#1 Speedglas 9100 series helmets

#2 & #3 Miller and Optrel

 

Make sure its working by holding it up over a bright light while waving your hand over the shield, If it darkens go for it.

I don't know which is the best but I currently use the more expensive harbor freight helmet until I get a miller titanium helmet. My first helmet was a Hobart and it sucked so bad which would occasionally give me flash burn. Harbor freight helmets are better then having no protection but when it comes to my tig the high frequency makes it flip out.

Go to a major welding supply and try out what they have in stock.

You question is going to get many answers and since money isn't an issue just buy the most expensive helmet you can find with Air purifier, AC, XM Radio, Bluetooth , Graphics and all that good stuff

 

3M L-905SG with Adflo.

 

The helmet you have is fine, lots of folks using them. If you are in a situation where the sensors are blocked, like inside of a frame, or peeking through a slot, you'll get better performance from a helmet with more sensors or the excellent X-Mode on Miller's Elite.

 

All answers to the question - what is the "best" autodarkening helmet? - are subjective.

There are clear classes of "better" auto darkening helmets with respect to which ones have more advanced technology in them than others. But those may not be for you since they maybe overkill for what you need and therefore might NOT be the best choice for you. You'll have to decide this for yourself after careful consideration of what is out there, unless of course, you just want to take a poll and go with the most popular (whatever one that is).

Speedglass, optrel, miller, Jackson all make nice autodarkening helmets in a variety of classes. I am sure there are others but these 4 are the ones I am familiar with and I won't speak about those I don't know about. I think that miller elite X-mode is pretty nice feature, but I won't buy a miller helmet because of two things (both of which are personal opinions and personal preferences): the crappy head gear and the fact that the cover lenses aren't standard (you have to buy the miller lenses, which I think is B_S).

I have a Jackson Halox with a NexGen lens because that is what I like. Is it the best? Who knows, who cares, but it works for me and I like it and frankly that is all that matters. I like it because I like the 370 head gear, I like the light flexible shell, I like 4 sensors, I like a large view lens, I like to be able to buy standard cover lenses, I like the NexGen lens and my respirator fits under the hood well. All personal preferences. Others will not necessarily like what I like or want what I want or need what I need and as such this helmet isn't for them. It would be a terrible thing if everyone like and/or needed the same thing.

I also have a Northern Tool autodarkening helmet. My first autodark, bought it because I couldn't bring myself to pay $300 for a AD helmet, when I was spending like $60 on fixed shades. Now, I never use it much cause I don't like it. Can't change the batteries, it's solar, it changes to dark when I don't want it to in certain ambient light conditions and the helmets sensitivity adjustment cant compensate for it. The shell in my opinion is too small, it doesn't cover enough of my throat and it doesn't go back over the top of my head enough. Didn't put too much thought into it before I bought it, just looked at switching speeds, number of shades, AND COST. Got exactly what I paid for. Can I weld in it? Yes. Do I want to weld while wearing it? No. I'd go for either of my fixed shade helmets before I'd use the NT helmet again. Just can't bring myself to throw that helmet in the trash because it does work.

As for speedglass and optrel, well I just don't like them because of the non-standard cover lenses and I don't like the shape of the helmet. However, others do like the shape of the helmet and don't mind buying the non-standard cover lenses. So for those folks these helmets are just fine.

Helmets are an extremely personal choice. So go the local welding supply and try a bunch on. Bring your respirator with you if you have one. If you don't have one get one and bring it with you. Ask others to try their helmets and weld while using them, if you have others around to ask.

So in conclusion - There isn't a "best" autodarkening helmet out there. That helmet you have will work but it is on the low end of the autodarkening helmet scale. Please note that I am not putting that helmet down, I am just saying that there are helmets out there with more advanced/better features. But do you really need/want those? That's entirely up to you to decide. If you decide you want to spend several hundred bones on a top end miller, speedglass, optrel, jackson, or whatever, you'll will most likely like it a lot more than the one you have now.

Good luck with your hunt. It's a pain sifting through it all. If you take your time with the decision, you'll arrive a choice you are happy with.

 

I have spent a small fortune on helmets, and I have not found the expensive ones to be better for me. For 20 years I loved a plain sellstorm flip shield with a auto dark lense in it but they have changed the headgear they use and I don't like the new headgear on that helmet now.

The one I like the best now is a Weld Mark.

 

I've been using a harbor frieght flame helmet for 4yrs work 40 to 50hrs a week mig welding aluminum and steel semi dump trailers. Only thing I replace was the head gear after 6 months with a Jackson other than that it works fine. And according to my recent vision test my eyes stayed the same

 

Kobalt makes a nice mid range helmet available from Lowes. I own Millers and and an Optrel, and they are great if you are in a production environment with special needs and high performance capabilities, otherwise its not necessary.

 

It would be nice to try what you think you may like. Head gear, weight, styles or shapes , sensors, all are similar but different. I like the Miller Elite but the speedglass has some nice features. If for home use fine using a big buck hood, on the job ? Well , I didn't want to climb around sticking my head in places with a $300.00 hood on. I would use the old style basic one.

 

I have been using a Jackson NexGen with Halo headgear for ten years, but after buying an HTP Striker CSV, the Jackson is now my spare. HTP also makes three less expensive models.
http://www.usaweld.com/Striker-Digital-s/72.htm

 

I've owned an HTP Striker CSV for over a year now. I had been using the helmet strictly for TIG. Yesterday though I decided to give it a try with my Hobart Ironman 230. The experience was quite different then what I've been use to with my Nexgen or Miller Performance series. The view through the CSV lens is so sharp and clear, that you can actually see the spatter BB's flying up out of the welding arc .

 

I'd stay away from Kobalt, their gloves had a warning on them that says they cause cancer, yech!
The X-mode is the only reason to get the Elite, you can set the sensitivity to 9 in bright sunlight.

 

Thanks for all the information fellas!