Kayaking during the day when the weather is bright and sunny is great, but there's something special about kayaking late at night. You can almost feel the water and its creatures reaching out to you… the quiet and cold you may miss when the water is bubbling with other kayakers. To kayak safely at night, though, you must get some things right, one of which is visibility.
All sorts of accidents occur in the dark, and it gets even more perilous when you're on the water. Installing kayak lights is an easy fix. These lights are specifically developed for use on boats, and as a result, they are usually waterproof and bright. Continue reading our buying guide to see our list of our favorite kayak lights in 2024 along with some helpful buying advice.
With the Bottepon kayak lights, you can take to the water in the dark with complete confidence. This set includes two pieces of brilliant red, green, and white lights, but there is also an option that includes one piece of each color. These emergency lights can make you and your kayak visible from about 0.6 miles away. They also include three lighting modes: steady, slow flash, and flash, which can be used for various purposes. These lights are made of silicon, making them both strong and light. They also include two hooks for securing them to kayak decks.
The GearLight kayak lights are some of the most reliable options for late-night kayakers. They may be small, but their lights shine brighter than diamonds in the sky. Their portable size also makes them versatile in the sense that they can be attached to bikes, strollers, dog collars, and boats for various purposes. These lights are IPX4-rated, and they offer up to 100 hours of use. They also feature extra batteries, hook and loop straps for attachment, and three lighting modes (steady, flash, and strobe).
The Shangyuan kayak lights are an embodiment of style, efficiency, and affordability, hence their appearance on our list. These lights are available in red, green, and white colors, and their unique extended vertical design makes them visible from afar. They have a superb lifespan of over 50,000 hours and emit little energy when in use. Of course, they’re waterproof and easy to install and to top it all off, they come with a free screw set and foam tape bases to help with installation.
If you’re looking for something with more color options than the typical red, green, and white, the Blitzu lights should be your go-to. They’re available in pink and blue colors, and their portable design makes them suitable for a wide range of tasks. This 4-pack product is IPX5-rated and has three lighting modes: solid, strobe, and flash. The clip installation mechanism is secure, too, so you can ride in the water without worrying about it falling off.
Buying and installing a pair of Boaton kayak lights is one of the best safety decisions you could make when on the water. These lights are three times brighter than conventional boat lights, and their high-grade silicone construction makes them highly durable. They also have a lifespan of 50,000 hours, which means you can stay safe and look stylish with them for quite a long time.
Kayaks and vehicles transport humans and items from place to place, but that’s not the only thing they have in common. Kayaks, like cars, require powerful lights at night to illuminate the path and alert other vessels of their presence. Many kayaks, however, do not have built-in lights, which is why purchasing lights is so important. Simply connect these lights to your speedy kayak, and you’ll be safe while paddling late at night.
This buying guide offers vital information on kayak lights, including costs, factors to consider, installation techniques, and more. And if you’re seeking samples of good kayak lights to buy, simply scroll up and check out our recommendations.
The most common application for kayak lights is illumination in the dark. For starters, it enables you to locate and identify items within your kayak. It also makes you visible to others traveling in another watercraft to avoid crashes. Of course, it goes without saying that these lights come in various fancy colors that can spice up your kayak’s overall appearance. And if you do other fun activities in your kayak like say, fish, kayak lights are absolutely a must-have to help you see the water and reel in great catches.
There are two major types of kayak lights: handheld and deck mounted.
Handheld kayak lights, just like their name suggests, are designed to be held. They’re also smaller than the alternative for portability and feature clips that allow you to attach them to your life jacket or the kayak itself. The main purpose of handheld kayak lights is to aid visibility, which is an effective safety routine.
On the other hand, deck-mounted kayak lights are designed to be attached to your kayak. They come in different shapes, sizes, and mounting options and, in contrast to the handheld models, are meant to help you remain visible to oncoming watercraft.
Suction kayak lights are the easiest to install. Not only because of their ergonomic design but also because of how lightweight they are. However, you should know that these models aren’t the most secure. Their suction may weaken over time, causing you to lose them if they fall into the water.
This mounting option is meant for premium kayaks with built-in tracks. All you have to do is attach them to these tracks, and they’ll never fall off.
Some kayak lights come with tension cables that you can easily attach to your kayak’s deck. This mounting option is highly secure, and you can be confident that your lights won’t fall in. However, you should know that kayak lights attached with tension cables may break if your kayak collides with an obstacle.
This is yet another secure kayak mounting option to consider. Kayak lights with this mounting mechanism typically feature a clamp that attaches firmly to your kayak, ensuring that they never fall off. These kayak lights are usually heavier than the other options but go for them if weight isn’t a deal-breaker. You should also know that they work only with specific deck shapes, so double-check compatibility before buying.
Most kayak lights are constructed of plastic or marine-grade metal on the outside. Both are excellent choices, but keep in mind that the plastic models are more waterproof and lightweight, whereas the metal ones are substantially more sturdy and tough.
It only makes sense to choose kayak lights with high waterproof ratings since they’ll be around water most of the time. Of course, you can always confirm a kayak’s water resistance potential by reading reviews or asking the manufacturer. The best benchmarks of a kayak light’s water resistance are IP ratings, so check for those before making a purchase.
Kayak lights are often powered by AA/AAA batteries or rechargeable batteries. Although the built-in rechargeable batteries are convenient and environmentally friendly, they are more expensive to repair or replace. They’re also not suited for long-distance kayaking journeys because they’ll need to be charged along the route.
On the other hand, when AA/AAA batteries run out of power, you may easily swap them out. However, opening the battery compartment to swap batteries may allow water to seep in.
Choosing the right kayak light size can be somewhat tricky. They can’t be too big; otherwise, they’ll be difficult to install and obstruct your view. On the other hand, they can’t be too small, or their lights might not be visible from afar. So choose something medium-sized and check for reviews before paying for it.
To avoid being plunged into darkness only a few hours after switching on your kayak lights, you must choose models with durable battery lives. You can find kayak lights with rechargeable batteries of up to 80 hours of battery life. You can enjoy late-night kayaking or fishing with such lights.
Kayak lights can either shine in one or multiple directions. The latter is known as a 360 light display, and it is your best bet because such lights are easy to spot by others on the water. They also offer some illumination inside the kayak.
Lightweight kayak lights are always the superior choice because they don’t add any more weight to your kayak, allowing you to paddle faster and more efficiently.
Kayaking in the dark is a risky affair because of low visibility and the potential dangers it holds. Kayak lights eliminate these dangers and also make late-night kayaking a pleasing experience.
Certain states require non-motorized kayakers to have some form of illumination during periods of low visibility.
Batteries power kayak lights. These batteries can either be replaceable or rechargeable.
Depending on the number of pieces and overall quality of lights in the package, kayak lights may cost between $15 and $80.
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