Lincoln Electric is probably the best-known name in welding.
The world’s first portable, single-operator welding machine was produced by Lincoln Electric in 1911. Lincoln was also the company that invented welding flux.
Clearly, the company that invented the portable welder knows a lot about what features you need to have in a welding helmet.
Lincoln welding helmet owners are some of the most loyal you can find. They know they’re getting first-rate protection from one of the foremost welding authorities on the planet.
We checked out five of the best Lincoln welding helmets to help you decide which one you should have in your toolbox.
In a Rush?
Here's 3 products we picked out that thought you would be interested in depending on your budget...
Best Lincoln Welding Helmets with Reviews
Heres a list of the best Lincoln welding helmets we found:
1. Lincoln Viking 3350 Welding Helmet - Top Pick
- Natural lens color
- Comes with a bag
- Lightweight, resilient shell
- 3-year warranty
- Lincoln's X6 headgear balances weight at six points
Pros
- Very comfortable headgear
- Users rave about the optical quality
- Huge 12.5-square-inch viewport
- Low-profile external grind button
- Light weight
Cons
- Light can get inside the helmet from behind
- Not enough coverage to please some welders
Overview
The Viking 3350 sets the industry standard. The huge 12.5 square inches of viewing area means you can see everything. Lincoln’s 4C natural color technology provides a clearer view of your work. The optical clarity rating of 1/1/1/1 is the best you can buy. Digital controls inside the helmet offer adjustable shade levels from 5-13. TIG sensitivity is extremely good, down to below 2 amps.
Owners have high praise for its super comfortable headgear. Lincoln calls it X6 and it distributes weight around the head at six different points. This unique design has pads on both front and rear. It adjusts for mask height and eye distance, conforming to the top of your head and its diameter. The hood swivels completely above your line of sight when raised.
Related: Viking 3350 vs Miller Digital Elite
Some owners report light getting inside and reflecting off the lens. Others feel coverage is lacking. On the positive side, there’s an external grind button with an inside green reminder light so you remember to switch back to welding mode. It’s got a solar-rechargeable watch battery and the 3-year warranty clinches the Viking 3350 as Weld Guru’s Top Pick for Best Lincoln Welding Helmet.
2. Lincoln Viking 1840 - Best Value
- 1/1/1/1 optical clarity rating
- Pivot style head gear distributes weight evenly
- Convenient external shade control
- 3-Year warranty
- External dial for shade level
Pros
- Light weight
- 4C natural color lens
- Includes a bag and lens protectors
- Comfortable headgear
- Solar rechargeable battery
Cons
- Only two arc sensors
Overview
The Viking 1840 offers the same 4C natural color technology and 1/1/1/1 optical rating as the Viking 3350 at a value price. The viewport isn’t quite as big, but it’s still pretty big at 6.9 square inches. The external grind mode provides instant adjustment down to shade level 3.5.
The digital controls are inside the helmet and provide adjustment between shade levels 9-13. Reaction time on this filter is 1/25,000th second, which is as fast as it gets. DC TIG sensitivity gets down to 3 amps, near the top of its class. With only two arc sensors, it’s possible you could flash yourself by blocking both of them at once.
Users love the headgear on this helmet. It’s got a pivot style connection to the rear cradle that fits under the back of the skull. This design distributes weight evenly and when combined with the light weight it gives you a helmet that’s easy to wear all day long. A 3-year warranty and similar features and benefits to our best choice bring home the Value Pick for the Viking 1840.
3. Lincoln K3419-1 Welding Helmet - Best Budget
- Auto Darkening 7-13
- Solar powered
- Variable delay and sensitivity controls
- Low battery warning light
- Automatic turn-on and shutoff
Pros
- Users like the comfortable headgear
- Lightweight helmet
- External dial for shades 7-13 and grind mode
- AAA batteries are easy to find
- Big 6.6 square-inch viewport
Cons
- Only has two arc sensors
- Reports of impacts on the external knob
Overview
The Lincoln 3419-1 is our budget pick for Best Lincoln welding helmet. It’s a lightweight helmet with 6.6 square inches of viewing area, pretty big for this price range. It comes with infinitely dial adjustable shade levels between 7 to 13 and the dial also has a shade level 3 grind mode.
