When you’re off the beaten track, your lighting setup isn’t just about brightness; it’s about precision.
The right beam pattern can mean the difference between spotting a roo in time or not, staying safe through a hairpin bend, or having total clarity when the road disappears into darkness.
At Ultra Vision, we’ve spent years perfecting beam patterns that meet the demands of Australian terrain, from wide open plains to tight, scrubby tracks. Whether you’re tackling the Nullarbor, winding through the Dandenongs, or navigating backroads in the bush, understanding how each beam works will help you choose the right light for the job.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key patterns in our range – Spot, Widr®, Combo, Spread, and Scene (Work Light) – so you can make a confident and informed decision.
Spot Beams
Long-Distance Confidence When It Counts
When you’re driving open roads at night, think the Hay Plains, the Nullarbor, or anywhere you can go full throttle for hundreds of kays, you don’t just want light. You want range. That’s where a spot beam shines (literally).
Spot beams project a narrow, concentrated beam of light straight ahead, allowing you to see far into the distance, often kilometres away. It’s all about giving you more time to react to obstacles, wildlife, or sudden changes in terrain when travelling at speed. The tighter beam means less light is spread to the sides, but what you gain is unbeatable reach and clarity down the line.
Spot Beams are ideal for:
- Highway driving
- Straight, open roads
- High-speed touring or trucking
- Long-distance visibility in remote areas
If you’ve ever white-knuckled it through a long stretch of pitch-black road, you’ll understand just how important that forward clarity is. A powerful spot beam ensures you’re not outdriving your lights, meaning you’ll see hazards with plenty of time to respond.
Featured Spot Beam Product: Nitro 180 Maxx
For the ultimate in distance lighting, the Ultra Vision Nitro 180 Maxx is hard to beat. Thanks to next-gen LED’s and our Contrl® Optics, this powerful spot beam can give light penetration up to 2.2km ahead. So whether you’re driving cross-country or pulling all-nighters behind the wheel, this is the light that has your back.
Widr® Beam
Maximum Spread, Zero Waste
Tight corners. Tree-lined tracks. Sudden movement in the scrub. When the road ahead isn’t the only thing you need to see, Ultra Vision’s patented Widr® beam is your best mate.
Unlike traditional beams that waste light in areas you don’t need it, Widr® technology is designed to throw every lumen exactly where it matters, across the full width of the road and into the sides where unexpected hazards tend to lurk. Developed and manufactured right here in Australia, it’s a wide, flat beam pattern that turns night into day across your entire field of view.
So, what makes it different? While many wide beams lose intensity the further they spread, Widr® maintains strong visibility and usable distance. That means no compromise between width and reach, and no wasted light spilling into the sky or your bonnet.
You’ll get the most out of a Widr® beam when driving:
- On winding roads or bush tracks
- In scrub-heavy areas where wildlife might dart out
- Through hilly or uneven terrain
- At lower to mid-range speeds, where side visibility is crucial
And the real benefit? Reduced driver fatigue. With more even, daylight-style illumination, your eyes work less, stay sharper longer, and don’t strain to spot shapes in the shadows.
Featured Widr® Beam Products: Nitro Light Bars & Nitro Driving Lights
The Nitro range is where Widr® technology really comes to life. From the Nitro 80 Maxx driving light to our full Nitro driving light range, you’ll get a powerful beam pattern tailored for Australian conditions, built with precision optics to light up the entire road ahead, not just a tunnel of it.
“Our patented technology for our Ultra Vision Nitro range uses 100% of light to ensure it has maximum effect with safety in mind”
Julian Mangan, Ultra Vision Lighting’s Production & Technical Operations Manager.
Combo Beams
The Best of Both Worlds
If you’re chasing a lighting setup that does a bit of everything, and does it well, you’ll want to check out a combo beam. Think of it as the all-rounder of the off-road world. Not too narrow, not too wide, just a balanced mix of distance and spread that’s made for versatility.
Combo beams combine the long-distance punch of a spot beam with the side illumination of a spread beam. It’s a dual-pattern approach that gives you confidence down the track and awareness of what’s happening in the periphery, making it perfect for drivers who tackle varied terrain on a single trip.
Combo Beams are ideal for:
- Mixed driving conditions (open road + bush tracks)
- 4WDers who want one lighting solution that can do it all
- Weekend tourers and casual off-roaders
- Those who don’t want to commit to a full spot/spread combo setup
Featured Products: Raptor Range – Combo Light Bars & Driving Lights
Ultra Vision’s Raptor range is known for its rugged durability. Designed with a smart reflector layout, these lights give you a reliable mix of range and width. No need to overthink it; just fit and go.
