Optrel makes some of the world’s most advanced welding helmets on the market.
They feature amazing technology and thoughtful design.
However, these helmets can be expensive and you want to make sure you choose the right model for your needs.
We’ll make sure you’re up to speed with Optrel welding helmet range.
Take a look a the list of models below and make sure to read the buyers guide at the end to find out more about each series.
A Quick Comparison
Product | |||
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Image | Product | Details | |
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Optrel Crystal 2.0 |
Lightens gradually Automatic shade level Light and comfortable |
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Optrel Panoramaxx |
USB charging Huge view Automatic shade level |
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Optrel E684 |
Heat reflective paint Best optical clarity Respirator ready |
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Optrel Liteflip |
Flip up lens PAPR able Lighweight |
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Optrel VegaView 2.5 |
Fastest activation Light 17 oz weight True color viewing |
Best Optrel Welding Helmets With Reviews
Here's a list of the best Optrel welding helmets we found:
1. Optrel Crystal 2.0 Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet
- Automatic Welding Helmet
- Shade Levels 2.0/4-12
- Crystal Lens Technology
- ShadeTronic
- FadeTronic
Pros
- Lithium batteries
- Solar powered
- Grind mode
- Hard hat adapter available
- External control dials
Cons
- Some reports of arc flashing
- Easy to damage the grind button
Overview
The Optrel Crystal 2.0 Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet is a high-end helmet for professional welders. When it’s at rest in grind mode, it’s at shade level 2. Most helmets are at shade level 3 or 4 when in grind mode. That means it’s much more clear and well-lit in the resting state. Users frequently praise the comfortable headgear.
The auto-darkening process features shade levels 4 through 12. The Optrel Crystal 2.0 Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet equips this helmet with a “Twilight” feature that lightens the viewport gradually after welding stops. Autopilot is a feature that automatically adjusts the darkness level based on the brightness level of the arc. Sensor Slide changes the arc detection angle to prevent activation from other welders nearby.
The Optrel Crystal 2.0 also has the ability to adjust the darkness level or go to grind mode manually as well. Delay and sensitivity settings are controlled externally. Some users report issues damaging the grind mode button. The usual solution to this is turning down the shade level to the minimum setting. It’s got 1/1/1/1 optical clarity rating and true color technology for excellent vision, making it one of the best on the market.
2. Optrel Panoramaxx Auto Darkening Welding
- 10 square inches of viewport
- Cut to fit over nose
- True color technology
- Automated shade level 5-12
- 5 arc sensors
Pros
- USB-rechargeable power pack
- Includes a helmet bag
- IsoFit liner-style headgear
- Extra light grind mode
- 2-year warranty
Cons
- Poorly-written manual
- Curved lens reflections
Overview
The Optrel Panoramaxx Auto Darkening Welding Helmet has a fairly large viewport filter at 5 inches by 2 inches, and it’s shaped to fit over the bridge of your nose. This design moves the filter closer to your eyes for a larger viewing area. When the helmet is in grind mode, it’s operating at a 2.5 shade level, lighter than the usual level 3 grind mode.
This is a true color filter with 1/1/1/2 optical clarity for a great view. The Optrel Panoramaxx Auto Darkening Welding Helmet features the Autopilot system to control the shade level setting automatically according to the arc brightness. This system can be disabled to allow you to set shade levels manually. The Panoramaxx also has FadeTronic, a feature that lightens the filter gradually once you stop welding, rather than brightening all at once. This idea helps to limit eye fatigue.
One of the best features of the Optrel Panoramaxx Auto Darkening Welding Helmet is the IsoFit headgear, featured in every Optrel helmet. It’s an unconventional design with a liner-type design that resembles a bicycle helmet, resulting in great balance and comfort.
3. Optrel E684 ADF Welding Helmet
- Automatic shade level 5-13
- 1/1/1/1 optical clarity
- True color technology
- Solar charging
- Twilight gradual fade to light
Pros
- Heat reflecting paint
- Shade level 4 grind mode
- 3000 hours battery life
- PAPR compatible
- External controls
Cons
- Doesn’t always stay raised
- Viewport recess reflects light
Overview
The Optrel E684 ADF Welding Helmet is a professional welding helmet with top quality optics rated at 1/1/1/1 optical clarity. This helmet has shade level controls that automatically adjust between levels 5-13. Automatic adjustment can be overridden if you prefer adjusting shade levels yourself. Grind mode on the E684 is shade level 4. Delay, sensitivity and grind mode controls are external, allowing operation of the helmet without removing it.
This helmet features true color technology for a better, more realistic view of the weld puddle, providing a real opportunity to improve your weld quality. The Optrel E684 ADF Welding Helmet recharges the batteries using solar power and the light from the welding arc. Battery life is advertised at 3000 hours of operation. Some users expressed issues with the hood staying in the raised position, and others report distracting reflections from the substantial shelf-like inset for the viewport.
The Optrel E684 ADF Welding Helmet is compatible with Optrel’s E3000 Powered Air Purifying Respirator, or PAPR helmet system. It’s finished with silver heat reflecting paint that minimizes heat and temperature transfer from the environment to the interior of the helmet.
