Squadron Pro vs XL Pro

[BajaDesigns]

Squadron Pro vs XL Pro


At Baja Designs, we get a handful of questions about the lighting packages we sell and how they perform. With these questions popping up frequently we decided it was time to let that cat out of the bag and share some night output shots of two of our commonly compared lights. On paper, the Squadron Pro and XL Pro look to perform similarly but most ask why the price tag says otherwise. White both lights are designed with the top quality CREE LEDs, Thermal Management, and Copper Drive circuit boards the light is also affected by the surrounding components.


In this post, we would like to highlight just how important those surrounding components affect the light's performance. The surrounding components that I am referring to in this product case are the large light housing and the deeper optical reflectors as well as a smaller housing and smaller optical reflectors.


Squadron Pro Spot Single Light

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Squadron Pro Specs
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Amperage Rating (A)​	3​
Average Rated Life (hr.)​	49,930​
Beam Pattern​	Spot​
Bezel Material​	Billet Machined Aluminum​
Brightness (Lumens)​	4095​
Description​	Spot; Clear​
Housing Color​	Black​
Housing Material​	Hard Anodized and Powder Coated Cast Aluminum​
Lens Color​	Clear​
Lens Material​	Hardcoated Polycarbonate​
Light Quantity​	1​
Lighting Modes​	Beam​
Lighting Quantity​	4​
Lighting Technology​	Cree LED (2 Types)​
Lighting Type​	Forward Projecting​
Mounting Hardware Included​	Yes​
Mounting Hardware Material​	Stainless Steel​
Overvoltage Protection​	Built-In​
Product Type​	Squadron Pro LED Light Pod​
Wattage (W)​	41.400​

XL Pro Spot Single Light

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XL Pro Specs
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Amperage Rating (A)​	3​
Average Rated Life (hr.)​	49,930​
Beam Pattern​	Spot​
Bezel Material​	Billet Machined Aluminum​
Brightness (Lumens)​	4095​
Description​	Spot; Clear​
Housing Color​	Black​
Housing Material​	Hard Anodized and Powder Coated Cast Aluminum​
Lens Color​	Clear​
Lens Material​	Hardcoated Polycarbonate​
Light Quantity​	1​
Lighting Modes​	High Beam/Dimming Feature (20%)​
Lighting Quantity​	4​
Lighting Technology​	Cree XP-L LED​
Lighting Type​	Forward Projecting​
Mounting Hardware Included​	Yes​
Mounting Hardware Material​	Stainless Steel​
Overvoltage Protection​	Built-In​
Product Type​	XL Pro LED Light Pod​
Universal or Specific​	Universal​
Wattage (W)​	41.400​

So in conclusion, does size really matter? Yes, it does. If your goal is to be able to get more distance the larger XL series reflectors will increase the lights' travel distances over the smaller Squadron reflectors. Both of these packages have great performance for what they bring to the table. Squadron Pros work great if you are looking for a more low-profile light that will pack a punch. The Squadron Pro will give you more near-field lighting but If you are looking to get a little bit more distance the Xl Pro will provide that extra boost while off-roading. Want to see us compare other models or other lights? Feel free to tell us down below.


Squadron Pros:

Products Archive - Baja Designs - Off-Road LED & Laser Lights | Automotive, Jeep, Truck, UTV, ADV, Dirtbike


XL Pros:

Products Archive - Baja Designs - Off-Road LED & Laser Lights | Automotive, Jeep, Truck, UTV, ADV, Dirtbike



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[3TV]

Thanks for the explanation. I just ordered a set of the XL80 lights to go on the a-pillars of a Can Am Maverick X3. They will be paired with a 10" OnX6 light bar on the shock towers. I was looking for a light with a little more range, but not as big as the LP series lights. So, it looks like I chose correctly.

 

[Headbarcode]

Thanks for showing us the throw comparison between those 2 lights, and explaining the significance of the lense size and depth.

To save a few bucks, I often see Squadron Sports being used instead of the Squadron Pros. I'd be interested in seeing how much more brightness one could get by ponying up the extra bread.

Thanks Brandon!

 

[DonH63]

Thanks for this! I went with the cheaper S2 Sport lights figuring they were bright enough for my usage (mainly low-speeds, tight trails) and about half the cost. Really like the impressive build quality even on the "cheap" line! I added the reverse light kit a week or two ago; little nervous about them hanging under the rear bumper, we'll see.

