You don’t have a handle over the weather. When your surroundings are consumed by mist and fog, your regular headlight won’t cut it. You need something that’s on steroids and hormones, like these best fog lights. Some can make even a speck of dust visible to your naked eyes on dark foggy midnight.
You’ve at least have had a neighbor or a friend who has hit a deer. Top of the line fog light will indeed save lives and surely decrease the probability of accidents. Especially the ones induced due to lack of vision. It’ll be an investment to keep you safe and a lot of other lives.
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Best Fog Lights to Consider
No matter how good you’re, it’s very obvious that driving in foggy, cold weather is not a child’s plaything. Fortunately, you can upgrade your vehicle with fog lights to keep the situation at your side. Here are some of the best fog lights listed below to save you from unnecessary confusion while selection.
1. HELLA 005750971 500 Series Fog Lamp Kit
Benefits
When it comes to off-road gear and lighting, it’s hard to beat Hella 005750971 500 Series Fog light. It can be an excellent fit not only for some off-road crossbars but also for bull bars. This fog lamp doesn’t deviate from the exclusive benchmarks.
It has a strong construction and stylish design. As soon as you lay your eyes on them, you cannot ignore the delicate details on it. The round shape may give it an artistic amenity, but surely it helps to distribute the light beams equally around. This fog lamp is all you need for power sports, foggy conditions, and bad visibility.
The light is suitable for vehicles that need high performance and sturdy lighting such as SUVs and trucks. It is a lightweight product but offers extreme durability because of its well-planned structure. It has bonded glass lenses, impact-protective fortified ABS housing, and aluminum vapor-coated reflector.
The bright halogen bulbs have an output of 55W and a voltage of 12V. You can follow anything because of its beam patterns. This fog beam pattern supports factory headlights to offer maximum visibility. For safety, the harness even provides a fuse.
Your eye fatigue will be lessened. This fog light is simple and quick to install. It allows upright mounting and is SAE or ECE approved. The interesting part is you can also change the form of this lamp with color shields.
Pitfalls
- The accessories are sold individually.
2. Philips 12794UNIX2 X-tremeUltinon 2 Pack (H8/H11/H16) LED Fog Light Kit
Benefits
Philips 12794UNIX2 fog light is known for its versatility, brightness, and super impressive and user-friendly construction. They offer beautiful and extra smooth bulbs. You can surely use them as a direct substitute for halogen bulbs but with 60% more light than the real ones.
It is highly durable and comes with a three-year warranty and a 12-year life assumption. This X-tremeUltinon LED light is built to combine with a wide range of sockets including H8, H11, and H16 models.
It offers a bright pure white beam of 6000K and each of the two bulbs provides 840 lumens from 9.3 watts. In total, this plug and play bulb-set allows 1680 lumens of lighting and needs the voltage of 12V. With this in hand, you’ll get lights that are up to 200% brighter.
The decent white color of beams perfectly matches with HID headlights. The unique safe beam technology ensures that the discarded light directs shortly towards the roads, not to the oncoming driver’s eyes. Thus, the light beams don’t get scattered.
The light kit also comes with an air flux. This cutting edge technology keeps the temperature minimal and ensures the long time use of the bulbs. This set is very easy to install.
Pitfalls
- The price of this fog light is comparatively high.
3. JDM LITE H4 (9003) High/Low Beam LED Headlight Bulbs X8 Series 9600 Lumens Extremely Bright XTC Chips
Benefits
JDM LITE H4(9003) bulbs will perfectly take the place of your halogen bulbs. Further, they are functioned to do better. This model offers 4 times brighter light than halogen bulbs. You may think being brighter can be a disadvantage, but for your concern, these bulbs provide accurate beam patterns without any dark spot or blurriness.
Each LED bulb comes with 6 pcs intensely bright and powerful XTC Flip Chips. The color beams are of a temperature of 6000K. These bulbs provide excellent lighting output. Each of the bulbs allows 4800 lumens that make 9600 lumens in total. To ensure the long lifespan of bulbs there’s a built-in cool fan in the set.
It has an aluminum structure that grants proper heat distribution. It can be operated in a temperature range from -40C to +80C. The operating voltage range is from 9V to 30V. It is highly protective of a rate of IP67. They are waterproof.
This plug and playset is suitable for a large range of sockets including H11, H8, H9, and H16. The bulbs have a lifetime of 50,000 hours. They come with a warranty of 2 years. This lightweight durable model has a beam angle of 360-degree.
Pitfalls
- The light doesn’t work great in inclement weather.
