Welding helmets are designed to protect you from getting an agonizing condition experienced when corneas are inflamed, called an arc eye.

They are also useful for preventing retina burns that may result in loss of sight.

Both medical conditions are caused by welding without the proper protection and being exposed to infrared and ultraviolet rays discharged from a welding arc.

That’s why welding helmets are so essential in the workplace. They protect your employees while enabling them to get their work done with confidence and precision.

Below you will find my recommended list a safe and reliable welding helmets.

Best Welding Helmet

Lincoln Electric VIKING 3350 Welding Helmet

The Lincoln Welding Helmet features a gigantic lens with 4C technology and an extended viewing area. This helps you retain control and improve welding quality with less stress on your eyes.

The auto-darkening lens is equipped with a 1/1/1/1 optical clarity rating that eliminates the distortion and blurriness people often experience with standard lenses.

You can enjoy ongoing performance and brightness while remaining comfortable thanks to its adjustable 6-point X6 headgear. The helmet is extremely durable and includes a 3-year warranty.

Another standout feature is its external grind switch, which enables you to comfortably shift from welding mode to grinding mode without the need to take off your gloves or helmet.

What customers are saying

Customers gave this helmet exceptional reviews. Most of them were pleased with the helmet’s incredible clarity, great fit, functionality, and extra-large view area.

However, some people had issues with the fastening mechanism not staying closed and not receiving the $50 rebate from the manufacturer.

Best Auto Darkening Helmet

ESAB Sentinel A50 Welding Helmet

The ESAB Welding Helmet has all the characteristics of a functional and high-quality welding helmet. This includes features such as comfort, forward-thinking technology, and bulky lens.

Everyone from rookie welders to seasoned welders will benefit from this helmet thanks to its unique impact-resilient shell design, and 5-point customizable headgear for optimal comfort.

Added features include the helmet’s color control panel with touch screen technology and eight different memory settings with an additional grind button.

This model is our top choice for the best auto-darkening helmet.

What customers are saying

Customers gave this helmet excellent reviews, with many of them commenting on its exceptional clarity, comfort, and attractive color.

Still, some customers were disappointed with the cover lens not being able to withstand heat when standing too close. Some also complained that the display/control panel wasn’t working.

Best Helmet For Beginners

YESWELDER Anti Fog Up Auto Darkening Helmet

What makes the YESWELDER Auto Darkening Helmet stand out is its true color technology feature.

This feature not only clarifies your vision but also reduces the conventional lime green color inside the view screen, consequently lowering the strain on your eyes while working.

The helmet also has a specialized anti-fog feature and dual side viewing, which allows you to switch between the DIN5 and auto-darkening view.

With this helmet, you or your employees will have access to a complete range of sight relative to the welding space.

What customers are saying

Most customers loved this helmet and were most satisfied with its lightweight and comfortable design, large view area, and good quality.

However, some customers had issues with the head strap giving out and not keeping the helmet in place.

Best Budget Helmet

Monster&Master Large Viewing Screen Welding Helmet

The Monster & Master Welding Helmet comes with incredible features. It is flame retardant, light-proof, and corrosion resilient, enabling it to withstand low and high temperatures with ease.

It is made with superior quality liquid crystal and features an optical coating that protects against harmful infrared and ultraviolet rays while working.

The auto transform technology comes in super handy with the goggles automatically detecting strong light, thus protecting you from arc eyes.

This helmet is multifunctional with grinding, welding, or cutting options, and can be used in various industries, including construction, automotive, food & beverage manufacturing, military, and more.

What customers are saying

Customers gave this helmet amazing reviews. They loved its large view window, comfortable fit, and lightweight design. They all also agreed that it provides exceptional value for money.

Best Cooling System

CoolBelt Welding Helmet Cooling System

The Miller CoolBelt eradicates stagnant air by covering your head and face with air movement. This keeps you cooler while working and decreases any type of lens fogging.

The unit has customizable airspeeds and directional control to ensure you feel more energized, enjoy increased comfort, and are protected against heat stress conditions.

Customers gave this cooling system excellent reviews and commented on how well the unit works. Everyone agreed that it was money well spent.

Other Recommended Helmets

3M Speedglas Welding Helmet 9100

The Speedglas 9100 Welding Helmet enables you to distinguish colors more easily due to its upgraded optics. It also provides access to a user-friendly interface for easy operation.

Other standout features include its auto-on feature and Speedglas front panel with external controls. You can also adjust light shades and arc recognition.

Moreover, you’ll be able to enjoy ergonomic comfort with its customizable head suspension feature which ensures the helmet fits comfortably and the weight is distributed evenly.

