Oakley ARO5 Race Road Cycling Aero Helmet Review - feat. Iridium Badge + MIPS Air + 19 Vents + BOA

Oakley’s new ARO5 Race helmet combines the sleek aerodynamically optimized shape of the previous ARO5 helmet with a lightweight construction and improved ventilation. Introduced as a part of Oakley’s 2023 cycling collection this is their current top-tier road cycling helmet. The helmet retails for $205 for the standard version we have in this review and $240 Ice Black Reflective version which has an integrated twICEme NFC chip. Oakley markets the ARO5 Race as being designed for peak performance and breathability thanks to its aerodynamic shape and 19 vents. The helmet features MIPS Air for additional safety as well as a BOA 360 fit system for easy adjustments. Our favorite feature of the helmet is the unique Iridium coated rear badge which mimics the mirrored finish on Oakley’s sunglasses.

The Oakley ARO5 Race uses an all-new shell design and vent positioning to reduce the weight of the helmet while improving airflow through it compared to the previous ARO5 helmet. It’s an attractive design that combines front air slits with styled air vents that give the helmet a modern and sporty appearance. This has a three piece shell design that’s divided along the vents to create a top panel, middle panel and side panel. Oakley offers the ARO5 Race in six colors currently from all white or black to two-tone variations such as gray / lilac and Franktel / Retina Burn. We have the creatively named Dark Gray / Light Curry color scheme here which features a matte dark gray color on the upper and bottom pieces along with a dark yellow fade for the centerpiece. Oakley branding is ghosted on the sides along with ARO5 on the rear.

There is a surprising amount of exposed foam on the helmet along the edges of the vents which blends in with the dark color schemes. In terms of profile, the ARO5 has a classic road or aero road helmet profile that’s very shallow with curved front. Although it’s marketed as an aero helmet, the ARO5 Race doesn’t have the elongated rear profile aero helmets like the Smith Ignite or a blunt rear like the POC Ventral Spin. Instead, the helmet has a more gentle curved rear design with plenty of vents cut into it. Oakley has also dialed back the highly curved organic shapes of the previous generation ARO5 and ARO3 helmets in favor of sharp creases that are more reminiscent of the Kask Protone or other Italian helmets....

... Read the full review @ https://thesweetcyclists.com/oakley-a...
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00:00 Intro
00:11 Unboxing + Specs
02:34 Fit + Finish
07:20 On The Road
08:18 Comparison (Limar Air Stratos, Smith Trace, POC Ventral Spin)
10:32 The Final Score
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