Fog Light Options

Always love when manufacturers test/review compared to the competition and it just so happens there's come out on top, and there closest competition has "issues".

All depends on application. DD is the clear winner for every day. BD is the clear winner for off-roading.

Independent video comparison:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jypJRYTk0hU

FF to 7:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwHUpzBzksU

 

Not sure how the Baja designs was the winner for off-roading.

In the fog video, Diode Dynamics was the clear winner.

In the other video, they were comparing two spot patterns, and the Diode Dynamics was a better spot pattern.

It seems to me that Diode Dynamics was better in both videos.

If somebody wants broader coverage from their pods, they shouldn't select a spot pattern.

 

Just don't use them as running lights. Or really ever. Unless there's fog or there's no other cars on the road....unless you hook up a dimmer.

I have yellow baja squadrons on a motorcycle. I run them in the day to be seen. I've heard plenty say motorcycles with big yellow lights are annoying. Better to be seen than dead.

Lately I've been seeing a lot of tacos and 4runners with yellow bajas or DD's as running lights. Holy shit is that annoying. There's no reason but to piss people off. Just don't do that.

Doesn't matter what you go with between baja and DD. Both are bad ass. You'll probably never use them so go with which ever looks cooler. I think the glass(plastic) on the bajas look cooler.

I went with white baja fogs and white baja 30" bar in my bumper again because I think it looks cooler. Go with what you think looks cooler. You'll appreciate that more than you'll ever use it.

 

Some of the best fog lights in the world. And you're not allowing yourself to be restricted by the OEM fog light housing.

 

I definitely agree about not using them as running lights. I also see dipshits running around with light bars on that are clearly not intended for street use, which is super annoying.

But, the OP was asking about fog lights to use in rain and fog, in which case Diode Dynamics is the best choice.

As far as other off-road lighting; I use my ditch lights and light bar several times every year. But, not on the highway. I went with Rigid because they were the best ones available at the time. The fact that they look good is just a bonus.

 

Light intensity is not the culprit here, it's pattern. When people put off-road lights in their fog buckets, they think it makes them ok to use on the road (it does not). Off-road lights are not required to meet pattern standards and scatter a huge amount of glare everywhere. Properly aimed fog lights with high intensity are much more courteous (and legal) than the dimmest off-road lights.

I understand your point; but Baja squadrons are not street legal, nor are they fog lights.

Yes, these are illegal lights. Properly aimed fog lights (like Diode Dynamics SS3 fog lights) do not glare oncoming traffic, as they have tightly regulated patterns with a cutoff to avoid this problem.

For fog lights, I recommend the more performant option rather than spending money on looking cool.

Off-road lights and their use are subjective, but legal lighting is very objective. For street legal use, I'd recommend the more performant line of Diode fog and driving lights.

 

For a more objective review, I always recommend this thread for data driven analysis, rather than YouTube videos that have no instrumentation.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-led-sae-j583-fog-pod-fog-light-review.554813/

 

As you can see in the examples above the Baja Designs Squadron Pro spot has a more transitional spill then the DD solution. To put it in simpler terms If a deer jumped in front of your vehicle, which light would allow you to have a quicker reaction time ? Let’s go ahead and apply this to off-roading. If you do most of your off-roading in flat and narrow surfaces, then DD is a great candidate. If you like to drive in a more aggressive manner and your off-roading involves constant elevation changes then the sharp horizontal and vertical cutoffs that the DD solution has to offer will have you wishing for a more transitional spill light that we have to offer here at Baja Designs. Having a Transitional spill allows you to have a quicker reaction time which is crucial while off-roading and helps you avoid any obstacles on the course or on the trail. We internally sacrifice peak beam to be able to redirect the lighting for what is ideal for the best driving experience. I would strongly recommend checking out (Baja Designs ELS ) https://www.bajadesigns.com/els/ to compare our different light models and to see our lights vs some of our competitors.


Best,

Brahian

 

My point was that, if you want a combo pattern, or driving pattern, then buy one. I would personally want a spot pattern to provide as much intensity as far ahead of me as possible. I would use a driving, combo, or flood pattern if I wanted to see the surrounding area more.

