Driving in foggy conditions can be challenging as your headlights may reflect light from the fog. However, upgrading your fog light bulbs or installing aftermarket fog lights can increase your visibility dramatically.
The best LED fog lights are the Philips X-tremeVision Kit, which is a direct replacement for halogen bulbs and produces a 6,000K bright white light output.
You can purchase fog lights that output light in a range of different colors but it is important that they are street legal. Some states will specifically define that you are only allowed to use either an amber or white color.
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Aftermarket Fog Light Comparison
| LED Fog Lights | Type | Lumens |
|---|---|---|
| Philips X-tremeVision | Bulb | 840 |
| LASFIT COB Chip | Bulb | 7,600 |
| JDM ASTAR PS19W | Bulb | 2,400 |
| Sealight Force | Bulb | 6,000 |
| Rigid Industries D-Series | Kit | 1,760 |
| HELLA 500 Series | Kit | 1,450 |
Many people will modify their headlights to use LED headlights but often forget their fog lights. Matching the light temperature with a set of LED fog lights can make a huge difference in both your vehicles appearance and visibility on the road.
However, not every vehicle will come with fog lights at the front of the vehicle to place the new bulbs into. Therefore, you will be required to install aftermarket fog lights that you can place beneath your headlights.
Below is a list of the best fog lights that will improve your visibility during foggy driving conditions and can be installed fairly easily.
The Best Aftermarket Fog Lights
1. Philips X-tremeVision Fog Light Kit
Philips are one of the biggest brands in the automotive bulb industry and their aftermarket fog lights are a great option. Included with the kit is a dedicated adapter, which makes it a direct replacement for H8, H11 or H16 bulbs.
The brand are known for using the latest technology and it’s no different with the X-tremeVision Fog Light Kit. It uses AirFlux technology that provides constant cooling to improve the longevity of the bulb. It also uses SafeBeam technology that directs the beam pattern to the road instead of other road users.
Other features of the Philips X-tremeVision Kit include:
- 6,000K color temperature
- Direct replacement to halogen bulbs
- Patented SafeBeam technology provides no glare
- 12 years lifespan
- 840 Lumens
- Wattage rated at 9.3W
- Includes a 3 year limited warranty
The Philips X-tremeVIsion kit are the best LED fog lights that are a direct replacement for factory fog lights. They are also backed by a 3 year limited warranty and developed by the leading automotive bulb manufacturer for peace of mind.
Check it Out2. SZFLWA LED Fog Light Bulbs
SZFLWA are another popular LED light manufacturer and their aftermarket fog light bulbs are available in a wide range of sizes. They are simple plug and play units with a built-in ballast, which makes them far more compact for an easier installation.
In terms of the power output available, the bulbs produce 8,000 Lumens per bulb and are DOT compliant for street legal driving.
Other features of the LASFIT LED Fog Light Bulbs include:
- 30W bulbs that produce 7,600 Lumens
- 200% brighter than halogen bulbs
- Lifespan of up to 50,000 hours
- Strong heat dissipation
- 6,000K temperature color
- IP65 rating
- Includes a 1 year warranty
They are great all-round LED bulbs for fog lights that provides excellent bright light and are available in a range of sizes. They are also very simple to install as they plug straight into your current adapter without any complex installation.
Check it Out3. JDM ASTAR LED Fog Light Bulbs
For those looking for an affordable option, the JDM Star bulbs are perfect. They output the desirable 6,000K white xenon light and can even be used for daytime running lights. Unlike other cheap bulbs, they even include a 1 year warranty for peace of mind.
Other features of the JDM ASTAR Fog Light Bulbs include:
- High powered LEDs at 5W each
- Compatible with 5202, 5201 and 9009 connectors
- Outputs bright 6,000K white light
- Can be used for either fog lights or DRLs
- 2,400 Lumens
The JDM ASTAR kit is a great all-round option but compared to more expensive alternatives, they don’t produce as much clear light. However, if you are purely looking for LED fog lights for the appearance, these will do a great job with a bright 6,000K white light.
Check it Out4. Sealight LED Fog Lights Bulbs
The Sealight LED fog lights are a highly rated pair of bulbs that are constructed of aviation-grade aluminum for advanced heat dissipation. In terms of the compatibility, the brand state that they fit almost any vehicle and it takes minutes to install.
Other features of the Sealight Bulbs include:
- All-in-one aluminum design structure
- Over 30,000 hours life span
- Advanced heat dissipation
- Plug and play installation
- 6,000K output
- Shock resistant
The aftermarket fog light bulbs by Sealight are built to high standards and output far brighter light than factory bulbs. Although they are not the cheapest, the quality is far superior and they are simple plug and play bulbs for an easy installation.
Check it Out5. Rigid Industries D-Series Fog Light Set
Rigid industries are known for their superior build quality and produce a wide range of products such as LED light bars and much more. Their aftermarket fog lights are a premium option that are designed, engineered and built in the USA.
