Why Choosing An Expensive Welding Helmet Could Be the Best Decision You Ever Make
What is the best welding helmet? Welders on a budget would say the cheapest welding helmets are the best. That’s true if you’re tight on cash. Others might be drawn to whatever welding mask has the coolest designs. However, welding is a vigorous line of work. Serious injuries and even death can happen as a result of poor gear. For that reason, it makes sense for serious welders to look at the most expensive welding helmets for sale online. Why? Because they’re the most durable, comfortable, and feature-packed welding masks in the world. If you weld daily, then you should make this worthwhile investment. Most of these awesome welding masks are less than $300, so it isn’t a huge chunk of change in the long run.
The Most Expensive Welding Helmet Reviews
Lincoln Electric VIKING 3350 Code Red Welding Helmet with 4C Lens Technology
Welding Helmet Specs:
- Color: Red
- Weight: 3.5 Pounds
- Dimensions: 13 x 11 x 10 inches
- Viewing lens size: 3.74″ x 3.34″
- Shade range: 5 – 13
- Reaction Time: 1/25,000 seconds
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price Rating: $$$
Notable Features:
- In the Viking line, this helmet has the largest viewing area
- Has 4 arc sensors
- Has a pivot style headgear
- Has auto-darkening feature
- Has a solar power source and a very long battery life
- Optical clarity is the best
- Has a 4C lens technology
- Uses ADF control knobs
- Has a grind mode
- Suitable for continuous use in MIG, TIG and Pulse MIG
- Very comfortable and adjustable
Special Considerations:
This somewhat expensive welding helmet is too plain-looking for some customers.
Overall Assessment:
Very easy to use in various welding processes, this 4 sensor welding helmet comes highly recommended. It is praised for the optimum comfort, clarity, wide view and adjustable shade. According to a customer in Lincoln electric welding helmet reviews, it ‘does what it should and very well’.
Optrel Panoramaxx Auto Darkening Welding Helmet Review
Welding Helmet Specs:
- Color: Black
- Weight: 530 g
- Dimensions: 10″ x 10″ x 10″
- Viewing lens size: 2.30″ x 6.30″
- Shade range: 5 – 12 / 2.5
- Reaction Time: 1/10,000 seconds
- Warranty: 3 years
- Welding Helmet Price Rating: $$$$
Notable Features:
- The shell has a Panoramaxx design
- A helmet duffel bag and an extra outside cover plate included
- Very wide viewing area
- Has an autopilot feature for automatically adjusting shade levels
- Has a durable integrated rechargeable battery with 300 to 500 charging cycles
- Uses True Color for UV/IR filter
- Has 5 sensors
- Has dimming function which is necessary when switching from dark to light shades to avoid stressing the eyes
- Headband is very easy to adjust
- Has a micro USB charging port with an included USB cable for manual charging
- Very lightweight and can be used comfortably with glasses.
- Excellent switching speed and very good weight distribution.
- Has a very good nose piece
Overall Assessment:
This is one of the few cool welding helmets with a Panoramaxx designed shell. It has so many awesome features for a great welding and fabrication experience. With an autopilot, a nose piece, a USB charging port, a True Color filter and a dimming function, this very cool helmet is worth every dollar.
Lincoln Electric Welding Helmet, Black, 3350 Series
Lincoln Welding Helmet Specs:
- Color: Black
- Weight: 3.2 lbs
- Dimensions: 10.5 x 13 x 10 inches
- Viewing lens size: 3.85 x 2.38 inches
- Shade range: 8 to 13
- Reaction Time: 50 microseconds
- Warranty: 3 years
- Welding Helmet Price Rating: $$
Notable Features:
- Made with nylon and polycarbonate
- Has an effective grind mode
- Has 4 arc sensors
- Well ventilated
- Requires a lithium battery
- Provides higher suspension
- Has auto-darkening feature
- Ratchet headgear with ADF control knobs
- Uses solar power source
- Has a very wide screen view
- Uses 4C (TM) Lens technology
- Offers very high optical clarity
- Includes extra lenses, a bag and a bandana
- Can be used very frequently
- Very comfortable and adjustable
Special Considerations:
Getting all the screws of this welding helmet where you want them to be can be quite problematic. More so, the hinge system at the back of the helmet causes a bit of a problem for many reviewers.
