The Oakley MOD5 helmet is one of the best out there for numerous reasons, especially if you’re looking for a high-end piece of gear to add to your snow repertoire. When it comes to the rider and how much they’re willing to spend, it really depends on the individual — are you willing to keep your budget low so you don’t spend an arm and a leg on some fancy features you may not be concerned with, or do you consider this an investment (considering its your head, of course) and are willing to put a decent amount of cash into your riding protection? In our case today, we’re looking at a higher price-point, but with features (as in fit system, venting, and most importantly, protection) that are well-worth the cash if you have it. Let’s check out the beloved MOD5 and what it offers us.
Highlight features of the Okaley MOD5 helmet
- Modular Brim System (MBS)
- Hybrid shell construction
- BOA Fit System
- Adjustable vents
- Fidlock magnetic closure
- No pressure ear cups
- Removable liner, ear pads and goggle strap retainer
- Styles with MIPS available
- Certifications: ASTM F2040 and CE EN1077
Overall snow helmet build
Let’s check out the MOD5 helmet’s build, as in both the material as well as protection technology it’ll be bringing us while we ride. Most noticeable is the hybrid shell construction — the front is made of ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), which is a high-quality thermoplastic and polymer that has a strong resistance to both corrosive chemicals as well as physical impacts. The “hybrid” construction also includes the inner material made of in-mold which has a foam interior liner on the outside for comfort of your head while having yet another layer behind it with a hard exterior shell for added protection. The liner and ear pads are also removable so you can wash them, further increasing the longevity of your helmet.
Next up in terms of highlights of the MOD5 is the Modular Brim System (MBS) — you can basically interchange different sized brims to fit the best way possible for the particular goggle model you’re rocking that day. This will help not only with the overall fit of your helmet and goggles but also the look and feel you’re wanting to attain that day. Pair this up with the fidlock magnetic closure and you’re be able to easily take your helmet on and off in a jiffy, even with gloves on.
Additional helmet features
When it comes to venting of the Oakley MOD5, this one is definitely a keeper. As we’ve seen some other helmets come with iffy venting systems (merely adding a few here and there without much customization or versatility), the MOD5 channels hot air from the goggle, through the brim, then the helmet for great anti-fog performance. You can also adjust these said vents if you’re in a warmer setting that day, or vice versa to keep them open as you wish.
In terms of fit, as stated previously the MBS is going to help you tremendously there,considering most of our problems with fit comes in to play when you’re finding compatible goggles or helmets (especially if you’re mixing and matching brands, unfortunately). The BOA fit system is one we’ve seen in a few helmets here and there, especially in the higher price-points. This isn’t just a strap adjustment system here — this includes a dial that adjust both the horizontal and vertical straps to shape your head in a 360 degree manner, making sure the helmet is snug in all areas of that circumference as opposed to just one like other helmets.
There’s also a MOD5 MIPS version you may be interested in if you’re able to scrounge up a few more bucks in your budget. To us it’s worth it since we’ll be adding even more head protection when paired up with the hybrid shell construction. If you aren’t aware of what MIPS is, it stands for Multi-directional Impact Protection System, which is a mechanism built-in to the helmet that allows movement inside of the helmet for certain falls (more specifically rotational forces), allowing your head to remain still while the helmet itself absorbs the impact. Is it worth the extra money? You can decide, but for us with helmets, the more the better — you never know.
Compared to snowboard and ski helmet competitors
The MOD5 is a heavy-hitter for sure, so if we’re going to compare this thing with competitors we’re going to stick with the higher-end models. We’re thinking either the Smith Vantage or the Anon Prime give it a run for their money. If you want help on deciding which to actually pick, we’ll keep it a broad (sorry) and say grab whichever is cheaper — or whichever technology stands out to you and makes you feel the most safe. Either way you go (and we still recommend grabbing a MIPS version), you’re going to be very safe and secure. Just please ride with caution.
Although we stuck with only a few recommendations, the market of course is full of numerous options that sometimes gets tough to shuffle between. You can also check out our best snow helmets guide for some more models to compare and contrast (we give you the 10 most popular out today, and yes the MOD5 made it!). Just keep in mind your intended budget when compared the MOD5 with any of them.
The final word on the Oakley MOD5 helmet
The Oakley MOD5 helmet is ultimately one of the best out there for a quite a few reasons as we can see. Aside from the awesome look and confidence we have in rocking some Oakley gear on the mountain, the MOD5 combines supreme protection, excellent venting, amazing fit system, revolutionized brim system, and of course, an option for one of the most popular protection systems out there at the moment with MIPS. If it comes down to whether or not you need to save some more cash for this before you get to the mountain, we think you should try to remain patient so you can have a MOD5 in your toolbox.
