If you are an angler who loves padding under the stars and knows that certain fish are more active in the evening or at night, you will need some light to roll in your catch once you have caught your fish.
Kayak lighting will come in handy.
Kayak lighting enhances your security and keeps you visible while in the dark. A kayak light is necessary for night fishing and during the day when the light condition is low or foggy.
This article will shed some light on the 8 best kayak lights you can buy for your night padding. Also included are a few buying tips to keep in mind when shopping for one.
Let’s get started…
8 Best Kayak Lighting for Night Padding-Top Reviews for 2021
1.  Attwood Portable Clamp-On Kayak Lighting
You no longer need to carry a lantern with you when you go padding. The Attwood Portable Clamp-On kayak lighting will give you the bright lighting you need to hit the water at night.
Its design includes a stern, white light and a bow red or green light to illuminate your path and make you very visible when you are padding at night. Even better, this kayak lighting stands on a 24 inches pole, making it visible from a distance.
It uses three AAA batteries to power it up and lasts up to about 150 hours. Moreover, the light’s electronics are sealed in shock-proof housing, which is 100% water-proof.
Clamping this light in your kayak can be challenging, but once you have figured out a way to mount it up, it holds firmly.
Pros
- Red/Green/White lights included
- C-clamps give you a secure install
- It runs about 150 hours
Cons
- Difficult to clamp
2.  Kayalu Kayalite Portable Kayak Lighting
The Kayalu Kayalite Portable kayak light is one of the best kayak lights for hard-shell, SOT, SUP, dinghy, canoe, scull, and inflatables that will work beyond your expectation.
The lighting features two white, bright LEDs with a powerful titanium-infused diffusion lens. It is designed to provide you with lighting for up to 100 hours. Operating on three AAA batteries, this portable kayak light will bravely illuminate your path for a long duration before the batteries need replacement.
Its bright white light is easy to notice from a distance when standing at a length of 18 inches. Besides, the Kayalu Kayalite Portable kayak lighting for night padding is IXP8 rated and is 100% water-proof, up to 1000 feet. The lighting comes with a steel clip that makes it easy to mount on your kayak deck.
Pros
- Infused diffusion lens
- IPX8 rated
- Water-proof to 1000 feet
Cons
- Needs an eyelet
3.  Attwood 14192-7 Deck Mount Kayak Lighting
This kayak lighting for night padding stands out due to its combo kit feature. The Attwood 14192-7 Water-Resistant Deck Mount kayak lighting comes with white stern light and red and green LED bow light.
The device comes with everything you will need to make yourself visible during night padding. This includes lights, a stern light pole, the mounts, and hardware.
Besides, this kayak light is 100% water-resistant. The kayak lighting stands at about 24 inches tall. It also has a unique design that allows you to mount it in two ways. You can use the included adhesive pad or screw it on your boat or canoe.
Pros
- Sealed electronics in a shock-proof housing
- shatter-proof polycarbonate lens
- All-in-one light kit
Cons
- The adhesive is not great for porous or textured surfaces.
4.  Online White LED Marine Navigation Kayak Lighting
The Online White LED Marine Navigation kayak lighting is USCG-approved and ideal for night padding. Its design is simple and easy to mount on your boat, canoe, or kayak. Besides, it is silicone sealed and will withstand all weather elements.
This kayak lighting uses a 12-volt or 24-volt power system on your boat. It provides 180 degrees swivel making it ideal for different mounting positions. Also, its brightness is strong enough and can be seen from 3 nautical miles away.
The kayak lighting is IP66-rated and perfectly anchors on boats up to 165 inches tall. Its LEDs are long-lasting, while its construction is corrosion-resistant.
As a bonus, it features a folding base for more accessible storage and an anti-glare design making it easy to maintain and less prone to damage.
Pros
- Lights are silicone sealed
- IP66 rated
- Visible up to 3NM
Cons
- Only used on power-driven boats
5.  Innovative Lighting LED Kayak Lighting
The Innovative Lighting LED kayak lighting is the best and simplest to use kayak light for the novice. It comes with a suction cup that makes it easy to stick it wherever you want it to in your boat.
