The Arista Tech HD has screen adjustments, but they’re located in a position where the head-gear can in-terfere with the process.

Esab released the new Aristo Tech HD welding helmet. The company claims that it is the first auto-darkening helmet with an optical class of 1/1/1/1 – the highest optical performance possible according to the EN 379 standard. Team FIN tested the helmet and rated it on a scale of 1 to 5.

The Aristo Tech HD has a variable 5-13 digital control that allows the operator to adjust shade level, sensitivity, and delay. Team FIN said the helmet’s reaction time is excellent, and the controls are straight-forward and simple to use. The only downside is the controls were at the top of the lens making them somewhat difficult to reach because of the headgear. The helmet features an X-TIG mode and a grind mode. The X-TIG mode reacts in low amp applications and works to eliminate sunlight interference, and the grind mode is activated at the lowest sensitivity setting.

Team FIN was most impressed by the helmet’s light weight. At only 1.14 lbs, the helmet is comfortable to wear for long periods of time. The helmet has a 3.9 x 2.4 in. LCD lens that provides good clarity while welding and is especially clear to see through when not welding. Team FIN’s only complaint about the lens is that it’s a bit cumbersome to remove and change.

The Aristo Tech HD features a matte carbon rubberized finish that is designed to resist cuts and scratches, but, even after a week of continual use, some of the finish was beginning to wear off in areas. The headgear is well-padded and exceptionally comfortable to wear. However, on the helmet Team FIN tested, the pin on the pivot arm for adjusting the headgear angle would slip out of the adjustment holes, which became a nuisance to the operator.

Overall, the Aristo Tech HD is a good auto-darkening helmet that does the job. It’s lightweight, comfortable, has a clear lens, and features easy-to-adjust settings. 

Rated: 4 out of 5

The ESAB welding helmet costs $314. For more about Esab, visit esab.com.