If you're an off-road enthusiast, you already know the importance of having a reliable set of LED pod lights on your vehicle. With the market flooded with countless options, deciding which one to choose can be overwhelming. To help you navigate this, we've extensively reviewed some of the best off-road LED pod lights available.
What We're Testing
This comprehensive review focuses on top-tier pod lights from leading brands such as KC Hi-Lites, Vision X, Morimoto, and Diode Dynamics. We'll compare their visual appearance, warranties, backlights, pricing, and most importantly, their light intensity as measured in Candela.
Understanding Candela
Before we delve into the specifics, it's crucial to understand what Candela means. Candela is a unit of measurement that describes the photometric intensity of a light source in a specific direction. It's the most accurate way to compare the intensity of these pod lights.
Spot Beam Patterns
We began our testing with spot beam patterns. These are designed to focus light directly ahead, providing maximum visibility for long-distance driving.
Diode Dynamics SS5 Sport
First up was the Diode Dynamics SS5 Sport. At the time of our review, it was priced at around $220 and featured a selectable backlight in multiple colors. It also came with an 8-year warranty. The claimed Candela from Diode Dynamics was 406,100, and our measured Candela was very close at 400,100. Despite their claim of being the brightest pod light on the market, our testing found it to be the third brightest spot beam pattern.
Diode Dynamics SS5 Pro
Next, we tested the Diode Dynamics SS5 Pro, their elite version. Priced at $350, it also featured a selectable backlight and an 8-year warranty. Interestingly, despite being more expensive, it wasn't as bright as the Sport version. However, it did have a massive spot beam pattern, which could be a plus for some users.
Vision X 6.7 inch
We then moved on to the Vision X 6.7 inch. These are the most expensive pod lights in our test at $599. We measured its Candela at 138,800. This makes it the second lowest recorded measured Candela among the white spot beam patterns in our test.
Rigid Industries 360 series
The Rigid Industries 360 series 6-inch white spot beam patterns are priced at $638, but they only come in pairs. In our testing, we measured their Candela at 155,500.
Baja Designs LP6 Pro
The Baja Designs LP6 Pro, a long-time fixture in our studio, is priced at around $475. We measured its Candela at 276,000. It has a soft spot with lots of spillage, not the super tight beam pattern that one might prefer from a spot off-road pod light.
Morimoto Big Banger NCS
Now for the Morimoto Big Banger series, a newcomer to the off-road pod light game.
The entry-level Big Banger NCS is competitively priced at around $325. It has a claimed Candela of 425,000, but we measured it at 495,000. This makes Morimoto's claim quite conservative!
The NCS also come in yellow, still with that backlight! They have a claimed Candela of 290,000. Our testing measured 321,900! This is why we like to measure because the claimed Candela can be a lot more conservative.
Now, let's turn our attention to the Big Banger HXB from Morimoto, their most potent pod light. Priced at around $475, these lights are a bit more expensive than others, but they come with a backlight and truly stand out in terms of brightness. Morimoto claimed a Candela measurement of 535,000, but our tests showed an even higher result of 564,000. This is the highest measured Candela rating among all white spot beam patterns we tested.
We also tested the Morimoto Big Banger HXB in yellow, which is also priced around $475. It features a backlight and a claimed Candela of 400,000. Our tests measured the Candela at 394,800, very close to their claim. Interestingly, the brightness of the yellow spot beam pattern is about the same as the Diode Dynamics SS5 Sport white spot pod light. All Morimoto lights come with a lifetime warranty, adding to their value.
KC Highlights Pro 6: A Staple in Off-Road Pod Lights
Lastly, we have the Pro 6 spot beam pattern off-road pod light from KC Hi-Lights. We've used the Pro 6 on many of our Headlight Revolution vehicles. Priced at around $265, the Pro 6 doesn't have a claimed Candela on their website, but we tested it ourselves and recorded a Candela of 123,700. This is the lowest recorded Candela among all the white spot beam patterns we tested.
We also tested the amber spot version of the Pro 6, which is slightly more expensive at $281. Our tests showed a Candela rating of 73,900 at 10 meters. Despite the lower intensity, these lights remain a popular choice for off-road enthusiasts.
Combo Beam Patterns
After testing the spot beam patterns, we moved on to the combo beam patterns. These lights combine a spot beam in the center with a flood beam around the edges, providing a balance of long-distance and wide-angle visibility.
Diode Dynamics SS5 Sport
We started with the Diode Dynamics SS5 Sport. Priced at around $220, it has a claimed Candela of 81,600, which was very close to our measured Candela of 84,200.
Diode Dynamics SS5 Pro
The Diode Dynamics SS5 Pro, their top-of-the-line pod light in the combo beam pattern, is priced at around $350. They have a claimed Candela of 75,700, but we measured it at 85,000.
Vision X 6.7 inch ADV Light Cannon: Adventure Series LED Driving Light
Next, we have the Vision X 6.7 inch ADV Light Cannon from their Adventure series. This combo beam pattern light comes with a price tag of around $460 and also features a backlight. These lights are over an inch bigger than most of the other models we've tested. However, the main issue with this combo beam light from Vision X is the beam pattern. It's clearly a spot beam pattern, so for the purpose of this comparison, it won't be included.
Baja Designs LP6 Pro
The Baja Designs LP6 Pro with the combo/driving beam pattern has a measured Candela of 203,100. It has a slightly vertical, tight in center flood, same circular shape with a soft hot spot.
KC Highlights Pro 6 and Rigid Industries 360 Series: Combo Beam Patterns
Next, we have the KC Highlights Pro 6 white with the driving/combo beam pattern. Priced at around $265, we measured its Candela at 68,500 at 10 meters, making it the second lowest recorded Candela rating among all the white combo driving beam patterns. The KC Highlights Pro 6 in Amber with the driving/combo beam pattern is slightly more expensive at $282. We measured its Candela at 40,500.
The Rigid Industries 360 Series 6 inch driving/combo beam pattern pod lights, priced around $638, had the lowest measured Candela rating among all the white combo beam patterns in this test, at 58,700. One thing to note about the Rigid pod lights is that they have bare wire on the back, which could be a potential failure point in wet or muddy conditions.
Morimoto Big Banger NCS and HXP: The Newcomer in Off-Road Lighting
The newcomer in the off-road lighting world, the Big Banger NCS from Morimoto, offers a unique light output compared to many other pod lights in the combo beam pattern. Priced around $325, they have a claimed Candela of 115,000, but we measured it at 132,100. The Big Banger NCS combo beam pattern also comes in yellow, with a claimed Candela of 82,500, but we measured it at 91,900.
Their elite pod light, the Big Banger HXP with the combo beam pattern, is priced at $475. They claim a Candela of 210,000, but we measured it at 230,700. The yellow HXP has a different color temperature compared to other brands.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right off-road pod lights can be a complex task given the variety of options available. However, by considering factors such as beam pattern, color temperature, output, brightness, and intensity of the light, you can make an informed decision. We hope this guide helps you understand what's best for your needs. For more information and to see everything that we've tested for your vehicle, visit Headlight Revolution.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right off-road LED pod lights for your vehicle can be a daunting task given the variety of options available. However, by considering factors such as beam pattern, color temperature, output, brightness, and intensity of the light, you can make an informed decision.
Remember, the spot beam pattern is ideal for long-range visibility, especially when driving at high speeds in the desert. On the other hand, the combo beam pattern provides a hotspot with additional ambient light or flood around the spotlight, making it suitable for a variety of conditions.
We hope this guide helps you understand what's best for your needs. For more information and to see everything that we've tested for your vehicle, visit Headlight Revolution.