4. BEAMTECH H11 Led Fog Light Bulb, CSP Chips 6500K 800 Lumens Xenon White Extremely Super Bright
Benefits
With BEAMTECH H11 LED Fog Light Bulb, you will get brighter lights than OEM options. It has good construction and generates not only crisps but also beam patterns. The package comes with two sets of LED bulbs. Each bulb includes 6 SEOUL Z8Y19 CSP chips.
These bulbs can be used instead of halogen bulbs but with more facilities. Each bulb is 30W and they consume less power than halogen bulbs. Thus, they are known as power savers. The model offers a xenon pure white beam of 6500K and an output of 800 lumens. You can use the voltage from 12V to 24V to run these bulbs.
The bulbs have a lifetime of 10,000 hours and a beam angle of 320 degrees. They deliver an outstanding beam effect. This durable light bulb comes with an aluminum heat sink. This heat sink is cold-pressed and diminishes 35% of heat. It enables the bulbs to run for a long time. The light beams will remain fully focused on the road.
It is very quick and easy to install. The plug and play device will start working instantly after the installation is done. It won’t even obstruct the radio while running. The non-polarity, waterproof design is IP65 rated. It offers compatible fitment sizes and is suitable for house stocking.
Pitfalls
- The lifespan of this set is questionable.
- The light beams show blindspots.
- It’s not suitable to use with headlights.
5. Valeo 88358 Driver Side/Passenger Side OE Fog Light
Benefits
Valeo 88358 Fog light is a perfect substitution light for OEM fog lights with lesser cost but equal quality. They don’t even look alike aftermarket with a cleaner look. This is claimed to be a 100% pure product and the construction quite goes with the claim.
The package provides one big light. It can be easily used to brighten either the passenger side or driver’s side. However, as a user, you can purchase two of these products to cover each side of your vehicle. The premium quality bulb emanates decent white lights. The construction of this product is highly-qualified and lovable.
They’re protected from damage and scratch. The housing and lens are made from original, certified products. The bulbs are very durable. They are halogen bulbs, often better than LED bulbs in quality and illumination. They are regarded by DOT or SAE. That makes this light fully legal for federal roads.
Pitfalls
- For two sides, the cost becomes double as there’s only one bulb in the set.
- It is not suitable for Mustang cars.
6. Rigid Industries 50481 D-Series SAE Fog Light Set
Benefits
This Rigid Industries 50481 model offers more than just good quality. They are fully legal on federal roads because of being SAE compliant. They have a splendid emission of bright and even light that doesn’t block oncoming traffic if angled properly.
This evenly distributed light beam doesn’t even scatter a little bit. It makes the light set idle for blur conditions. So this product is totally safe and secure. The design and construction of this light are also very impressive. The housing is built with cast aluminum to provide optimum strength and longevity.
The lighting output is 1760 lumens. It’s very easy to install as all hardware needed for installation is provided with the set. The lens is built with polycarbonate to protect it from hard impacts. They are capable of absorbing shocks. This product has the highest IP rating that is IP68.
The bulbs have a runtime of 50,000 hours. It comes with a unique GORE technology. It unleashes and equalizes the pressure while defending the electronics part. This plug and playset come with a lifetime warranty.
Pitfalls
- This light set is a little expensive.
- The wiring for the switch comes short for some cases.
7. JDM ASTAR Bright White Max 30W High Power 881 LED Fog Light Bulbs
Benefits
JDM ASTAR Light bulbs can be used as both fog lights and daytime running lights. It starts working immediately after setting up. The bulbs run on and off very quickly while starting up your vehicle as they are LED lights and absorb much less power.
Though the bulbs consume less power, they are considered as high power bulbs. This powerful set provides two bulbs. Each of them includes three high powers 5 watt LED bulbs. The length and diameter of the LED part are respectively 1.75’’ and 0.50’’. This fog light offers pure xenon white lights of 6000K power.
It can fit a variety of models such as 881, 889, 862, 886, 894, 896, and 898 models. The lighting output is a total of 2400 lumens. Because of being this much bright and dynamic, these bulbs can be easily used in mist conditions. It will not only help you see but also help the oncoming drivers to see you if angled properly.
The rugged construction of this fog light with the alloy mold, glass lens, and greatly reflective index makes it highly reliable. It is also very easy to install because of its plug and play design. The beam angle is 360-degree that assures easy adjustment.
Pitfalls
- These bulbs are not brighter than stock halogen bulbs.
- The longevity of this light is questionable.
