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Comfortable welding helmet?

Aqua-Andy

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 1, 2013
Messages
332
So, I'm on the hunt for a new welding helmet. I have a ten or something year old Miller Elite that works fine but is heavy. I like it if I'm tacking up a lot if stuff, especially if using TIG process. What I don't like is while wearing it it gets heavy after a few hours. I'm currently working on a project that requires me to weld for the better of an eight hour day. The other day I brought my passive Jackson helmet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009I2Y3E0/?tag=atomicindus08-20 to work and have been using it for the past couple of days. While it weighs about half the weight of the Miller, I have been finding that the head gear is not the most comfortable. I know I'll have to try helmets on for fit but It would be nice to hear what other people are using.
 
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Monza Harry

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 29, 2018
Messages
1,433
Location
Windsor ON
I recently purchased a Lincoln Electric Viking Series 3350, this is an expensive Helmet! I however could not be happier with my purchase! This helmet has a darkness setting from 5 to 13. The headgear is comfy enough, with changeable sweatbands. I have used ancient Jackson fixed shades (you know the 37# fiberglass ones from the '70's) my $300 Optrel (1999 very light but **** helmet that I should have returned immediately), a Princess Auto and identical Harbor Freight auto dark helmets. The Optrel was the lightest as I recall. But this Lincoln is absolutely a pleasure to use. Colour is natural, tint is adjustable from dark sunglasses to IDK, I've never gone past 8 so far. The clarity is unbelievable. See if you can test drive one, everyone that I let try it wants one. Harry P.S. I made that bib and Mom sewed it up for me.
 

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LXCam

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Apr 23, 2013
Messages
19,090
Location
AZ
I bought a miller T94 a couple years ago and really love that thing. The head gear is super adjustable and I don’t notice the weight at all. I plays with the T94i at the same time and hated how forward heavy that one felt. The lense adjustments work for everything from the lightest of tig to fairly heavy mig. The grinding feature rocks and I like the side vision panels.
 

sqznby

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 26, 2013
Messages
981
Location
Coastal NC
I have an older Arc One Hawk auto tint, the only downfall is it is a fixed shade of 10. If it were adjustable or I could find shaded #1 and #2 lenses that would be the only hat I'd use.
I do have several Miller Elites as well, cant stand the headgear, otherwise they're nice.
I also have an old Jackson and Huntsman, both great hoods.
 
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duwem

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 28, 2013
Messages
451
Location
Eastern WI
I like my new miller digital elite.

Was doing a quick job yesterday and grabbed my 10 year old Speeglass and right away remembered why I replaced it, pulling my hair out and wont stay up without fumbling with the knobs.
 

zmotorsports

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Oct 20, 2009
Messages
21,327
Location
Northern Utah
I have a Miller BWE (Big Window Elite) that my wife and son bought me about 10 years or so ago but I seldom use it. It works great for welding in a tight spot such as chassis or suspension when it is difficult to flip the hood down but other than that I don't use it.

I much prefer the old standard Huntsman hoods. The headgear are comfortable and the hoods themselves are fairly light. I have a different hood for TIG and MIG as I have different shade lenses for each. I get **** from my buddies for not using digital helmets but I just prefer the old school hoods.
 

Bigblue&Goldie

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
10,665
Location
AZ
I had on Optrel that was super comfortable and lightweight, but the battery **** the bed and wasn't replaceable. I now have a Miller Digital Elite and it's ok, but I liked the Optrel better.
 

myredracer

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 1, 2015
Messages
557
Location
Langley, BC
I love my auto-darkening Servore googles. I use the fire-resistant cotton hood
when welding for extended period otherwise I just use a cap. The goggles are really light and very comfortable. I'm near-sighted and the googles allow me to get closer to the work for a clearer view. I do mig and not tig and don't know how well they work for tig. Miller sells their own version of the goggles.

Full20pic-600x600.jpg
 

bullnerd

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Messages
5,690
Location
Jersey
Oh , and another good feature of the Viking is the hoooge window!

Good for beginners like me if your trying to do fancy joints and have to angle your head to see.
 

4EyedTurd

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2009
Messages
595
Location
Texas
I’m glad this came up because my blue lightning HF helmet is pulling my hair and I’d like a bigger viewing window but I can’t justify a 3-400$ helmet no matter how nice.
 
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