Every owner of a vehicle, be it a motorcycle, a family car or a truck, has at least once found himself in conditions of limited visibility. Fog or light, but light rain at night can significantly complicate driving even for experienced drivers. Needless to say about people who have just received their license, driving from comfortable and fast movement turns into real torture, because even from a seemingly empty road you cannot take your eyes off for a moment.
Of course, such a load makes a person get tired faster and, as a result, lose concentration, which in turn increases the risk of driving off the road, colliding with oncoming traffic, or even hitting a pedestrian. Therefore, to prevent such dangers, drivers often look closely at fog lights (fog lights). The peculiarities of their designs allow you to significantly increase the viewing range and protect yourself from unpleasant consequences. However, it is important to understand that the benefit will come from high-quality and popular models (among which there are both expensive and quite affordable, and their main quality lies precisely in reliability and performance), which the rating of the best fog lights for 2021 will tell you about.
How to choose
Fog lamps must fulfill the main option - good illumination of the road and sidewalks for 20 m. The light spot clearly distinguishes between light and shadow so that the driver can distinguish moving objects in the dark.
An important role when choosing fog lights is played by the tightness of the housing and the strength of the protective glass screen. When installing it yourself, it is important to follow the instructions, and if difficulties arise, it is better to contact a car service.
Common light sources in fog lights are halogen, light-emitting diodes (LED) and xenon. The value of color temperature is measured in Kelvin and is responsible for the shade of the light flux - from yellow to white-blue.
Before you buy a specific version of fog lights, you need to evaluate the appearance of the car after installation. So, PTF with angel eyes or large lensed headlights look good only on some car models.
Typically, optics are manufactured for a 12 or 24 W network. If you don't take this small difference into account, your headlights will quickly drain your car battery.
Best Halogen Fog Lights
Elite
PIAA 50XT is a rectangular reflector model that is attached to the car body using a stationary bracket. Fixation is carried out with an M8 bolt, and the “fire” can be adjusted both left and right and up and down.
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Water resistance is ensured by a rubber seal that covers the outlet of the wires, and a sealant that ensures that the glass fits into the reflector - a gasket is also installed between the latter and the body. The set includes 2 PTFs with lamps, a relay and connecting wiring. A light spot approximately 20 m long covers oncoming and passing lanes, as well as pedestrian paths, bumpers and ditches.
Advantages:
- characteristics: H3 / 85 / 12 / 9|16|7 / 17.0…17.3;
- convenient replacement of the lamp, after which no adjustment is required;
- clear cut-off limits - a spot is created horizontally with a visibility angle of up to 95°;
- there is no dazzling of oncoming drivers;
- in the illumination zone, the grid is practically invisible - with its presence, lux in fog drops by only 10%!
Flaw:
- high price.
According to reviews: the quality corresponds to the price. "The light is great."
Prestigious
Hella Comet FF 450 is a reflective rectangular model with a plastic body and transparent glass, thanks to the shape of which losses due to refraction and scattering are minimal. The PTF is installed in the bumper in a pre-made 11 mm hole, after which it is adjusted in all planes.
To replace the lamp, just unscrew 2 screws and remove the glass with the diffuser. If the fog lamp is not used, it is covered with a plastic cap to extend its service life. The kit consists of 2 pairs of boxes and lamps, as well as toggle switches, relays and wiring.
Advantages:
- characteristics: H3 / 55 / 12 / 12|16|9 / 7.6…8.0;
- uniform lux distribution and maximum light output;
- simple and convenient lamp replacement;
- excellent visibility by other drivers without a blinding effect;
- good light spot, modern design.
Flaws:
- not advertised.
According to reviews: there are no complaints, users are satisfied with the purchase.
Operation of PTF
Installed fog lights must be cleaned promptly. For LED and xenon models with a high IP rating, such cleaning will be required much less frequently. It is worth carefully studying the instructions for use attached to the product and consulting with car service specialists.
Before purchasing a specific PTF model, you should study video reviews, look at user opinions on thematic forums, and once again compare the parameters of the headlights and the car. The best fog lights are those that are carefully selected and installed correctly.
The best LED PTFs for 2021
The times when car enthusiasts experimented and installed LEDs in an optical system designed for “halogen” and received rather dubious results are gradually gone. Now on the market it is quite possible to find certified products from famous brands whose products can really provide good lighting. It is also important to choose models with good built-in radiators and ensure that the size of the case matches the space available in the car for its installation.
One of the most important things to consider when buying LED headlights is whether they are fake. There are a lot of them, and sometimes they are very similar to the originals, but due to an incorrect cooling system or excessive power, they burn out like matches. Therefore, although you can save a little on halogen lamps by purchasing them at the car market, it is still advisable to purchase LED lamps at a car dealership.
Wesem CDC2
Price: 7400 rubles.
And again, Polish headlights are included in the selection as the most ideal option in terms of price/quality ratio. You shouldn’t expect any super performance, but when purchasing CDC2 you can be confident in the reliability and origin of the product.
Headlights are manufactured to fit into a bumper socket measuring 80 mm. The case is quite durable, as it is made of polymers resistant to mechanical damage. The diffuser, as expected, is glass, but the lens is plastic. It has serious protection against moisture and dust, class IP68, IP69K.
And if the drivers might be a little upset about the body, then inside Wesem is all right. Three 3 W LEDs from OSRAM were used as a light source, the radiator is also excellent, made of aluminum. There is a choice of configurations with different connection options: wires or connectors.
There are no complaints about the light; judging by the reviews, the light spot is of the correct shape and width. It is also worth noting that well-tuned PTFs should not blind oncoming drivers.
Features and specifications: LED fog lights (optional) 9 W, 12-24 V; the body is made of shockproof polymers, the shape is circle; white glass, with protection IP68, IP69K; The delivery set includes two headlights.
Wesem CDC2
Advantages:
- High-quality and powerful LEDs;
- Excellent aluminum radiator;
- The housing is sealed;
- Cost-effective;
- Clear light with smooth borders;
- Various configuration options.
Flaws:
- Burnt-out LEDs cannot be replaced;
- Price;
- Visibility on snowdrifts decreases significantly;
- I would like to see metal.
Conclusion: Wesem CDC2 can rightfully be called one of the best and most affordable LED headlights on the market. At the same time, the owner receives not only high-quality components, but can also be confident in their reliability and durability.
Osram LEDriving FOG PL
Price: 12,000 rubles.
If anyone knows how to make high-quality lighting devices based on LEDs, it is definitely Osram engineers. The German quality of this company's products is confirmed by relevant certificates and many prestigious awards.
As for the Osram LEDriving FOG PL, this little miracle under a 90 mm socket can be installed as a daytime running light, or in a PTF, either in a KAMAZ or a passenger car. For this purpose, German headlights have two special operating modes: 24 W and 14 W, which allows us to call them universal. Moreover, as you know, if a device is universal, it means that it is often worse than a simple analogue. So this is not at all about LEDriving FOG PL, because they shine like xenon (it’s all about the company’s own development - a collimating lens).
This model is produced with different colors of light (silver, pink, orange), which allows the driver to choose the color to his liking and make his vehicle unique. No problems were found with the body: aluminum frame, thick glass, lens made of high-quality polymers. The headlights are also not afraid of water and stones; fortunately, in matters of reliability, it has no equal (the manufacturer guarantees operation for 5 thousand hours, which is equivalent to several hundred thousand kilometers of driving). It would also not be amiss to say that all characteristics and safety levels are confirmed by ECE, SAE, CCC, EAC and IP certificates.
Features and characteristics: LED fog lights (universal) with a power of 48 W, voltage 9-12 V; the body is made of aluminum, the shape is circle; white glass, with confirmed IP protection; The delivery set includes one headlight.
Osram LEDriving FOG PL
Advantages:
- Design (eagle eye);
- Resistance to water, frost, dust and low temperatures;
- Very economical;
- High efficiency;
- Duration of operation (can actually reach 10 thousand hours);
- Clear light with smooth borders;
- High-quality and powerful LEDs;
- The characteristics are confirmed by certificates;
- Variations of light.
Flaws:
- Price;
- "Soft" lighting.
Conclusion: If you need a high-quality, economical and versatile light source that can work for thousands of hours in the most difficult conditions, then this, undoubtedly, should be the Osram LEDriving FOG PL. Also, a separate point of disadvantage is the price, but if you calculate how long these headlights work, then their owner can save significantly on the constant replacement of components.
| Model | Power and voltage | Protection | Manufacturer country | Amount) | average price |
| Wesem CDC2 | 9W/12 (24)V | with protection IP68, IP69K | Poland | 2 | 7400 rubles |
| Osram LEDriving FOG PL | 48W/9-12V | with verified IP protection | Germany | 1 | 12,000 rubles |
Halogen headlights
Valeo 088358
This section of our rating of the best halogen fog lights opens with products from a well-known French brand that specializes in the manufacture of automotive optics. Such headlights are often used as standard fog lights on cars of widely used brands - Renault, Ford, Nissan, Opel and so on. The original products are equipped with 55 W lamps - they are manufactured by OSRAM or Philips. The left and right headlights are absolutely identical to each other. Their case diameter is 90 mm, weight is 0.34 kg.
The headlights are designed to accommodate lamps equipped with an H11 socket. When there is insufficient lighting, the light spot turns out to be symmetrical with a clear boundary. The body is made of plastic, the glass of the headlight is quite durable - it can even withstand the impact of fairly large stones.
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Advantages:
- Clearly defined cut-off line;
- Perfectly illuminates the roadside and the edge of the oncoming lane;
- The reflector is made of glass;
- The case is made of plastic, increased strength.
Flaws:
- The tightness leaves much to be desired.
Valeo 088358
Hella D90
The engineers of the company that created this design took a very original approach to the issue of installing their headlights in the standard place of the bumper. They proposed a rather simple solution: a special plate is screwed to the back of the headlight, acting as an adapter, and if necessary, it can be easily adjusted to the existing bumper without touching the headlight itself. The body is made of lightweight magnesium alloy. The strength of glass is at a very high level - it can withstand significant impact loads well. The diameter of this lighting optics is standard – 90 mm. H7 lamps are used here.
The headlights cool quite well and provide decent illumination, which is most noticeable not only in fog, but also in heavy snow. The product is very bright, characterized by a decent distribution of luminous flux, and the shape of the base is very common.
Advantages:
- The body is made of metal alloy;
- Excellent production quality;
- Excellent distribution rates;
- Clear cut-off line;
- High level of glass strength.
Flaws:
- In most cases, the adapter will have to be adjusted to fit the bumper.
Hella D90
DLAA LA-930EX Y
This model is one of the cheapest in our entire review. It is a Chinese product, but the quality is quite acceptable. Fog lights from this manufacturer are distinguished by excellent distribution of luminous flux, which is important in conditions of limited visibility. The body here is made of plastic, but it can hardly be called very reliable, since even when pressed with a finger it bends a little, but nevertheless it can withstand the impact of small pebbles. In terms of protecting the headlights from the penetration of dust and moisture under the housing, there are no complaints.
The kit comes with decent H3 bulbs. The reflective element is chrome-plated plastic, and the chrome will not crumble or peel off throughout the entire service life of this device, which will also ensure normal operation of the product.
Advantages:
- Quite reasonable cost;
- Quite passable quality;
- Chromed reflective surface.
Flaws:
- The body is made of soft plastic - it is unlikely to withstand serious physical stress.
