LAST UPDATED: March 2nd, 2026
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Every bowhunter should use lighted nocks. They are vital in helping you recover your animal by showing exactly where your arrow impacted. This is especially important in low-light conditions, where many bowhunting shots happen.
That said, there are more than a dozen lighted nocks on the market today. Which lighted nock is the best, and which one should you shoot this hunting season?
I set out to find the best lighted nock for 2025, and after running each one through a battery of tests, here are the results.
Note: for this review, I used an Easton Axis 5mm arrow and red colored nocks from all brands tested.
Testing & Ranking The Best Lighted Nocks
To find out which lighted nock was the best, I first had to determine the features and qualities that were most important to me and to other bowhunters. So I called up a bunch of my hunting buddies to get their opinions.
Price & Ease of Use (1-5 points)
The two most important features to almost everyone I spoke with were price and ease of use. Long story short, bowhunters want to buy their lighted nocks, install them in their arrows, and get to shooting without a lot of extra work; all without breaking the bank.
For those reasons, I scored Price and Ease of Use each on a scale of 1-5.
Lighted nocks costing under $5 per nock were awarded the full 5 points, and I subtracted 1 point for each $5 price increase.
The least expensive nock I tested was $2.48, and the most expensive was $22.30. The average price across all 12 nocks was $8.18 per nock.
Ease of use was a subjective ranking that considered several factors, including installing the nock, turning the nock on, and turning it off.
I looked at the activation and deactivation mechanism of the nock. Was it easy and intuitive to turn on and off, or did I have to read instructions or watch a video?
Was the setup as simple as installing them in my arrows and going to shoot, or did I have to modify the nock, adjust the switch, or assemble components to make it work?
Also, could the nock be turned off easily without needing a separate device or tool?
Nock Fit, Quality & Brightness (1-3 points)
Fit included both fitting into my arrow shaft and fitting on my bow string. I was looking for nocks that fit into the arrow without trimming or adjustment, and fit on my string without too much vertical movement or tightness.
Quality was a subjective rating that considered the nock’s durability, overall size, the quality of the switch (if applicable), and my general impression of how well constructed it was.
An essential item to note is that any nock with a hole in it, whether for a switch or an activation plunger, got a max score of 2.5 out of 3 points on the quality scale. Call me crazy, but I get slightly leery whenever you start putting holes into products I want to be as sturdy as possible.
Regarding brightness, my take may be different than many folks.
Rather than worrying about which nocks were technically the brightest, I focused on whether the nock was bright enough for me to see, and that was all. So long as I could see the nock shining brightly in my target 20 yards away, I wasn’t concerned with which one was “technically” brighter.
When shooting at an animal, I just want to know whether I can see the nock or not. I was looking for the best overall lighted nock, not just the brightest one.
Battery Life (0-2 points)
Of course, I want a long battery life for my lighted nocks, but whether it lasts 24 hours versus 36 or 48 hours isn’t a significant consideration in my scoring system.
Each nock was turned on and then checked 24 hours later.
Nocks that remained lit after 24 hours with little to no signs of dimming scored 2 points. If they were still on, but noticeably dimmer, they received 1 point. No nocks were dead after the 24-hour test.
Made in the USA & Replaceable Batteries (0/1 points)
The final two ranking factors were replaceable batteries and whether they were made in the good old U.S. of. A., with 1 point being awarded for each.
So, what is the best lighted nock for 2025?
#1 – Halo Nock
Score: 18/23
$11.66/each
Despite being one of the more expensive nocks I tested, the Halo nock shined (no pun intended) in almost every category.
The Halo had the best fit and form factor of our tested nocks. It is very similar in size and shape to a standard Easton X nock, with a small embedded switch on the “skinny” side to deactivate it.
It fits perfectly into my arrow shafts and on my string without being too tight or loose.
Like most nocks we tested, the Halo is string-activated during the shot. However, it uses a different mechanism to activate the light, which can’t be accidentally turned on while your nock is on your bow string—no matter how hard you push it.
While no special tools are required to turn the Halo nock off after it’s shot, you need to push the plunger back down using your bow string while holding the switch in place. I found it to be a simple process that’s easy to get the hang of.
Halo nocks natively fit my.204 ID Easton Axis test arrows and include bushing adapters for .233 and .246 ID arrows. They are also available for micro-diameter .166 arrows.
They do not have replaceable batteries but are made in the USA.
Pros:
- Well-built
- Bright
- Easy to use
- Perfect fit
- Made in the USA
Cons:
- Expensive
#2 (Tie) – Nockturnal
Score: 17.5/23
$8.33/each
One of the OGs of the lighted nock game, the original Nockturnal is still holding strong near the top of the leaderboard. At under $10 per nock, it picked up an extra point for affordability over the Halo. However, it lost a point because it’s not made in the US, and another point was lost for requiring a tool (knife, screwdriver, field point, etc.) to deactivate the switch after shooting.
Beyond that, the original Nockturnal is still a great option for bowhunters looking for a lighted nock. It’s bright, installs easily, has good battery life, and is well-built.
Pros:
- Bright
- Durable
- Good battery life
Cons:
- Requires a tool to deactivate
- No replaceable battery
- Made in China
#2 (Tie) – Raised Nocks
Score: 17.5/23
$6.99/each
A relative newcomer in the lighted nock game, Raised Nocks were a surprise performer, finishing tied with the Nockturnal for the #2 spot.
