Jackson BOSS or Nexgen?

[CaptainWilly]

Need to replace my helmet...

Opinions? I used a nexgen but have never used a BOSS... only reason I'm thinking of switching to the BOSS is the slightly bigger viewing area but there has to be a catch since it still sells cheaper than the nexgen.

Like to hear some opinions and I know you all got some.



also, just to cause an argument... should I look at speedglass or just stick to jackson? (im not gonna spend more than 300 bucks so those rediculus expensive speedlgass helmets are out)

[DesertRider33]

I thought about going with a Nexgen or a Boss for my extra auto hood, but decided to stick to what I know works well for me, the EQC Pro Variable. I'll be interested to hear what others have to say about the Nexgen and the Boss.

[tpeerson]

CaptainWilly... did you find anything out about the BOSS?

[littlefuzz]

Those EQC's are nice too but a little heavy. I've been very happy with all of the miller hoods I've had (3 so far) The XLIX and the BWE are both great hoods worth looking into.

[MigTigStick]

Hi
New to the site. I was looking around for some reviews on the new lens I purchased 3 weeks ago the jackson boss and ran acrossed this fourm. So I figured I could give my opionion on the lens. Iv used a jackson journeyman for 6yrs now I think its the smallest eqc jackson makes but its been a great eqc lens Iv abused the heck out of it for the last 6yrs its took a lickin and kept on working without a hitch. Still works perfectly. So when i decided to buy a new auto no question about it I was buying a jackson. I was in the same deal as you do I buy the boss or nexgen. Heres a couple of the reason I bought the boss. The company I work for supplies the batteries for my lens cuz it runs off of 2 AAAs. I dont have to buy expensive lithuium batteries. It dosent look it on the net but the boss has a much bigger window than the nexgen. Being the largest Eqc lens out was a big selling point for me. So far the lens has been great I like it alot but it is a heavy lens I didnt notice it tho until I tryed on my buddys miller. It does bother me but it might bother some people. Hes some reason you might was a nexgen instead of a boss. It only has 2 senors at the top the nexgen has 4, 2 at the top 2 at the bottom. Sometimes when im welding I will block the senors and have to ajust my head or move my arm out of the way while welding I think it would happen less with the nexgen not that it happens much about 3 times in the last 3 weeks. I burn alot of wire to about 5 60lb spools a week. They both have the 3N1 mode weld grind torch. I cant really tell not difference between the grind and torch mode I torch on the grind mode when Im in a hurry or grind on the torch mode what ever mold it lands on. I dont like taking off my hood the switch modes I have to wear a hardhat and its more of a pain than regular head gear when in a hurry so I have to reach in a find the mode button. On the boss its at the top and on the nexgen its at the bottom a much easier place to hit it if you dont like taking it off to switch modes.
Will that my 2 cents hope it helps alittle

[littlefuzz]

I also have one of the journeyman lenses. Those suckers will take some abuse!

[MigTigStick]

Yeah Iv spiked my journeyman on the shop floor several times sent it flying into a wall a few times too on them bad days when nothing would go right. Havent been mad enough to throw my boss yet I think it will break if I do any of the above. I think ill spike the persons hood closest to me if I get the urge to chunk my hood :D

[CaptainWilly]

I stuck with the nexgen, I tried the boss and the viewing area is nicer but at the cost of giving up the solar panel.

In reality, I dont see a need for a bigger viewing area then the nexgen, and not having a solar panel I'd be worried about the batteries in the boss dieing on me while im out working.

I also tried the miller elite, WAAAAY better headgear. If you could combine the nexgen lens and elite helmet you'd have the perfect setup. The nexgen lens is better than the elite lens hands down.

Also if you do anything besides sit in a welding booth and dont move, don't get a halo-x... Very light but man are they flimsy. I ended up ditching the halo-x for my old shadow because it got all bent to hell after a week.

[Jonesy70]

I use a nex gen with a shadow or with my sellstrom hood...the selstron gives me just alittle more neck protection then my shadow but the hood is flimsy like the halo-x...so i care both and switch the lense between hoods. The boss just doesn't have the digital display and I think it is all battery and it is short a sensor

[DesertRider33]

If you're worried about batteries, dont. The 2 AAA's in my EQC Pro Variable lasted about 3 months on average under heavy use (continuous 40+ hr/week high-volume production welding), over a period of 4 years. Now that I'm not welding like a mad-man on the production line anymore, the batteries have lasted over 4 months so far. :)

[bebo]

I bought a BOSS about a year ago. I used it only for tig welding, never dropped it or abused it in any way, and after about 30 hours of use it started malfunctioning. The folks at Jackson were very easy to deal with and sent me a replacement. Again after a short time it started malfunctioning again, so they sent me a nexgen instead. I think the nextgen is worth the extra cash. The large viewing area on the boss was a major selling point, but it is so far towards the bottom of the helmet, it is kind of wasted. Besides that the color changes when viewing at that kind of angle. The nexgen also goes to a shade 13 , the boss a 12. One thing I didn't anticipate on the nexgen is the magnetic arc sensing function will react to other things. I was tacking up some parts and hammering the tacks to tighten the fitup on some warped sheet, and every time I would swing the hammer the lens would go dark. It got annoying pretty quick.