 

Not trying to argue hypothetical semantics. I only ever see the illegal shit and we call them fogs because they go where the fogs were.

Edited: was on my phone and removed what I did not mean to post

 

Good information, but you missed one very important point - beam pattern. Most people (like me for instance) choose a Spot pattern light for sheer distance lighting - not peripheral lighting. If I wanted a compromise between distance and peripheral lighting, I'd get a Driving pattern light. To compare Spot pattern lights and focus on "transitional spill" is incorrect in my humble opinion.

 

Some people actually use their fog lights as fog lights. That's why the diode dynamics SS3s are so popular.

If you want to add off-road lights, why not just get some ditch light brackets and add ditch lights?

Edit: and who TF is running Squadrons in place of actual fog lights? Sounds like a waste of money for an inferior product.

 

I don't use fogs. No use for them. I don't like the look of ditch lights.

So I put squadrons for fogs if I happen to be on dirt roads at night.

 

Well, some of us drive our vehicles all over the place in all kinds of weather. Having real fog lights is beneficial.

For dirt roads at night I have ditch lights and a light bar if needed. I don't care either way how the ditch lights look. They serve a purpose.

 

...I really hope we can make this work. I'm willing to put the work in.

 

the only solution is to trade one light with each other so you both run one DD and one Baja causing the universe to collapse in on itself.

 

Lol!

I actually don't even have the DD's yet. It's the next thing on my list. I've just read over and over that the DD's are the best as actual fog lights. It seems pretty consistent.

 

Which DD fogs are you gonna go with? I have the pros. Love them for my particular use scenario, but really it is a personal decision with pros and cons of each type.

 

They are the best. They do what fog lights are supposed to do: project a wide, low pattern with a proper horizontal cutoff. This allows the driver to see the edges and immediate foreground of the road to navigate in adverse weather conditions. The cutoff prevents light bouncing back into the driver's eyes or into the eyes of oncoming traffic. Ever put on your high beams in heavy fog or snow and realize that it's actually detrimental to your ability to see? This is why off-road lights are not fog lights, they just throw light everywhere.

 

I think I was looking at the PRO's, but I've been known to change my mind sometimes.

That picture is a pretty good illustration of exactly why I want these.

As far as not using high beams in fog or snow; I learned that right away when I started driving. I think back then it was common knowledge. No, I'm not as old as I sound. But, some days it feels like I am.

 

Quite possibly the least scientific review I've ever seen. First, they're comparing a street legal fog pattern light (DD) to a non-street legal wide cornering light (BD). There are some fairly strict SAE standards for what a fog pattern light can and cannot do. Wide cornering pattern? Nothing. I'd disregard that whole "test."

 

I am glad I decided to ask on a very easy topic....so what y'all are saying is no lamin-x fog covers?

 

Next time you should ask about what oil to use.

I think someone said on the first page, Diode Dynamics SS3, get the yellow. And, it wasn't just me.

 

Yes, skip it. The reasoning is that if you simply add it over the lens of a fog designed with a clear lens, you will just cut the output of the light and not give you the correct (selective yellow) color. If, however you are simply looking for "yellow lights," go for it. Hope that helps.

 

Haha yeah I was being sarcastic. Definitely removing it once the rain let's up! Does anyone have any large dog house recommendations for when I buy the DD fogs - at least want to try and be comfy when my wife puts me there!

 

what is the purpose of upgrading fog lights? In my limited usage the OEMs seem to do the job -- when called for.

 

Vs poor mans Amazon fog lights
(sneak peek from a future video)






Also 2021 4Runner stock led low beams and fogs in fog

 

Some of the aftermarket ones have better output, and color. It's not a necessity. It's just an improvement over the OEM fogs.

 

Thanks. I started reading more on upgrading headlights but heard mixed reviews -- not really improving the performance over OEMs. I wondered if there is any big improvement over OEMs for fog lights.
It certainly looks nicer for sure.