6 Best Lincoln Welding Helmets – Buyers Guide 2022
The Lincoln Electric brand is one of the most popular welding product brands available. Lots of people absolutely adore Lincoln’s variety of welding products such as TIG welders, MIG welders, plasma cutters as well as various accommodating accessories that can help you get the most out of these types of handy machines.
When you are stepping into the workshop for dangerous tasks such as welding you just cannot neglect your safety. A good quality welding helmet is one of the most critical safety components you should always use for welding tasks.
We can see that the Lincoln brand takes safety seriously because why else would they have such a huge range of welding helmet types to choose from. With their huge variety of styles and types to choose from you can certainly find something that appeal to you so you will be encouraged to wear that helmet even for the smallest of welding tasks.
Why you should wear a welding helmet?
One of the biggest reasons you need to wear a welding helmet is so you can prevent arc eyes. When you expose your eyes to the extreme heat and light of welding, the cornea becomes inflamed. The condition is very painful and many describe it as a sandpaper grind feel in your eyes days after obtaining arc eyes.
These helmets also prevent retina burns which could render your ability to see and a welding helmet also protects your eyes from concentrated ultraviolet and infrared rays. Your helmet can also offer facial skin protection since skin burns are not uncommon during welding at all.
What to look for in a good welding helmet?
It is important to never simply grab the first and cheapest welding helmet you find. Cheap helmets have a tendency to break easily and they just don’t offer the same functionality and protection you would normally enjoy from a good quality brand like Lincoln.
There are quite a few different types of helmets available on the market at present which might make it challenging for you to identify the right type. Here is a quick guide to help you identify what characteristics you should be looking out for in a good quality helmet;
Consider the weight - Don’t buy a helmet that is too heavy. The helmet will cause neck strain, fatigue and can even result in long term injuries.
Consider helmet fit - If your helmet doesn’t fit right, it won’t protect you from spatter UV rays that could burn your skin or eyes. It is also quite annoying to try to work with a wobbly helmet that just won’t stay put every time you tilt your head.
Consider auto darkening - The best welding helmets come with auto-darkening feature that instantly protects your eyes from sudden flashes. These helmets also enhance convenience since you don’t have to flip it open and shut as you work and you have both hands free for your project.
Consider sensors - Good quality helmets have sensors that catch light from various directions where poor quality helmets might only offer protection if the helmet senses flashes from straight ahead.
Consider lens shading - Standard helmets have 9-13 shading but others provide with 6-13 shade modes that offer a wider spectrum of protection so you can complete a greater variety of projects.
In a Rush? Here is our top pick
Don’t have the time to scan through all of our reviews? Then we recommend you buy the The Lincoln Electric 3350 Series This helmet is our top pick because it offers all the required features and the helmet is designed with4 arc sensors and has 4C Lens Technology which changes your view for optimal vision clarity.
RANK | PICTURE | NAME | RATING | SHOP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
№1 |  | The Lincoln Electric 3350 Series - The overall best | 94% Fill Counter |  |
№2 |  | The Lincoln Electric 2450 Welding Helmet - The best pick for those working in dangerous areas. | 94% Fill Counter | |
№3 |  | The Lincoln Electric K4134-1 Lone Star Auto Darkening Helmet - The budget friendly | 90% Fill Counter | |
№4 |  | The Lincoln Electric Viking K3023-3 Welding Helmet | 90% Fill Counter | |
№5 |  | The Lincoln Electric Viking 3350 Steampunk Welding Helmet - The stylish version of the overall best | 86% Fill Counter | |
№6 |  | The Lincoln Electric K3087 Skull Design Welding Helmet - The lightest and prettiest | 64% Fill Counter | |
Details Information chart
Want to quickly see all the leading features of the best welding helmets? Then take a look at this quick chart where you can identify the welding helmet with the features you need in a glance.
HELMET | WEIGHT | LENS SHADING | VIEW AREA | SWITCHING SPEED | C4 LENS TECHNOLOGY | ARC SENSORS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Lincoln Electric 3350 Series | 3.35 lbs | 5-13 | 3.74 x 3.34 inch | 1/25,000 sec | Yes | 4 |
Lincoln Electric Viking 3350 Steampunk Welding Helmet | 3.35 lbs | 5-13 | 3.74 x 3.34 inch | 1/25,000 sec | yes | 4 |
Lincoln Electric 2450 Welding Helmet | 3.35 lbs | 5-13 | 3.84 x 2.44 inch | 1/25,000 sec | yes | 2 |
Lincoln Electric K4134-1 Lone Star Auto Darkening Helmet | 4 lbs | 9-13 | 3.82 in x 1.73 | 1/25,000 sec | no | 2 |
Lincoln Electric K3087 Skull Design Welding Helmet | 2 lbs | 9-13 | 3.81 x 1.75 | 1/25,000 sec | No | 2 |
Want to quickly see all the leading features of the best welding helmets? Then take a look at this quick chart where you can identify the welding helmet with the features you need in a glance.
The Lincoln Electric 3350 Series is our top pick because it features all the best specifications and it is designed with enhanced technology to help you see better while you weld.
Design wise the helmet is quite beautiful thanks to a shiny black finish and a very sleek design with the Lincoln brand grafted on the top of the helmet.
The helmet is auto-darkening, offers 5-13 lens shading and has a large viewing area of 3.74 x 3.34 inch. The helmet has 4 arc sensors, offers a fast switching speed of 1/25,000 sec, has a TIG AMP rating of 2A, is solar power operated with solar batteries and is fitted with ADF control knobs and 4C™ Lens Technology.
