The Best Welding Helmets (Review & Buying Guide)

Welding is a skill, an art, a craft, and a live science lab all wrapped into one. It takes years to master, but you can learn to stick things together safely in a reasonably short time. But, that learning curve is steep, so remove all the frustrations you can by buying good equipment that functions like it should and stays out of your way. The ESAB Sentinel A60 will do just that, and will grow with you as you become a better welder.

The A60 weighs in at 1.4 pounds, so it is on the lighter side of its competitors. This is an update of the well-liked A50, but with a larger auto-darkening filter(ADF), this one measuring 4.7 x 2.8 inches. The ADF is positioning close to your eyes and that coupled with the big spherical lens provides a wide view. The larger chin volume means you aren't constantly breathing over yourself, but the "lip-spoiler" will keep the spatter out of the chest hair. The headgear is fine for most enthusiasts who aren't going to be wearing this for 50 hour work weeks.

The important parts. The A60 uses an ADF that offers a shade range of 5-13 with half steps. It uses 4 Arc sensors that respond in 1/25,000 seconds. It's powered by 2 CR2450 batteries, included. The helmet also includes 4 spherical cover lenses. which brings us to one of downsides of this maske. While the styling adds to the side view angle, and the cool factor – Dude, look at it, the downside it how easy it will scratch. This probably isn't ideal for someone who is rough on equipment. It requires a little thoughtfulness for storage and even just setting it down. But, Look at it! you can cosplay a futuristic cyborg commando if you decide to stop welding. Hopefully you don't, and this helmet will serve you well for years.

Getting started welding is expensive. But, just like you would never buy the least expensive tires, or cheapest motorcycle helmet you can find, you can't skimp out on a welding helmet. I know there are helmets online that seem comparable for half the price, but we're talking about the health of your eyeballs here. Don't take your chances with an ADF that's probably going to work everytime. The Lincoln Electric K3419-1 isn't feature-packed, but it uses the same proven technology found it other Lincoln helmets.

The K3419-1's ADF is a smallish 3.8 x 1.7 inches so you get a little bit of the mail-slotting of older helmets. It uses 2 arc sensors, which is less than some competitors, but those two sensors seem to be more reliable than some models with four. The helmet is powered by AAA batteries, which add to its 1.5 pound weight. It offers shade levels between 7-13 along with a grinding mode all accessible with the external dial.

This is a solid, reliable helmet you can count on for protection. The headgear is a bit of a let down, and if you're going to be doing a lot of welding, I would recommend upgrading it. But overall, whether you are new to welding, or looking for a replacement helmet but want to spend around a hundred bucks, it's hard to do better.

This isn't considerably more money than the Best Overall pick, but it's labeled Prosumer, why? The Miller Digital Infinity is still a relatively affordable helmet and offers similar performance to the A60, but is better suited to harsh conditions. The 4.4 x 31 inch ADF is adjustable from 8-13, but also offers cutting and grinding modes ranging from 5 to 8. It uses 4 arc sensors but also uses an electromagnetic sensor as a backup.

The helmet weighs in at 1.4 pounds and the headgear is comfortable for hours at a time and adjustable enough to fit a wide variety of sizes. Included with the infinity are a carrying bag, 5 outside lenses, 2 inside lens covers, and an adaptor for a cheater lens.

As mentioned, this is helmet is going to be considerably tougher than cheaper options, or competitively priced options with more features. The controls of the Infinity are accessed from inside the helmet, meaning it has to come off to switch modes. There isn't even a grinding mode button found externally. But, the front lens recessed, so it won't scratch as easily as the A60, and it still has nearly as wide of a view. The blocky looks aren't nearly as sci fi as some competitors, but this thing can be banged around, worn for hours on end, and it will still work like a champ.