If you are a welder yourself, a professional or an amateur one, you know that you need the proper equipment to do a job properly. A part of a successful job is of course protecting yourself fully.
Whether you want to protect your face from those pesky sparks or just want to be able to have normal eyesight you should have a proper helmet. And the best type of helmets for that type of job is auto-darkening ones.
Even though they need a battery to operate, they provide the best protection for your eyes. They do that by lowering the level of light exposure and yet giving you the ability to see what you are doing clearly.
If you are not sure which helmet to choose or if you are new to this trade do not worry. We have compiled a list of best auto-darkening welding helmets.
| Model Name | Viewing Size | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| YESWELDER LYG-M800H (Editor’s Choice) | 3.93"X3.66" | $$ |  |
| Antra Welding Helmet AH6-260 | 3.86"X1.73" | $ | |
| YESWELDER LYG-500A | 3.64"X1.67" | $ | |
| DEKOPRO Powered | 3.62’’X1.65’’ | $ | |
| DEKOPRO Solar | 3.62’’X1.65’’ | $ | |
| YESWELDER LYG-M800D | 3.93"X3.27" | $$ | |
| YESWELDER LYG-M800H-A | 3.93"X3.66" | $$ | |
1. YESWELDER LYG-M800H – Best Large Viewing Screen
Here we have another great product by YESWELDER, a company that has been in the business for years and has a lot of satisfied costumers to uphold their status as one of the best in the game.
This model is on the majority of lists regarding best welding helmets so we had to put it into our own. What makes it stand out from the rest of devices is its enormous viewing screen that allows you to see more than when using other helmets.
It features lithium-filled batteries that are placed next to the control settings, so that any alteration in the helmet’s function would be done instantly. Even though this helmet is one of the cheaper ones on this list, don’t be fooled by that and doubt its performance.
Pros
Affordable
Large viewing screen
Comfortable headgear
True color technology
Cons
The helmet does not cover the neck area
2. Antra Welding Helmet AH6-260 – Best Solar Auto-Darkening
The amazing thing about this particular helmet is that even though it is one of the cheapest in the market, it is also one of the best too, thus making a perfect choice for people who want to get into welding without having to invest too much.
Another interesting feature that is money-saving is that you do not have to change batteries for this model, since it is solar-powered.
It is great for multiple types of welding, both professional and home jobs. Its outer shell is made from High Impact Polyimide Nylon, which is a very strong material. And at the weight of only one pound, it won’t put too much pressure on your head.
Pros
Affordable
Lightweight
Great quality
Cons
Small viewing screen
3. YESWELDER LYG-500A – Best True Color Solar Auto-Darkening
Another great model made by the YESWELDER on this list, which proves they are one of the best companies in the business. It is powered by solar energy, so there is no need for you to change its batteries.
Using true color technology improves your vision and lowers the stress level on your eyes. This is done simply by minimizing lime green coloring, which is being done in the device’s view screen.
It is great for MIG, TIG, and MMA weldings, and which is precisely what this helmet was designed for. It is more than affordable with its low price for this kind of performance.
It possesses an oversized comfort cushion, for much better stability and overall comfort.
Pros
Affordable
Increased battery life
True color view
Cons
Not for all types of welding
4. DEKOPRO Powered Welding Darkening Adjustable– Best Design
Deko has probably made one of the coolest looking welding helmets on the whole market. The American eagle on it makes you want to get into welding just so you would have an excuse to own such an awesome product.
The hood itself provides more than ultimate eye protection, even in the case of a failure, your vision will be protected for UV and IR radiation.
The product itself is equipped with sensitivity and delay settings for purposes of different environments as well as tasks.
It also has a great viewing screen of seven square inches. With its very low price you can even purchase it as a gift for someone who welds, and that person will be more than satisfied with it.
Pros
Affordable
Awesome design
Great eye protection
Cons
Tends to wear out from usage
5. DEKOPRO Welding Helmet Solar Powered – Best Choice for Beginners
Just like its processor from the same producer, this helmet ,too is extremely affordable, with more than a modest price.
