has extra padding so you don’t cut your chip rubbed raw by the strap.  The Mod 5 comes with adjustable ventilation which we all come to expect from ski and snowboard helmets.  The adjustment is on the top of the helmet and easy to use, similar to others on the market.

Oakley Helmet Liner

To keep your helmet protected, the Mod 5 comes with a mesh bag that also works to great to keep your goggles, gloves, and hat together when packing for your trip up to the mountains.  There is a removable liner to the helmet in case you want to wash it after years of sweat building up.  The liner isn’t all that well put together, so I caution washing this too many times as I can see it falling apart.

Mod 5 Sizing

If you don’t have the sizing of your ski and snowboard helmet right, it can be more of a hazard than a benefit.  According to the sizing listed from Oakley, I needed a size large.  I tried on the size large and I was able to get an okay fit; not great, but good.  My thought is that it’s a little boxy feeling which is due to the lack of padding on the inside of the helmet.  After I took a few runs in the large, I found my ears were starting to freeze due to not being able to tighten the chinstrap and needed to swap out for a medium.  When trying on the size medium, I found the helmet to be much more enjoyable to wear and the connection between my head and the helmet was much better.  If you’re able to, I recommend trying the Oakley Mod 5 in the store or purchasing from an online shop with free returns or exchanges.

Final Thoughts

Skiing with Oakley Mod 5

When I first saw the Oakley Mod 5 hit the market, I was super excited.  Oakley has long been known as an innovator and a leader in many of the product categories they are involved with.  In my first experience in an Oakley ski helmet, I am happy with the fit and features, but I am by no means blown away from innovation.  One of the biggest bonuses in my opinion of this helmet is that if you have or intend to buy Oakley goggles, the helmet has a nice integration with them.  This means no gaper gap and no frozen forehead.  With a price tag of $200 for this helmet, it sits about 3/4th up the price chain as you can get a cheaper ski helmet for $100 and you can also spend $300+ for a helmet.  For more information, head on over to Oakley.com.