Another discussion about welding hoods.

My current Northern Tool welding hood has decided it should only work about 90% of the time. That makes decent welds almost impossible so it's time to shop for a new one. 

My previous Harbor Freight hood did about the same thing after a few years so maybe it's time to spend a little more money and buy a better product that is made by a manufacturer I've heard of. It always happens at the worst time so It's time to find something better. 

First on my list is the Lincoln 3350. Pluses are the large viewing area and the ability to work with my plasma cutter. Minuses are it's solar powered which I think is one of the reasons I have had problems with the previous hoods. Not enough use to keep the batteries up. The $390 price tag doesn't help much either but it does come in some cool finishes. 

Next on the list is the ESAB Sentinel A60. Decent viewing area. The streamlined design may work better when welding with your head stuck somewhere a hood doesn't fit. Not much cheaper at $350 but you do get to look like you are preparing to storm a house with the swat team. 

There are others out there. My requirement are a decent viewing area, auto-darkening, and not cheap Chinese stuff that will die in a year or two. I'm also hesitant to pay the price commanded by 3M Speedglas. 

We have discussed them in the past. What are you using? Why do you like it? 

I am a happy user of the ESAB Sentinel A60. I believe I have had it around 4 years now. The consumables are a bit more expensive but that just teaches you to take better care of your hood. Store it in its bag or in a drawer, don't set it lens down on your table...ect

Every single person who has tried my Sentinel has bought one afterward.  Every. Single. Person. I am personally responsible for the sale of at least a dozen. 

But I have never tried a digital elite or the high end Speedglass.

I have a digital elite that I like. Now that I have had to occasionally tig stainless I wish I'd sprung for one with the PAPR system that will provide fresh air instead of letting you breathe the fumes. I can't find a nose and mouth only one to fit under my helmet 

It's spendy, but Miller sent me a Digital Infinity with their fancy new ClearLight 2.0 lens. I figured it was marketing puffery, but it's honestly awesome--like, the comparison views on the site don't do it justice. 

https://www.millerwelds.com/products/clearlight-welding-helmet-lens-technology

Um. 

This is a welding hood:

The thing you put your head in is more properly called a helmet.

Digital Infinity here and I see no reason to use anything else 

I have the Lincoln 3350. I think they've since added a "grind" button, which mine does not have and my prior no name Chinese special did have, and I miss it. Otherwise, I think the actual headband/suspension frame is great. I can wear it for long periods without complaint. 

Lincoln 3350 for the last 4 year or so.  Just put a new battery in this year. Spendy compared to the Princes Auto ( Harbour Freight). I have friends who prefer the cheap helmets because that is what they are used to and most of the 3350 features are by now incorporated into the cheap helmets.  I never use the grind function. Best thing I ever did for my welding was to install a X2 cheater lens inside. 

The 3350 does feel big on my head and a few have commented that it is a heavy helmet. Welding in confined spaces will always suck so a more form fitting helmet would be a big ask when I next go shopping. Watching an episode of Mighty Car Mods, it seems that the Malasyans have developed a no mask method of welding. Maybe we are all overthinking this? 

Maybe I can shed some light (ha) here. I have a Lincoln 3350 Gen 1 and a 3350 Gen 2. 

And a Weldkote, and a couple Yeswelder hoods, and some HF hoods, and a Miller Classic, and some others besides.

The 3350 is, hands down, the best hood I've used. Full stop. The Gen 1 lacked an external grind button, which was a bit irritating. The Gen 2 remedied that. The Gen 2 headgear pulled a bit at the hair at my temples until I put some loop tape around the adjustment mechanism. It's just about perfect now. The Gen 1 was easy to "confuse" in sunlight, as it would often enter welding mode if you were just working outside in the day; the Gen 2 is much better about switching only in the presence of an arc or non-sun bright light source. 

The 3350 does use batteries. Just keep some 2450s around; it's no big deal to swap a battery out. My other hoods use batteries too. This is normal. 

The FOV and clarity on the 3350 is unmatched in any of my other hoods. Yes, cheaper hoods have been making inroads -- I keep many of them around in the warehouse since sometimes my guys don't quite know how to treat nice tools -- but they're still simply not as good as the 3350. Personally, I use my Gen 1 in the warehouse and keep my Gen 2 at the home shop. The 3350 Gen 1 has been cooking along since about 2016 and the Gen 2 since, I believe, 2020. 

Buy once, cry once. They're expensive but the 3350 is an excellent hood.

I upgraded from one of the higher-end HF helmets to a Miller Digital Infinity a couple of years ago.  As Tom noted, the clearlight lens is fantastic, and it also has a great field of view.  They are spendy, but it was worth it.

I have been using the grind button on mine lately, didn't realize how hard grinding sparks are on the eyes.  I recommend one with that setting and don't forget to check the weight, mine on the heavy side. 

Another vote for the Lincoln 3350.  I used inexpensive ones for years.  After I bought the fancy one my welds started looking much better and I regretted all the lost time with the cheap option.