Recommend me a waterproof LED light for kayaking

[Mike_B]

Hi - I'm after some expert advice please. I'm a sea kayaker and want a small LED light to mount on the shoulder strap of a PFD / BA, the main purpose being to shine it in the direction of any oncoming shipping! It would also serve as an easily accessible light for general use.

I don't need to have lots of functionality like differing power outputs - a decent combination of throw and spread is important, but it is crucial that it's waterproof and the IPX-8 Standard is probably a good measure.

Size would ideally be about 6 inches and I'd prefer to use AA or a CR123 battery.

One possible might be the EagleTac-P100A2 I guess - that said, it's probably a bit more than I want to spend.

Finally, I'm in the UK and although I'm quite happy to buy from US, I guess it would be better to buy in UK for service backup etc.

What would you recommend please?

[bigfish5]

The eagletac p100a2 is one of my favorite lights , and it will reach out to a pretty good distance. The only other thought i had was the itp lights, they claim one of the highest waterproof ratings out of all the lights that you commonly see on this forum. Im sure more people will have thoughs on this.

[Kindle]

Pelican 1960 Nemo or MityLite

Or perhaps check out the Streamlight Clipmate & Sidewinder Compact.

[Mike_B]

Thanks folks - keep them coming, please. Just for clarity, it doesn't need to be any form of "angled" light - I've devised a simple way to attach it to a shoulder strap - if anyone is interested, it's described here, (the link in the article is to the EagleTac).

If anyone has other thoughts on how to mount the light, I'd be interested.

Many thanks - Mike.

[regulator]

Underwater Kinetics 4AA lights are really nice. They are dive capable.

[mcnair55]

One thing i would check with the light/supplier you decide on,make sure your new light is salt waterproof and not just waterproof as there is a huge difference.I am presuming a dive light would be as most diving is done in the sea.

Just had a thought pop down to your local RNLI station and see if the crew are issued with lights to tag on to there life jackets,when i was a member we only had the boat lights but that was approx 25 years ago and lights have come a long long way since then.

[Lynx_Arc]

Underwater Kinetics 4AA lights are really nice. They are dive capable.

UK has new 4AA and 3AA eLed lights that put out about 120 lumens and have either back or front switch versions.

[pjandyho]

Not sure if you would be keen in Barbolights. A little expensive in the range of €100 to €200 but they seem to be very strong and well made. Don't own one but some CPFers swear by it. Do a search for Barbolight if you are keen.

[CyberCT]

If not all, at least most Fenix flashlights are IPX-8 waterproof and come in AA power or CR123. I have used their lights for snorkeling (freshwater though) and they work great with no problems as of yet. Check Fenix's website.

[Bronco]

...it is crucial that it's waterproof and the IPX-8 Standard is probably a good measure.

This is a dangerous assumption to make. While there are many lights manufactured to "IPX-8 specifications" that will meet your needs quite well, the fact remains that there are also many that will not.

The problem lies in the fact that the IPX-8 standard itself is extremely nebulous in its definition. In fact, if you want to get technical, one possible interpretation holds that a light conforms to IPX-8 standards so long as it meets whatever level of water resistance the manufacturer might care to hold itself to. Not much of a standard. At the same time, other manufacturers interpret IPX-8 to require true water resistance at a particular depth, for a specific amount of time.

Unfortunately, the onus is on you to determine which manufacturers adopt a more stringent interpretation of IPX-8, and which do not. The reviews section can be helpful in this regard as there are some real gems out there. Alternatively, as some have already suggested, you could bypass this IPX-8 morass entirely by opting for a true dive rated LED light. Many of the smaller lights produced by UK, Ikelite, Princeton-Tek, Pelican and others come with the advantages of being 1) truly waterproof to depths far exceeding anything you'll require kayaking, 2) produced from polymer materials that, unlike aluminum, are completely impervious to corrosion, 3) relatively less expensive than many of their higher powered cousins such that you won't be quite as sick if one happens to accidentally be lost overboard, and 4) powered by batteries that are more readily available.

[BaileyMoto]

A Surefire 6p with a malkoff or thrunite dropin, a Surefire G2 with an appropriate drop in, or a Surefire G2DL..maybe the LX2.

How bout the new Surefire 6PX? (or G2X - polycarbonate) 200 lumens and around $60.

All the Surefire's will handle the water you will throw at it for your needs, not to mention stand up against dropping them on rocks, being banged around in a boat, etc.

The Firefighter lines of Surefire would also add a really bright neon colored body if that's something you are interested in.

[Lucciola]

Well, the Peli lights are certainly waterproof. I used them for scuba diving as backup for a rented divelight.

But that's IMHO the only advantage. Probably I am spoiled by modern current regulated LED lights. But the Peli (incan) didn't have a good runtime and was not regulated, so the amount of useful light from the batteries was not spectacular.

I didn't want to spend a fortune for a decent divelight as I normally don't go on nightdives.

As a reasonably priced backup they are OK. You'll definitely have enough light to abort your dive and make it safely to the surface and to the boat/beach if your primary light malfunctions. But that's about it.

Lucciola

[hotlight]

A Surefire 6p with a malkoff or thrunite dropin, a Surefire G2 with an appropriate drop in, or a Surefire G2DL..maybe the LX2.