Raised Nocks scored well on price, coming in at just $6.99 per nock and being solid in packs of 5. They also picked up an extra ½ point in the quality rating for using a metal on/off switch rather than the plastic switches on all other nocks.
Having a replaceable battery also garnered an additional point; however, they lost some points on fit and ease of use. I found the Raised Nocks to be tighter both in my arrow and on my string than I would like, and they required a bit of lube (string wax) to install them into my arrows.
Additionally, Raised Nocks aren’t as plug-and-play as other nocks, and it’s highly advisable to watch the install video and make the necessary adjustments before installing them.
Although most guys don’t like install videos, this wasn’t a complex process, and the nocks performed flawlessly after a few quick tweaks.
Pros:
- Metal switch
- Replaceable battery
- Affordable
- Bright
Cons:
- Tight fight
- Requires adjustment for optimal performance
- Made in China
#3 Overall (Tied) + Best Value Lighted Nock – Deepower Lighted Nocks
Score: 17/23
$3.25/nock
I tested four lighted nocks from no-name companies selling cheap products on Amazon, and the Deepower was the best of the bunch.
These nocks resemble the Nockturnal Shift with a large plastic switch on the side. The on/off switch was a little stiff, and this nock is physically larger than some of the other nocks I tested, which I wasn’t a big fan of. It was also a bit of a tight fit both in the arrow and on the string.
Overall, the Deepower lighted nocks performed well, although the light was noticeably dimmer after my 24-hour battery test. For the price, they are tough to beat.
Pros:
- Bright
- Cheap
- Easy to use
Cons:
- Made in China
- Tight fit
- Large nock profile
- No replaceable battery
#3 (Tie) – Nockturnal Shift
Score: 17/23
$9.99/nock
The primary difference between the original Nockturnal and the Nockturnal Shift is the switch mechanism for turning the nock off. The Nockturnal Shift uses a large plastic switch on the side of the nock and doesn’t require a tool like the original.
Although this makes the nock more convenient to turn off if you’re shooting repetitively, it also removes quite a bit of material from the side of the nock, which I’m not a huge fan of.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Bright
- Good fit
Cons:
- Made in China
- Large plastic switch
#4 (Tie)- KEAUP Lighted Nocks
Score: 16/23
$2.99/each
Buy Now at Amazon
Much like Deepower, the Keaup nocks are Nockturnal rip-offs sold on Amazon for a cheap price. In fact, they are so similar to the Deepower nocks that you almost can’t tell them apart.
The Keaup’s downfall compared to the Deepower was the fit in my arrow and string. It was a bit tighter than the Deepower, which was already a bit too tight, in my opinion.
Outside of that, these lighted nocks are almost indistinguishable from one another. In fact, it wouldn’t surprise me if they came off the same assembly line.
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Bright
- Cheap
Cons:
- Made in China
- No replaceable battery
#4 (Tie) – Lumenok
Score: 16/23
$9.33/each
Lumenoks are made in the USA, have replaceable batteries, are incredibly bright, and have no holes, switches, or moving parts to break.
The downfall of the Lumenok is the additional work required to get them properly installed and working in your arrows. Lumenoks require the perfect fit in your arrow to work reliably, as they rely on your arrow itself to complete the circuit and activate the light upon release.
If you mess up the install process, you could be left with a nock that doesn’t work reliably, if at all. So if you’re looking for a true “plug and play” lighted nock, these aren’t for you.
Pros:
- Bright
- Made in the USA
- Replaceable Battery
- Durable
Cons:
- Requires careful adjustment to work reliably
The rest of the nocks I tested, except one, all fall into the “don’t bother, there are better choices out there” list. These include the JianZD, Huntershome (XHYCKJ), UFO, and Ignitor nocks. If you decide to use any of these, don’t say I didn’t warn you first.
The lone exception to my “do not shoot” list is the Firenock, which finished second to last on our list only because of its excessive price of $22.30 per nock and its complicated setup process.
If you’re looking for the most innovative, rock-solid, technologically impressive lighted nock on the market and budget is not a concern, Firenock is the way to go.
These lighted nocks use a small circuit board with a “g-switch,” which is triggered by the arrow’s g-force. No amount of accidental bumping around in your truck or in the field will turn these on.
To disable the Firenock, hold your arrow vertically for a few seconds, then drop it onto a hard surface. The impact will reset the switch and turn the light off. No switches or special tools are required.
The Firenock’s downfall begins with the complicated ordering process, which involves ordering nocks and batteries separately. The installation process then requires you to glue a small metal stopper inside your arrow to prevent the battery from flying forward on target impact. And, of course, they are price-prohibitive for many archers.
But if you can look past all those things, the Firenock is a technological marvel and one of the most impressive lighted nocks available.
Final Scores for all lighted nocks tested:
- Halo Nock – 18/23
- Nockturnal – 17.5/23
- Raised Nock – 17.5/23
- Nockturnal Shift – 17/23
- Deepower – 17/23
- Lumenok – 16/23
- Keaup – 16/23
- JianZD – 15/23
- XHYCKJ – 15/23
- 30.06 UFO – 15/23
- Firenock – 14/23
- Ignitor – 13/23
With all of that said, I plan on hitting the woods next month with my Easton 5.0 arrows equipped with Halo nocks. How about you? What’s your lighted nock of choice, and why?