4. Optrel Liteflip Autopilot Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet
- Flip-up lens
- Automatic shade 5-14
- PAPR compatible
- True color viewport
- 1/1/1/2 optical clarity
Pros
- Lightweight 1.2 pounds
- Twilight slow fade from dark
- Shade level correction
- Grind mode shade level 4
- Includes helmet bag
Cons
- Doesn’t seal when closed
- Non-standard lens covers
Overview
This helmet features a flip-up lens with true color technology for real world colors while you weld. The Optrel Liteflip Autopilot Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet uses Autopilot automatic shade level, maintaining darkness level according to the brightness of the welding arc and lighting conditions. You can correct the shade level manually by 1-2 levels plus or minus to suit your preferences.
The Optrel Liteflip Autopilot Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet has a large 8 square inches of viewing area on the flip lens and 10 square inches on the clear viewport underneath. Unfortunately, the flip lens doesn’t seat completely against the viewport, leaving a gap that lets smoke cloud the lens. That means you’ll need to stop and clean the lens occasionally. Optrel probably left the gap to minimize viewport wear. The lens covers are a non-standard size and the only supplier is Optrel.
The helmet is very light at 1.2 pounds and has the IsoFit headgear with a cap-like design. These features make the Optrel Liteflip Autopilot Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet quite comfortable. The flip lens also features the Twilight system that lightens the lens gradually after the arc stops.
5. Optrel VegaView 2.5 Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet
- PAPR option
- 4X more light
- 1/1/1/2 optical clarity
- True color viewport
- Auto shade from 8-12
Pros
- Ultra light 17 oz
- Grind mode shade 2.5
- IsoFit headgear
- 1/1,000,000 sec activation
- Comes with a helmet bag
Cons
- Narrow shade range
- Doesn’t always lighten well
Overview
The Optrel VegaView 2.5 Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet is the world’s fastest auto-darkening welding helmet, with a reaction time of one-millionth of a second. This helmet uses the Autopilot system uses the Optrel Autopilot automatic shading system from shade levels 8-12, which is actually a little narrow. Everything’s a compromise and this is how Optrel gets that fast reaction time. Some high-amperage welding really should use a shade level 13, so this was a sore point with some owners.
This is another helmet that’s available in a version with the E3000 PAPR respirator system. The Optrel VegaView 2.5 Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet comes with a true color lens for a great view of the weld, especially with nice 1/1/1/2 optical clarity. The grind mode is at shade level 2.5, which is over 4 times lighter than the industry average.
The Optrel VegaView 2.5 Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet comes with a helmet bag. Some users report that the helmet doesn’t always lighten reliably after the arc stops without pushing the reset button. The IsoFit headgear is light, comfortable and highly adjustable. This is a very light helmet at just over a pound.
Buyer’s Guide to Optrel Helmets
Optrel offers five different design series. Each series represents a different approach to problem-solving welding helmet technical questions.
Four of these series consist of a few different price points. One, the LiteFlip Series, has only a single model.
We’ve only covered three series, because they’re aimed at professional production workers and serious DIY craftsmen.
Of the other two series, one is more amateur oriented and the other is a special type.
Optrel Design Technologies
Here are the features available from Optrel.
- CLT: Crystal Lens Technology is Optrel’s name for true color filters. CLT filters are the brightest available.
- Autopilot automatically chooses the shade level according to arc brightness. You can override it with a manual choice.
- ShadeTronic filters continuously adapt to changing arc conditions to maintain the same shade level chosen by Autopilot.
- FadeTronic adapts to afterglow conditions continuously while returning to its light filter state.
- Twilight: This feature lets you adjust how long the filter takes to fade gradually from dark to light.
Panoramaxx Series
The hallmark of the professional Panoramaxx Series is a patented design that’s mostly distinguished by a filter with a nose cutout.
This makes for a goggle-shaped filter instead of a rectangle.
Because of the clearance over the bridge of your nose, the filter sits closer to your face, delivering a bigger field of view than most helmets.
- All Panoramaxx helmets offer Autopilot, Twilight, ShadeTronic and FadeTronic.
- Panoramaxx CLT has shade level 2 in the light state up to level 12 and 1/1/1/2 optical clarity.
- Panoramaxx 2.5 doesn’t have CLT and it’s at level 2.5 in the light state. Also 1/1/1/2.
- Panoramaxx Quattro has shade levels 3-13 and 1/1/1/1 optical clarity.
Sphere Series
The Sphere Series is Optrel’s workhorse professional selection. These helmets have the standard rectangular filter at 8 square inches. Controls are located on the outside.
Crystal 2.0 has CLT, shade level 2-12, Autopilot, Twilight, ShadeTronic and FadeTronic.
e684 has no CLT, shade level 4-13, 1/1/1/1 optics, Autopilot, Twilight, ShadeTronic and FadeTronic.
Vegaview 2.5 has shade level 2.5-12 and manual shade level adjustment without automated features except standard auto-darkening.
Liteflip Series
There’s one professional model, featuring Autopilot with ShadeTronic, shade levels 4-14 and it’s at level 1 when flipped up.
Conclusion
We’ve selected the Crystal 2.0 as the best choice overall in this guide because it incorporates nearly every available Optrel feature at a reasonable price range, considering its serious professional intent.
The e684, although lacking CLT, does offer 1/1/1/1 optical clarity.
The Panoramaxx 2.5 is in the same price range as the e684, but has the larger viewport with the goggle shape.