Oakley WTR ICON Helmet Review

In an era where surf safety is becoming more of a priority, the Oakley WTR ICON Helmet has quickly entered crowded lineups around the world, promising high-performance protection without compromising style or comfort. Oakley, known for its premium eyewear and sports gear, is a newcomer to the surf helmet market. The WTR ICON Oakley surfing helmet is designed for big-wave chargers, heavy conditions, and weekend warriors seeking extra head protection. It blends lightweight materials, impact resistance, and a sleek, low-profile design. But does it deliver where it matters most with safety and performance in the water?

We couldn’t help but notice the eye-catching design when Oakley team surfer Caity Simmers debuted the WTR ICON at the Lexus Pipe Pro in February 2024. The resounding stamp of approval from multiple professional surfers with household names has sparked conversation in the lineup; some see it as the future of surf safety, while others question its necessity. In Fall 2024, Oakley quietly launched just the Matte Black color and will introduce Matte Poseidon (Blue) and Matte White in Spring 2025, bringing more options to an already hot seller right out of the gate.

In this review, we’ll break down the fit, comfort, safety, quality, and real-world usability of the Oakley WTR ICON to see if it’s truly a must-have for surfers or just another overpriced accessory. Is this the next big thing that shifts the stigma and culture around surfing helmets?

Model Available and Cost: Oakley WTR ICON Helmet - $175.00

Oakley WTR ICON

Design and Aesthetics

Starting with the name WTR, short for “Water Technology Research,” is Oakley’s way of honoring the aquatic environment for which the helmet is designed. In addition, the term ICON refers to Oakley’s corporate headquarters, located at 1 Icon Drive. All in all, years of research by the R&D team and Oakley’s reputation as a premium sports gear company are wrapped up in the helmet’s name.    

The Oakley WTR ICON surf helmet is a definite head-turner - in a good way. It looks more like a low-profile bike helmet than the bowling ball-shaped surf helmets that have been on the market for years. With a decades-old stigma around the dorky appearance of current helmets, Oakley made massive waves in the industry by bringing a genuinely cool vibe to surf helmets. 

Using highly valuable insight and feedback from top professional surfers and athletes alike, the Oakley design team gathered complaints about competitor helmets, including ballooning off the head while duck diving, muffled hearing, poor ventilation in warmer environments, and frustrating fit issues. Its unique design addresses those concerns, featuring open ventilation that facilitates swift water drainage and seamless maneuverability, even during heavy duck dives. 

Additionally, the helmet offers adjustable and removable ear protection, safeguarding against cuts and eardrum injuries while preserving auditory awareness. This thoughtful integration of cutting-edge materials and athlete-driven design underscores Oakley's commitment to advancing surf safety and performance.

Materials and Build Quality

The Oakley WTR ICON surf helmet exemplifies exceptional materials and build quality. It is meticulously engineered to meet the rigorous demands of surfers tackling back-breaking waves. Weighing less than 365 grams (for the size small), it is one of the lightest surfing helmets available, ensuring minimal interference with performance. In fact, many surfers forget they are even wearing the helmet, which is about one of the best compliments it can receive.

The helmet's shell is constructed from robust Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), known for its impact-absorbing properties that disperse energy to reduce blunt force trauma. Internally, the WTR ICON incorporates advanced D3O® technology, a soft and flexible orange foam that stiffens up when impacted, allowing it to absorb and disperse the energy from the fall. D30 is also commonly found in other high-impact products, from ski and snowboard helmets to smartphone cases. 

That said, the WTR ICON contains renowned materials that enhance overall protection, providing surfers with added confidence when paddling out in challenging conditions.

Comfort and Fit

The WTR ICON Oakley surf helmet contains three points of fit customization: removable ear protection, an adjustable strap, and the Oakley 360 fit system. Starting with the ear protection. The earpieces can adjust to two heights (high and low) for a better fit per your head/ear shape and size. You can also conveniently remove them altogether to achieve an even lighter helmet. The benefit of keeping the earpieces attached is more protection against cuts or blowing out your eardrums on wipeouts, especially while kiting or foiling. Handle with care when popping the ear protection in and out since the plastic notches are small and cumbersome.

Many helmets have an adjustable chin strap, and the one used on the WTR ICON is quick and simple to adjust with two hands. The generic-looking plastic buckle requires two hands for clipping but can be unclipped easily with just one hand. Buckles are another piece of delicate gear that can break with use. We recommend clipping in the buckle when not using the helmet to protect the plastic buckle teeth from getting damaged.

