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The 5 Best Lighted Nocks
If you’ve hunted at dusk or dawn, then you’d know how great it is. There’s plenty of game, the sun’s not out, and it’s all peace and quiet.
There’s only one problem:
“Damn I missed! Wait, where’d my arrow go?!”
This is where a lighted nock comes in.
Lighted nocks are a helpful addition to any bow hunter’s arsenal. They allow you to track and recover your shots with ease. The problem with lighted nocks is that they’re a newer addition to hunting and because of this, vary in their quality.
This post will tell you:
- The best lighted arrow nocks available right now.
- Each model’s specifications & features.
- The pros & cons of each model.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Lighted nocks may not yet be legal in your hunting area. Please check whether you’ll be able to use them before purchasing!
Quick Review of the Best Lighted Nocks
| Product | Colors | Battery Life (Hours) | Weight | Sizing | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lumenok Signature Lighted Nock | Green/Pink/Orange | 40 | 27 grains | Signature, GT, X, H, F | 4.9/5 |
| Nockturnal GT Lighted Nock | Green/Blue/Pink/Red | 20+ | 20 grains | GT, S, X, H, G | 4.7/5 |
| Aokur .244 LED Lighted Nock | Green/Blue/Yellow/Red | 24 | N/A | .244 inches | 4.6/5 |
| Clean-Shot Nock Out Lighted Nock | Green/Red | 24 | 21-24 grains | GT, S, X, H, G | 3.6/5 |
| Carbon Express LAUNCHPAD Precision Lighted Nock | Green/Blue/Pink/Red | N/A | 18.5 grains | .244 & .246 inches | 3.4/5 |
#1 Best Lighted Nock – Lumenok Signature Lighted Nock
Colors – Green/Pink/Orange (Recommended: Green)
Sizing – Signature, GT, X, H, F. A complete sizing chart by Lumenok can be found here. (Highly recommended!)
Battery Life – 40 hours.
Weight – ~27 grains.
On/Off Feature – Yes.
Shop Now for the Lumenok Signature Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
The Lumenok Signature Nocks are hands-down the best lighted nock on the market. The Lumenok Signatures have the brightest LED lights out of all the nocks on this list. They also have the longest battery life on the list, clocking in at 40 hours worth of light! You’ll find that these nocks do exactly what they’re needed to do, with little downside.
The polymer nock protects against damage from hard impacts. Making it a sturdy and reliable item. In addition, Lumenok’s design of the nock has allowed you to replace the batteries for the LED light located inside the nock.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Good starter pack - Great price point - Built-in drop down shelf for unbeatable convenience while on stand - Good Capacity to Weight ratio - Smaller sized pack - Lifetime warranty | - Need to purchase your own hydration bladder |
Shop Now for the Lumenok Signature Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
Replaceable Batteries
This is one of the biggest benefits of these nocks. They are one of few lighted nock brands that have this feature, making these nocks last even longer than most! This turns the would-be disposable lighted nocks into fresh, like-new ones! Ultimately saving you money and unnecessary hassle.
Here’s the even better news:
Lumenok sells the replaceable batteries. So you won’t have to worry about buying the right battery, buying cheap junk batteries or even counterfeit ones! You can buy the replaceable batteries from Lumenok on Amazon here.
What Size Lumenok Lighted Nocks Should I Buy?
The Lumenok Lighted Nocks are able to fit on most common size arrow diameters.
To help you find the right nock size, Lumenok has created a comprehensive sizing chart. This chart will help you find out exactly which size nock will fit, down to the specific arrow model.In this article I linked to the Signature sizing, so make sure you double check before buying!
How to Turn Off Your Lumenok Lighted Nock
The way the LED light works on the Lumenok lighted nock is quite simple. Once the nock feels a connection to the shaft of the arrow it will turn on. (This also explains why the LED may sometimes be off when you nock it but turns on once it’s released, when the shaft and nock make contact again).
So, to turn off the light all you need to do is pull the nock far away enough from the shaft so that the two don’t make contact anymore and the light shuts off. There’s two ways of doing this:
- Twist and pull the nock away from the shaft slightly so that the nock stops making contact. (This method takes a little muscle!)
- Using the Lumenok Extinguisher, grab the nock and wiggle it up and down.
Here is an excellent video from Burt Coyote (a.k.a. Lumenok) that shows the two methods in action:
You can buy the Lumenok Extinguisher here if you’re interested. Although the model has changed from the clamps shown in the video to a grip, the Extinguisher can still do the same things as before.
