Best Kayak Lights for Night Paddling & Fishing

If you’re in search of an experience of feeling like you’re exclusively navigating the waters, a nighttime paddle is the ideal solution! It is a rare opportunity to enjoy some of the most sought-after lakes for leisure activities without having to share them with anyone else.

Kayakers must take measures to ensure that they can be seen by other boaters. Whether you’re going for a kayak ride in the daytime or the nighttime, this remains constant.

For those who really enjoy kayak fishing, you’re likely aware that particular kinds of fish are more keen to bite in the evening than during the daylight hours. Once you’ve managed to catch a fish, you’ll require more illumination to conduct the next steps.

Whether you’re a casual kayaker or a seasoned fisherman, having a kayak light is a must-have item in your equipment collection. In the beginning, it will be much simpler to paddle longer in times of poor visibility.

When paddling in the dark, it is a legal requirement for kayakers to have some kind of illumination on their boat. Different countries and states have separate regulations, however no matter where you live, if you’re paddling at night you will have to have a specific type of light for your kayak.

This article is meant to draw attention to the characteristics of the 4 greatest kayak lights for night time canoeing and angling. We’ll also explain the meaning of the frequent kayak light language, and clue you in on key points for determining a kayak light that accommodates your pastime choices!

Kayak Lights for night paddling – Jargon Buster

Honestly, kayak lights are pretty simple. We’d like to spend some time clarifying the specific terms you’ll find in the remaining part of this article!

LED

LED stands for ‘light-emitting diode’. Initially, when they began using these lamps in the ’60s, they were exceedingly costly.

Throughout the years, progress in technology has meant that LED lights have become more economical. They mainly use LED lighting because it’s very efficient, making it the perfect choice for kayak lights.

Diffusion Lens

A diffusion lens disperses light and also makes it less intense. This lens is normally used in kayak lights as it allows the LED light to be more visible and gentle to those who might be approaching the watercraft, reducing the chances of them being dazzled.

Clamp Mounts

Clamp mounts are a way to fasten a light to your kayak. These attachments are typically designed to be situated atop the side of your kayak, and then can be secured in place using screws or any other tightening method.

Port and Starboard

The terms “port” and “starboard” are used to indicate the left and right sides of a vessel, respectively. The sides of a kayak are known as the “gunwales” and “port” and “starboard” are used to identify which side is being referred to.

On large aircraft carriers and naval ships, directions are generally given in terms of “port” or “starboard” as opposed to right or left, as not all of the crew may be facing the bow of the vessel. This helps to prevent confusion.

No matter what direction the vessel is oriented, port and starboard will always refer to the same two sides of the ship, and there is an intriguing tale about how these two words came to be.

By looking at the words used to describe the lights, it will help you decide where to place them on your kayak. When you are facing the front of your kayak, the left side is the port side and the right side is the starboard side.

You can recall this in an orderly way by remembering that “port” and “left” have the same length. By eliminating the other options, we can conclude that the starboard side is the opposite.

kayak Lights Buying Guide

Kayak lights do not come with as many features as some other kayak add-ons, which is a blessing. In any case, this subsection will discuss the key things to be taken into account when selecting a kayak lamp.

Light Types

Kayaks possess two distinct varieties of lighting. You can find both handheld and mounted lighting that can be utilized while kayaking. Handheld kayak lights are designed to be carried in your hands as you kayak, while deck mounted lights are specifically designed to be attached to the deck of your kayak.

Handheld

Generally speaking, handheld kayak lights tend to be substantially more compact compared to those that get placed on the surface of a kayak. Despite the fact that they are called “cordless,” most life jackets come with either a cord or clip to attach them to a kayak or personal flotation device (PFD).

The main benefit of a handheld kayak light is its lightweight and small size. You can quickly and easily attach this light to your desired spot, and it won’t interfere with your paddling.

Deck Mounted

Kayak lights which are placed on the top of your kayak utilize several different approaches to secure them. Some are fastened in place with a clamp, while others use suction cups.

One major benefit of having a kayak light mounted on the top of the vessel is that it can be seen from every direction. This is something that handheld kayak lights do not typically have the capacity to do.

Mounting Systems

We were just saying that most kayak lighting systems attach to your boat with suction cups or clamps. However, some are able to be used with a GearTrac or a mounting accessory.

Suction Mounting

Kayak lights which can be installed with suction mounting are very lightweight and simple to set up. Many kayak lights that are fixed using suction cups are among the least expensive options that are available.

The disadvantage of kayak lights which are attached by suction is that they can weaken their suction and eventually drop off. Many kayak lights that use suction cups to stay in place are not well-suited to surfaces that are porous, uneven, or dirty.

Clamp Mounts

Clamp-attached kayak lamps have the most robust hold compared to any other kind of mounting system. It is probable that they will remain secure, no matter what the situation while in, or pulling the kayak onto shore.

However, kayak lighting systems attached by clamps tend to be more substantial and bulky than those attached through suction. This makes them less-than-ideal for long-distance paddling trips.

GearTrac

The GearTrac offers significantly more flexibility than models that attach through suction or clamps. This is the ideal choice for anyone who desires the maximum level of control to adjust their kayak illumination system.

The disadvantage of using GearTrac is that it needs to be fastened with a screw-in base. Only the most experienced kayakers should attempt drilling into the hull of their boats in order to install a GearTrac, as it is essential to be certain that the holes created are properly sealed up once the GearTrac has been fitted.

Is It Waterproof?

It is plainly evident that a lamp created specifically for kayaking has to be waterproof. However, the level of waterproofness varies and not all types of kayak lights are the same when it comes to that.

