7 Best Value-For-Money Welding Helmets [2022]
If you are buying a welding helmet on a tight budget yet still want the best of the best then this is the right review and buyers guide for you.
It is always good to know that your money works hard for you and it is even better to know that you just couldn’t have spent your money in a better way because you invested in the absolute best in terms of value.
A good welding helmet is essential for protecting your eyes and skin while you are welding and the best helmet will make a huge difference in the quality of your welds and in general welding comfort.
There are quite a few different types of welding helmets available on the market and some leading brands have various models to choose from. All of these choices can make it hard for you to pick the right one for your need and wallet. In this review we have selected the 7 best welding helmets under $200. We are sure that any of these helmets will be a worthy investment that serves you well for a long time to come.
What happens when you don’t use a helmet?
The budget range on our list might not have all the bells and whistles of expensive models but these helmets are still worthy investments. It is much better to buy a budget friendly helmet than to attempt welding jobs without a helmet.
Welding is terrible for your eyes. You are certain to get arc eyes, a painful condition that feels like your eyes are filled with sandpaper. This happens because the cornea becomes inflamed due to the extreme heat and light. The heat and extreme light of welding can also cause damage to your retina and could cause permanent damage to your vision. Welders are also required to wear protective gear such as gloves, a welding apron and a helmet to protect their skin from the extreme heat. You can get skin burn similar to extreme sunburn from welding without PPE.
In a Rush? Here is our top pick
If you don’t have the time to scan through our reviews so you can learn more about the different specifications of these helmets then you can skip ahead and invest in our overall best. The TGR Panoramic 180 View Welding Helmet is our top pick because it doesn’t just have the biggest view area, it also has 4 arc sensors, offers adjustable sensitivity and delay control, offers the most protection and is designed with TCT.
RANK | PICTURE | NAME | RATING | SHOP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
№1 |  | The Lincoln Darkfire K2799-1 Welding Helmet - Fast switch speed | 100% Fill Counter |  |
№2 |  | The Hobart 770756 Impact Variable Helmet | 92% Fill Counter | |
№3 |  | The Save Phace 30102288 Chameleon Gen-X Series Welding Helmet - The budget friendly | 92% Fill Counter | |
№4 |  | The Jackson Safety 46131 HaloX Welding Helmet | 90% Fill Counter | |
№5 |  | The TGR Panoramic 180 View Welding Helmet - The overall best | 86% Fill Counter | |
№6 |  | The Forney 55708 Advantage Series Welding Helmet - The lightest | 82% Fill Counter | |
№7 |  | The Antra AH7-X902-001X Welding Helmet | 76% Fill Counter | |
Details Information chart
Want to get a brush on all the leading features of all the best value-for-money helmets? Then check out this guide where we have listed all of the main features so you can compare with ease and find exactly what you are looking for in a jiffy.
HELMET | WEIGHT | LENS SHADING | VIEW AREA | SWITCHING SPEED | SPECIAL TECH | ARC SENSORS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TGR Panoramic 180 View | 2.5 lbs | 4 - 10 or 8-12 | 4.53 x 3.35 inch | 1/10,000 sec | TCT | 4 |
Hobart 770756 Impact Variable | 2.3 lbs | 8-13 | 7.05 x 7.05 inch | 1/25,000 | Cell | 3 |
Jackson Safety 46131 HaloX | 2 lbs | 9-13 | 3.93 x 2.36 | Cell | Independent adjustable arc sensors | 4 |
Antra AH7-X902-001X | 2.1 lbs | 4 - 13 | 3.86 x 3.23 | 1/25,000 | Cell | 4 |
Lincoln Darkfire K2799-1 | 2.5 lbs | 9-13 | 3.83 x 1.73 | 1/10,000 sec | Cell | Cell |
Forney 55708 Advantage Series | 1.29 lbs | 9-13 | 7.7 sq. in | 1/16,000 | Cell | 2 |
Save Phace 30102288 Chameleon Gen-X | 2 lbs | 3-10 | 23 sq in | Cell | meets all ANSI, CE, AUS/NZ standards | Cell |
The 7 best value-for-money welding helmets
In this review we are quickly going to brush up on all the leading characteristics of these top helmets so you will understand exactly why we consider them the best of the best. Our review includes a quick breakdown on specifications and some of the leading pros and cons of each welding helmet.
Visibility is often a hassle when you use a normal helmet but not with the TGR Panoramic 180 View Welding Helmet. This helmet offers a 180 degree view thanks to its extra-large screen. But that is not all. The helmet is also quite advanced because it features 4 arc sensors that have adjustable sensitivity and delay control, an auto darkening window, offers grind protection and enable you to see better thanks to True Color Technology.
The helmet is also remarkably light at just 2.5 lbs and the lens auto darkening is quite fast at 1/10,000 sec. The headband of this welding helmet is also adjustable and it has a sweatband to keep you dry for long duration welds.
Specifications
Pros
180 degree extra-large view
4 arc sensors
Auto darkening
Grind function
Very light in weight
TCT
Relatively affordable
Fast auto darkness
Cons
We couldn’t find any
This welding helmet by Hobart certainly is a good investment if you are looking for something affordable that offers you the best in terms of quality.
The Hobart 770756 Impact Variable Helmet is auto darkening and reacts at a speed of 1/25,000 of a second for arc flashes and is suitable for both grinding and welding. It offers a little bit of extra facial protection thanks to its impact resistant shell. It has a large view of 7.05 x 7.05 inch and offers three light shades or variable shades of 8 - 11. You can also adjust the shade sensitivity and delay with the knob.
