7 Best Auto Darkening Welding Helmets to Buy in 2020

If you are a welder or a builder, you are familiar with the super dangerous and hurtful sensation of a blinding hot light piercing through your eyes even as you are wearing the proper head gear to deal with it. This is because with normal welding helmets there is not always the chance that you will be able to make them dark enough manually before the bursts of light hit you. Alternatively, if the head gear is already fully darkened it can really limit your visibility levels while you work. So the next question would be what’s the solution? Well, if you are on the lookout for a helmet that will have all these options for you, we recommend auto darkening varieties that use smart sensor technology to fix the issue in real time.

Today we are going to look at our top picks of the best auto darkening welding helmets which are available in the market right now.

However, if you are currently in a hurry and want an overview of the most popular or reliable product, we recommend the Lincoln Electric Viking which offers up an instant lens change from dark to light with a speed of 1/25,000. That’s not all of course, as the Lincoln Viking is also incredibly lightweight and comfortable to use. If you aren’t yet fully convinced we suggest you stick around till the end of this list and find out your best pick.

Best Auto Darkening Welding Helmet

Take a look at all the best auto darkening welding helmet products to choose the right one for you.

Sr. No.	Product	Feature	Price
1	3M Speedglas Welding Helmet	Nylon	Check Price
2	Jackson Safety BH3	Zytel ST 801 aVG	Check Price
3	Miller Electric Auto Darkening	Nylon	Check Price
4	Lincoln Electric VIKING	Nylon	Check Price
5	Hobart 770756	Nylon	Check Price
6	Tekware Ultra	PP	Check Price
7	YESWELDER Anti Fog Up	PP/PA	Check Price

So without wasting any more of your precious time let’s actually get down to reviewing the pros and cons of each product that we have here for you today!

1. 3M Speedglas Welding Helmet

First up we have the 3M Speedglas Welding Helmet 9100 which is one of the most comfortable to wear pieces of  headgear, with extra wide windows which can be either opened or closed for extra scope of vision.

The company knows that if you’re cutting, grinding, or trying to doing any important and delicate task while your helmet is on, the side windows can be an important feature to have.
Without safety, eyes can be quickly or permanently injured due to exposure to the intense heat and light produced by means of welding.

The best thing is that the hood is light with a design that will fit maximum peoples’ heads comfortably. It does an amazing task at easing the pain of weld-neck which is a real issue and this is made possible thanks to its ergonomic shape.

There are a few letdowns in this product, the first one being that there isn’t any solar strength option. Furthermore, the price is quite high too but you may downsize the lens to cut down costs. It also comes with a three-year warranty which in this line of business is necessary!

2. Jackson Safety BH3

Next up we have the Jackson Safety BH3 helmet which is definitely a premium product with the price it is at and therefore it makes sense that it is not for young hobbyists but actually for higher end welders as it has a really nice lens which is perfect for a professional setting. This device comes with a 1-1-1-1 optical clarity but since, the headgear doesn’t match the requirements, you can’t really grind smoothly with it and that’s a serious drawback.

The solar powered feature means you have to rely on the sun’s rays in order to get any work done. A good feature about this product is that the Jackson Safety ADF has a colourful range to choose from starting from 9 to 13 as it guards the user’s eyes from extremely bright energy and contains amazing sensitivity settings.

Now we all know that the main job of any helmet is to protect and the BH3 achieves that well as it has a high-density hood which provides the most optimum protection. The curved front plate design helps lessen any heat and fog buildup.

3. Miller Electric Digital

Coming up next we have the Miller 281000 Digital Elite which is quite the lightweight TIG, MIG, and grinding helmet. It does have a few cons that make it hard to use such as a really bad headgear layout and it’s not as durable as one would like. However as a saving grace it comes with a special lens called Clear light which actually removes all traces of green tint that comes up and distorts the visibility of the user when working. It also gives 1-1-1-2 optical readability.

There are 4 distinct modes in this helmet which include a really cool X mode, a reduce mode, a grind mode and of course a classic weld mode. The X-mode stops direct daylight from interfering with your vision while welding and this becomes a very necessary feature.

As mentioned earlier, the design is absolutely horrendous as it doesn’t fit users as well as they would have liked.  The hood has trouble staying upright for longer periods of time and this can be distracting. This is a real pain among professional welders as most work for many hours nonstop.  Another letdown from this product is that in case the lens on it falls and breaks, it would be far too expensive to get replaced.