Fog light DLAA LA-930EX Y
Wesem HM2 082.31
Here the case is also made of plastic, but its quality is already an order of magnitude higher compared to the previous model. The diffuser is glass - the car owner does not have to regularly check whether the chrome has begun to crumble from the plastic. The level of protection against penetration of dust and moisture complies with the IP66 standard. The luminous flux distribution is very decent. Largely due to the yellowness of the diffusers, the overall quality of operation of these lighting devices in foggy conditions is less dependent on the color temperature of the selected light bulbs. It is worth mentioning that the light bulbs themselves are not included in the kit, so they will have to be purchased separately.
These headlights are best suited for passenger cars. They weigh little, so they will stick even on a plastic bumper without additional reinforcement equipment. Changing the bulbs themselves is very simple - just unscrew the front part of the headlight and remove the burnt one; there is no need to remove the mount.
Advantages:
- The optimum ratio of price and quality;
- Low weight allows you to reduce the load on the bumper;
- For use in normal road conditions - the best option.
Flaws:
- For SUVs, it is better to choose a more serious option.
Wesem HM2 082.31
Hella Jumbo 320FF
They are quite compact in size and light in weight. Their body is made of high-strength plastic. Even with strong pressure, it does not begin to sag and can withstand very serious physical loads. It is not necessary to install directly into the bumper - the manufacturer also offers a number of other options, for example, on the roof of the car. The headlights hold up well even during serious shaking. The reflector is a sheet of metal foil, the diffuser is made of glass. This solution helps to significantly extend the service life of this device.
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The designers did a good job on the shape of the reflector. Thanks to this approach, a correct and very powerful light beam will emerge from the headlamp, which will fully comply with the international ECE standard. The most common lamps installed here are those with an H7 base, so there shouldn’t be any problems replacing them.
Advantages:
- Ideal quality of light flux distribution;
- The metal reflector lasts a long time;
- If necessary, it can be installed on a plastic base.
Flaws:
- It's quite expensive.
Hella Jumbo 320FF
Hella Luminator Metal
This is a whole line of fog lights that are distinguished by high quality luminous flux and good reliability. The body here is made of metal and is completely sealed. In general, such headlights were initially produced for installation on the body of an SUV, which is not surprising, since their diameter is over 200 mm. When turned on, these headlights, which use bulbs with an H3 socket, turn into full-fledged spotlights, but even such a bright luminous flux does not knock them out of compliance with the ECE standard.
You won't be able to find a single plastic element in this design. The optical element itself is fixed using a metal ring with four screws. The housing has drainage that prevents water from reaching the lamps. The heating of the glass is not too strong, so it can easily withstand even serious temperature changes. This headlight is available in two versions - painted and chrome.
Advantages:
- High luminous flux density;
- Excellent mechanical strength;
- Reliable drainage;
- Compliance with all international requirements.
Flaws:
- Significant dimensions and weight.
Hella Luminator Metal
Hella Micro DE
The leaders in the best halogen fog lights are another product from the famous Hella brand. This model is widespread both due to its stylish appearance and performance qualities. In particular, the headlights provide excellent light distribution and are distinguished by good brightness, although their diameter is only 40 mm. The case is made of reliable magnesium alloy, which withstands shock loads much better than plastic.
When installing a headlight, it is necessary to consider its cooling system, since it will become very hot during operation. The body is quite long, so you will need to measure the installation location in advance to see if this headlight can fit there.
Advantages:
- Durable housing;
- Carefully sealed model;
- The kit includes everything for installation;
- High quality luminous flux.
Flaws:
- It gets very hot;
- Decent overall length.
Hella Micro DE
The best gas-discharge PTFs for 2021
Gas discharge headlights look very impressive, expensive and are really effective as fog lights. However, it should be borne in mind that the prices for such products are high, and their service life is approximately 3-4 years (it is also important to know that if one light bulb breaks, both are replaced). Another interesting point is legality. Thus, xenon lamps can only be installed in optics with a special marking (usually the letter D), and an automatic corrector is required.
Hella Micro DE
Price: 6700 rubles.
