Best Lincoln Welding Helmets
Reviews, Comparisons & Buyer’s Guide
1. Lincoln Electric Viking Black
Pros: With one of the largest viewing windows you’ll find on any welding helmet, welding with this helmet is a joy. It comes with four arc sensors and a dedicated grinding mode, both of which are features that many cheaper models are missing. This helmet doesn’t fall down when you lift it up, which will save you an awful lot of discomfort and hassle on a daily basis!
The auto-darkening side of this lens is interesting – it runs with shades from 6 to 13, but instead of this being a continuous variable, you have to toggle between either shades 6 to 9, or shades 9 to 13. This isn’t exactly difficult, but it’s an unusual way for Lincoln Electric to have handled a fairly standard feature. Nevertheless, this helmet is solar powered, but it also comes fitted with a battery (which is easy to replace), which will ensure that you don’t run out of juice anytime soon.
Cons: There’s no getting around the fact that this helmet is very heavy when worn for long periods of time, which can cause fatigue and neck strain. In addition, the grinding setting is found on the same dial that you would use to choose your shade settings, which means that every time you want to switch between grind and weld modes, you have to reset your shade settings. This is one annoying feature that would have been so simple for the manufacturers to avoid, but luckily it doesn’t cause any major problems.
In contrast, issues with temperature could cause some big problems, as this helmet doesn’t really hold up well to high temperatures. As a result, you might be limited in the number of ways in which you can use it. In addition to this, the sensors can be affected by sunlight, so chances are you won’t be able to use it properly outdoors.
2. Viking 3350 Series “Mojo”
Pros: Lincoln Electric, who are famous for delivering exceedingly high standards of optical clarity, have created this helmet with yet another impressively large viewing window. This features an auto-darkening lens which has a fast 1/25,000 second switching time on a large range of darkness shades – 6 to 13. The helmet has four arc sensors to help with the auto-darkening, so your eyes will remain fully protected, whatever you’re working on. In addition, it’s also fully adjustable, which makes it nice and comfortable to wear for long periods of time. If you lift it up, this helmet will stay in place instead of falling down, which will reduce neck strain even further!
Cons: Unfortunately, this helmet does not have digital controls. The analog controls are very effective, but this helmet still doesn’t quite reach the same technological heights as many others on the market.
3. Viking 3350 Series “Twisted Metal”
Pros: It’s rare to find a helmet that’s really comfortable to wear as well as delivering on specs, but here it is. With an incredibly large viewing window delivering perfect optical clarity,seeing exactly what you’re working on has never been easier. This helmet features a delay control which you can adjust to your own preferences, which is a real advantage if you tend to be a little different to everybody else! All the filter shades – from 6 to 13 – have a 1/25,000 second switching time, allowing you to get to work instantly and without causing your eyes any harm whatsoever.
Cons: Some people find it a little front-heavy at fiirst, which feels awkward and uncomfortable. However, this is something that you’ll soon get used to with regular use.
4. Viking 3350 Series “Motorhead”
Pros: You’ll be hard pushed to find a viewing window that’s bigger than this, which is one of this helmet’s most appealing features. The window gives perfect clarity through all the shades from 6 to 13, so you can see what you’re working on perfectly, regardless of light levels. The switching time is really fast at 1/25,000 of a second, and you can adjust the delay back to a light lens to suit your preferences (anywhere between 0.1 and 1.0 seconds).
Cons: When the helmet’s viewing window and other specifications are so impressive, it’s a real pity that its headgear sometimes feels disappointingly cheap and flimsy.
5. Viking 3350 Series “Terracuda”
Pros: The clarity that you get from this helmet is outstanding. In fact, you could even go as far as saying it’s perfect! The viewing window is enormous – it’s the largest of all the Viking welding helmets. It’s amazing how much the overall welding experience improves when it becomes easier to see what you’re working on! The specifications are just as impressive – with four arc sensors, delay and sensitivity controls, a 1/25,000 second switching time and a broad range of variable shades 6 to 13, this helmet is ideal for a wide variety of applications. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s really comfortable to wear for long periods of time, too.
Cons: None