How bout the new Surefire 6PX? (or G2X - polycarbonate) 200 lumens and around $60.

All the Surefire's will handle the water you will throw at it for your needs, not to mention stand up against dropping them on rocks, being banged around in a boat, etc.

The Firefighter lines of Surefire would also add a really bright neon colored body if that's something you are interested in.

good intentions, bad advice(IMO).

In a 5gal. painters bucket(filled with water):
my G2 leaked badly
my 6p did not leak, but I wouldn't trust it in the ocean.


"Size 15's" Quote:

"SureFires are not rated waterproof [to 30 feet, or any depth] as standard.

The G2 is perhaps the least watertight model and I doubt SureFire would entertain testing it and rating it rather than another, all metal model due to how easily the TailCap rotates. We are unlikely to see a "G2N" rated waterproof version then.
In my opinion this is a perfect example for a fatter o-ring to achieve a tighter seal.

Good news is that SureFire considered this eventuality and the G2 and P60L are designed to be able to be carefully and slowly dried and both should function well again afterwards.
By slowly I mean the product disassembled in a warm, dry location for several days."

[Bronco]

Yes, it's unfortunate, but it would seem that Surefire's most corrosion resistant model, the G2, is also one of its least water resistant. Videos like this can help improve the situation, though:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2iScL7urNFA

[BaileyMoto]

good intentions, bad advice(IMO).

In a 5gal. painters bucket(filled with water):
my G2 leaked badly
my 6p did not leak, but I wouldn't trust it in the ocean.


"Size 15's" Quote:

"SureFires are not rated waterproof [to 30 feet, or any depth] as standard.

The G2 is perhaps the least watertight model and I doubt SureFire would entertain testing it and rating it rather than another, all metal model due to how easily the TailCap rotates. We are unlikely to see a "G2N" rated waterproof version then.
In my opinion this is a perfect example for a fatter o-ring to achieve a tighter seal.

Good news is that SureFire considered this eventuality and the G2 and P60L are designed to be able to be carefully and slowly dried and both should function well again afterwards.
By slowly I mean the product disassembled in a warm, dry location for several days."

Interesting. I read this on some review, is it not true?

"UPDATE: Surefire has affirmed that all current Surefire lights should be waterproof to about 33 feet/10 meters. Some reviews were posted before Surefire made the affirmation that their lights were watertight to 1 atmosphere depth. Any new Surefire lights you purchase now should be considered waterproof to 33 feet/10 meters."

[sabre7]

As an experienced river and lake recreation boater, I sincerely hope you are not kayaking in shipping lanes among large vessels at night. If you are, for the safety of everyone, you would be better to visit a boating store and try to find and somehow rig regulation battery powered red/green/white marker or running lights to your kayak so others will recognize you as another boat.

A flashlight attached to your PFD while rowing, if seen at all from the pilot house of a large ship, or even moderately sized larger vessels, will appear as a flickering or flashing white light at water level, and may be assumed to be a distress signal of someone in the water. If so, expect to be lit up by ship spotlights, and don't expect ships or other large vessels to engage in evasive maneuvers to avoid you because they can't. A few loud blasts from their horn may be the only and last warning you will get.

A powerful waterproof flashlight to spot or signal with attached to your PFD is a great idea, but regulation boating lights would be better for being seen and recognized.

[hotlight]

Interesting. I read this on some review, is it not true?

"UPDATE: Surefire has affirmed that all current Surefire lights should be waterproof to about 33 feet/10 meters. Some reviews were posted before Surefire made the affirmation that their lights were watertight to 1 atmosphere depth. Any new Surefire lights you purchase now should be considered waterproof to 33 feet/10 meters."

the quote I posted from "Size 15's" is from around July 2008... things may have changed.

probably is true, especially if it's printed on the packaging.

the G2s I had were all incan version(FYI)...

either way, I still wouldn't recommend SF for this particular task. But they are fine lights.

to be on topic- whatever you choose, make sure its waterproof before you head out to the ocean.(you probably already knew this) backups never hurt, unless you fall on them.

[BaileyMoto]

the quote I posted from "Size 15's" is from around July 2008... things may have changed.

probably is true, especially if it's printed on the packaging.

the G2s I had were all incan version(FYI)...

either way, I still wouldn't recommend SF for this particular task. But they are fine lights.

to be on topic- whatever you choose, make sure its waterproof before you head out to the ocean.(you probably already knew this) backups never hurt, unless you fall on them.

I hear ya. I guess I just never knew that Surefire's weren't considered to be decent for shallow water type work. For the reputation they have for holding up the extreme abuse...you'd think they would list and test their lights to basic water proofing. A lot of these cheap chinese lights hold up well to water. Heck, even my $40 4Sevens pen light can handle being under water!

[Bronco]

I hear ya. I guess I just never knew that Surefire's weren't considered to be decent for shallow water type work. For the reputation they have for holding up the extreme abuse...you'd think they would list and test their lights to basic water proofing. A lot of these cheap chinese lights hold up well to water. Heck, even my $40 4Sevens pen light can handle being under water!

For the record, I didn't check every last light on Surefire's website, but I did look at quite a few and none were listed as waterproof. "Weatherproof" is their current term of choice.