Welding jackets are the most important personal protection equipment for a welder. If you are already into welding, you must know the importance of owning a best fire resistant welding jacket to ensure your protection. If not, let me make it very clear that without proper safety gear you are not going to go much further in your welding career without hurting yourself.
Finding the best fire resistant welding jacket might be a difficult task as there are a number of options available out there. To ease that for you, here is a review of the best welding jackets that suit your needs of protection best and provide safety from heat and burns as well as UV and IR radiation.
Best welding jackets in 2023
Following are the four best welding jackets from some of the top welding equipment manufacturers in the industry:
Black Stallion 220CS Cowhide Welding Cape – The best welding jacket overall
Black Stallion is a big name when it comes to welding equipment. Undoubtedly, their welding jackets are the best as well. Black Stallion has been producing the most affordable, durable and highly protective welding jackets for a long time. Black Stallion 220CS Cowhide Welding Cape is one of them.
Coming at a reasonable price, it is the best welding jacket if you need to perform heavy-duty welding tasks in any of the seasons throughout the year. With this capability, you do not need to worry about UV burns at all, no matter how long you are going to work. Most welders who work in industries need a high-quality welding jacket and they come at a higher price as well. This is the least expensive yet highest quality jacket to get.
Whether you are doing industrial or commercial welding, you are protected from all burning metal problems with this welding jacket by Black Stallion. It has a very nice fit if you get one according to your size.
It is best to get for household welding as well as it fits well in all weathers (except when it is really hot) and saves you from any risk of burning especially as you are relatively less skilled at welding in the beginning of your career. One thing you might need with it is the right gloves as its arms are not long enough to cover your hands.
Overall, Black Stallion 220CS Cowhide Welding Cape is the best option to consider if you need an all-rounder welding jacket that is extremely safe. For really hot weather I would consider buying a pair of welding sleeves, I have a post about them here.
Pros:
- Best for industrial work
- Durable
- Perfect for all seasons
- Worth the price
Cons:
- Might get a little too hot in the summertime
Miller Electric 2241909 – The best welding jacket for hot weather
Miller Electric is known to produce the best welding jackets. Miller Electric combines the key features that are needed in the fire-resistant jackets and produce gear accordingly.
It comes with a high level of protection during summers. With a composition of 88% cotton and 12% nylon, it is the most lightweight welding jacket. Also, this combination of cotton and nylon makes it highly durable. And it is not expensive either. Overall, it is the best welding jacket for hot weather.
Due to these great specs, you do not need to rely on any other welding jacket for summer use. The cotton and nylon make it perfect to be worn over your regular summer clothes without feeling very hot and uncomfortable. It provides great ease and comfort so you can continue working without breaks.
Another good thing is that it has a high neck collar and a good arm fit up to wrists. This makes it very protective so it can deliver the main purpose. However, the material cannot help with highly intense sparks and they can damage the jacket, if not the body.
Overall, it is a great choice when it comes to the best welding jacket for hot weather.
Pros:
- Great body fit
- Durable and affordable
- Best for hot weather
Cons:
- Not good for heavy welding jobs
Lincoln Electric K2989 – The best welding jacket for winters
Lincoln Electric is a well-reputed brand when it comes to welding equipment. It delivers a high degree of strength and protection. The best thing about Lincoln Electric is that it manufactures welding jackets keeping in view the needs of the welders. So the best welding jacket by Lincoln Electric in terms of durability and heavy welding jobs is Lincoln Electric K2989 Heavy Duty Leather Welding Jacket.
It’s leather material makes it very durable, powerful and suitable to be used in colder climates as well. Interestingly, it has a super stitch. Its triple stitched seams make it stronger and prevent fraying. The best thing about the K2989 Heavy Duty Jacket is that it has a long neck and sleeves to cover your neck and the wrists. It serves a dual function as it saves you from the chilly weather as well as burns and sparks that might catch your neck and hands.
The collar fit is however optional. If you feel heated up, you can take it off. With a long 32-inch body covering and zippers for convenience to wear and take off, this has proved to be a convenient jacket for heavy welding jobs.