Overall Assessment:
Highly recommended in Lincoln auto darkening welding helmet reviews, this welding helmet offers excellent protection, convenience, ventilation and comfort to all welders. This expensive welding helmet will stand the test of time and give you quality welding.
ESAB Sentinel A50 Automatic Welding Helmet
Welding Helmet Specs:
- Color: Black
- Weight: 4.25 pounds
- Dimensions: 11.8 x 10.3 x 9.8 inches
- Viewing lens size: 3.93 x 2.36 inches (100 mm x 60 mm)
- Shade range: 5 – 13
- Reaction Time:
- Warranty: Upon request
- Price Rating: $$$
Notable Features:
- Made with nylon that has a shell design that is revolutionary and a high level of impact-resistance
- Has shade 3 grind mode that can be activated externally using the Grind Button
- Has a Halo headgear that is ergonomic, extremely comfortable, well balanced, and substantially adjustable.
- Has a control panel functioning with a color touch screen, 8 settings for memory, 1 amber lens and 1 clear lens.
- Easily replaceable front cover lens
- Offers True Color and clarity
- Gives you very good view of what is in front of you.
Special Considerations:
Front lens may get warped or scratched when welding close to very hot material and its lens are very expensive and scarce. Furthermore, using gloves on the touch screen is quite tasking and it is a bit heavy.
Overall Assessment:
This is one of the best rated auto-darkening welding helmets, and has a lot of awesome features to offer. With a clarity and color that will simply blow your mind away, this helmet has a good strong stiff shell, is very user-friendly, durable, and gives a very great view of a lot of things in front of you. As one customer describes it, this expensive welding helmet is a ‘professional level auto hood’.
Miller Electric Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet
Miller Electric Welding Helmet Specs:
- Color: Black
- Weight: 2.8 pounds
- Dimensions: 12 x 10.25 x 9.8 inches
- Viewing lens size: 9 square inches
- Shade range: 3, 5 to 8 / 8 to 13
- Reaction Time:
- Warranty: 3 years
- Price Rating: $$
Notable Features:
- Made with nylon
- Belongs to the digital elite series
- Has lithium batteries included
- Auto-darkening
- Has magnifying lens holder
- Has a helmet bag included
- Ratchet headgear
- Has 2 lithium batteries included
- Has 5 outside cover lenses and 2 inside cover lenses
- It has a grinder/cut mode
- Very compatible with large heads and hard hats
Special Considerations:
This expensive welding helmet does not offer the kind of quality and clarity required of a helmet that costs this much. It is considered quite heavy, not durable and has no grind mode.
Overall Assessment:
Miller digital elite welding helmet is a great choice for various welding processes included oxy cutting, mig, tig, and stick. It fits very well, is easily adjustable and quite comfortable. It is well loved for its sturdiness, its digital settings, excellent performance and good price. Definitely a must-have.
3M Speedglas Welding Helmet with Extra-Large Size Auto-Darkening Filter
Speedglas Welding Helmet Specs:
- Color: Black
- Weight: 2.4 lbs
- Dimensions: 10 x 14 x 14 inches
- Viewing lens size: 8 x 4.24 inches
- Shade range: 8 to 13
- Reaction Time: 1 milliseconds
- Warranty: Upon request
- 3m Auto Darkening Welding Helmet Price Rating: $$$$
Notable Features:
- Built for several welding processes like TIG, Stick and MIG
- Protects your eyes, ears, neck and head even when it is turned off
- Its headband is comfortable and adjustable
- Has a flip-up design that is very convenient
Special Considerations:
This most expensive welding helmet is truly expensive. Although it has many great features, it cannot be afforded by many welders. It is therefore, mostly used by professional welders.