[Jonesy70]

I bought a BOSS about a year ago. I used it only for tig welding, never dropped it or abused it in any way, and after about 30 hours of use it started malfunctioning. The folks at Jackson were very easy to deal with and sent me a replacement. Again after a short time it started malfunctioning again, so they sent me a nexgen instead. I think the nextgen is worth the extra cash. The large viewing area on the boss was a major selling point, but it is so far towards the bottom of the helmet, it is kind of wasted. Besides that the color changes when viewing at that kind of angle. The nexgen also goes to a shade 13 , the boss a 12. One thing I didn't anticipate on the nexgen is the magnetic arc sensing function will react to other things. I was tacking up some parts and hammering the tacks to tighten the fitup on some warped sheet, and every time I would swing the hammer the lens would go dark. It got annoying pretty quick.

just change the sensitivity...I had simular issues when I first got mine...problem solved and i feel its the best auto I have ever owned...and I have had several

[bebo]

I tried every possible setting on the sensitivity dial. The folks at Jackson told me it was a malfunctioning capacitor. Oh yeah, and don't use rechargeable batteries. Apparently their voltage fluctuates too much.

[StillBoostin]

Great thread. Thanks for saving me the time and the money. I was about to pull the trigger and get the Boss. Glad I did a search and found this thread.

James

[ByrdDog]

I'm glad I saw this.

I Am going back to work after being out awhile from surgery. I wastrying to decide between the Boss or Nexgen for a new helmet.

I think I'll pick up the nex gen this weekend.

[ironman715]

The NEXGEN EQC is the way to go bro. I use one every day out in the field welding innershield and stick. Its durable and has the 3N1 weld, burn, grind feature which is nice. Also the jackson stuff used standard outside cover plates so you can put it in any 4x5 hood. For me that means that for the outside cover plates I can use the ones the company supplies and not have to buy my own brand specific ones.

[StillBoostin]

It tried on the Halo X with the boss lens, and hear are my impressions. The Halo X hood is flimsy, feels cheep. It is so flexible it folds together when you grab it from the front. The Boss lens made it feel front heavy and had cheap head gear. I played with the adjustment, but it kept going past the stopping point. The lens was nice though. wish it had 4 sensors or uv sensor built it. Jackson if you reed this. Please make some changes. The Jackson grinding/safety shield has better had gear then the Halo X. The graffix are cool on the HaloX. Why is it so unbalanced? Did you have a test/focus group experiment with it first?

I will try on the Nexgen soon and give my opinion. Not bashing at all. Just giving Jackson some Ideas.
James

[ironman715]

The Nex gen 3N1 hood has 4 sensors as well as a solar panel built in. The HALO X hood is nice if you need a lightweight hood. For me its great because I spend 8 plus hours a day under the hood and have to wear a hardhat with my hood. For my money its worht it because it is so light and flexible...it has allowed me to get into some tight spots. But to each there own.

[ByrdDog]

I just picked up a Nex Gen.

Man I can't wait to use it!

I'm thinking about ditching out on dinner with the wife and kids in order to go burn some rods at my buddy's house tonight.

[StillBoostin]

I just picked up a Nex Gen.

Man I can't wait to use it!

I'm thinking about ditching out on dinner with the wife and kids in order to go burn some rods at my buddy's house tonight.

LOL. Just don't get caught, or tell her that is what you are doing. Most wife's or women in general would get pissed. But I'ld be doing the samething as you. Go have fun.

James

[ironman715]

I say BURN IT UP.

'Mike

[ByrdDog]

I loved the Nex Gen.

My buddy didn't have his 225 wired up but I ran his 110 volt lincoln on an old Bronco door.

Did I say I loved it?

The 8 year old daughter did as well. She ran her first "bead" ever using it while I held her hand , guiding her.

The second she ran herself.

Daddy was proud and I must admit she looked cute in gloves, helmet, and leathers, that hung almost to her feet.