Its design includes a plug to attach a lanyard or carabiner and a sealed on/off switch. It is also powered by 4 AA batteries.
Pros
- Uses 90% Less Energy
- Lightweight
- Suction cup mount
Cons
- Not very tall
6.  YakAttack VISICarbon Pro 360 Degree Kayak Lighting
If you are looking for a professional and high-tech kayak light for night paddling, consider the YakAttack VISICarbon Pro 360 Degree kayak lighting. The lighting is a combination of a high-visibility orange flag and a 360-degree white light.
Its construction is made of carbon fiber tubing instead of plastic. This makes it 100% water-proof and buoyant thanks to its SilentSlip base foam.
Its 48-inch pole is durable, super-thin, relatively lightweight, and collapses down to 14 inches.
You can easily store it inside the flag when not in use. As a bonus, its LEDs burn up to 100 hours on 3 AA batteries, and it provides up to 10 000+ hours of lamp life.
Pros
- Water-proof
- Collapsible carbon fiber pole
- Long LED bulb life
Cons
- Prone to breaking at the base in high winds
- Not bright enough for foggy conditions
7.  RAILBLAZA Visibility Kayak Lighting Kit
The RAILBLAZA Visibility kayak lighting Kit is an essential piece of safety equipment you must have during night padding. The device is designed to function in all weather conditions.
It uses i360 LED lights and easily mounts to most kayaks and canoes. Besides, it extends up to 37 inches high on a pole. The kayak lighting is IP66 rated, and it’s silicone sealed. It operates in three modes, and its full brightness can be seen up to 2 nautical miles away.
While on full brightness, its battery will last up to 25hrs and up to 160 hrs while on low brightness. When you operate it on flashing emergency mode, the battery will give you over 200hrs of battery life.
Pros
- Lights are silicone sealed
- IP66 rated
- Water-proof to 1 meter
Cons
- Batteries not Included
8.  Goodsmann Kayak Light for Night Padding
No amount of darkness will stand before the Goodsmann Kayak Light when you are night padding. This kayak light is designed to provide the brightness needed for padding in different light settings and scenarios.
Featuring five-light sets, the kayak light allows you to operate it on 3 LED lights, 3 LED strobes, a 360-degree steady-on, an emergency strobe, and a programmed SOS signal using the power button.
The red and green filters will perfectly transform it into a kayak navigation light. In addition, this light is easy to mount on your boat or kayak using a suction cup base.
Pros
- Portable
- Bright
- Suction cup and magnetic base
Cons
- The suction cups don’t hold well
- Won’t float on the water
A Buyer’s Guide: Things to Consider When Buying Best Kayak Lighting for Night Padding
Since kayak lights help you navigate the waters at night, there are a few factors you need to keep in mind when shopping for one.
Handheld kayak lights
A handheld Kayak light will come in handy when you want something to keep you illuminated if you are kayaking at night. The advantage of a handheld kayak light is that you can easily use it to wave, flash or signal other anglers to let them know where you are and the direction you are rowing at.
Another advantage of a handheld kayak light is that you can easily tether it to your jacket or kayak when you need to engage your hands to something else or reel your catch into the boat. It will also illuminate the area you need to concentrate on while padding.Â
Mounting
There are different kayak lights with other mounting options to choose from. The easier the mounting method, the better. The advantage of a mounted kayak light is that it will free your hands so you can do other things.
Also, while choosing the best kayak light with the simplest mounting option, it is essential to consider the spots in your boat to deck the light. Another advantage of a mountable kayak light is giving you a raised 360 degrees of illumination and visibility while padding.
Water-Proof
This is an essential factor to consider since your area of operation is in the waters. Your kayak light needs to be water-proof because of the chances of it dropping into the waters while the padding is high.Â
You also wouldn’t want to be left in the dark when the rains fall and your light goes off since it’s not waterproof.Â
Ensure that your kayak light can withstand some deep waters and be retrievable if you drop it overboard.
Final Thoughts
You will come across many options and designs while searching for the best kayak lighting for night padding. However, you need a quality light that will shine bright for a long time.
All our 8 best kayak lights for night paddling are a perfect choice. Consider them in your next purchase and be illuminated in your night padding.
