Which welding helmet to choose in 2022: TOP 13 best models

What is the advantage of a chameleon mask compared to a regular one?

The chameleon mask has noticeable functionality compared to the regular version. You can handle more work in the same time period. Provides more precise control of the welding arc. Both hands are free when working with the product, and another mask is not required when performing plumbing work.

There is no need to replace filters, as is the case with a conventional mask, if the current changes significantly or you need to switch to a different welding mode. Automatic dimming and brightening are also carried out, which saves time and eliminates the need for the user to take off and put on the product - everything is perfectly visible as is.

In other words, the chameleon mask, in comparison with a regular one, is undeniably convenient and efficient to use, which makes it the optimal solution for welding work.

The best welding helmets for professional use

Professionals have completely different requirements for protective equipment than amateurs and beginners. They are willing to spend large sums of money to get a truly high-quality mask that guarantees complete protection for their eyes and face. They also often require additional features, which cause the cost of masks to skyrocket. However, no reasonable person will work regularly and extensively with welding and skimp on eye protection. Therefore, it is definitely worth considering several of these models in the review.

Fubag Ultima 5-13 Panoramic Black

The TOP 5 opens with the best professional mask, which is made of high-strength material and has 4 optical sensors, which increases the accuracy of responses. Everything is perfectly balanced in it. Start with at least a fairly large viewing window - as much as 100x67 mm, which provides maximum comfort when working. The headband is very comfortable, carefully designed - thanks to it, the already light weight of the mask is distributed evenly and does not cause difficulties even during prolonged work. True, not all users like that the blackness range of the viewing window is changed by a slider located inside the mask - many masters prefer to be able to adjust this indicator without removing the protection.

Advantages:

• large viewing window;
• reliable fastening;
• excellent equipment;
• sits well on the head;
• impact resistant material.

Flaws:

• internal dimming adjustment.

Aurora Sun-9 Max Expert

Users who do not know which masks are best suited for performing different types of work, that is, protecting not only from UV and IR radiation, but also from mechanical damage, should pay attention to this model. The minimum shading when the power is off is only 3 DIN, making the mask perfect for both welding and for working, for example, with an angle grinder - it won’t be too dark. At the same time, the darkening is easily adjustable up to 13 DIN - no welder needs more.

This mask can be used together with a respirator and a construction helmet, which makes the model more versatile. The device receives power from a lithium battery, the charge of which can be easily checked - you just need to press a special button that lights up the indicator.

Advantages:

• flexible settings;
• quality of workmanship and materials;
• high optical class;
• very large viewing window;
• high response speed.

ESAB Warrior Tech

A very successful chameleon with manual adjustment, capable, despite its high cost, of pleasantly surprising even the discerning user. It is unusual and very convenient that the adjustment sensors are located both outside and inside. This allows each owner to customize the mask in a way that suits them. The high response speed combined with a high level of protection against mechanical damage makes this model a good purchase for people who work with welding a lot and often. It is important that you can work with it at temperatures down to -10 degrees. And the high-quality layout is complemented by the possibility of installing dioptric lenses.

Advantages:

• duplicated tuning sensors;
• increased viewing angle;
• low latency;
• excellent protection;
• Diopter lenses can be installed.

Flaws:

• quite high cost.

Fubag Blitz 9-13 Visor

Perhaps this is the best welding helmet in combination of price and quality. Yes, the price is quite high. But a quality item cannot be cheap. But the mask is very comfortable - the ergonomics are well designed. In addition, there is protection not only from metal splashes, but also from fogging. How many analogues can boast of this?

When choosing a mask, find out whether the batteries can be changed - in some models (most often inexpensive) they are simply soldered into the body.

The material is impact-resistant, so it will last for many years even to the least careful owner. An excellent light filter that works amazingly quickly and is easily customizable to the needs of a specific user.

Advantages:

• anti-fog protection;
• chic ergonomics;
• ease of maintenance;
• strength and reliability.

Flaws:

• the price is frankly stinging.

Aurora SUN-7

The mask looks frankly futuristic - the developers took a creative approach to the design development process. The functionality will pleasantly surprise even the most picky owner. There is a self-testing option, a grinding mode, and you can also install a protective glass or diopter lens. The settings are very flexible, and mostly the levers are located on the outside - inside there is only a button for checking the battery charge and a lever for adjusting the delay time. A good overview is provided by a window measuring 55x99 mm.

Advantages:

• grinding mode;
• large window;
• convenient criminal;
• self-test function;
• Possibility of installing diopter or protective glass.

Flaws:

• There is no smooth delay adjustment – ​​only three modes.

How to choose the right welding helmet

To avoid regretting a poorly chosen welding helmet, you need to consider many factors. But the most important are:

1. The filter response speed, the lower the value, the better.
2. Location of adjustment - most users believe that models where the levers are located on the outside are more convenient.
3. Type of power supply – from batteries, from the sun or combined.
4. Weight – the less it is, the better, as long as it doesn’t compromise strength.

This concludes our TOP 10 best masks for welders. In it, experienced experts listed the most successful models, relying both on the parameters declared by the manufacturers and on reviews of ordinary users to ensure maximum objectivity.

