Good welding cap shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg. However, too cheap safety gear may end up getting hurt and that isn’t worth any amount of savings. There are multiple internet stores to check out and find a good manufacturer with a great product and customer service with a money back guarantee if the cap that you buy won’t suit you. Well-known manufacturers like Miller, Kromers, and Lincoln are easily accessible. But in your search for quality and reasonable price, you can find local manufacturers and even ask your wife to sew it (there are many sewing patterns available). Here you can find tips and advices helping you to choose the best welding cap that will satisfy all your needs.
Welding Caps Review
Revco Armor Cotton Welding Cap
Our rating:
Product details
Revco welding cap affords pure cotton double layer protection and have cap/doo rag/beanie design – all in one and one size fits all.
Review
“Cap/doo rag/beanie design” means an elastic band, it just stretches, but it won’t fit a large head. It’s pretty thick, the fabric is elastic and it’s pretty tight on the head. If you wear the cap all day long, it can be uncomfortable.
Cons
- It is cotton and it isn’t such flame resistant as a leather welders hat
- “One size fits all” doesn’t fit big heads, if the your skull circumference is 25″ and more, it will cut off circulation on your scalp
- There is no warning that you will receive only a partial refund if you try to return it
- The cap height seems to be too tall
Pros
- The price is nice
- The material is heavier than a lot of welding caps
- Just does it’s job
Conclusions
It fits better than a baseball cap and it’s more comfortable. Will fit with average sized head. The cap is not the best one, but does it purpose, is inexpensive, good-looking and not absolutely crap. I would advise you to pay a couple of dollars more and buy a better cap.
Riverweld Cap
Our rating:
Product details
Colorful washable welding caps made of pure cotton, head perimeter: 58cm, depth: 20cm
Review
The hats are tight for a is medium/large size and will fit small/medium (average) size.
Cons
- It has chemical smell, disappear after one wash
- The bill is small
Pros
- Looks cool
- Has a mesh like inside so your head breaths better
Conclusions
The size is smaller than usual. My opinion Revco Cap fits better, the material is thicker, and the hat is cheaper. But Riverweld hats look more fun, and maybe you’ll like it.
Lincoln Electric Welding Cap
Our rating:
Product details
100% cotton material, air-cushioned insert inside for perfect sweat absorbency. Flat-stitched seams for superior comfort, high crown design for better ventilation
Review
The cap has elastic band on the back, one size fits all – good on small head and stretches well. It is a good cap, long enough on the sides.
Cons
- Price
- This “All American Welding Cap” is made in China 🙂
- Fades in color if you wash it often
Pros
- Lightweight and comfortable cap
- Looks great
- Great ventilation and sweat adsorption
- It is pretty durable
Conclusions
Excellent quality welding cap, extremely comfortable and well-made. The price is almost twice higher than Revco, but it is still $10-$12. Not so expensive for a good and durable hat. And it looks just perfect. This is my favorite welding hat.
Lapco Welder’s Caps
Our rating:
Product details
100 percent cotton fitted welding caps with various colors and sewn with Nomex thread.
Comes in sizes: 6.5, 6.75, 6.875, 7, 7.125, 7.25, 7.375, 7.5, 7.625, 7.75, 7.875, 8 (crown).
Colors are: C=assorted, cb= black, cw= white, and cc= camo.
The crown height is approximately 6.5″
Review
Great caps for those, who don’t like stretching ones. You can choose from variety of sizes and it will fit well. And these caps don’t shrink – from slight to no shrinkage after hot wash. The hats are reversible, you can just turn it inside out and it will be an all black welding cap. And they don’t have a conehead look to them. The material is great, a bit thicker than the Comeaux brand.
Cons
- The earflap could be just a little smaller
- You should choose one size bigger, they seems to be smaller than usual
- Often arrives in random color/style
Pros
- They have all the sizes
- It last as long as any twice as expensive
Conclusions
The caps are very good quality for the price. Well made and wide sizes range available. If you have a big head there isn’t many choices, and this hat is really the best.