Shop Now for the Lumenok Signature Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
#2 – Nockturnal GT Lighted Nock
Colors – Green/Blue/Pink/Red (Recommended: Green/Red)
Sizing – GT, S, X, H, G. A sizing chart by Nockturnal can be found here.
Battery Life – 20+ hours.
Weight – 20 grains.
On/Off Feature – Yes.
Shop Now for the Nockturnal GT Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
The Nockturnal lighted nocks are a close second to Lumenok. With convenient setup and even better durability, Nockturnal nocks are a serious competitor for the best lighted arrow nock.
Nockturnal’s lithium batteries usually last around 20 hours. You may find them last longer than that. I (personally) wouldn’t rely on them lasting longer however, just as a rule of thumb. I’m sure nobody’s trying to lose their arrows!
A simple, yet great, feature of the Nockturnal nocks is there ease of use. Once you receive your nocks from Nockturnal, they’re ready to go right out of the box! No adjustments needed, pop the nock on your arrow’s shaft and fire away!
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Can expand to fit your capacity needs - Compartments and pockets are very well organized - Adjustable torso strap to fit a variety of heights - Adaptable to your needs - Great meat hauler - Lifetime warranty | - Need to purchase own hydration bladder - High profile/bulky look |
Shop Now for the Nockturnal GT Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
Durability
Nockturnal’s lighted nocks are easily the most durable lighted nocks on the market. They’re designed, tested, and proven, to be 100% waterproof and shock-resistant. The Nockturnal nocks are no doubt capable of being reliably used in any weather that you choose to use them in.
What Size Nockturnal Lighted Nocks Should I Buy?
Nockturnal has also created a sizing chart (not as easy on the eyes as Lumenok’s though) to help you find out exactly which size nock will fit your arrow’s shaft. In this article, I linked to the Nockturnal GT so make sure you double check your size before buying!
How To Turn Off Your Nockturnal Lighted Nock
Turning off your Nockturnal lighted nock is an easy task thanks to their excellent design.
To switch the nock off you will need at least one of these items: A screw, screwdriver, or a paperclip.
To shut off the light follow these 3 simple steps:
- Find the open reset hole near the bottom of the nock. (Where it connects to the arrow.)
- Insert the small item you’re using into the hole.
- Slide the interior switch up and away from the arrow.
Bada boom bada bing, your Nockturnal’s light should be off now! If my description sucked (probably), here’s a quick (40 seconds) video from DeerPros that shows how:
Shop Now for the Nockturnal GT Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
#3 Best Budget Lighted Nock – Aokur .244 LED Lighted Nock
Colors – Red/Green/Yellow/Blue (Recommended: Green/Red)
Sizing – .244 inches.
Battery Life – 24-48 hours.
Weight – N/A
On/Off Feature – Yes.
Shop Now for the Aokur .244 Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
The Aokur .244 lighted nocks are a newer brand that has made quite the entrance, placing 3rd on this list of the best lighted nocks. Quickly becoming a favorite for many hunters willing to give them a shot. Aokur’s lighted nocks are a reliable, easy to use, simply-designed, lighted nock for only a fraction of the price.
Aokur’s lighted nock is without a doubt the best lighted nock for the money. If you’re shopping on a budget, go ahead and pick these up. I can promise you won’t be disappointed.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Reliable - Least expensive - Simple design - Easy to use - On/Off Feature - Tool for On/Off included | - Non-replaceable battery - No weight given - Only one size (.244 inches) |
Shop Now for the Aokur .244 Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
Aokur’s lighting system is simple. They light upon release and stay lit until you decide to turn them off. Unlike some of the lighted nocks below, there have been no issues with these lights being faulty. Aokur is determined to make these lighted nocks very reliable!
The battery life on these nocks are 24-48 hours long. (Wasn’t able to find an exact time, sorry!) I would be more cautious and assume that they last 24 hours that way you don’t lose your arrows!
How To Turn Off Your Aokur .244 Lighted Nock
Aokur has made their LED light turn off process the same as Nockturnal’s. What’s even better is that they’ve added their own mini screwdriver for you to use!
To turn off your Aokur .244 Lighted Nock follow these 3 steps:
- Locate the open reset hole (Pictured left) near the bottom of the nock. (Where it connects with the arrow.)
- Insert the mini screwdriver that was included with your purchase of the nocks.