It will be quite difficult to find a kayak light that isn’t certified to work in depths under one meter. Nevertheless, there are numerous kayak lights for sale that can handle being submerged to extreme depths.

There is little need to concern oneself with finding a kayak light that sinks to depths of more than 100 feet, as some are designed to endure submergence at that level. If you reside in a damp location, having a waterproof kayak light is very important to keep it in proper working condition.

Our List of the Top-Rated Kayak Lights: All the Details You Need to Know

Best Overall: Kayalu Kayalite Portable Bright White Led Kayak Light

The mount is secured by tension straps and offers waterproofing to a depth of up to 1,000 feet as per IPX8 standards. It is also able to run for up to 100 hours on a single battery charge.

This kayak light kit has been created in such a way that it will be easily perceived from any angle, with an entire circumference of light that will make spotting you an effortless task from any direction. This flashlight can provide you with roughly 100 hours of illumination (powered by three AA batteries) so that you will easily be noticeable and remain safe throughout the night.

A tension strap can be used to attach an 18-inch pole that has a white light at the top of it to the deck of your kayak. This makes the light more secure and less likely to be misplaced than a suction cup or drill-mounted light, and it can easily survive any knocks or bumps without damaging the kayak or the light.

This light stands out from the rest due to its high-quality marine-grade metal pole, making it one of the sturdiest available.

A neat element: if you don’t possess a place to attach the lamp onto your outdoor platform, you can get a outdoor platform-mounting set distinctively and anchor it using hardware that is effortless to set up. This light is incredibly flexible, offering amazing results with unmatched reliability.

Best High-End Option: Guardian Angel

Mount Type: Magnetic Waterproofing: IP68 Battery Life: 93 hours

This is a truly unique kayak light! Rather than attaching a clip to your personal flotation device, this particular light utilizes two robust magnetics to adhere the light to your life vest, coat, shirt, or the top of your kayak itself. It is so small, it can be held in the palm of one’s hand and only weighs 3 ounces.

Nevertheless, the light created is bright enough to be discernible from a 5-mile radius. Talk about bright!

The Guardian Angel is energy efficient, featuring a protective exterior of incredibly resilient polycarbonate plastic with an IP68 rating (waterproof and dust-proof). This is not designed to be in the water for long periods of time, but it will still be safe if you accidentally end up in the water and need to swim back to land.

This small device has bright LED lights which are positioned on the top and back of the machine, as well as warning and operation lights which blink. Each of those functions can be triggered individually using the one, simple to use button on the device.

The integrated lithium-ion battery will provide approximately 93 hours of unbroken operation.

Though it is more costly and smaller than our other preferred choices, the Guardian Angel kayak light is something that can significantly improve your experience, and is worth considering.

Pros:

– Highly visible LED lights in a wide array of colors, including yellow, green, blue, white, and red – – -Compact, lightweight, and ultra-portable
-Shock-proof, waterproof little device you can take anywhere
-Up to 500 lumens of light output
-Charges in 2-8 hours

Cons:

-Pricey
-Won’t be visible to people behind you if clipped onto your PFD

BEST BATTERY LIFE: RAILBLAZA VISIBILITY KIT KAYAK ALL AROUND SAFETY LIGHT

This mount can be securely attached with a drill and is waterproof up to one meter deep, and has a battery life of over 200 hours.

This full-view mounting assembly gives you numerous selections to guarantee your safety during the night! This product comes with a 360-degree LED stern light and an orange flag so your visibility will be increased during nighttime and daytime.

A 3’ pole that can be lengthened will lift the luminary up higher than your head so that everyone can observe you in every direction.

The power supply can endure up to 200 hours when the light is flashing in an emergency, 160 hours when in low brightness operations, and 25 hours when it is in full brightness to guide one’s way.

The light kit utilizes 3 AA batteries (not included). The fastening kit simplifies the process of using a drill to attach the hardware to your deck. Once set up, you can effortlessly attach or detach the lamp’s pole (by taking it off the installed base) dependent on your requirements.

You don’t have to drill into your kayak if you already have tracks installed – you can just get a track mount to add on.

Pros:

-Adjustable pole (up to 3’) makes the light visible from all directions
-Made in New Zealand, highly durable and good quality
-Includes a flag and drill-mounting hardware
-Decent battery life, great LED light lifespan
-Floats light-side up

Cons:

-Requires holes drilled into your kayak (unless you have gear tracks)
-On the pricier side

BEST WITH FLAG: YAKATTACK VISIPOLE II

The type of mount this product has is a track, and it has an IPX8 waterproofing level, which can safely submerge up to 1,000 feet. The battery life has a duration of 100 hours.

If you are looking for something small and lightweight, this combination of flag and light is perfect for you. A super-intense LED light bulb has been placed on top of a 3/8 inch thick fiberglass stem, directly above the high visibility orange flag.

You can change the height up to 4 feet and the mast has enough durability to flex without breaking.

This item will last around 100 hours provided three AA batteries (not included) are used as the power source. This LED bulb lasts for about 10,000 hours, which is typical for this type, and gives off a lot of brightness for its size.

If you don’t have gear tracks in place already, you will have to buy and install them before you can mount the light kit. It’s only compatible with GearTrac and MightyMount, though.

Pros:

-Lightweight, slim, and easy to operate
-Carbon fiberglass mast is incredibly durable
-Mast adjustable between 14 and 48 inches
-360-degree visibility
-Good LED bulb and battery life

Cons:

-Can only be mounted on MightyMount and GearTrac mounts

Kayak Lights for Night Paddling and Fishing

Kayak Lights for night paddling – Jargon Buster