Miller Genuine Arc Armor
Our rating:
Product details
Made from pure cotton, low 6.5 inch crown with soft bill, reversible. Size 7-3/8″ (other sizes available)
Review
Good material and awesome design, Miller quality. You may use it to add some cushion to the welding hood or helmet. Lightweight skull caps sewn from six pieces to fit your head.
Cons
- Size seems to be larger than other brands
- Pretty expensive
Pros
- Great price
- Amazon offers way more choices for the designs and styles
Conclusions
Great product for a pretty high price. My choice is Lapco – it has a great sizes line, hats are cheaper and the quality is the same.
Welding Doo Rags
Lincoln Electric Flame-Resistant Welding Doo Rag
Our rating:
Product details
Flame-resistant doorag, ties in the back, so one size fits all. Made to protect the top of the head from welding sparks and heat.
Machine washable cotton, 9 ounce, with mesh lining for evaporation of perspiration
Review
The material is pretty thick and seems reliable. On the other side it may be too thick to wear under a welding helmet.
It performs much better protection than a ball cap and conforms to any head – you adjust it yourself with ties. If you have long hair and wear a ponytail, the tail of this covers your hear well.
Cons
- Ties tends to loosen up a little through the work day
Pros
- Unlike one-size welding caps it is comfortable for any welder, you can regulate the tension
- Durable fabric, well-made doo rag
- Reasonable price
- Looks great
- Little triangular flap covers your hair and neck
Conclusions
It is functional and good looking product, fits both smaller and bigger heads. Especially good when your welding overhead – protects what’s not covered by the welding helmet. If doo rag is your choice, Lincoln is the best one in my opinion.
AP Flame-Resistant Welding Doo Rag
Our rating:
Product details
Protects the head from welding spatter and heat, lightweight FR machine washable cotton. Ties in the back, one size fits all.
Review
The doo rag holds great and doesn’t slip off. Works well under a welding helmet and fits like a surgeon cap.
Conclusions
The design is similar to Lincoln doo rag, they look like the same product. You can just choose what you like more, I prefer Linkoln products.
Welding Hoods
AP Blue Flame Retardant Welding Hood
Our rating:
Product details
The hood is made of flame retardant cotton and
matches with all kinds of welding helmet, washable for dozens of times and keeps the FR rating.
Velcro closures, one size for all
Review
The hood provides good protection, thick enough and is well manufactured. Works great when welding in close places. As with any welding hood, you should have a way to stay cool or you will find yourself overheating.
Cooling vests are one option to cool yourself, but these can make some welders uncomfortable and increase fatigue. Instead, you may want to use a lighter cooling option like a cooling belt.
For example, this one from Miller Electric constant airflow over the welder’s head and face.
Cons
- Keeps the heat inside, you need find a way to stay cool
Pros
- Great protection
- Durable and washable material
- Keeps FR rating after many washes
Conclusions
Well-made hood, provides great head protection against arc flash hazards. Flame resistant material is durable and lightweight. An excellent product for those who need more safety.
AP Cowhide Leather Welding Hoods
Our rating:
Product details
The hood provides full head protection for welders, made of the pliable, abrasion and heat resistant, durable selected split cowhide leather.
KEVLAR thread adds durability and flame retardant to the product. Applied in welding, heat treatment, splash proof and other dangerous workplaces.
Review
Cowhide leather provides an excellent durability, dexterity, heat, and abrasion resistance. It can protect your head, neck and shoulders in the most extreme conditions.
Avoid water: leather tissue will swell with water, soft, resulting in deformation of the cover.
Cons
- It’s pretty heavy and stiff
Pros
- Maximum protection
- Durable material, kevlar thread
Conclusions
Cowhide leather provides maximum protection from sparks and heat. It is clear that for simple work you will not use such a heavy device. But it is indispensable for complex and dangerous works.
