Review: Oakley ARO5 Helmet

(2020) It may be late in the season to review a cycling helmet, but 2020 is anything but normal. With the Tour in full swing, typically new gear season coincides. But then again, who knew we would have the Tour in September? Then there were the endless difficulties procuring the helmet amidst a pandemic. Oakley’s ARO5 is meant to satisfy the aero road helmet, between the ventilated ARO3 and the time trial-specific ARO7. 

Oakley has returned to its cycling roots by providing helmets, kits, and - as always - sunglasses for road cyclists and mountain bikers. Founded in 1975 and specializing in BMX handgrips made of Unobtainium, Oakley turned their focus to the sport eyewear industry. Of late it focused on safety gear as some of the eyewear are OSHA approved. The Oakley O can be found on auto racing fire suits and stretched over the shells of cycling helmets. With their reputation in intensive research development, much excitement followed the announcement of Oakley helmets. So how well did the helmet match up to expectations?

The Oakley ARO5 with it’s four large vents on the leading edge of the helmet.

For starters the Oakley ARO5 comes equipped with MIPS technology. MIPS (which stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System) is designed to reduce harmful rotational forces during an impact. The system advertises increased brain protection which can be the absorptive force in a crash. MIPS-equipped cycling helmets tend to sit up higher than the standard helmets due to the added shells, but the ARO5 sits at a regular height. Though we are not sold on MIPS delivering on their sales pitch (we have not personally tested it out, and that’s a good thing), the ARO5 slipped on comfortably. Oakley added an X-Static sweatband to the mix for added comfort.

The Oakley ARO5’s top vents are large and direct airflow to cool the rider as well as vent out the back. Oakley also added a rear scoop to the top for additional ventilation.

To dial in the fit of the ARO5, Oakley included a BOA retention system for quick and easy fitting. BOA has established itself in the cycling word, notably as a closure system to cycling shoes. It makes sense to feature it on the back of a helmet for micro adjustments as well as a clean look. Having a BOA tensile to secure the helmet increased the comfort, though it did interfere when wearing a cap. The BOA stirrup can be adjusted among three settings, helping the retention system sit naturally behind the head.

Until recently cycling helmets were in an arms race to have the most vents. Now helmets feature gaping intakes, typically near the temples to allow maximum airflow to the rider. Oakley follows trend with two large ports on the top of the helmet to direct airflow and two temple vents down the side. What is noteworthy is Oakley’s vent placement. A company that leads the industry with cycling eye protection should have seamless integration with sunglass helmet docking. When we needed to stow the glasses in the helmet for grinding climbs, the eyewear almost slipped out the helmet’s vents entirely when looking down. The first instance caught us off guard, having assumed the helmet would grab the Unobtainium Radars. We almost lost a pair of Oakley glasses while docking them to an Oakley helmet.

The MIPS system is of a lower profile in the Oakley ARO5 than other helmets with the same anti-rotational device.

While MIPS helmets tend to sit higher on the head, Oakley included generous foam in the fore section of the helmet. Much of the helmet industry has opted for lower profile designs, the ARO5 hangs over the forehead more than other helmets. The shell takes the appearance of a sleek look but there is room for improvement over the next generations of ARO5 helmets.

Oakley boasts a BOA retention stirrup for ease of adjustment.

Oakley has added a personal touch to the ear stirrup/ chin strap assembly. The helmet features a nylon bridge to eliminate that annoying struggle of getting the ear stirrup just right. Right in the middle is the Oakley O, a reminder the helmet is not only protection, but it is also fashionable. This is a welcome addition to helmet protocol. The chin strap has a tendency to loosen throughout a ride, and the extra bit flap around wildly. A loose chinstrap can be a bit unnerving when the ride gets racy.

For Oakley the ARO5 is a good starting point, especially launching into the cycling helmet industry against established companies like Lazer. Perhaps Oakley’s surgical research and development closed the industry gap to make them a contender from the get-go, but something is missing. The helmet buzzing created at certain speeds leads us to believe a car is approaching from behind. Plus, the difficulty docking their own sunglasses to the helmet is perplexing. With the gigantic O along the flanks of the helmet it is obvious Oakley is proud of their helmet line. This well-ventilated helmet has some design adjustments to make but is a good option for a competitive cyclist. Considering how hard it was for us to get an ARO5 during the pandemic, it might be good to wait for the next update before putting money down on a new lid. Then again, if a new helmet is mandatory, the ARO5 will serve comfortably.