Nexgen vs Truesight

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Anyone use both the Jackson Nexgen and the Jackson Truesight hoods? I'm trying to decide between the two. I've had the chance to use the Nexgen and liked the color better than my curent Miller Elite. The two Jackson look very similar, but I'm having a hard time tracking down the exact differences between the two. Cost is not a deal maker on this one. My local guy doesn't stock the better hoods any more unfortunately. He just doesn't get the demand to keep them in stock. I almost grabed his Speedglas display last year for a spare at a stupid cheap price just to get it off the floor, but someone F'd him and swaped out the lense for a dead one when he wasn't looking one day.From what I can tell...The Truesight goes lower. Shade 5-13 vs the 9-13 on the Nexgen. Not a big deal since I don't usually need lower than a 9, but the ability to use it for OA wouldn't hurt.The batteries on the Truesight are AAA vs the Nexgen with the lithiums. Good and bad points on both. AAA's are easy to grab if the hood dies, but add to the weight of the hood most likely. I've run into issues with the Miller in the past, when the batteries went south and grabing a new set at 11pm wasn't really an option. Batteries don't die often enough to warant keeping a spare set on hand for a couple of months and hope they aren't dead also when I go to use them.Cover plates on the Truesight look to be unusual. Another down side of the Miller. The Nexgen's look to be easier to locate or fab in an emergency.Controls looked easier on the Truesight. I haven't been able to get a good look at the Nexgen controls since I used the hood a few weeks back to compare them exactly.Any thoughts on either of these or the other Jackson AD's? I'd like to get the best available for my money..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I haven't used the Truesight, but the NexGen I have, has a Shade 5 setting in the "torch" mode.  Just not shades 6, 7, and 8.  Outer cover plate is a 4" x 5" standard, inner could probably be made from one with a utility knife, but I just buy the ready-made ones.  Controls are easy to catch on to.
Reply:I posted a quick review...hereThe Truesight was bright "orange". I have used gold passive lenses and they are totally different than the orange color of the truesight. The 3A batteries don't add a lot of weight that you think they would. I'm just a blue/green guy and didn't like "orange". The Halo-X hood also didn't have enough coverage and was the flimsiest hood I've ever seen. After testing it for 1 hr, I sold it. The guy that bought it took the headband and lens out and tossed the hood in the trash. He put it in his other jackson hood.The 370 headgear was good, probably their best, but not as good as my 9100 headgear.The NexGen's I've tried didn't have amber view that I remember. I'm not sure if they changed them over the years or not.Some have stated that it's amber when not welding, then darkens to green when welding.Maybe someone that has a nexgen can settle those statements.The truesight takes special cover lenses. The inside lens was very thick and the way it's recessed should last a long time. I don't worry about paying for lenses. I figure if you are going to have a 250-350 dollar hood, why worry about a special $1.25 lens that protects your investment. Besides, I buy them in the bulk 5 or 10 pks and they last a year or better.Jackson's Truesight lens...here, and they were bought out by Kimberly-Clark and it says it on the lens.Edit: The inside protective lens also doubles as the mag lens holder. You can see it in the pic.Last edited by skelley521; 09-22-2011 at 07:59 PM.Semper FiJesus may have been a Carpenter, but his dad was a Millwright" A grinder and a can of paint, will make a welder what he aint' "I've done so much, with so little, for so long, that now I can do anything with nothing!
Reply:I just received the TruSight II. The large controls are a big plus! One thing...I figure a $300 hood should at least come packaged in a protective bag, and not just thrown in a box with open windows cut out... Also looks like mine was mislabeled as a W60 lens instead of W70??
Reply:Originally Posted by KWilliams40I just received the TruSight II. The large controls are a big plus! One thing...I figure a $300 hood should at least come packaged in a protective bag, and not just thrown in a box with open windows cut out... Also looks like mine was mislabeled as a W60 lens instead of W70??
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawYeah I just saw the truesight 2 advertized.   I have the original trusight, but the 2 combines the best of both worlds so it's on my wish list.    It's the Balder BH3 blue lens with all the features of the W60 lens.  (Cut and grind modes)  If the weld puddle color is amber then you got a truesight 1 and not 2.
Reply:I personally have the truesight and I love it but I haven't been able to use a nexgen to test against but I do like my truesight. I've tigged on it as low as 20 amps and if didn't flash me once
Reply:My Truesight II arrived today.   It's identical to the original except it says Truesight II on the actual lens assembly.   Can confirm it's the same lens color as the Balder BH3.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Jackson sent me an e-mail confirming that the lens is the new Balder technology...going by the serial number.