I agree with @Headbarcode that it'd be nice to include them in the mix for comparison.

 

[Headbarcode]

Thanks for this! I went with the cheaper S2 Sport lights figuring they were bright enough for my usage (mainly low-speeds, tight trails) and about half the cost. Really like the impressive build quality even on the "cheap" line! I added the reverse light kit a week or two ago; little nervous about them hanging under the rear bumper, we'll see.

I agree with @Headbarcode that it'd be nice to include them in the mix for comparison.

One of the many things that drew me towards having nothing but Baja Designs on my Jeep, is that all of their lights are of top shelf build quality and components, regardless of price. We are pretty much paying for lumen output, so there's no getting forced into a higher price point in order to enjoy Baja Designs full level of quality.

Me likey pics, so here's one of my favorites of turning night to day...

 

[DonH63]

One of the many things that drew me towards having nothing but Baja Designs on my Jeep, is that all of their lights are of top shelf build quality and components, regardless of price. We are pretty much paying for lumen output, so there's no getting forced into a higher price point in order to enjoy Baja Designs full level of quality.

Me likey pics, so here's one of my favorites of turning night to day...

Love the picture! Just a caution, however, to not eat yellow snow... (Unless it's well-lit, of course!)

 

[CulpMinMn]

To save a few bucks, I often see Squadron Sports being used instead of the Squadron Pros. I'd be interested in seeing how much more brightness one could get by ponying up the extra bread.

Thanks Brandon!

Brandon

I was trying to find this exact thing a couple days ago

Here’s a link that Baja Designs posted on an unrelated forum years ago that addresses sports vs Pros. They have a couple shots of each

https://www.yxztalk.com/threads/baja-designs-squadron-series-pro-vs-sport.45673/

Cheers

 

[Headbarcode]

Love the picture! Just a caution, however, to not eat yellow snow... (Unless it's well-lit, of course!)

Hahahahaha!

Damn, it's been forever since the last time I heard some Frank Zappa. Time to add it to the playlist. Thanks for getting that song stuck in my head now!

 

[Cyber_Jeeper]

To save a few bucks, I often see Squadron Sports being used instead of the Squadron Pros. I'd be interested in seeing how much more brightness one could get by ponying up the extra bread.

Thanks Brandon!

I’m not sure which LED’s BD is using for both, but often times when you get an LED that puts out more lumens, it has a physically bigger die. With the same size lens this means that while it puts out more lumens, it isn’t as focused and so it won’t throw a beam quite as far as the cheaper, lower power model. You can see this with DiodeDynamics for example. The sport models have a higher candela, but lower lumens when compared to the pro version. This topic comes up with flashlights a lot too.

So the answer to your question may depend on what you consider “brightness“. If you want to see something as far away as possible, the sports might actually be better. But if you want to light up a hill 100 yards away, the pros would have a wider beam that will allow you to see more of the hill.

 

[Headbarcode]

I’m not sure which LED’s BD is using for both, but often times when you get an LED that puts out more lumens, it has a physically bigger die. With the same size lens this means that while it puts out more lumens, it isn’t as focused and so it won’t throw a beam quite as far as the cheaper, lower power model. You can see this with DiodeDynamics for example. The sport models have a higher candela, but lower lumens when compared to the pro version. This topic comes up with flashlights a lot too.

So the answer to your question may depend on what you consider “brightness“. If you want to see something as far away as possible, the sports might actually be better. But if you want to light up a hill 100 yards away, the pros would have a wider beam that will allow you to see more of the hill.

I'm pretty sure that all Baja Designs lights utilize Cree (C4?) diodes. Their spot lenses create a 6° beam and 42° with the floods, not including the corona/spill. I have a pair of each lense style on the 4 Squadron Pros on my a-pillars, and each lamp is rated at about 4600 lumens. They don't publish candela/throw numbers, but it seems logical in thinking that candela increases when the beam is narrowed, even when the lumens don't change.

I've actually been back to researching flashlights for a couple of rifle builds. I fully agree with you as far as the lumen/candela relationship. My longer range rifle has a light that only puts out 200 lumens, but courtesy of a bell shaped lense housing, has a 55,000 candela rating. My close/mid range rifle has 2500 lumens, but only 16,000 candela. Both lights utilize Cree diodes.

