Truss Lighting roundup
The Best Truss Lightings for the Money
Investing in a truss lighting system does not require a touring-production budget. The equipment at the mid-range of the market — aluminium truss from established manufacturers, LED wash fixtures from reliable brands and a solid DMX controller — provides professional results at a fraction of the cost of premium touring gear. The selections below represent equipment that offers dependable performance and long service life at reasonable purchase cost.
Best Entry-Level Truss Lighting Package
The Global Truss F34 290mm box truss system is the dominant choice at the entry-to-mid level. The F34 section is used worldwide in production and rental contexts; it accepts standard conical connectors, compatible with a wide range of third-party accessories. Paired with four to six ADJ Mega Bar fixtures — LED bar fixtures that mount directly to the truss via an included clamp — a basic truss lighting setup can be assembled for under £2,000 for truss, stands and fixtures combined. The Global Truss ST-90 crank stands raise the truss to 2.5 metres on a 90kg-rated column. For a complete system overview, see the full guide.
Best Mid-Range Option for Club and Theatre
At the mid-range, the Prolyte H30V triangular truss offers light weight with adequate load capacity for installations using LED fixtures. The H30V accepts standard half-conical connectors and is compatible with Prolyte's extensive range of accessories including spigot corners, goal-post connectors and base plates. Pairing the H30V with Chauvet Professional COLORdash Par H12 IP fixtures gives a weather-resistant wash option suitable for outdoor events and covered festival stages. A 6-metre front truss with eight fixtures and a ground support system from Prolyte costs approximately £4,500–£6,000 for the complete structural package before fixtures.
Best Budget Controller
The Chauvet DJ Obey 40 DMX controller provides 192 channels across two universes, a built-in effects generator and a compact form factor suited to pub venues and small theatres. It addresses up to 12 fixtures simultaneously across two banks of six, with direct access faders that are practical in live operation. For rigs using intelligent fixtures (moving heads, colour-mixing LED), the Chauvet DJ Obey 70 expands control to 384 channels. Both units work with any DMX-compliant fixture in the truss lighting system.
Best Budget Moving Head for Truss Use
The Chauvet DJ Intimidator Spot 110 is a compact moving head with a 35W LED source, 8-colour wheel, gobo wheel and motorised pan and tilt, rated at 2.2kg. Its low weight makes it practical for truss systems without the structural demands of full-size 150W+ moving heads. Three or four units distributed along a 6-metre truss contribute significant visual impact to a small venue show without overloading a ground support system. The comparable Cameo Auro Spot 200 at 3.1kg provides a brighter output at modest additional weight. For guidance on avoiding common errors with moving head placement, see the mistakes guide.
Best Value Safety Equipment
Safety bonds, c-clamps and the correct hardware are not optional and should not be sourced from the cheapest available supplier. Doughty Engineering c-clamps are the industry standard in the UK and Europe — the T20751 half-tonne hook clamp is rated to 500kg and is used across professional touring and installation contexts. Purchased in quantity, they cost £8–12 each. Snap hooks and steel wire safety bonds from Doughty or Lex Products complete the safety package. Do not substitute rigging hardware with general construction hardware; load ratings and material specifications differ significantly.
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