However, as it is a heavy-duty jacket and is made of leather, it might be a little too heavy for some. Also, it cannot be worn in warm weather as it can be really hot and uncomfortable. That is why it is specifically chosen for heavy welding especially in colder weather.
Overall, it is the best welding jacket to get if you live in an area that has a cold climate most of the year and requires a durable welding jacket for heavy welding purposes.
Pros:
- Best for winters
- Heavy-duty jacket
- Durable and strong
Cons:
- Uncomfortable in summers
BSX BX9C Black – The most affordable welding jacket
BSX is a well-known welding equipment manufacturing company. Over the years, it has been making the most affordable products in the market for welding purposes. BX9C Cotton Welding Jacket is one of them.
It is the least expensive welding jacket out there with all the main specs and features that must be present in a high-quality welding jacket. It is designed to provide comfort and convenience to the welder. Allowing for maximum movability, the welder is free to work with this flame-resistant welding jacket.
In addition to this, it provides maximum coverage at this low price. The neck and wrists are all covered to ensure maximum safety and protection from burns, sparks and harmful heat waves and dangerous rays.
Moreover, the cotton material makes it very lightweight that contributes more to its flexibility. Overall, it is Amazon’s top choice due to its high selling rate and the features it presents at such a low price.
However, you might want to consider other options if you need a welding jacket for a heavy-duty welding job in a colder climate.
Pros:
- Highly affordable
- Durable and flexible
- Maximum coverage and protection
Cons:
- Not suitable for heavy welding
- Not suitable for colder climate
Choosing the best jacket for welding – the ultimate buying guide
When it comes to choosing the best welding jacket for yourself, there are a lot of factors you need to take into consideration. The best welding jacket must be fire-resistant, durable, thermally insulated, electrical resistant, convenient to use, and should be enough to protect from heat. Before we delve into the important factors to be kept in mind while buying a welding jacket, you must know what the main types of welding jackets are that you can choose from.
Types of Fire-resistant jackets:
Welding jackets are categorized into different types on the basis of material used in their manufacturing. The best welding jackets are manufactured with high-quality fire-resistant material as well as from thermal materials to ensure insulation. Different materials have different degrees of quality and so, the price and durability highly depends on the quality of the material. Following are the main types of welding jackets:
- Cotton welding jackets: Cotton welding jackets are the most important type of welding jackets and these are most in demand. These are the most affordable jackets and are very flexible and lightweight. They are best for areas with warmer climates. As the cotton material itself is flammable, it is understood that cotton welding jackets are less resistant to fire. However, manufacturers have made sure that they are chemically altered to be fire-resistant.
It would not be wrong to say that cotton is best for protection. But as cotton is not very durable, it is often mixed with nylon fibers and then used for manufacturing of welding jackets. Overall, they are a good option for welding jackets.
- Leather welding jackets: Leather is the most durable material for welding jackets. Its abilities of thermal resistance and fire resistance have no match with any other welding jacket material. There are two further types in leather welding jackets: top grain and split grain. They have different cutting and tanning methods but both ensure that they do not cause any kind of skin irritation.
One thing to keep in mind is that leather jackets are not suitable if you are working in a warmer climate and they do not provide any ease in such situations.
- Nylon/Kevlar welding jackets: The combination of nylon and Kevlar produces extra fine material to manufacture a welding jacket. This material is excellent to prevent skin burns. It is suitable for all industrial and heavy-duty welding purposes as they need extensive protection from burns. Also, these are highly flexible and breathable. You can consider this chemical composition while getting the best welding jacket for yourself.
Now, after getting a deep insight into different types of jackets, you can choose the best one that falls in accordance with all the following factors:
Your work climate:
If you are going to work in a warmer climate, you need to make sure that the welding jacket does not exhaust you. For that, you need a lightweight material in summers. Cotton, nylon and nylon/Kevlar welding jackets are most suitable for summers. That is why we chose Miller Electric 2241909 as the best welding jacket for hot weather.
