Welding requires a strong pair of hands behind a pair of safety goggles.
But your hands can only endure so long so you need a helmet to keep your head protected.
However, what makes a good welding helmet exactly?
Well, that depends on your needs. For example, do you work in a large factory or outdoors? And how often do you work in your workshop?
Ultimately, the type of headgear you buy will depend not only on where you work but how sensitive your head is. There is nothing worse than a bad headache after several hours of hard work. So choose carefully.
Here is a list of the 10 best welding helmets:
The LINCOLN LITEWARE HD 180 LED FRONT VIEW HELMET is one of the best choices on my list.
First of all, the price is an important factor but it is not the most important one.
The LINCOLN LITEWARE HD 180 LED FRONT VIEW HELMET are really not so expensive and quite affordable for any regular welder.
Also, LINCOLN LITEWARE HD 180 LED FRONT VIEW HELMET has a protective shell that is made of Hard hat.
Which means that it even offers you extra protection when you are working harder.
Also, the helmet has LED lights that produce brighter light than other welding helmets in the market.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Welding Helmet | Best Overall |  |
| Hobart 770286 Flip Front Welding Helmet | Budget Pick |  |
| ESAB 0700000800 Sentinel A50 Welding Helmet | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Welding Helmet
Pros:
- Comes as a complete unit with face shield
- Flip-up option for easy, close-up viewing
- Not bulky
- Lightweight
- Brighter than a standard helmet
- Large size fits comfortably
Cons:
- Takes a while to get used to the darkened view of the craft
- No battery included
When in the market for a new welding helmet, there are tons of options to choose from. It can also be difficult to determine what exactly you should look for when shopping.
The LPS 3350 comes in a comfortable size and is very lightweight. Unlike the standard ones, it’s brighter and allows you to get closer to the craft without even seeing smudges.
The helmet comes complete with a face shield that doesn’t need to be purchased separately. This is a great option to keep your eyes protected during the welding process.
2. Antra AH6-260-0000 Auto Darkening Welding Helmet Wide Shade Range 4/5-9/9-13 Engineered
Pros:
- Agile and responsive 6‸†auto darkening shade range lets you work at a wide variety of light conditions without ever switching lenses
- Adjustable shade setting for different welding applications
- The best ratings from verified consumers online
- One year manufacturer’s warranty
- Interchangeable clear and dark lenses
- Adequate peripheral vision
- Solar-Lithium power supply, which means it is always running right out of the box and never needs to be charged or change the batteries
- This unit is equipped with a digital dial that can be set anywhere between zero and nine. This feature ensures that you can see everything clearly even if you are working in super dark.
- The Solar AAA Lithium-Ion battery – These batteries never needs to be changed, nor are they required to be charged. You will never see the need to purchases new batteries when the old ones are no longer functional.
3. DEKOPRO Welding Helmet Solar Powered Auto Darkening Hood
Pros:
- Comfortable
- Unique Design
- Good Value
- The filter adjust automatically when light changes
4. Jackson Safety Ultra-Lightweight Insight HXL-100 Welding Helmet
Pros:
- Face shield is scratch resistant
- Takes pretty high levels of impact
- Padded temples
- Good heat reduction
Cons:
- May be too slight for some
- Some have had to take apart the strap for it to fit
- The headband may feel a bit tight
Some of our favorite welding helmets include the Jackson Safety Insight HXL-100. This model is light weight and comes in awesome colors including halo x, stars and scars, and a universal size.
This helmet is slightly different than most other models because it features a digital auto-darkening filter which ensures that you will always get a clear and crisp view even if you change your viewing angle.
The filter mechanism is located at the front of the helmet so that you are able to conveniently adjust it. This helmet also features a face shield which is scratch resistant so that it will last more.
5. Hobart 770286 Flip Front Welding Helmet
Pros:
- Maximum Comfort
- Great Clearance
- UV Rated
- Flip Down Viewing Shield
- Removable Headband
- 4 year warranty
Cons:
- Not for in-the-field work without the headband
- Can be uncomfortable with glasses
- Can be hard to flip down the viewing screen
The Hobart 770286 Range hood with a flip-down lens is a must-have for any serious welder. It comes with an auto darkening lens with four scalable settings, making it possible to be used by people with peripheral issues, such as glasses wearers. You can simply select the shade that matches the welding helmet specification for that lens.
It doesn’t weigh much, weighing in at only 9.6 ounces. Especially for those who do a lot of welding, having a lightweight helmet that doesn’t weigh you down is essential.
The flip-down viewing screen is especially nice with this model, because it means that you can view your arc without having to remove your helmet. This is a nice feature to have without having to purchase a different helmet.
6. DEKOPRO Welding Helmet Solar Powered Auto Darkening Hood
This is a full face auto darkening welding helmet. It includes the solar power inside, and you can charge it when you use it. Also, the battery can be charged for 8 hours and used for 10 hours.
The helmet can be used as a welder and grinding helmet. It can also be used as a motorcycle riding helmet, and you can use it for other purposes like working on the farm, fishing, and hunting. It has a very comfortable feel on your head, and I believe it is great for beginners wanting to get into welding.