Specifications
Pros
Very light in weight
Offers impact protection
Large view area
Auto dark
Fast switch speed
Grind capability
Affordable price
Cons
Doesn’t offer TCT or C4 Lens technology
This helmet is available at a fair price considering just how easy it is to use and the digital interface. The helmet is simple in design with a large view area.
It offers 9-13 variable shades and allows you to adjust the sensitivity and delay of the helmet. You can choose between grind and weld modes and the helmet is compatible with other shells that might be required for dangerous working areas. The helmet has an Auto Decking Filter (ADF) which makes it more suitable for working in different environments.
Specifications
Pros
Very light in weight
Has 4 independent adjustable arc sensors
Auto darkening
Compatible with safety shells
ADF for working in different environments
Cons
Adjusting knobs won’t stay tight
This is another good quality welding helmet that is available at a very affordable price. The Antra AH7-X902-001X Welding Helmet is perfect for those that frequently work on a variety of welding job types because it has a variable shade variety of 4-13.
The Antra AH7-X902-001X Welding Helmet is functional for grinding, is solar operated and has a large view area of 3.86 x 3.23”. It is fitted with 4 arc sensors and offers a very fast switching time to help protect your eyes. At 2.1 lbs the helmet is very light which makes it perfect for taking on long duration projects.
Specifications
Pros
Solar operated
Fast switching speed
Auto darkening
Suitable for all welding projects thanks to large adjustable lens shading ratio
4 arc sensors
Fair price
Cons
No special screen technology to enhance visibility
Lincoln electric is known for their reputation of creating wonderful quality welding helmets. They are also loved for their range of beautiful helmet designs and the Lincoln Darkfire K2799-1 Welding Helmet certainly is one of the most beautiful helmets you can own. This helmet features images of a fiery skull on various parts of the helmet.
It is also very practical thanks to a quick 1/10,000 switch time, a large 3.83 x 1.73 viewing area and the fact that it is solar operated is an added bonus. This 2.5 lbs helmet is also light and perfect for taking on specialty projects that require lots of shading such as MIG welding because of the higher 9-13 shading range.
Specifications
Pros
Fast switch speed
Auto darkening
Light weight
Perfect for MIG welding
Cons
Not quite as functional for stick welding
No special screen tech to enhance visibility
Screen is on the small side
In the world of welding helmets this helmet is the American dream because of the flashy eagle wing, American flag design it features and because of the affordable price of this quality helmet.
The helmet is one of the most affordable good quality helmets you can buy. It is light in weight at only 1.29 lbs and comes with auto darkening function. The helmet has a good 7.7 sq.in view area and is fitted with 4 arc settings as well as a 5 point adjustable headband and sweatband.
At 1/16,000 it is quite fast to respond to arcs in order to protect your eyes.
Specifications
Pros
Very light in weight
Auto darkening
Higher lens shading variety suitable for MIG and TIG welds
Large view area
Fast switch speed
Cons
Only have 2 arc sensors
More suitable for extremely bright weld jobs such as MIG and TIG
Don’t let the small screen on this helmet fool you. The screen on the Save Phace 30102288 Chameleon Gen-X Series Welding Helmet can move by 180 degrees in order to enhance work flexibility. The helmet also has a high quality ADF shade and is considered the helmet with the worlds 2nd largest total viewing area.
At just 2 lbs the helmet won’t cause fatigue and the helmet is one of the highest rated helmets since it meets all ANSI, CE, AUS/NZ welding helmet standards.
The helmet is also made of high quality carbon that absorbs impact as you work or that offers you even more protection.
Specifications
Pros
World’s 2nd largest view
Light weight
Adjustable lense
Auto darkening
ADF shade
Very affordable
Cons
Fixed lens shading
Final Verdict
All of these welding helmets under $200 are excellent picks if you are looking for something sturdy that offers the best eye protection and functionality. If you still cannot decide on the best then perhaps this quick buyers guide can help you make the best possible pick.
The overall best - The TGR Panoramic 180 View Welding Helmet is the best on our list because it has the biggest view, it features 4 sensors, is light in weight and offer grinding protection. It is also the best because it is practical for all types of welding jobs thanks to its variable adjustable shading of 4 - 13.
The budget friendly solution - All of these helmets are available at quite a fair price but if you are shopping on an extremely tight budget then you can definitely invest in the Save Phace 30102288 Chameleon Gen-X Series Welding Helmet. It is the most affordable of our range but also a good pick thanks to its large view. The Forney 55708 Advantage Series Welding Helmet is also a good alternative because of its good price.
The best visibility - For visibility you probably should invest in something with a big view such as the TGR Panoramic 180 View or the Save Phace 30102288 Chameleon Gen-X Series. The Jackson Safety 46131 HaloX is also a good pick for those that need to see well in different working environments.
The lightest of the bunch - Are you prone to neck pains? Then the Forney 55708 Advantage Series Welding Helmet is the best pick because it only weighs 1.29 lbs. Although you should take note that all of these helmets, including our top picks are extremely light. It probably isn’t worth sacrificing visibility advantages just for the sake of weight since you will probably need to adjust your head to an odd angle if the view is too small on your helmet.
The best eye protection - Your eyes need to be protected from those quick arc flashes which mean you should consider the welding helmets with the fastest switch speeds. The TGR Panoramic 180 View and Lincoln Darkfire K2799-1 offer the quickest speeds at 1/10,000 sec. These helmets will instantly auto-dark the moment an arc spark is identified and will offer your eyes the needed protection.
Hopefully this guide served you well in finding the best possible welding helmet for under $200 so you can enjoy the best safety while working on dangerous welding jobs. For more great welding tips and reviews on other welding tools we welcome you to have a look at some of our other reviews.