Welding Beanie
Lincoln Electric Flame-Resistant Welding Beanie
Our rating:
Product details
Flame-resistant beanie for protecting the top of your head from welding sparks and heat.
Made of cotton, cushions helmet for additional comfort.
Review
So comfortable you can forget your wearing it , fits nicely under helmet strap, keeps the errant sparks from burning your hair and scalp.
Fits snug and doesn’t move at all while welding. Seems to protect pretty well.
Cons
- Seems to be a little smaller than other
- Don’t cover your ears completely, only the very tips
Pros
- Inexpensive
- Very comfortable
- Light weight
Conclusions
Nothing special, low cost beanie that just does it’s work. Fits and keeps your head from getting burned. Great for under a welding helmet use.
Weldas FR Welder’s Beanie
Product details
Washable flame retardant cotton beanie. There is a small amount of elastic play in the back of the cap, so it is a little stretchy.
2 sizes available:
Large 7″ – 7 3/8″
X-Large 7 3/8″ – 7 3/4″
Review
The beanie fits good. Looks more of a cold weather helmet liner with a mouth and chin flap. It is nice if you don’t have a lot of hair.
Cons
- There isn’t enough air flow
- Pretty hot
- Shrinks after wash, order bigger size
Pros
- Fits good and is very comfortable
- Good quality
Conclusions
It is quite comfortable beanie, your welding helmet will stay put & secure a little better. It it will be great in the autumn and spring months due to its lack of ventilation.
Buying Guide
Welding caps design
A welding cap is made to make your head and neck covered against the sparks. Therefore, the design of the welding cap does is pretty much the same and not change for decades. Some manufacturers have their own variations, but all the caps have multi-panel design which is prevalent both in self-made and commercially-produced products.
All welding equipment should manage the heat, so the hats a usually made of pure cotton fabric. The thread stitching the cap should be fire-resistant and, as a rule, is cotton too. The cotton is also sweat-absorbing material, and it helps to cool the head and prevents the sweat from dripping into welder’s eyes.
The cap will better conform welder’s head if it has more panels. Extra strip that covers your ears and forehead helps to avoid trickling down and absorb more sweat. Two-sided caps are great. They are thicker and can have a (weird) print on the one side, and solid color on another. If your cap is nice fitting and well made, it is quite comfortable to wear everywhere, especially on solid color side 🙂
Be sure the cap is designed to cover your neck. And you’ll be amazed, how useful are flaps that can cover your ears, neck, and face. You can always pull down your hat over the top of the ear with the flap turned to cover your ear on the high side. When performing overhead welding, a welding cap with the flap to back will keep sparks from falling down to the back of your shirt.
Measuring your head
You can measure needed size with a soft tape by wrapping the measure right above your eyebrows all the way around the head. Or for you less domesticated men grab some string an wrap that around your head an measure with your regular tape measure.
Please Note:
- DO NOT PULL IT TIGHT!!!! Just remember that pulling the tape measure to tight will result in the hat not fitting correctly
- It is very important to check the size chart before buying the hat. Size charts may vary from company to company
- Even though all materials are pre-shrunk to minimize shrinkage there still is a chance that a hat may slightly shrink if washed in hot water, or dried in the dryer
Conclusions
Welding caps are part of your safety equipment. Safety supplies are important for successful welding business: high-quality welding closing, welding caps, gloves, and helmet are necessary for your safety and productivity. Nevertheless, finding good and reasonable price equipment is not so easy. There are many internet stores where you can purchase welding caps with one hundred percent satisfaction guarantee.
I really think that you should wear a welding cap. It is functional, pulled down tight enough and protects the whole head, face and neck from fiery welding sparks. If needed, the cap can be turn sideway and send fireballs out of your ears.
In conclusion, when looking to buy welding caps or any other safety gear you should always choose equipment that provides you enough safety and security. Think about your personal safety, and find something that’s manufactured to last and protect you. That way everyone using welding caps and safety gear can have a safe welding experience.