4. Lincoln Electric Viking

Our next product is the Lincoln Electric Viking which is a brand which is famous for its amazing helmet designs and as we mentioned earlier it is super comfortable to wear. The product in question today is called the Electric 3350.

In terms of some of the features, it has a rare 1-1-1-1 optical clarity rating, but what makes this lens even better is the 4C technology. How this works is by basically alternating a more natural shade in place of the typical green tint that comes up in the lens. This of course aids the user’s visibility and thus increases the scope of the weld pool sight.

Another great feature is that although it is not waterproof, it still is sweat resistant and keeps the inside cool. The entire head gear body is actually very lightweight and fits the user’s head like a glove.

5. Hobart Impact Variable

The Hobart Impact Variable-Shade Welding Helmet is up next and it is definitely a super long-lasting device as it is made from a strong polyamide shell which not only durable but also quite versatile as it offers lens auto darkening ranging from 8 to 13.

The solar-powered Hobart Impact Variable Auto-Dark Helmet even comes with a cool space for a respirator, which may be very useful especially if the user has slight breathing problems or will be using the helmet for an extended period of time. However, since the helmet is larger than other versions, it may be harder to move around especially when in smaller spaces.

The sensitivity dial is a very nice touch to add and although it is quite sensitive to any touch which makes it hard to set, it does offer a unique range of options. There is also a grind mode, which can be affected by the direct sunlight. A real flaw is that this device cannot be used to weld low-amp TIG in the safest conditions.

6. Tekware ultra large helmet

Up next we are going to discuss the Tekware ultra large helmet which has an auto darkening filter that can go from light to dark in 1/10000 seconds which is super-fast. That’s not all as in the event there is an electric failure, the welder remains shielding in opposition to UV and IR radiation.

The Auto Darkening Welding Helmet protects your face and head from any sort of injury for the duration of the operation. It has been designed with a streamlined body and therefore is excellent at avoiding the accumulation of fog on the surface of the lens.

Another great feature is the head hoop on the welding lens which comes with a four direction adjustment function, which may be adjusted flexibly thus allowing the user to move freely.

7. YesWelder Anti Fog Up

Our last product for the day is called the Yes Welder Anti Fog Up helmet which offers a wide range of amazing options for the user which includes the fact that it is a True Color Technology welding helmet that doesn’t just ensure the user sees out of it clearly but also ensures that your vision or colour perception is not hindered as well. This feature also allows for an improvement in visibility and helps decrease eye strain by minimizing the annoying lime green tint inside the helmet view display screen.

There are also special Anti-Fog Up lens which keeps the user’s view absolutely unobstructed and clear no matter the temperature or surroundings. This is definitely a high tech model which is recommended for more experienced welders who want the ultimate welding experience.
The True Color generation feature is the highlight of this device. The best part is also the fact that the side view lens is not automatically darkening thus widening the scope of your vision.

Buying Guide

Now that you have gotten a really in depth look into the pros and cons plus features of our 7 top picks, it becomes super important to also be aware of what the most important features should be when looking to buy a device such as this which can be a huge investment. Just imply going out and buying the most popular or most affordable one won’t do the trick. That’s why we recommend that you look at these few features:

Auto darkening

Not only was this the main highlight of today’s article but according to us it is also one of the most critical functions that you can find in today’s welding helmets. Auto-darkening is the potential of your mask’s lens to automatically change the opacity using sensors that work depending on the requirements of the task. Then, while you finish your weld and the sparks stop, your lens mechanically returns to the lightest setting so that you can see without having to actually take the mask off. This really saves your time and energy and allows for a smooth flow of work.

Viewing area size

Next up we have the viewing area size feature which by enlarging your viewing window, allows you as the user to take control over how much you see out of the lens at any given time. The side view is crucial sometimes to getting the best out of the product. This enables you to improve your welding quality, for the reason that it is no longer a hassle to see every detail of your work with a new sense of clarity.

Grinding mode

While not all the products we reviewed today incorporate grinding as a necessary feature, it can be really helpful as it also allows you to review your work without continuously having to lift your mask up. The grind mode is usually button activated on most helmets, making it simple to use and access.

Final verdict

In conclusion, while there are a list of features, products and many buying tips that we have recommended to you, ultimately the decision is yours as the eventual user to make the final decision of best auto darkening welding helmet depending on your specific needs or requirements.