With only two arc sensors there’s a chance you could block both of them while working and end up flashing yourself. Users are happy with its comfort level, but some feel the headgear is too cheaply made.
The sensitivity and reaction time are fully adjustable on this welding helmet and it’s sensitive enough for plasma and air carbon arc cutting. It’s suitable for TIG welding down to 5 amps. With solar power, easy to find AAA batteries, a low battery warning light and fast 1/25,000th-second reaction time, this helmet is a great buy at this price.
ANSI Z87.1, CSA Z94.3 standards compliance, hard hat compatible, two extra lens covers and a 2-year warranty give the Lincoln 3419-1 the Weld Guru Budget Pick trophy.
4. Lincoln Eliminator Welding Helmet
- Oversize sweatband for improved comfort
- Lightweight helmet
- External shade control
- Adjustable from shade level 7-13
- Solar powered
Pros
- Dial control is easy to reach
- 2 extra inside and outside lens covers
- Big viewport
- Good optical clarity
- AAA batteries are easy to find
Cons
- Some users report headgear won't stay tight
- Only 2 arc sensors
Overview
The K3320-2 Eliminator offers hard hat compatibility and comfortable headgear with a sweatband. The ADF has a fast reaction time of 1/25,000th of a second and the auto-darkening shade level is infinitely adjustable from 7 to 13, wider than what most helmets offer at 9-13.
The viewport is a respectable 6.6. square inches. Users are very happy with the optical quality and praise the Eliminator’s light weight. There are a few reports of problems with the headgear not keeping tight when adjusted. The K3320-2 Eliminator meets full ANSI Z87.1 and CSA Z94.3 safety standards compliance. Lincoln includes a test button for the ADF filter.
The external dial for shade level adjustment also doubles as a grind mode selector and it’s easy to use it while wearing gloves. Solar power is getting to be a standard feature in this class of helmet and the Eliminator does not disappoint in this regard. The AAA batteries add a little weight, but not enough to make a difference in comfort and it’s an easy size to keep stocked.
5. Lincoln K2933-1 Welding Helmet
- Continuously variable external control
- Switching speed 1/25,000 second
- Lens shade 9 to 13
- Solar powered
- AAA batteries
Pros
- Switching speed 1/25,000 second
- Dial type infinite adjustment
- Lightweight at 17 ounces
- Comfortable fit
- Two extra inside and outside lens covers
Cons
- Only has 2 arc sensors
- No grind mode
Overview
The Lincoln K2933-1 is a high-quality auto-darkening helmet at a great price. Weighing in at 17 ounces, it’s light enough to wear all day. This is yet another Lincoln offering with 6.6 square inches of viewport area, which is bigger than a lot of its competition. This helmet also offers fast 1/25,000th-second reaction time, which is actually faster than a lot of more expensive helmets.
There’s a test button to check the battery charge. Like the rest of the Lincoln helmets reviewed here, this one is also solar-powered. One issue with this helmet like some others here is that it’s only got two arc sensors, so you need to be careful not to block them both at the same time. Users report that the headgear is comfortable and they like the fact that it comes with a sweatband. The shell is hard hat compatible.
Owners mentioned that the graphics stand up well to the harsh welding environment. The helmet includes two extra lens covers to get you started. Lincoln backs this helmet with a 2-year warranty.
The Bottom Line
Lincoln Electric offers a wide range of high-quality auto-darkening welding helmets. We’ve examined five products here that feature big viewports, fast reaction times, lightweight and comfortable headgear.
Lincoln helmets make professional welding gear available to any budget. Even hobbyists who can’t justify professional prices can afford a great helmet from this selection. And all of the choices seen here come with substantial warranties.
Game Changers
Some of the features seen in these helmets are revolutionary. The 4C natural color technology probably provides the best view of the welding process available at any price.
When you take into account the difference 4C technology can make in your welding, our Budget Pick Lincoln Viking 1840 is an outstanding value.
However, in the end, we just can’t ignore the impact of 4C combined with the huge 12.5 square inches of viewport offered by the Weld Guru Top Pick for Best Lincoln Welding Helmet, the Lincoln Viking 3350.
Need More Info?
If you’re still deciding which brand of professional welding helmet is right for you, check out these Weld Guru Best Welding Helmet Reviews: