More off-road lights = better visibility?

[SUPAREE]

We ran a test to see if more lights really means more brightness. So we randomly picked up a bunch of off-road lights and put them head-to-head against our SUPAREE HELM 7.

First off, here’s all the wiring that came with the multiple-light setup, and honestly, it was a lot. The install process was definitely not easy.

With the HELM 7, we only needed a single 1-to-2 plug-and-play harness. Much cleaner, much simpler.

When it comes to overall beam spread, the SUPAREE HELM 7 clearly had the edge.

Want to see how it actually performs in real life? Check out the video.



Based on the comparison, the SUPAREE HELM 7 does seem to come out on top, with a cleaner wiring setup, brighter output, and wider coverage. That said, the multi-light setup isn’t without its strengths. Its biggest advantage is price. It’s genuinely inexpensive, and even when combined, it still costs less than the SUPAREE HELM 7.

But we’re genuinely confident in the quality of the SUPAREE HELM 7. If you’re looking for solid performance and good value, it’s definitely worth considering.

Click the link to see more details ，there’s also a special offer available right now：https://suparee.com/JLWF260109

If there are any other tests or comparisons you’d like to see, drop a comment below. When it comes to off-road lighting, what matters most to you?

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[DarkHosreJeepper]

Those are the cheapest looking pod lights not surprised they have terrible performance

 

[Opus]

Those are the cheapest looking pod lights not surprised they have terrible performance

They look like the Nilight pods I got off of Amazon. If they are, so far they've worked okay mounted on the cowl and the set of two and everything I needed to mount and wire them to AUX 4 on the dash ran less than $100. I just needed a little extra light in case of an emergency, though. I wasn't looking to signal the ISS...

 

[dmaxw]

I run those budget lights on my sxs. Work great for their purpose, and no lost tears if a tree with evil intentions reaches out and smashes one even tho I was in the middle of the trail in full control. Seriously, not my fault

That said, not knocking a quality product. I'm sure I'd love the performance, not so sure I'd love the side-eye I would get when the bill came

 

[yokramer]

They look like the Nilight pods I got off of Amazon. If they are, so far they've worked okay mounted on the cowl and the set of two and everything I needed to mount and wire them to AUX 4 on the dash ran less than $100. I just needed a little extra light in case of an emergency, though. I wasn't looking to signal the ISS...

Yep I think I spent <$50 for the lights and mounts like 3 years ago and they do everything I need them to.

 

[DarkHosreJeepper]

They look like the Nilight pods I got off of Amazon. If they are, so far they've worked okay mounted on the cowl and the set of two and everything I needed to mount and wire them to AUX 4 on the dash ran less than $100. I just needed a little extra light in case of an emergency, though. I wasn't looking to signal the ISS...

I would agree with you they do look like nilight light but my point was comparing a bunch of little lights to higher output lights is not a very fair test. its apples and oranges yes they are both fruit. For

I got some off amazon that looked similar for my snow blower and they are bright enough for my drive way without blinding my neighbors. There were like $20 not very bright but you get what you pay for. I agree with @dmaxw budget lights have their place.

 

[yokramer]

I run those budget lights on my sxs. Work great for their purpose, and no lost tears if a tree with evil intentions reaches out and smashes one even tho I was in the middle of the trail in full control. Seriously, not my fault

That said, not knocking a quality product. I'm sure I'd love the performance, not so sure I'd love the side-eye I would get when the bill came

Also how often do you need to make night into day in reality? The stock LED lights are plenty bright enough for me in 99% of situations I just wanted/needed some light for the sides when I came to junctions in trails so I wasnt making turns blindly.

 

[dmaxw]

Exactly. One a trip last fall we were rolling into a steep mountain area late to camp, with a ridiculously early departure time. Dark in and out. I didn't have any additional lighting yet, and the difference between my rig and my 2 buddies was stark. I drove #2 so I could see the steep slopes and (barely) single track path. At one point I waited at the bottom of a path while the track was scouted, and had to run that with only my headlights. Difference was all it took to kick additional lighting to the top of the to-do list. I think both are running pods from Ironman sale event, not high dollar. Plenty of light for navigating. My new pods are solid but lower end, and provide all the light I need. One friend runs the higher end stuff, Oracle or something, but I honestly can't tell when in the trees in the dark. Maybe in a huge open field

 

[wibornz]

I am in the process of testing and installing these lights over the last two days. The kit is very impressive. The light output is great. The fit and finish is top notch. The wiring harness is amazing. I think that if I was not filming the process, I could install the lights to the front bumper about about an hour or so. The wiring harness is great. It has battery connections, an inline fuse, and relay, a prewired Hi and low light switch and water proof plugs in to the lights. Very professional. While I am capable of building a similar wiring harness, I am glad I don't have to.