 

[Cyber_Jeeper]

I'm pretty sure that all Baja Designs lights utilize Cree (C4?) diodes. Their spot lenses create a 6° beam and 42° with the floods, not including the corona/spill. I have a pair of each lense style on the 4 Squadron Pros on my a-pillars, and each lamp is rated at about 4600 lumens. They don't publish candela/throw numbers, but it seems logical in thinking that candela increases when the beam is narrowed, even when the lumens don't change.

I've actually been back to researching flashlights for a couple of rifle builds. I fully agree with you as far as the lumen/candela relationship. My longer range rifle has a light that only puts out 200 lumens, but courtesy of a bell shaped lense housing, has a 55,000 candela rating. My close/mid range rifle has 2500 lumens, but only 16,000 candela. Both lights utilize Cree diodes.

The XL Pro above is listed as using a Cree XP-L LED. While the Squadron Pro says "Cree LED (2 Types)", whatever that is supposed to actually mean. A few retailers say the Squadron Sport is using a Cree XP-G2 LED. So it seems like they do use different LED's for each light, which would make more sense to me than using the same one on everything and simply adjusting power as needed.

Most of this would be easy to answer if Baja Designs published their candela measurements. Fortunately their ELS rating system does help out a bit and can be used to convert to candela. The Squadron Pro lists 323 feet to 10 lux(96,924 candela) with 3443 out the front lumens, while the Squadron Sport lists 229 feet to 10 lux(48,719 candela) with 1973 lumens. So the Pro will put out more lumens and more distance than the sport. The XL Pro Spot for comparison has a distance of 498 feet to 10 lux with 3228 lumens (230,403 candela).

 

[Headbarcode]

The XL Pro above is listed as using a Cree XP-L LED. While the Squadron Pro says "Cree LED (2 Types)", whatever that is supposed to actually mean. A few retailers say the Squadron Sport is using a Cree XP-G2 LED. So it seems like they do use different LED's for each light, which would make more sense to me than using the same one on everything and simply adjusting power as needed.

Most of this would be easy to answer if Baja Designs published their candela measurements. Fortunately their ELS rating system does help out a bit and can be used to convert to candela. The Squadron Pro lists 323 feet to 10 lux(96,924 candela) with 3443 out the front lumens, while the Squadron Sport lists 229 feet to 10 lux(48,719 candela) with 1973 lumens. So the Pro will put out more lumens and more distance than the sport. The XL Pro Spot for comparison has a distance of 498 feet to 10 lux with 3228 lumens (230,403 candela).

Very interesting numbers there! Thanks for the deeper look into them! I fully admit to having never dug into them.

I've spent more time digging into weapon mounted lights, which all typically list lumens and candela. That makes it easy to predict performance in both light output/distance and battery life expectancy. In that specific arena, enough/not enough light and battery life can have a major impact.

With the Jeep lighting, I sorta dumbed down and went with the Tim Taylor approach of "more power". I powered all 4 pairs of forward facing lights on their own dedicated circuit, via an 8 button switch and controller system, which allows me to step up the light output from as little as about 9k lumens to as much as about 56k lumens.

Regardless of knowing the candela numbers, I must say that I couldn't be happier with the Baja Designs lights that I've added. Here's a couple of pics that don't do them justice, because my phone adjusts brightness to ambient light. 1st is with only the one pair of forward facing Squadron Pro spots, and the 2nd is with the outward angled Squadron Pro floods and both pairs of LP4 Pros with amber combo lenses.

 

[BajaDesigns]

Thanks for showing us the throw comparison between those 2 lights, and explaining the significance of the lense size and depth.

To save a few bucks, I often see Squadron Sports being used instead of the Squadron Pros. I'd be interested in seeing how much more brightness one could get by ponying up the extra bread.

Thanks Brandon!

This is definitely a comparison I will be doing soon. After seeing the difference myself the extra money for the pros is worth it.
Best,
Brandon

 

[BajaDesigns]

Brandon

I was trying to find this exact thing a couple days ago

Here’s a link that Baja Designs posted on an unrelated forum years ago that addresses sports vs Pros. They have a couple shots of each

https://www.yxztalk.com/threads/baja-designs-squadron-series-pro-vs-sport.45673/

Cheers

Thanks for sharing this, unfortunately the circuit boards and led have since improved drastically so the images are not accurate anymore. I will put together a comparison here shortly for you all.
Best,
Brandon

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