Take your budget , and double it , but the best you can just about afford , then relax for the next ten years knowing you have the best ppe that you could only just afford , rather than having six cheap ones that you dont like or broke , or never really wanted.
Buy in haste , repent at leisure.
note i didnt mention any brands ,,,
I like my speedglas , as its light and tough and all the farkles are on the inside , but Im often jammed in tight corners , and my helmet takes a fair few knocks. If I did more bench work Id probably have something different ,,, infact , I probably would just have another Speedglas.
one blue point, ersb, and speedglas all are about the sameish teh bluepoint is nicest then the speedglass (prob only 2nd as its an old oneso tech has moved on) and the ersb warrier i think was the one i recived off a fourm member non working and fixed
best bet from the question posted on here get your self down to a local supplyer and try a few, helmets are personal taste and depends on if your using it every day or just a hobbie welder
might be worth adding how much you use it might help people give an idea of what sort of money you need to spend ?