A very good feature about the helmet is that you can use it for your long beards. If you do not have a long beard, you can also use it. It will not affect how it will protect you while welding or grinding with it on your head.
7. ESAB 0700000800 Sentinel A50 Welding Helmet
Pros:
- Comfortable enough for long uses
- Internal system that filters gases to keep you safe
- Head band included
- Single or double lens available
Cons:
- Not great for larger heads
- Warranty may not be available in some states
(Includes Solar Dynamic Lens)
The quality of an auto-darkening helmet is essential to the performance of the wearer, as there is no time to fiddle around with settings when you are about to suffer from a serious injury. The simple design is common these days, though it is important to note that some features are far more impressive than others.
The ESAB Sentinel A50 is one of the top welding helmets on the market, and comes equipped with a lot of features necessary to ensure that your welding experience is as safe and efficient as possible.
8. Jackson Safety BH3 Auto Darkening Filter Welding Helmet
Pros:
- Optimum shade control
- Anti-fog lens
- Darkens instantaneously via the Balder filter
- Size Universal
- The hook can be moved
Cons:
- Bulky
- Noisy
- Not suitable for people with large heads
- The head gear isn’t always wide enough
- The visor sometimes falls off
The Jackson Safety BH3 is the best welding helmet that money can buy. We love that the lens particles block the light from the top and sides, thus blocking the light and flash. The good thing about the BH3 helmet is that it virtually doesn’t matter where you look, the BH3 always has the right amount of shade.
The advanced Balder Technology used in this welding helmet provides a clear visibility. The timing on the helmet is preset and therefore has no manual setting. The feature works well, and the helmet’s darkness setting lasts for about 5 minutes. On a first look, you may find the BH3 welding helmet a bit on the bulky side but Jackson knows that.
9. TACKLIFE Professional Welding Helmet Auto Darkening
10. Solar Powered Welding Helmet Auto Darkening Professional Hood
At the risk of stating the obvious, it’s important to decide what you’ll be using the helmet for, and we don’t just mean for what applications within the scope of welding (for instance, a helmet with a filter that allows you to see clearly while using argon welding is not going to be suitable for as a grinding helmet.)
You’ll also want to consider things like budget and how heavy the helmet is. (Lighter is better, but some lightweight helmets may pose a safety risk!) Last, but not least, you’ll need to figure out what sort of lens you’ll want to opt for.
You’ve likely noticed that most helmets come with a colored lens, usually either green or yellow. These colors are tinted to help you see a better contrast with the workpiece. Green is also effective in reducing the amount of blue light that might cause eye strain.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Which welding helmet is best?
The best welding helmet is one that fits your needs and budget the best.
Of course, anyone can just look at our list and assume that only certain helmets make the “best of” list. But, that’s not the case. We’ve reviewed many helmets, and there are many that didn’t make the cut, but are still very good.
In the end, the best welding helmet for you will depend on the type of welding you do, how much money you want to spend, and what type of attachment you want your helmet to have.
We hope you enjoyed reading our list of the best helmets the market has to offer and that you find what you are looking for. If not, please keep looking, as we have a list of 20 more helmets if you found only one you liked.
Are auto darkening welding helmets good?
Although auto darkening helmets are an excellent choice for many welding operations, there are definitely some situations where a fixed shade helmet is a better choice.
Fixed shade welding helmets offer the following benefits:
- A larger shade area on the front shield. In many cases, this shade area extends beyond the shade region of an auto darkening helmet. This additional shade area can be beneficial when welding overhead or in positions that cause the shade area of the helmet to be restricted.
- The helmet typically only needs to be adjusted once. It doesn't matter how many times you activate the auto darkening function- once the helmet has been set to your personal preference, it will always darken in the same way.
- The shade area is always exactly where you expect it to be. Because the position of the darkening shade is linked to the sensor, the shade area will be exactly where you expect it when positioning the helmet for welding.
What is the most expensive welding helmet?
If you want to keep things simple, you can always pick up something inexpensive from Artex. It comes with features to meet most people's needs.
It has a visor, which is always nice, and it has a shade rating that will help block the sun as well as possible.
How dark should a welding helmet be?
If you're a professional and want an accurate answer to this question, then you must consult the safety standards for your local jurisdiction. However, for a general orientation, the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) recommends that your shade number be equal to or greater than the lightest shade you can see to the dark edge of the weld. If that all sounds like gobbledygook and the deepest, darkest number is the one you're after, then go for it.
Conclusion
When it comes to having a good time outdoors, there is no limit to what fun you can have. Whether you decide to go hiking, camping, paintballing, or just enjoy some time away in the fresh air, one of the best ways to put a smile on your face is by getting some welding done. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or a professional welder, there are some essential tools that you will need. One of those is a good welding helmet. There is no better way to protect your eyes while you work than a welding helmet. We are here to help you choose the best one for your needs from the market.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Welding Helmet | Best Overall | |
| Hobart 770286 Flip Front Welding Helmet | Budget Pick | |
| ESAB 0700000800 Sentinel A50 Welding Helmet | Upgrade Pick | |