- Slide the interior switch up and away from the arrow.
Your Aokur lighted nock should now be off!
Shop Now for the Aokur .244 Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
#4 – Clean-Shot Nock Out Lighted Nock
Colors – Red/Green
Sizing – Fits GT, S, X, H, G. (Package includes bushings to fit all sizes)
Battery Life – 24 hours.
Weight – 21-24 grains. (Depending on bushing size)
On/Off Feature – Yes.
Shop Now for the Clean-Shot Nock Out Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
The Clean-Shot Nock Out lighted nocks were one of the very first lighted nocks on the market. With a well-known bright light that comes in red or green.
The Nock Outs are a universal-sizing lighted nock. Meaning that a single purchase of them will be able to fit the 5 most common arrow sizes. (See above in Sizing)
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - Longest lasting battery on this list (40 hours) - Brightest light on this list - Sizing Chart ensures you get the right fit - Batteries are replaceable - On/Off feature | - Heaviest lighted nock on this list |
Shop Now for the Clean-Shot Nock Out Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
This lighted nock from Clean-Shot is a bit longer than most nocks so you will see an increase in your arrow’s length. However, you won’t need to make a sight adjustment as these nocks don’t affect flight path.
Issues
I try to be as honest and truthful in my reviews of products as possible. I figured I should let you know about some complaints I’ve heard about the Nock Outs.
The two main criticisms of the Clean-Shot Nock Outs are their standards of quality and their counter-intuitive design.
- The standard of quality issues come from a fair amount of hunters saying their Nock Outs break in a few hours use. Other’s say their Nock Outs work without issue. This is definitely a manufacturing standards issue on Clean-Shot’s part so there’s no guarantee on which quality you’ll get.
- The second issue is the faulty design. Due to the design of this lighted nock it can sometimes turn off upon impact with it’s target. As you can image, this is pretty counter-intuitive as we want our lighted nock to stay ON so we can track our arrow.
If you are on the edge about buying these nocks, I’d say go ahead and buy them. If you do have any issues you can always refund your purchase and be reimbursed.
Grocery Bag Fix For Clean-Shot Nock Out Lighted Nock
If you’re finding your Clean-Shot Nock Outs fit a little bigger than your arrow here’s an easy fix:
- Grab a disposable grocery bag.
- Put it over the end of your arrow,
- Fit the nock into the end of the arrow. (With the grocery bag still on)
- Tear away the rest of the grocery bag.
You’ll find the grocery bag is the perfect thickness to fix this fitting problem and you’ll be ready to go.
How To Turn Off Your Clean-Shot Nock Out Lighted Nock
The Nock Out has the easiest turn off switch out of all the best lighted nocks on this list.
To turn off your Nock Out, grab the black base of the nock to hold it in the arrow. Pull back slightly on the clear nock. You should hear a clicking noise to tell you the LED is now off!
Shop Now for the Clean-Shot Nock Out Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
#5 – Carbon Express LAUNCHPAD Precision Lighted Nock
Colors – Green/Pink/Red/Blue (Recommended: Green/Red)
Sizing – Carbon Arrows with .244 or .246 inches.
Battery Life – N/A
Weight – 18.5 grains.
On/Off Feature – No.
Shop Now for the Carbon Express LAUNCHPAD Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!
Carbon Express has been at the forefront of hunting’s newer technologies. It’s only right that they try their hand at lighted nocks as well.
The Carbon Express LAUNCHPAD lighted nocks are engineered and balanced to not effect your arrow’s path. They’ve created the lightest weighing nock on this list of best lighted nocks, weighing in at 18.5 grains.
This lighted nock doesn’t reduce your arrow front of center (FOC). It also doesn’t skew or slow your shot on release. These lighted nocks keep your arrows highly accurate.
Unfortunately, comparing Carbon Express’ lighted nocks to their normal nocks, the lighted nocks pale in comparison. They seem to be made from much lower quality materials, causing them to break very frequently and on the lightest of touches.
This is why I’ve ranked them last on the list of best lighted arrow nocks. They’re great if they work although it’s hard to get them to.
Pros & Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| - 100% Waterproof - Shock-resistant - Ready to use right out of the box - Sizing Chart ensures you get the right fit - On/Off Feature | - Not the brightest light - Slightly heavy - Non-replaceable battery |
Shop Now for the Carbon Express LAUNCHPAD Lighted Nock on Amazon.com!