Specifications
Pros
Comes with 4C™ Lens Technology
Large view area
Auto darkening
Solar power operated with battery pack
4 Arc sensors
Fast switch speed
Cons
No electromagnetic sensor
If you love the features of the Lincoln Electric 3350 Series but want something that looks a little bit flashier then you can consider this helmet. The Lincoln Electric Viking 3350 Steampunk Welding Helmetoffers all the main features of the original 3350 but is very flashy in design since it is fully covered in gorgeous grunge styled artworks.
The helmet is a bit more expensive but well worth your investment if you consider the beautiful look of the helmet and the extra-long battery life.
Specifications
Pros
Comes with 4C™ Lens Technology
Large view area
Auto darkening
Solar power operated with battery pack
4 Arc sensors
Fast switch speed
Longer battery life
Beautiful steampunk design
Cons
No electromagnetic sensor
Can be pricy for some
This helmet looks a lot like our top pick and even features many of the specs of the 3350 but this one is available at a much more agreeable price. The helmet has the same beautiful glossy black finish with the Lincoln brand printed on the top.
It is quite light at 3.25 pounds and comes with the same 4C Lens Technology which you can use in active or inactive state. The helmet is auto darkening, automatically adjusts shading, comes with lithium-ion battery and has a grind mode setting as well as 2 arc settings. The helmet is also compatible with a hard hat for those working in dangerous areas.
Specifications
Pros
Compatible with a hard hat
Light weight
Quick switching speed
C4 Lens Technology
Solar power source
Cons
Only 2 arc sensors
This is a great helmet if you are shopping on a tight budget and like something that is stylish. The Lincoln Electric K4134-1 Lone Star Auto Darkening Helmet is covered in beautiful artwork which means that no one will ever be able to mistake your helmet for theirs.
This helmet as an adjustable rachet head band for custom fit, is a bit heavy at 4 pounds and has an auto darkening function. It is solar powered with built-in grind settings. The helmet has lens covers that you can use inside and outside of the lense.
Specifications
Pros
Auto-grinding function
Auto darkening
Beautiful design
Solar power operated
Cons
Entry level dual knob
Small view
A bit heavy
IF you want something that has it all in terms of features and that looks outstanding then you can certainly look into buying the Lincoln Electric K3087 Skull Design Welding Helmet. Unlike the Lone Star and the Steampunk helmets, this one offers a more modern look thanks to beautiful skull prints all over the helmet.
The helmet is auto-darkening, has an electric variable shade function, is fitted with a 3.81 x 1.75 inch view area and has a shade knob at the front for easy adjusting. It has two arc sensors and offers a fast darkening speed of 1/25,000 sec.
Specifications
Pros
Very light helmet
Beautiful skull designs
Auto darkening
Large view area
Fast switching speed
Cons
Only 2 arc sensors
Doesn’t come with C4 Lens Technology
Can be expensive for some
This is another good pick if you want all the best features at a more affordable price. The helmet is coated in a shiny black paint with the Lincoln brand features on top.
This helmet features 2 arc sensors, has Grind mode, is battery and solar operated, offers 9-13 shading and has a fast switch speed of 1/25,000. At 3 pounds it is also quite light and it offers 4C Lens Technology.
Specifications
Pros
C4 Lens Technology
Auto darkening
Grind mode
Fast switch speed
Light weight
Cons
Small view area
Only 2 arc sensors
Final Verdict
All of these are quite fantastic welding helmets, especially since they all offer the convenience of being solar operated. The solar feature makes them perfect for working in remote destinations and can save you a lot of inconvenience because you never have to deal with a flat battery.
With so many great choices to pick from in the Lincoln Electric brand, you might find it hard to decide on the right type for your need. Here is a quick buyer’s guide to help you decide.
The overall best - The Lincoln Electric 3350 Series is the overall best helmet because it features C4 Lens Technology, has 4 arc sensors, is solar operated and it is quite light. If the price of this helmet doesn’t put you off buying and you want something even flashier then we recommend you buy the Lincoln Electric Viking 3350 Steampunk Welding Helmet. Those that want all the bells and whistles of the 3350 series but cannot afford it can also look into the Lincoln Electric 2450 Welding Helmet as it is quite good at a much more agreeable price.
The budget friendly solution - You can pick up the Lincoln Electric K4134-1 Lone Star Auto Darkening Helmet at a very good price, especially since it looks so good with the Lone Star art design. But if you would prefer a slightly better helmet with C4 Lens Technology then we recommend the Lincoln Electric Viking K3023-3 Welding Helmet.
The best pick for variable welding - Shading can have a huge impact on your vision when you are welding. If you are someone that works on a huge variety of different metal types then we recommend something with a wider shade variety of about 5 - 13. All welding helmets on our list should be functional for most metal types but the 3350 and 2450 series do offer a greater variable shading level which means it might be much more functional for odd jobs.
The best when it comes to eye safety - The 3350 Series helmets are the only ones fitted with 4 sensors which mean they can pick up arc spikes much better and as such offer better eye protection.
The best for dangerous areas - The Lincoln Electric 2450 Welding Helmet is compatible with a hard hat which makes it a top pick for those that work in dangerous areas.
Hopefully this guide was helpful for guiding you to the best welding helmet to choose for your specific need. Lincoln Electric helmets are all superb picks and with one of these helmets in your welding kit, we are sure that you will enjoy great comfort and the best protection.