Overall Assessment:
Despite this 3m auto-darkening welding helmet price, it is very functional and great for all welding processes. For those who can afford it, this helmet will serve its owner for a very long time while offering excellent performance and quality.
Jackson Safety Auto Darkening Welding Helmet with Balder Technology
Welding Helmet Specs:
- Color: Black and has a yellow frame around the lens
- Weight: 2 lbs
- Dimensions: 9.375 x 12.8 x 9.5 inches
- Viewing lens size: 3.8 x 2.7 inches
- Shade range: 4/9 – 13
- Reaction Time: 0.15 milliseconds
- Warranty: 5 years
- Price Rating: $$$$$
Notable Features:
- Has a Balder technology with the best clarity and color recognition
- Its view at any angle is unsurpassed
- The only welding helmet with a 5 year warranty
See 120+ Verified Owner Reviews - Has the highest rated optical quality
- Functions quite well even when using glasses
- The headgear has 3 adjustments
- The lens work well under sunlight without negative effects
- Auto-darkening
- Needs no batteries but uses a solar cell for power supply
- Has a torch mode for torch cutting
- Works very well with hard hats
- Adapts well with magnification lens
- Meets and beats most national safety standards
- Very lightweight at 19.84 oz
- Flexible and comfortable
- Has an auto-dimming feature
- Has an aerodynamic shell
- Offers outstanding protection from weld sparks and spatters, heat build-up, and reflections.
Special Considerations:
This expensive welding helmet has just 2 arc sensors, 1 color and no grinding/cutting mode. Additionally, the top of the helmet needs to be adjustable because as it is, it does not stop the sun’s glare and overhead lighting from obstructing the welding process.
Overall Assessment:
This is one of the best welding hoods that will get your welds looking very professional. With an integrated Balder technology, this helmet is unsurpassed in clarity, color recognition, viewing angle, optical quality, and warranty. Apart from improving your welding skills, this most expensive welding helmet is lightweight, beautiful, clear, crisp, and is truly the best most expensive welding helmet in the world.
3 Things to Know Before Investing in an Expensive Welding Helmet
Investing in an expensive welding helmet could be the best decision you would make as a welder. Most of them have extended warranty periods, offer superior quality features, provide wider shade level ranges, and use the latest technologies to improve your performance and output as a welder. Here are some carefully curated tips for choosing a premium welding hood:
- Know Your Needs: The first thing you need to do before choosing the best expensive welding helmet is to know what you need from your helmet. What specific features could improve your welding? Some of the needs you should consider are: lens type, lens reaction time, shade type, viewing area size, power and controls, design, comfort, the brand name, weight and price.
- Have a Set Budget: Knowing and setting your budget is very important. After deciding to buy the best expensive welding helmet, you should know how much you can spare. If you do not have enough money to afford you the most expensive, you could look for discount offers or get one within your budget. Another option is to wait a while longer, if you have the time, in order to save enough money to afford the best expensive welding helmet.
- Buy It Online: Buying your expensive welding helmet online could also take off the cost of paying for tax and transportation. More so, online marketers sometimes have discounts at different times of the year and you could get an expensive welding helmet at an affordable price. Lots of the most expensive welding masks are sold used, so you get a good deal.
So, what IS the best welding mask on the market in 2019?
Some of the major things a good welder considers are his safety, comfort and output. Welding has a lot of hazards and a good welder knows he needs the best welding helmet to protect his face, neck, and every part of his head from these hazards. After going through some of the most expensive welding helmets we have reviewed here, you should have no doubt that buying an expensive welding helmet should be one of the first and best investments you should make, especially as a beginner. From most reviewers who have made such purchase, it really is worth every dollar. Be a better welder and get the most expensive welding helmet.