This is what the power draw looks like. A short 19 second video showing the different power draw from low beam to high beam.

 

[dmaxw]

The set I got off the Amazon (Auxbeam) had a very good harness as well, same waterproof automotive plugs, connections etc. The least expensive Nilight has a less impressive harness, but still completely functional. For those I slit the hard-ish vinyl sleeve off and covered it with a nice loom wrap. My Auxbeams didn't need it.

In fairness here: The wire jumble shown by OP is for 4 pairs of pods + a light bar. That's 9 lights total. As their harness jumble comparison, they show a single pair of lights. Put 7 more up there and cut the keepers off the harness bundles then spaghetti them around the engine compartment. Post that pic and I'm guessing it looks same same. Probably a lumen for lumen comparisonintended, thus the 9 budget lights to get 2 Helm 7 equivalence? Not a slam, it looks like good products, but seriously. 9 lights and hardware vs 2. Of course it looks better.

 

[PotterJLUR]

I just got a set of these the other day and am really happy with the quality out of the box, I've been sick for about a week so I haven't had a chance to install them yet but am excited to try them out in the real world

 

[3TV]

I think it depends on how you intend to use the lights, meaning where, and how fast you will be traveling. If you will be driving slow on an average two track road then the stock LEDs may be good enough. As speed increases, such as in the desert, you are going to want better lights. Over the years I have found that quality lights like Baja Designs and Rigid are worth the cost for me. Then it just becomes a matter of, if quality lights are good, then more of those quality lights is better, right?

As to the OPs post about a bunch of cheap Walmart or Amazon lights vs a few higher quality lights, I would go with the better lights. I've ridden in several vehicles with cheap lights on them, and although I would never say anything to the owner of the vehicle I am riding in, I have thought; "what, that's it?" when they turn them on. In fairness, they don't know the difference between cheap lights and good lights.

Interesting post OP. A picture of the difference in lighting with all lights being white, instead of your lights being Amber, would be a better comparison.

 

[Opus]

You're right, 3TV, that it comes down to use-case. If I enjoyed running trails at night, for example, as I know some folks do, these would be a good option. Horses for courses...

 

[zouch]

"Brightness" isn't all it's about.
Coverage is at least as important.

in my case, i have lights to cut through the Fog and Snow encountered at times. in this case, good Amber Halogen lights mounted low out front do the trick well.

i also have a couple pair of good small LED Ditch Lights mounted below hood level off the sides of the cowling. these make it possible to see to the sides out past where the headlights cover in a tight turn.
(these also do a great job of picking Bambi out of the woods to the side of the road.)

both sets are plenty bright enough to be adequate.
at times they are bright enough (particularly the Ditch Lights) that i'd like to have one of those dimmers like used to be seen in old J**ps to turn them down so as to not be blinding; reflected light off of an opposing creek bank or snow bank can border on blinding.

sometimes what i need is the additional coverage, not the brightness of the sun.

 

[3TV]

"Brightness" isn't all it's about.
Coverage is at least as important.

I agree with that. Which is why I said, " Then it just becomes a matter of, if quality lights are good, then more of those quality lights is better, right?" in my post above.

I am very happy with two bumper mounted Baja Design lights on the bumper and two more mounted on the cowlings. I crossed the Loneliest Highway in America, in Nevada, between midnight and 2 AM one time. There were no other cars on the road for at least 100 of those miles, and just a few other cars on the rest of the highway. It sure was nice to have excellent lighting from the outside of one barrow pit all the way across to the outside of the other barrow pit. The LP6 lights on the bumper could punch out there far enough that you weren't over driving your lights even at 80 mph. The LP4 lights on the cowlings lit up the sides of the road in case an antelope got too much of an urge to be on the other side of the highway just as you were approaching. To get the best coverage you really need more than the 2 lights Suparee is talking about. The two high quality Suparee lights may provide equal or better coverage than 9 cheap lights, but they won't provide better coverage than 4 Suparee lights.

I have two Baja Design LP9 bumper mounted lights on another Jeep, and although the LP9s are vastly better than the stock LEDs, and even better at lighting up the road a mile ahead of you than the LP6 lights are, they don't provide as much coverage with just two lights as having 4 good quality lights provides.

I have a sport Can Am UTV that has a Baja Design Onx6 10" light bar on the front shock towers and 2 Baja Design XL 80s on the a-pillars. Those lights don't have the distance that the LP6 or LP9 lights have, but they have even better coverage up close. Considering the slower speeds of the UTV it is the best lighting set up I have ever had. It really does feel like daylight.

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