The WTR ICON truly shines with fit in the Oakley 360 Fit System, the first of its kind in the surf helmet industry. Like Smith’s VaporFit Dial System or the highly popular BOA Fit System, Oakley’s 360 design allows for a secure and custom fit with the simple twist of an adjustable dial on the back of the helmet. With 42 clicks on the dial, gone are the days of messing around with cumbersome fit strips or jerry-rigging random pieces of foam to achieve the right fit. 

How to Size Your WTR ICON Helmet with a Hood

If you wear a hood most of the year, size the helmet based on your head measurement while wearing your hood. As cold-water surfers in the PNW, we typically wear a 5/4 or 4/3 wetsuit with an attached hood year-round.

For reference, my head measures 23 ¼” with a 3mm hood, which falls into a size Large. However, I found a Medium fit better since the neoprene compresses once the hood is secured.

Without a hood, my head measures 21 ⅞”, which also fits a Medium, though it has very slight side-to-side movement compared to a Small. The Small is a comfortable fit, but with minor pressure above my temples, initially, I was more aware of the helmet being there. However, it settled in with time, and I forgot it was there. Overall, the Medium works best, allowing me to wear it comfortably with and without a hood.

Safety Features

In addition to the impressive features we’ve covered thus far, the Oakley WTR ICON surf helmet outshines everything else in the safety department. For years, the prestigious Virginia Tech Helmet Lab crew has been putting name-brand helmets of all shapes and sizes through the wringer, all in the name of head injury prevention. Using a 5-star rating system, helmets are evaluated based on their ability to reduce concussion risk. A higher star rating means better protection, whereas a lower rating equates to lesser protection.

Truthfully, many of our best-selling surfing helmets scored extremely low: 1 star or worse. However, the WTR ICON proudly carries a 4-star rating and holds EN1385 certification, the European standard for helmets used in whitewater sports. On that note, Oakley doesn’t recommend wearing the helmet out in extreme class 5 and 6 rapids for whitewater paddlers. 

When looking at these kinds of numbers from the country's best helmet lab, Oakley isn’t messing around when it comes to concussion prevention. If the helmet has a considerable impact, it must be retired/discarded since the safety components are compromised. If the crash happens within 3 years of purchase, contact Oakley Warranty to start a claim. If accepted, they will replace the helmet at a 50% discount of the same helmet.

Performance in the Water

Now for the question we all have - how does the Oakley WTR ICON perform in the water? The WTR ICON does everything from seamlessly duck ducking on heavy days to protecting your eardrums when taking hard falls foiling above water to jaw and head protection from rogue surfboards in crowded lineups.  

Circling back to the design piece of the helmet, gone is the whiplash feeling of your head snapping back when duck diving due to the parachute effect of many surf helmets. Now, with the open ventilation design of the WTR ICON, the helmet immediately drains water when coming from a duck dive, creating instant air and water exchange. The cross sections implemented throughout the helmet allow it to penetrate the water more efficiently and add stiffness, making it more protective with impact. 

The helmet stays locked in place throughout the session between the adjustable chin strap and 360 Fit System. Many early reviewers have stated that they simply forgot they were weighing a helmet due to the lightweight feel, comfort, and dialed-in fit. The feel, weight, and comfort of the WTR ICON resemble that of a bike helmet. Compared to other options on the market, Oakley prioritized comfort and fit in its design strategy. With the lightweight factor and increased air flow, the helmet doesn’t have uncomfortable pressure points, a common complaint with other helmets. In addition, the U-shaped cut-out on the back of the helmet allows it to sit comfortably against the neck and head when paddling. 

Customer Feedback

I have never used a surf helmet before this one, but most other models seem to have abysmal impact ratings compared to this one from Oakley. Fit is great (if a little snug). At 58 cm head circumference, I had trouble deciding between M and L, and went with L. I feel like it was the right decision, since M felt better at the outset, but was difficult to tolerate after around 30 minutes. Overall an amazing first showing from Oakley. I now feel a bit naked when I don't wear it.”

Andrew

Very light. Snug fit. I could've gone for the large but feel it may have been too loose. Absolutely love how the design prevents the helmet from "parachuting" when submerged into the water.”

Melvin

Sarah

Originally from the rolling hills of New Hampshire, Sarah now calls Oregon home. She started at Cleanline Surf in 2019 and, since then, has grown into the role of the Customer Service and Blog Manager. When she’s not at work helping dial in customers with surf gear, Sarah is happiest out adventuring. From mellow summer surf sessions to winter splitboard missions to ripping down her favorite mountain bike line, Sarah is always ready to go at the drop of a hat.