3m speed glass or jackson nex gen

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i have narrowed it down to these two. tell me which is the better hood i have used both an i like both and cant make my mind up. ive never owned a auto darkening hood and have decided i want one. thanks for any insightComplete Fabrication Shop specializing in pipe fabrication. Also offering heavy steel fabrication and sheet metal work.
Reply:I'm a big fan of speedglass.  The things I like most about it is the vent(prevents fog-ups), side windows(you dont get such a claustrophobic feeling after hours of your hood being down and you can watch for hazzards), the sensitivity is awsome with only 2 sensors(comparable to 4 sensors like the nex gen, although 4 do have an advantage to really bad weldment placement), the control buttons are on the bottom of the screen so you don't go though inner plastics as much from reaching over when you are wearing the hood, it has the lightest 'ON' shade of all the hoods I have used(jackson, miller, hobart and optrel. In front of a light, you can test this by tapeing solar cell to the inside of the lens and using a volt meter.)  and the 9002x has good head gear.  On the head gear note, it has one of the worst mechanisms to hold the hood in the up position.  I've retrofited it with a replacement head gear kit from jackson.  I have tons of hours on my speedglasses over the years and not as many on the jackson next gen, so I'll let someone argue that side.    Hope this helps a little.-MikeCommon sense in an uncommon degree is what the world calls wisdom.
Reply:thanks sorry it took so longComplete Fabrication Shop specializing in pipe fabrication. Also offering heavy steel fabrication and sheet metal work.
Reply:I've had/have both hoods, and they each had/have pros and cons.I had my speed glass for about 1 1/2 years and loved all but the head gear.Kept fighting it, could'nt get it to adjust right and  kept loosening up at the wourst times. killed it when i was holding/fitting with one hand mig gun in other and slung my hood down with my head, hood fliped off and smacked the lense on the end of a sledge hammer handle and to my supprise busted it as simple as that. Talk about timeing, about 15 min. later  a salesman that keep comeing by the shop trying to sell the latest and best can't live without welding equipment and supply's just so happen to have a nex-gen in his truck.He tells me "here try it for a week and see what you think" and i hav'nt look back sence.I love the 3-1 mode on the hood 1 for grinding 1 for cutting (shade 5) 1 for welding (shades 9-13).thats been a few yrs. back and the only problems  i've  had is when the humidity is just right it has fogged up a little, but i could count the time's on one hand.Sorry for the long storie telling, just my experiance.hope this helps.P.S. That salesman has got a lot of my $$$$ with his show up and try it for a week sales pitch. Lee
Reply:I have looked at a lot of them and I have worn Jackson and Optrel.  After doing Optrel I would not even consider another helmet.DonScottsdale, AZwww.savagesun4x4.comMiller 180Hypertherm Powermax 30