On the other hand, if you are going to work in a colder climate, it is better to get a welding jacket that saves you from the cold as well as from burning sparks. It saves you from pulling on your welding jacket over your regular winter jacket to keep yourself warm and cozy. Usually, leather welding jackets are suitable for winters. That is why we chose Lincoln Electric K2989 Heavy Duty Leather Welding Jacket as the best welding jacket for winters.
Overall, cowhide welding jackets are suitable if you want to get an overall welding jacket and cannot spend separately on two different welding jackets for summers and winters.
Type of welding:
Another important factor that contributes to choosing the best welding jacket for yourself is keeping in view the type of welding you are going to perform. The type of welding helps in determining the degree of protection you need. Different types of welding have different levels of danger they pose.
Most commonly, there are four different types of welding:
- Shielded metal arc: It is the common welding type that produces an electric arc between stick and metal.
- Gas metal arc/Metal Inert Gas (MIG): This welding is done for industrial applications.
- Flux-cored arc: This is a semi-automatic arc type that is used in construction projects.
- Gas Tungsten arc/Inert Tungsten Gas (TIG): The welder needs the highest form of protection from its sparks and it has most chances of causing burns.
With shielded metal arc welding, the arm must be sufficiently protected. For this, make sure you choose the one that has the same material on its arms as of the rest of the body. With TIG welding, movability and portability are highly needed so the welding jacket must be movable, lightweight, and flexible. In the case of MIG welding and flux-cored arc, both of these are used in industrial and construction works so the material must be highly protective as well as convenient to use.
In most cases, a welder is performing all the kinds of welding whenever and wherever needed. In this case, one needs to buy a welding jacket that is equally useful in all the cases and does not pose any risks. For this very reason, we chose Black Stallion 220CS as it is an all-rounder welding jacket in terms of protection, strength, flexibility, and convenience.
Durability:
What’s the point of spending so many dollars on your welding jacket if it becomes useless after just a few times use? So it is better to make sure that the welding jacket you are going to buy is durable. All the jackets mentioned above are highly durable especially Lincoln Electric K2989.
Cost:
Affordability is the main point of focus for a lot of welders. Many average earning welders are not capable of getting an expensive welding jacket. Therefore, there is a need to get one that has a reasonable price and includes all the main features as well. BSX BX9C is one of the most affordable welding jackets as per our research.
The best welding jacket – frequently asked questions
It will last as long as its material is fine and it does not show any wear and tear. High-quality welding jackets are made up of good material therefore, they will not show wear and tear anytime soon. Usually, welding jackets last from two years to even a lifetime. You can check the warranty card for further assurance.
They come in different standard sizes. Usually, you can easily get small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes in welding jackets. The best way to get to know which size is right for you is by matching your chest measurement with the size chart of the product. If the jacket fits your chest, it will most probably fit best to your body overall.
The material has to be chosen according to the climate you are going to work in. If you are going to work in a cold climate, leather is the best material for you. However, if you are working in a warmer climate, cotton is the best material to get. Overall, all the materials are good as long as they have high quality and protect you.
Mostly, the price is under $100. Some even cost within $50. However, if you are getting a quality leather jacket, the cost may go over $200 as well. Usually, the cost depends on the material and its quality.
Both material of the welding jacket, as well as ease of its use, are very significant factors. However, more importance should be given to convenience as if you are not comfortable while doing your job, there is an increased risk of dangers and catching sparks. As far as material is concerned, you do not necessarily need to buy leather for ultra-protection. Many of the cotton welding jackets come with fire-resistant qualities that will save you from burns and keeping you from sweating.
Conclusion
Safety comes first and so fire-resistant gear is a must for welders. There must be no compromise over getting the best PPE for yourself.
Therefore, provided above is a complete insight into the welding jackets along with the ultimate guide to on how to choose the best welding jacket. If you consider all of the above-mentioned factors before getting a new fire-retardant jacket for yourself, it will prove to be worth it. If you are too lazy for that, you can consider any of the four listed in this post. You are not going to regret the money you spend on any one of these.
Happy welding!