It is not for nothing that this model is called “Micro”, because it is indeed the smallest model from the DE series developed by Hella. Also interesting is the fact that such a headlight is often found in a halogen version.
The case is made of durable magnesium alloy, which ensures good safety of the product; the glass is also quite strong, but without additional protection. The joints are rubberized and should not allow moisture to enter.
Installation is simple: the lamp is attached to a wide variety of cars, thanks to a convenient U-shaped bracket. It is important to take into account that the length of this product is 14 centimeters, and therefore it is necessary to check in advance whether the headlight will fit into a special socket. You also need to remember that all manipulations with the lamps are done from the back (the rubber block is removed). Car owners will be pleased with the price, because two PTFs are supplied at once, as well as a package that contains all the consumables for installation.
In terms of light, everything is also very good, as the owners of cars that are not designed for PTF of this size say - the trouble was worth it, since the light is several times better than the factory one. The light spot is clear with good coverage of the road.
Features and Specifications: Xenon fog lights (optional) 55 W, 12 V; the body is made of magnesium alloy, the shape is circle; white glass with rubberized body; The delivery set includes two headlights.
Hella Micro DE
Advantages:
- Nice, bright light;
- Does not blind oncoming traffic;
- Sealed design;
- Durable frame;
- Clear boundaries of light and shade;
- Compactness;
- The delivery set includes all consumables.
Flaws:
- Large depth (you need to check in advance whether the headlight will fit into the socket);
- Build quality (recently there have been complaints about the Romanian assembly).
Conclusion: Hella Micro DE is an excellent, inexpensive option for quality xenon headlights from a well-known brand. The only downsides are possible difficulties in installation (if the machine's socket fits, everything clicks quickly) and the external quality of the Romanian assembly (scratches, marks from screwdrivers).
Morimoto Mini H1
Price: 3000 rubles.
Morimoto is a well-known American brand that works closely with China. It is the Americans who monitor the quality of products collected in the Middle Kingdom and, admittedly, do this very successfully. However, recent events in the world, which have negatively affected the economic and political relations of the two countries, have become a serious threat to further cooperation.
As for the Morimoto Mini H1, it’s not exactly a headlight, but only its element – a bi-xenon lens (designed for the H1 socket, but there are adapters for H4, H7). But it is in this feature that its main advantage lies - Mini can be installed on any vehicle, including a tricycle! To do this, you will have to tinker a little and connect the lamp, while its elements are combined only with the body and glass, but the effect is worth it.
The light of this model is simply excellent for its price - a clear luminous boundary of the luminous flux, a wide coverage of the light spot and the absence of a blinding effect on other road users. At the same time, you will also be pleased with the reliability - the manufacturer talks about 6 thousand hours of operation, which is a very good result for this type of lamp. And finally: the kit contains all consumables in the amount of two pieces (adapters, locks, ignition blocks, rings, washers, seals, wiring).
Features and characteristics: bi-xenon fog lights (optional) with a power of 35 W, voltage of 12 (24) V; The light bulb body is made of metal, the shape is circle; glass is white grey, foggy, the delivery set includes two headlights.
Morimoto Mini H1
Advantages:
- Lifetime;
- Excellent light performance;
- Does not blind oncoming traffic;
- Acceptable price;
- The delivery set includes all consumables;
- Can be connected to any type of vehicle.
Flaws:
- It takes a little fiddling with the installation;
- It is unknown how recent events will affect production quality control.
Conclusion: Morimoto Mini H1 is an excellent solution for any vehicle. A good price, excellent characteristics and the availability of all consumables make this model one of the most advanced in its segment. And don’t let the Chinese origin of the lamp scare drivers – Morimoto specialists know their stuff.
| Model | Power and voltage | Protection | Manufacturer country | Amount) | average price |
| Hella Micro DE | 55W/12V | with rubberized body | Germany | 1 | 6700 rubles |
| Morimoto Mini H1 | 35W/12 (24)V | – | USA | 2 | 3000 rubles |