If you require additional durability for off-road usage, these fog lights are the best option. They use an impact resistant polycarbonate lens and aluminum housing, which can withstand plenty of punishment.
Other features of the Rigid Industries D-Series include:
- Compliant with SAE J583 and DOT
- Housing is constructed of cast aluminum
- Includes mounting hardware
- Impressive lifetime warranty
- 50,000 hours lifespan
- GORE equalizing vent
- Wide beam pattern with minimal height
- 1,760 Lumens
- IP 68 waterproof rating
Any Rigid Industries products come at a cost but it’s a worthwhile investment that is built to the highest of standards. They are the ultimate aftermarket fog lights for trucks but they can also be installed to virtually any other vehicle.
Check it Out6. HELLA 500 Series Aftermarket Fog Lights
Other features of the HELLA 005750971 500 Series include:
- ABS housing that will withstand heavy impacts
- Uses a H3 bulb type that can be upgraded
- 55W bulb produces 1,450 Lumens
- SAE/ECE certified
- Ideal for off road use
- Upright mounting
- Bonded water-tight lens
- Aluminum vapor-coated reflectors
The HELLA 500 Series is ideal for those that require maximum durability for off road use but still street legal. The classic design looks great on the majority of the vehicle and you can even use a color shield to change the look of the lights.
HELLA provide these in yellow, smoked or blue shades but must be purchased as an optional extra to the aftermarket fog lights.
Check it OutAftermarket Fog Lights Buying Guide
The purpose of fog lights is to improve your visibility on the road during poor weather conditions. Not every vehicle is equipped with them and this leads many people to install aftermarket fog lights to their vehicle, which is an easy modification to do.
Of course, you can also upgrade your fog lights to a far more desirable LED or HID kit for improved visibility and aesthetics. To help you make an informed buying decision, we have produced the below buying guide regarding fog lights.
How Do Fog Lights Work?
Unlike standard headlights, the fog light beam pattern that is emitted is flat and wide. They are also located low down and allows the light to hit the road and not be effected by the foggy weather conditions, which can reflect off the fog.
This also means that other drivers will be able to see your lights because they are not being reflected back. However, its important that you remember to switch off the lights afterwards because they can blind other drivers on the opposite side of the road.
Types of Fog Light Bulbs
As with headlight bulbs, aftermarket fog lights are available in a wide variety of different types. These include different types of bulb types, housing and lens design. Most OEM fog lights will use basic halogen bulbs due to the low cost associated with them. However, they can be easily upgraded to an HID (High Intensity Discharge) bulb or the more desirable LED bulb.
LED fog lights offer the best performance, efficiency, aesthetics and can last up to around 50,000 hours and longer. They also use the least amount of electricity draw and do not need an additional power pack unlike the HID alternatives.
Bulbs or Aftermarket Fog Lights
Upgrading your fog light bulbs is fairly straight forward with many LED fog lights having adapters that are plug straight in. However, not every car or truck will have fog lights from the factory as they can be an expensive optional extra.
If they are not a standard option, you can install your very own aftermarket fog lights. These can be mounted fairly easily to the front of your vehicle or you can try to mount them instead of your current fog light setup.
Installation is fairly simple and is very similar to replacing your headlight bulbs. However, with regards to the aftermarket types, you will want to ensure that the kit comes with all the mounting hardware otherwise is can be fairly complex.
What Color Temperature For Fog Lights
You are able to purchase fog lights in a range of different colors but if they are street legal is a different matter. Some states specifically state that only amber or white light output is allowed whereas other state laws may differ.
In terms of which color temperature is best for fog lights, it really is a matter of personal preference. Yellow light output provides clear vision in very bad fog due to the yellow tint being easier to view by our eyes than white. However, for average fog or remote locations, white LED fog lights are by far the best and look much better too.
We are big fans of LED fog lights that output a 6,000K white light, which makes your vehicle look great as well as providing an improvement in visibility. Attempting to match the color temperature to your headlights (or other lighting) is highly recommended. Mixing different light outputs can look great on some cars or trucks but not on others where the lights are closely mounting together.
Off Roading Durability
Many off roading enthusiasts may equip their vehicle with LED fog lights that can be used for off road lights. However, not every fog light will be suitable to the heavy impacts and challenging conditions that will be required.
For off road use, we highly recommend that the fog lights exceed an IP68 waterproof rating and use a polycarbonate lens that is scratch resistant.
Conclusion
Investing into quality fog lights to increase visibility or improve appearance is highly recommended. There is a wide variety of bulbs or aftermarket types available to suit a range of budgets. However, we strongly recommend checking the warranty that the manufacturer provides. This will provide a good indication to the build quality and not leave you disappointed if they break earlier than expected.
All of our recommendations are suitable for cars, trucks and other vehicles that require additional lighting. We advise that you use an amber or white light output so that you do not run into any trouble because other colors may not be street legal.