YESWELDER Solar Powered Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

The YESWELDER Solar Powered Auto Darkening Welding Helmet features true color technology for improved visibility.

It also avoids placing too much strain on your eyes by lowering the conventional lime green color in your helmet view area.

This helmet is suitable for MMA, TIG, MIG and has a plasma function with a grind button. You’ll also have access to an extra-large viewing area with four advanced sensors.

Added features include its 1/1/1/1 optical clarity level, prolonged battery life, broad shade range, and incredible comfort with pivot suspension.

Miller 280045 Black Digital Infinity Series Welding Helmet

We highly recommend the Miller Welding Helmet for its attractive design, Clearlight lens technology, large viewing area, and 4 individual arc sensors for advanced lens response.

It also features an oversized adjustable headgear cushion that ensures you get the support you need while working. There are four modes to choose from: weld, X-mode, grind, and cut.

Jackson Safety Ultra-Lightweight Insight HXL-100 Welding Helmet

The Jackson Safety Welding Helmet has a wide range of incredible features.

These include a super lightweight design, 4 sensors that have lithium batteries to eliminate blockage while working, and an ADF shell that provides non-disrupted sight during all phases.

The helmet also offers different shades from 9 to 13 and has user-friendly controls as well as delay/sensitivity pause adjustments for various durations and projects.

Optrel Crystal 2.0 Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

You cannot go wrong with choosing this Optrel Crystal Welding Helmet. This helmet has a unique 2.0 light state feature that enables advanced clarity and color.

It has an automatic shade range between 4 to 12 arc with brightness detection and you can slowly switch the lens from light mode to welding mode with its twilight feature.

Other features include its true color technology, customizable headband, one rating optical clarity level, external grind button, and patented sensor slide feature.

DEWALT Wide View Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet

Last, but not least on our list is the DEWALT Welding Helmet that has many impressive features.

These include its three darkening settings, multifunctional operation, extra DIN 5 lenses on the side for a panoramic view, shade regulation feature, and adjustable delay function.

The DEWALT helmet is designed with functionality in mind and it protects the welder against any type of eye fatigue and strain while working.

Features To Consider

Safety standard

The latest safety standard applicable to welding helmets is ANSI Z87.1-2003. This requires the lens to have an auto-darkening feature.

Helmet manufacturers must display through lab testing that they are able to offer validation for helmet specifications like dark shades and speed switch settings.

You must ensure that you buy a welding helmet that meets the most recent safety standard.

Auto-darkening

Auto-darkening is a vital feature required in a welding helmet. This feature allows the lens of the mask to automatically sense any light generated while welding and adjust to obstruct it.

Once you are finishing welding and the sparks have disappeared, the lens will return to its lightest mode, allowing you to see properly without needing to raise your mask.

Fixed or variable shade

A welding helmet that comes with auto-darkening filters (ADFs) and a digital filter lens, features variable shades.

ADFs have liquid crystal displays that contain light sensors located close to the lens in order to identify the welding arc.

While you are welding the sensors will automatically make the lens darker to protect your eyes.  ARC eyes is an uncomfortable and painful experience that could result in lasting damage.

Helmets with a high-quality lens and an advanced amount of variability in shade can protect your eyes even in the brightest situations.

Viewing area space

Wearing a welding helmet with a small viewing lens can be incredibly annoying, especially because it ends up blocking your peripheral vision.

Masks with large viewing windows can make all the difference and improve your welding quality because it helps you to identify all the details. It is also easier to be productive with good vision.

Lens clarity

Apart from the viewing window, the optical clarity level is also a crucial factor because it determines the level of visibility you have while you are working on something.

There are typically four regions where lens testing is done and they are rated at a 1 – 3 rating in each area. An optical clarity rating of 1/1/1/1 is an impeccable score.

Only a couple of welding helmets have achieved this high clarity score.

Grind mode

In some instances, you might require a welding mask simply for protecting your face without blocking out light, for instance, when you are mainly grinding.

In this case, you’ll want to keep the mask at its lowest setting, even if bright sunlight or sparks are present.

This is why many welding masks are equipped with a grind button which allows you to switch between grind and weld mode.

The grind button is a useful feature because it enables you to switch between both modes without having to lift your mask.

Comfort

It is also useful to choose a welding helmet that provides superior comfort.

If you are working for hours on end with your neck down, a bulky mask can become uncomfortable very quickly, this can result in severe neck pain after a while.

When the suspension conforms comfortably to your head, you’ll be able to work for hours on end without any nasty after-effects.

Cheater lens

A cheater lens is basically a magnifying glass that helps you see clearer. This feature is typically clamped inside the helmet’s viewing window and gives you a larger view.

Many manufacturers include a mounting device for cheater lenses.