The O’Neal Sierra II Slingshot helmet has a very catchy design, causing some people to fall in love with the looks at first sight. There are a lot of hard edges in the outer construction along with uniquely routed vents, square shaped accessories that look like rivets and some strategically placed screws for the peak that almost gives it an advanced, robotic prototype feel.
Made with Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) it is one of the tougher ones in the market that can take a drop or two and still keep on going. And this is what makes it quite suitable for ADV. The DOT and ECE 22-05 ratings should convince you of the safety. It is interesting to note that the previous version of this helmet was not DOT certified, according to one of the customers whose order got cancelled.
Another interesting fact is, that this previous version looked almost identical to the AFX FX-41 DS helmet. Perhaps it was the same manufacturer?
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What Would You Love?
The design, obviously. But there’s also a sun-visor in addition to the standard face-shield and the peak. Much like what Vega does with theirs. So for those who wear sunglasses purely to block the sunrays, this is something you can consider and ditch the goggles all together.
The Top Features to Look Out For
Besides the attractive shape of the shell, let’s check out what else this helmet can offer.
Shell
The shell looks very futuristic as mentioned earlier, and is sure to turn heads when you walk down a sidewalk. This is actually an upgrade over the older O’Neal Sierra I helmet which had a lesser number of cues all over the body and had a standard air channel which was not so visible.
This one weighs about 1500-1600 grams, which is almost standard for helmets in the dual-sport category, and is suitable for most customers looking for a thrilling design.
Featuring an intermediate oval shape, it should fit most people without getting stuck at the forehead, temples or the earlobes. But the company has gone further and provided six different sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL and XXL. So everyone should be covered as far as the fitting is concerned.
The helmet has a Double-D lock instead of standard clip-in straps which is a nice addition.
Spare parts should be available from their European website if you manage to break or lose one of them.
We have worked closely with RevZilla, Amazon and 2Wheel over the years to provide our testers with products to review. They are all great partners and unique in their own ways, so make sure to check out their prices. Please don’t forget we may get a commission if you buy from them.
Visors
There are two visors included with this helmet; one tinted and one clear. The fitting does not have any fancy mechanism to lock the visor in place. Instead it only has two protruding notches on either side to lift it up or bring it down. There is no special anti-fogging thing going on with the face-shield; so it is advisable to leave a little gap by lifting it up when riding around in some of the colder regions.
The pivots where the face-shield is attached have an open design which accentuates the futuristic looks, and they also make it easier to remove the face-shield as per your preference.
Ventilation
There are a lot of vents on the mouthpiece and a lever to flip them on or off. Additional chimney vents can be open or closed with the flick of a catch. Passive rear and jawline vents create a nice airflow. This system works efficiently in removing the hot and humid air stuck in the lid.
The O’Neal II has a dual channel system in matte black on the top that really complements the paintjob and stylish graphic as opposed to the single one looking like a roof scoop on the O’Neal I. It looms similar to some of the modern exhausts with an accent.
We have worked closely with RevZilla, Amazon and 2Wheel over the years to provide our testers with products to review. They are all great partners and unique in their own ways, so make sure to check out their prices. Please don’t forget we may get a commission if you buy from them.
Padding and Lining
The helmet description says, “very soft, sweat absorbing inner padding”. But judging by first looks, it has a mesh overlay. So people with allergies to mesh may get a rash on continuous use, so keep this in mind before making a decision. But the cheek pads and comfort liners are actually soft and provide a better cushion experience. They are washable too, which means you can clean them and reuse any number of times you want.
A complimentary chin pad is provided at the bottom which should protect your neck area in chilly winds. It is removable and is attached to the inner liner with a Velcro.
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