Night paddling

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There’s nothing quite like an evening paddle, watching the sun go down and paddling home in quiet darkness. In winter when the sun disappears early it’s more important than ever to have lights with you when heading out. To join any of our night paddles you will need:

  • 2 x white lights (no red or coloured). 1 for front and 1 for back
  • Lights should have steady mode. Only the rowers have flashing lights
  • Headtorch – you can bring these as a back-up but they’re not ideal. Often they are very bright and as they are at head-height, they can be a hindrance for your fellow paddler
  • Spare batteries

If you plan to plan to paddle regularly in the dark (any time after 4.30pm in winter) it’s a good idea to invest in some decent lights. Below are various options for you to look at, but a great cheap and effective light is a simple small torch dropped into an empty plastic milk carton with a handle. Screw the lid on, attach to your kayak and you will be one of the brightest objects on the river! Dean managed to make a light sabre from a cheap torch and empty yakult bottle….perhaps we’ll start a competition for the best homemade light.

CHEAP

  • Homemade as above. Don’t underestimate the power of an empty milk bottle!
  • Silicone bike lights – these won’t last for a long time but are a great back-up to attach to your kayak toggles e.g. 
BIKE BICYCLE PAIR OF SILICONE CLIP WATERPROOF LED LIGHTS 3 LIGHT MODES – WHITE | eBayBICYCLE SILICONE CLIP ON LED LIGHTS- PAIR. Quickly and easily add white lights to your bike anywhere there is a bar. This pair of silicone lights give extra visibility to keep you safe and make the ideal backup for your rear light.www.ebay.co.uk

INVEST

Bob Waterproof Camping Lantern | AlpkitBob – the 200 lumen waterproof camping lantern that floats and will happily be submerged. Mountains, seas, rivers or lakes – no matter where your adventure, Bob will light the way. Free Delivery Free Returns Same Day Despatchalpkit.com

Ultimate Survival Technologies See-Me Light 1.0 Steady-On Orange LED (6-Pack) | eBayEasy twist On/Off. Waterproof IPX7. We will do our best to accommodate your request! We understand things don’t always work out, and we’re here to help! Sadly, real-deal human beings (as ourselves) are prone to making occasional mistakes.www.ebay.co.uk

All Round Battery Operated LED Navigation Light – Pirates Cave ChandleryA battery operated LED navigation light for small craft less than 7 metres in length. R equires 2 x D batteries. COLREG72-certified. Specifications: Dimensions (H x W x L): 200 x 300 x 100mm.www.piratescave.co.uk

NEXT LEVEL

Really these are for paddling at sea, but if you buy them we’ll follow you anywhere

Kayalu Kayalite Kayak Light compatible with sit-on-top (SOT), Stand-Up Paddle Board (SUP) and Canoe : Amazon.co.uk: Sports & OutdoorsShop Kayalu Kayalite Kayak Light compatible with sit-on-top (SOT), Stand-Up Paddle Board (SUP) and Canoe. Free delivery and returns on all eligible orders.www.amazon.co.uk

If you’ve found any other good alternatives, let us know in the comments section.