Review: Oakley MOD BC Helmet
What we liked
It’s very light weight for a backcountry helmet
The safety features like Twice Me, plus it felt safe and gave me the confidence to perform on the way down
The nerdy tech features like sunglass storage and headlamp compatibility, and removable beanie
What we didn’t
Airflow design led to being too hot on the way up
The slider for the ventilation channels can freeze shut
The Verdict
THE SHORT READ…
The Oakley MODBC helmet for the freeride enthusiast, is light, comfortable and adaptable to different adventures - it has an innovative removable beanie, sunglass storage, headlamp compatibility, easy adjustability in size and fit, and a host of safety features. There are situations where it can underperform on the way up, which may not be ideal for ski mountaineers, but on the way down it rocks.
THE LONG READ …
Oakley’s first backcountry and ski mountaineering helmet which aims to attract a new culture in mountain sports for Oakley. For me, in the backcountry I want a helmet that doesn’t weigh too much when its on my pack, and can take some hard hitters on the way down when I am hucking cliff drops.
The MODBC helmet definitely delivers on that with the added bonus of hat and cap adaptability so that I look stylish while riding in it. On the other hand, when I am on a mountaineering trip, I need a helmet to deliver in other ways than my backcountry trips.
On a trip in exposed terrain, which is often the case when mountaineering, I want a helmet that I can keep on all day long, that will protect me from my own falls and hazards from above. While the MODBC safety specs meet the test, when I went on a 6 hour trip with over 2000 vert to review, pushing the helmet in mountaineering performance, I found that some of its key features like the crafted ventilation channels failed.
The slider for the ventilation froze shut (but this was in the Arctic in January) and also the placement of the ventilation channels meant that without strong wind I was overheating on the way up in the MODBC.
This helmet definitely delivers on safety, weight and style in the backcountry, but they haven’t quite nailed it for ski mountaineering, having said that the Oakley MODBC is great for boot packing, freeride, and riding pillow lines all day long.
Let’s talk through the details…
Safety
“{Triple certified safety standards} - EN1077, ASTM F2040, EN 12492, MIPS, RECCO, Twice me” (wow thats a mouthful). What hasn’t this helmet got when it comes to safety standards, it meets,European and America drop and crush standards, and mountaineering standards for the straps. The helmet contains MIPS which is something that I would never ride without.
Most exciting on the safety side is the Twice me technology. For those of you that are new to this, like me, you can use an app to link with your helmet that not only will look at health and performance of the helmet, but also allow friends to locate you and send out emergency messages if you are not back within a designated time window.
Weight
Oakley report the weight of the MODBC coming in at 450g without the compatible hat, which is just slightly more than the MTN LAB helmet from Salomon (see review). For a free ride helmet this is light, but still feels chunky enough to take some big hits and be safe.
Ventilation
The helmet contains two types of ventilation, goggle ventilation and closable channel ventilation on top. The goggle ventilation works well while moving however the top ventilation channels underperformed. There was limited airflow on the way up the mountain, unless it was windy, and if you got sweaty on the hike then the switch for the ventilation system froze up at colder temperatures.
Style
For those who aim for the perfect mountain selfie, the MODBC can deliver on style and aesthetic. The MODBC comes in many different colours and the googles integrate well under the brim.
The removable beanie that accompanies the MODBC has a stylish, ventilated brim that mimics the pros in ski and snowboard culture, and is of a decent enough size to help keep falling snow out of your eyes. The beanie also has earflaps, instead of those being built into the helmet, and is, of course, washable.
Remove that beanie and you can also add your own style by pairing with your own beanie or cap, without needing to remove any bulky inserts or earflaps from the helmet itself.
Fit & Usability
There are two ways to adjust the MODBC for comfort and fit. The Fidlock buckle under the chin, which is magnetic and very easy to use even with large mittens, no more taking off all layers to pinch a buckle. Also behind the head you have a twist dial for changing the diameter which is great when you are changing between climates and want to switch out the headwear underneath, between no hat, hat or headband, lots of adaptability here with the MODBC.
The lining of the helmet is also slimmed down in comparison to other helmets, meaning there is less need for personalisation and stripping out lining for comfort, its ready to wear and ready to adapt to your style.
In terms of usability it is very easy to take goggles on and off while they helmet is on your head with the elastic strap on the back.
Other features
Sunglasses stowage & Headlamp compatability - I really enjoyed the storage slots for my sunglasses in the front, and the compatibility with headlamps. I am based in the Arctic in the polar night and it can be difficult to get a headlamp to stay in place, on the MODBC it not only held my headlamp in position while riding, but also through crashes!
Removable beanie - This is cool. It’s a kind of soft neoprene-y, quilted, hat that can be worn completely independently, or under the helmet. The ear flaps can be worn down, or folded up if you need to cool down (though it can be fiddly to get the helmet over it like that). The visor itself is perforated. We think it looks great, just by itself.
If wearing the helmet with beanie removed, the interior of the helmet still has some built-in padding - very adaptable to different conditions.
Sustainability
In regards to sustainability Oakleys MODBC is only comprised of new (rather than recycled) materials and lets us down on the sustainable materials side.
It the removable beanie (instead of a traditional inner liner) does happen, however, to be machine washable and contain compounds which are anti odour so if you do have a smelly head you might be keeping this helmet for longer, making it more sustainable longevity-wise.
SUMMARY…
The Oakley ModBC might not be my first choice when it comes to hard-code ski-mountaineering, as under more extreme extertion it got a bit warm, and if water gets in the vent slider channel and it gets cold, it can freeze shut (though to be fair that’s a risk for any helmet with a vent-slider).
However, for freeride or touring, this is a helmet that I would go out and buy. It’s light, has great safety standards, innovative comfort and tech features and can adapt to my style.