AntraTrue Color Auto Darkening Welding Helmet - Large Window 13.5 Sqi, Wide Variable Shade 4/5-13, Low TIG Amp Rating 2A - Precision Protection for Welding Excellence

I started welding school and was told first thing...dont buy a hood off amazon. It will break and you cant go to a local store and buy a replacement part.. so i did it anyway. Glad i did. This hood has worked amazing for me. It darkens instantaneously, has an extreamly clear and easy to see out of window. The controls are wonderful. Only nitpicky things i could fault it for is that the headgear is alittle cheap and not super comfortable. And the "check battery function" isnt really a function...but ive been using this 8 hours a day, every day, for the past 6 months and i think its worth every penny i spent. Great hood.

Work great, fast response. I like the wide range of shade settings available, great for low current TIG and still can be dark enough for high current welding. My last helmet was 9 to 14, 9 was just a bit dark for some of what I was doing, no longer a problem.The other thing I like is the large view port. Last helmet was much smaller. Never thought it was an issue until I tried this helmet. The extra view really nice to have.This helmet requires batteries to work, the last one I had did not. It fails dark ( according to the manual ) which is good, unless it dies while doing a weld ....Pleased with the purchase

For the cost and viewing size, this helmet was my second choice, but my first choice wasn't available.The large viewing size, the grinding mode and the dual setting for shade levels were things that were appealing.It works well. I didn't find a problem so much with the headband, as the pivot point that keeps the hood up.It doesn't hold the hood up very well when it is flipped up. Any movement and the hood starts to drop down.Which really isn't too much of a problem, but could be improved.The large viewing area is great, especially for older eyes.All of the setting have really tiny imprinting that indicates what they are, so it makes it very difficult to see which button/switch does what.Not a deal breaker, but kind of aggravating.The plastic is pretty flimsy. Time will tell how well it holds up to daily use, but it hasn't cracked yet, so that is probably a good thing.The range of the shade levels is great for when you are MIG/TIG welding to stick welding. But again, it's hard to see the numbering on the shade dial.For the money, it's a great deal.

Day 1 review:This thing is amazing. I was using a well-loved 2nd hand helmet with a very small lens (probably 1"x3" or 1.5"x3.5"), so I would always have to move my head and/or bend my neck sharply depending on what I was doing. The lens on the Antra is huge! I almost feel like I'm wearing my sunglasses because of the wide viewing angle.The grind mode is extremely helpful, too. Don't even need to take off the helmet, which is even more convenient than I was expecting. Protip: Don't forget to change it back to weld mode when you're done! Even at shade 5, the arc is absolutely blinding. I accidentally arc flashed myself twice because I'm not used to being able to use the mask for grinding and welding. Not going to dock any points because of user error. Hopefully I won't make that mistake again.The mask comes with 5 exterior lens protectors and 1 interior, but I went ahead and ordered another set (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00CILLEV8/ref=cm_cr_ryp_prd_ttl_sol_1) so I'd have them on hand since this brand isn't sold locally.The solar charging is very helpful, but moreso, the batteries are replaceable when they finally give out.Antra has a sticker inside the helmet giving you both part numbers and amazon stock numbers for replacement parts.It may be made in china, but the build quality seems acceptable so far. The mask is surprisingly thin and the plastic bends very easily, but while welding/grinding, it does a very good job protecting my face. I haven't seen any signs of damage from heat or molten metal, but I did get a few light scratches on the lens protector when I was wiping off metal shavings.There really isn't much more I can say at this point, but I will try to update my review after using it for a little while.Update: After using the helmet a few weeks, I still highly recommend it. Yes, it may feel flimsy, but is it very good at protecting my face. Even though it isn't rated for overhead welding, I had to do an overhead weld or 2 with it and there are no burnt/melted spots on it at all. Lots of grinding and welding as well...you can hardly tell it's been used, except for the lens. There's a few scratches from absentmindedly wiping something off with my gloves.It might be a chinese off-brand, but it is definitely worth the money! Added a few pictures, too.

Head gear is decently comfortable, just not very durable. Get some new cushions for the top head band and a foam strip for the back band it's perfect.

I have had this for like 2 months now. And im loving it. The headgear isnt the best but works ok. Cheap and easy upgrade to do if you desire. The window is wide and clear when welding. Im not a pro welder. But work for a Construction company as their fleet mechanic. And some days I have to fab stuff up or fix dump bodies or gates that guys busted up. And i haven't had any problems with it. And no signs of welders flash. I also love the grinding mode. So I dont have to always switch my masks. I would definitely buy again.

The helmet appears to have been used or disused before being sent. Inside lens was dirty and outside lens was very scratched up. Never put it on. Never turned it on. Returned. Bought something else.

Really happy with the Antra AH7-869-001X welding helmet...Best welding helmet I have owned. Has not once flashed me...Head gear is comfortable and has not came loose on me and it is VERY adjustable. I don't have anything negative to say about it. It also comes with plenty of extra clear lenses for the exterior and interior. If I had a gripe of any kind it would be that it didn't come with a bag to store it in when not in use. I would HIGHLY recommend it to anyone considering purchasing it...You will not be disappointed.

i havent used any other auto darkening helmets but this one really works great and has really made welding a lot easier for me. Just a home use mask but for the garage ive been really happy with it

So far so good! Only have one long session with it so far, but it's working like a champ. Packaged well, easy to assemble/adjust, good quality. Love the different settings, battery check, and grinding function. Wide angle view is much better than my previous helmet.

I used this one at home for mig and tig. Nicer lense then my $400 snap on helmet I use at work. When that one finally stops working Ill buy another one of these.

I love this helmet! The size of the glass was perfect!