Here’s What Makes Best Fog Lights
You cannot change the mist weather but when it comes to the matter of your safety, you definitely can find the top fog light. To assure that, it’s necessary to know about the prime aspects. We’ve enlisted the main concerns below that make the best lights ever.
Fog Light Color
For fog lights, two colors are widely used. They are yellow and white light.
Yellow Light
Yellow fog lights offer a clearer vision in most adverse situations like heavy fog or cold weather, rain, or snow. Because of having a longer wavelength, our eyes catch them easily. But, it is less efficient than the average fog lights.
White Light
White fog lights are better for remote areas or deserts. Surely, they are more efficient. But because of their small wavelengths, it causes eye fatigue comparatively more in snows or foggy weather.
Fit
Before selecting the best aftermarket fog light for you, it’s very important to know which one will go with your vehicle the most. Make sure the batteries supply enough electricity to your vehicle. Look for the models that are specific about their fitment. It’s better to go for a light that fits a wide range of sockets.
Type
There are three types of fog lights available now. They are HID, LED, and halogen lights.
HID Light
High-intensity discharge lights aka HID lights produce extreme brightness and great beam patterns by using electrically charged xenon gas. Though they are costlier, they are more durable than normal halogen lights.
LED Light
The light-emitting diode lights known as LED lights absorb lesser power and produce less heat. It is easy to install and very much durable. It doesn’t require replacement soon.
Halogen Light
Halogen lights are highly affordable. They use electricity to heat their filament and produce light. But they are not as effective as LED or HID lights.
Color Temperature
The fog lights come from a large range of color temperatures. Usually, yellow or amber lights offer a color temperature less than 3000K and provide stress-less eye vision for a long time. White lights are of more than 6000K that makes them very eye-soothing. LED lights emit 6000K temperature to offer the highest visibility.
Lumens and Voltage
Both lumens and voltage are used to declare how bright the fog light is. The LED bulbs are measured by lumens while the others use voltage. The range in lumens varies from 1000 to 3000 lumens. The more is the lumens or the voltage rating, the brighter is the light.
Wattage
The energy proficient of the lights is measured by wattage. Low wattage lights use less power, they may be less energetic depending on their type. LED lights can be of low wattage but very bright. But for other types, the lesser is the wattage, the lesser is the capability or intensity.
Durability
If you live in a cold area, this point is very much important for you. Try to choose a light that’s strong and very durable. LED lights are best for this as their average lifespan is 50 thousand hours where the durability of HID and Halogen lights are respectively 5000 hours and 500 hours.
Cooling
LED bulbs produce much more heat than HID and halogen bulbs. Some lights offer exclusive cooling features and good heat distribution structure. So it’s better to go for them to ensure safety. Bulbs that are made with the aluminum body are good for proper heat distribution.
Beam Distance
Fog lights offer different beam patterns, distances, and angles. For beam angle, 360-degree is better to cover the around-area. Try to go for a light that covers a good distance staying more focused on the road. They should have a large horizontal range and a short vertical range to avoid blinding oncoming driver’s eyes.
Installation
Some lights come with installation tools but it’s recommended to select an aftermarket light that has the plug and play design. You will never like to damage the wires and parts of your vehicle.
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FAQ
Q: Is it possible to install fog lights by myself?
Ans: It depends on the type of fog light you’ve purchased. Plug and playsets are easy to install if you have proper manuals and guidelines with you. If you’re completely new to the process, it would be better if you seek help from a professional.
Q: What if I use fog lights all the time?
Ans: It won’t help. If you’re in an area of clear visibility it’s better to turn off the fog lights as it will bother your driving as well as other drivers instead.
Q: Why are the bulbs not turning on after installation?
Ans: Check the fuse of the bulbs to see if it’s blown from overheating. If not, try to install your light with a resistor or decoder. If these steps don’t solve your problem then the bulbs may be damaged.
Conclusion
Fog creates illusion and leaves you in disarrays. For those who have to be on-road no matter how the weather is, fog lights are like a blessing to them. It clears the illusions and takes you to your destination with the highest safety.
HELLA 005750971 500 Series Fog light is preferable for good construction, efficiency, visibility, and perfect beam patterns. JDM ASTAR Bright White Max fog lights will be a good option for the highest output in less power consumption and instant activity.
However, it’s up to you which light bulb will match your vehicle perfectly. Focus on the fit, type, longevity, and efficiency more than anything to get the prime results better. With the best fog lights in hand, hopefully, this article will take you to the edge.
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