It is solar-powered, so there’s no need for changing batteries. It will successfully protect your eyes even in the case of technical failure. It has a wide range of shade adjustability, so you can weld almost anything with this hood.
The light level of the filter of this device is DIN4. It is great for all kinds of working environments such as: metal production, food and beverage industry, mining, reparations, etc.
Pros
Affordable
Great design
Solar-powered
Cons
Hood is not very comfortable
6. YESWELDER LYG-M800D – Best Arc Sensors
Here we have another product from YESWELDER, just a different model. What sets LYG-M800D apart from others are its arc sensors which can determine in the shortest time when to protect your eyesight.
It is great for certain kinds of welding, especially MIG, TIG, and MMA, along with a couple of others. Its battery life isn’t that long, only 3,000 hours.
It possesses a large viewing area, which is a trademark of its producer. It is a bit heavier, almost 2.5 pounds, which can be a problem for some people.
But all in all, another great product with more than a reasonable price. Another proof why YESWELDER is the best on the market.
Pros
Affordable
Great arc sensors
Good eye protection
Cons
Shorter battery life
Not so lightweight
7. YESWELDER LYG-M800H-A – Best Overall
One of the reasons why this product stands out is its super large viewing area, which enables you to see as if you didn’t wear the helmet at all.
The hood is specially designed to MIG, MMA, and TIG welding, as well as grinding feature along with plasma application. So basically, it is a handy thing.
The users have confirmed that this is one of the most comfortable helmets there is, thanks to an oversized comfort cushion.
Another feature is a true color technology, which allows you to see the colors brighter, as if you were using your own eyes.
Pros
True color technology
Large viewing area
Very comfortable
Cons
Weight over 2 pounds
Best Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet Buying Guide
There are a lot of things and parameters to consider when buying a welding helmet. It is, after all a protective gear and for one of the most sensitive parts of our bodies. So we have laid a checklist you should see before making your purchase.
Helmet Weight
To work comfortably, you must not put any unnecessary stress on your head. So if you’re not OK with some extra weight on it, do not buy a too heavy helmet.
Viewing Area
It is of most importance to see properly what you are welding. So the best thing would be to have the biggest viewing space there is if you want to do professional welding.
Optical Class
For best performance and best vision you should, of course, get the helmet with the best optical class you can get. But if you only want to do home jobs any will be good.
Arc Sensors
The higher the number of arc sensors in a hood, the less the risk of helmet failing to catch a flash that can damage your vision severely.
Helmet Power Source
There are two ways to power your helmet, lithium battery or solar power. If you choose one with lithium battery, you will have to change it every couple of thousand hours. If you choose solar-powered, you won’t waste any money on it, but you will have to charge it regularly.
Sensitivity Control
You cannot work properly without setting your sensitivity control. This a must for everyone who make a living out of welding.
Lens Shade Options
To do high-level welding you must set your lenses. This is why this feature is important.
Lens Reaction Time
It is also very important for lenses to react as soon as possible. Even a second of exposure can severely damage your vision.
Adjustable Fit
Everyone has a different head size, so to feel comfortable one must adjust the helmets measurement to the ones of his head.
Safety Standards
Do we need to emphasize that helmets protect your eyes? Without them you cannot see. Check all safety regulations.
Knob Placement
The better placement of the knob, the better reaction time. It is simple math.
Knob Size
Same as above, too small or too big and you won’t get that best reaction time.
Extra Padding
This is not that important, but does give you much better comfort.
Reaction Time
Always check for average reaction time, and always buy those with better ones.
Auto-Darkening
If you don’t get an auto-darkening helmet with prices this modest, then it would be for the best for you not to weld at all.
Conclusion
Choosing the right welding helmet can be a long, exhausting and tiresome task, since it is after all, a protective gear for your head and eyes.
And we would like for you not to hurt your eyes. Just check all the things from the list above. Thank you and good luck with your purchase.
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