Oakley, it bears reminding, has been around the sport of cycling for more than 30 years -those iconic eyeshades worn by riders like Greg LeMond stand out pretty well. But the company has never more than dabbled in performance riding kit. Now they’re jumping in, with three new road helmets and two jersey/short combos.
Oakley’s helmet line is dubbed ARO, with three models: the all-around ARO3, aero ARO5 and time trial/triathlon-focused ARO7 (with two visors). All helmets use MIPS liners and Boa fit-adjustment closures. The ARO3, from the front, has a passing resemblance to POC’s Octal, which we like for its airy feel, even on warmer rides. The ARO3 has deeply channeled vents to speed airflow, while the ARO5 has fewer front vents, but is designed to reduce drag while still being cool enough to use on hot days.
Maybe our favorite part is the Boa system, which adjusts the fit in a 360-degree radius, rather than clamping the head against the front of the helmet. And, as you’d expect from Oakley, special consideration is given to compatibility with sunglass temples; the low-profile reel will work with almost any eye protection.
And for those hot climbs where you might tuck your shades into helmet vents, special slots in the helmet’s side channels guide and securely hold the temples so they’ll never fall out or sit off-kilter. Both helmets will be available in small, medium, and large, in a variety of colour schemes.
The ARO7 fits the trend in helmet design for non-draft events like time trials and IronMan triathlons, with a slightly elongated shape, full shell coverage over the ears, and minimal venting. The helmet comes with two integrated visor options. The visors clip in magnetically, and can be reversed and stored upside down on the front of the helmet. There are two sizes for this specialty offering, both coming in black or white.
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