Adviсe

To choose the best option for yourself, you need to know the nuances:

• The reliability of eye protection is the degree of darkness of the mask screen, which is expressed in DIN and varies between 3-15 units.
• Additional work mode - after the metal has cooled, the darkening is removed, the glass for the shield becomes transparent, which allows you to continue working without removing the mask.
• The effectiveness and quality of retinal protection depends on the response speed of light filters, which is considered optimal at a value of 0.1 s. Some Chinese experts underestimate this parameter, so you need to focus on average values.
• Welders often work in poorly ventilated areas, so it is worth choosing a mask with forced ventilation to avoid breathing toxic fumes of molten metal and smoke from burning electrode coatings.
• The weight of a helmet or mask plays a big role - if the headband is adjusted correctly, the product does not put pressure on the performer’s head. Lightweight polymer models will not be able to protect the welder from the mechanical impact of a fallen part or improvised tool.

Rating table

* Prices are for August 2022

Criterias of choice

You cannot do without a welding mask when working: it is inconvenient and dangerous to health. During welding, the master constantly encounters sparks, splashes of hot metal and UV radiation from the arc. The mask will protect against burns, prevent inflammation of the cornea and other vision problems. To choose the right one for your task, you need to understand the features and characteristics.

Shield. The simplest and most affordable type of protection. It is not attached to the head, but is held in place with a handle. This is not very convenient if you need both hands while welding. The shield completely covers the face; it can be quickly removed from the eyes to check the quality of the seam. Sometimes it is included in the package of household welders.

Glasses. Welding (gas welding) glasses cover only the eyes. They are lightweight, fit tightly to the face, and protect the cornea from sparks, splashes and UV radiation. Suitable for short-term welding in hard-to-reach places. Full face protection is not provided.

Mask. Unlike a shield, the mask is attached to the head and leaves your hands free. Simply tilt it back to evaluate the seam and return it to its place with a nod of the head. It provides good protection during operation, but the filter may impair visibility when slag-breaking or grinding. There are several types of improved welding helmets:

• With a lifting filter – thanks to the plastic shield, it protects the face even with the filter raised. It is used when you need to clearly see the work area and at the same time not expose your eyes to danger (for example, when grinding and beating off slag).
• With an air supply mechanism - useful if toxic substances are used during welding. Harmful vapors will not be allowed into the body. The design resembles a gas mask.

Chameleon mask. Chameleons are a type of mask for professional welders. The main feature is the automatic response to the arc: when it turns on, the filter darkens, when it turns off, it brightens. In some models, the response speed and degree of darkening of the light filters can be changed without removing the mask - the controls are located on the outer surface, making them convenient to turn by hand without stopping from work. Settings can be adjusted smoothly or in steps. The shade level is usually adjustable from 9 to 13 DIN, but there are chameleons with two shade ranges: lower (5-6 DIN) and upper (9-13 DIN). At lower range settings, the mask becomes lighter. This is convenient for argon-arc welding at low current. Some chameleons, in addition to the welding mode, also have a grinding mode: the light filter turns off, returning clear visibility, but the mask continues to protect the eyes from abrasive dust and other debris. Power source - solar or conventional batteries. It is better to choose the latter, because in cloudy weather or after sunset it will become difficult to work with a mask.

Light filters. The EN 379 standard has been developed for European buyers. It describes the standards of light filters for welding masks. According to the rules, they are marked as follows: x/x/x/x.

• The first number (1-3) is the optical class of the lens. Determines the quality of the review. The lower the number, the clearer the image.
• The second (1-3) is the transparency of the lens. One is the preferred indicator for work: small details are clearly visible through such masks. Masks with transparency 2 are rare and are only suitable for short-term work.
• The third (1-3) is the uniformity of application of the filter to the lens. The lower the number on the marking, the better the application and the more comfortable it is for the eyes when working.
• The fourth (1-3) characterizes the dependence of the degree of darkness on the viewing angle. The lower it is, the better: when viewed at an angle within ±15°, the degree of darkness for first class filters changes to 1DIN, for second class to 2DIN and for third class to 3DIN. Two is the most common indicator.

Filter sizes vary from mask to mask. Standard – 102x52, 110x90, 121x69 mm. The larger, the better the viewing angle, but the lower the strength. Large area filters are more fragile.

Dimensions and weight. Dimensions and weight affect ease of use. A heavy, bulky device will complicate the work and affect quality. This is especially true for weight, since during welding work a large load falls on the neck. The lighter the product, the more convenient it is to use. The only case where weight can be neglected for the sake of a low price is the rare use of welding.

Lens distortion. This parameter determines the degree of distortion of light passing through the glass. The lower the indicator, the more delicate work can be done. Indicator 1 is suitable for working with thin seams, but such a mask will be impractical when welding large pipes and other large objects.

Dimensions of the viewing slot. The size of the viewing slit directly affects the view. Standard models have a 90x40 mm window, but you can find devices with a 120x60 mm window.

Material. The cheapest means of protection are made of the simplest plastic, the more expensive ones are made of heat-resistant plastic, resistant to high temperatures and mechanical stress. In the first case, the products will not last long.

Type of light filter. The cheapest means of protection are equipped with ordinary tinted glass. The degree of darkness is indicated by numbers from 1 to 5. A higher number means more darkness. For example, No. 1 is the lightest, intended for working in a dark room; No. 5 – the darkest, designed for working outdoors during daylight hours. More expensive chameleon masks have a different gradation. They are equipped with a liquid crystal panel that can be adjusted. Here the opposite is true - a higher number means less darkness (from 5 to 15 units).