This beam pattern is especially popular among 4WD owners who want a dependable, no-fuss solution that suits most environments. It’s the jack-of-all-trades beam that makes your setup easier, without compromising on safety or performance.
Spread Beams
Wide Coverage, Clear Visibility
Need to see more of what’s happening around you, not just ahead? Enter the spread beam. It’s a wide, even beam pattern that prioritises horizontal coverage, giving you better visibility on either side of the track.
Spread beams are especially useful when the terrain throws up constant surprises, like tight bush tracks, snow-covered roads, or semi-built-up rural areas where something could pop out from the sides with little warning.
Where a spot beam focuses light down the middle, a spread beam opens it right up, giving you:
- Greater visibility along fence lines, trees and drains
- Better reaction time for animals, ruts, and turns
- Reduced tunnel vision in tricky, low-speed areas
While not as extreme as the Widr® beam, spread beams still offer excellent side visibility for drivers who prefer a more traditional wide-angle light. And paired with a combo or spot beam, they can really round out your lighting setup.
Spread Beams are best suited for:
- Off-road bush driving
- Tracks with lots of turns or cover
- Snow or foggy conditions where broad, softer light is safer
- Situations where mid-range width is more useful than sheer distance
Featured Products: Raptor Light Bars
The Raptor 180, 210 and 240 light bars are all available with dedicated spread beam configurations, making them a solid choice for drivers who want broad, even light without going full custom. Built tough and tested for Australian conditions, they’re a dependable go-to for weekend explorers or tradies heading out bush before sunrise.
Scene Beams
Work-Ready Light for Every Situation
Not all lighting needs to help you drive faster or further. Sometimes, you just need to see what you’re doing. Whether you’re setting up camp after dark, checking gear on the back of a ute, or working on machinery in the middle of nowhere. That’s where Scene Beams, also known as work light patterns, come in.
Unlike driving beams, these aren’t about distance – they’re about spread. Scene beams cast flood-style light across a wide area, with options ranging from narrow 10° beams to ultra-wide 110° patterns. That means you can choose the perfect light angle depending on the job at hand.
Scene Beams are ideal for:
- Setting up campsites or outdoor workstations
- Lighting up trailers, trays, and toolboxes
- Agricultural vehicles or tractors
- Mining, industrial, or construction equipment
- Any 4WD needing practical task lighting
Featured Scene Beam Products: ATOM Work Lamp Range
From the 25W all the way up to the 50W, Ultra Vision’s ATOM work lamps are built tough, bright, and designed to fit seamlessly into any setup. Whether you need a tight, targeted 30° beam or a full-blown 110° flood pattern, there’s an ATOM for that.
Quick tip: Scene beams aren’t just for tradies. Plenty of 4WDers fit them to the rear of their rigs or roof racks to make camp cooking, recovery setups or even night-time fishing a whole lot easier.
The Right Beam for Every Track
No two tracks are the same, and your lighting setup shouldn’t be either. Whether you’re chasing long-distance visibility across open highways or need full-width clarity through tight bushland, understanding your beam pattern is key to staying safe and seeing clearly.
Summary Table:
| Beam Pattern | Purpose | Best Use | Available Products |
| Spot | Long-distance focused beam | Highway, fast tracks, desert | Nitro Maxx 180/140, Raptor 120 |
| Widr® | Ultra-wide, patented beam | Forest trails, bushland | Nitro Maxx 205W, 405W |
| Combo | Balanced spread & distance | Touring, general off-road | Raptor 125/165, Nitro 220W |
| Spread | Wide forward flood | Bush tracks, low-speed nav | Raptor 60/90, Nitro 155W |
| Scene | Short-range 180º+ flood | Campsite, work area | Work Lamps, Scene Lights |
FAQs
Which is the best beam pattern for off-roading?
It depends on the terrain. For tight, low-speed bush tracks, spread or Widr® beams offer better side visibility. For faster tracks or open-country touring, a combo or spot beam will give you the distance and reaction time you need.
Should I use flood beam for off-road?
Yes, in the right conditions. Flood or spread beams are ideal for low-speed driving through scrub, gullies or technical terrain where you need to see obstacles at the sides. For open tracks, combine with a spot beam to cover distance too.
What’s the difference between spot or flood beam?
Spot beams push light further down the track for long-distance visibility. Flood beams spread light wide to the sides but don’t travel as far. Choosing the right one depends on how and where you drive.
Can I mix different beam patterns on my 4WD rig setup?
Absolutely. Many 4WDers combine spot and spread or Widr® beams to get the best of both worlds. This gives you long-range clarity and strong side coverage for changing terrain.
