Whether you have jobs that can’t wait for tomorrow or love hitting the trails after dark, having high-quality lights on your UTV is important for staying safe, maintaining high performance, and overall visibility.
There are two main types of lights available for side-by-sides—LED and halogen. This guide compares the latest innovations (LED) and the established standard (halogen) to help you decide which type is best for your rig. Let’s dive in!
LED stands for light-emitting diode, which means they use electrical components to emit light via electroluminescence rather than heat. LED headlights have been growing in popularity in the off-road industry for years, and for good reason. LED headlights are efficient, long-lasting, and bright. Each light can also contain multiple LEDs, giving you a better range of visibility by being able to run the high and low beams at the same time, rather than switching between the two. To further improve visibility, the actual light produced by LEDs is clear and white rather than the murkier, yellowish light produced by older halogen lights.
Modern LED headlights are built to stand up to the elements and rough-and-tumble rides, making them a great option for UTVs. These days, some rigs are already rolling out of the factory with LED headlights, but that doesn’t mean you can’t swap out your old headlights for LEDs—many replacement assemblies are designed to fit directly into your existing housings.
LEDs aren’t just great for headlights. Taillights, auxiliary lights, and even turn signals are all available with LEDs. In fact, you can find a great selection of all kinds of LED lights and replacement bulbs for your UTV at SuperATV.
Halogen lights are your traditional bulbs that use a heated filament to produce light. In off-roading, these bulbs have been a tried and trusted headlight option for years. Halogen bulbs are extremely affordable, easy to replace, and only require one bulb per headlight. However, there are some drawbacks with this older technology. Halogen bulbs have a shorter lifespan than LEDs, provide less clear light, and are less efficient, leaving reduced power for your other accessories.
When it comes to lighting up the night, LEDs have a clear advantage. Not only is the light they emit brighter and more clear, the multiple bulbs allow for a wider and longer range of visibility. All of these factors can dramatically improve the safety of your nighttime rides, as you’ll be able to see hazards or obstacles sooner while driving at speed.
Despite putting out less light, halogen bulbs are not as efficient and pull down more power than LEDs. If you like running extra accessories or want to ease the strain on your UTV’s electrical system, going with LED lights is one of the simplest ways to do so. This improved efficiency and lighter draw makes LED headlights a better choice for anyone who is putting in real miles after dark, since you’ll be less likely to drain your battery during extended use.
Part of technological advancement is improving on what came before. Halogen lights have held up well in the elements and off-roading conditions for years—LEDs simply do it better, and for longer. LED housings are more robust than halogen bulbs and hold up better against vibrations, water, mud, and other potentially damaging conditions.
LEDs last significantly longer than their halogen counterparts, with a lifespan that can reach 50,000 hours. Depending on how much you ride, you could go years without needing to replace them.
The sticker price is where halogens still hold the advantage—they cost a good deal less than LEDs. However, the price isn’t really the total cost when it comes to headlights. Because they last way longer, the long-term savings LEDs provide goes a long way toward offsetting the initial out-of-pocket cost. This is especially true if you’re riding or working in the dark with any kind of frequency. The cost of replacing lower-quality halogen bulbs more often can add up and cost you just as much in the long run as buying LEDs in the first place.
Choosing between halogen versus LED lights is an important decision for every UTV rider. If you don’t ride in the dark very often, going with the lower-cost option makes sense. But if you do any kind of consistent riding at night, or would like to start, upgrading to LEDs is one of the easiest and most impactful upgrades you can make. And if you’re doing any kind of nighttime racing, LEDs are almost a must-have, both for safety and for performance.
With the many advantages modern LEDs have over halogen headlights, it’s easy to say they are the best choice for almost every UTV owner. If you haven’t upgraded yet, or you want to take the next step with some auxiliary LEDs, go check out our selection. If you have more questions about the best headlights for your machine, get in touch with our team or drop us a comment down below!
