When it comes to tracking arrow flight and finding your arrow after the shot, nothing beats a quality lighted nock. Among the best lighted nocks available today, Nockturnal stands out for exceptional reliability and ease of use.
I’ve been using Nockturnal lighted nocks since they first hit the market, and for good reason — they’re incredibly reliable and dead simple to use, even in the most demanding hunting situations.
Let me walk you through the installation process and show you why these nocks have earned a permanent spot in my hunting setup. The beauty of the Nockturnal system is in its simplicity — there’s no complicated activation sequence or finicky components that might fail when you need them most.
Installation: Setting Yourself Up for Success
The installation process for Nockturnal nocks couldn’t be more straightforward. Start by removing the factory nock from your arrow shaft. This is a simple pull-out procedure, but what you do next makes all the difference in how your nocks perform down the road.
Before pushing that Nockturnal into your arrow shaft, take an extra ten seconds to apply a small amount of bow string wax to the shank of the nock. This seemingly minor step serves multiple purposes:
- It allows the nock to slide smoothly into the shaft without binding
- It reduces the risk of damaging either the nock or the inside of your arrow
- It creates a better, more consistent fit for improved performance
- It helps maintain the integrity of your arrow’s internal components
I’ve seen plenty of archers skip this step and end up with damaged nocks or inconsistent fits. Trust me, this small investment of time will pay dividends in reliability when you’re in the field.
The Nockturnal installation tool is another game-changer that eliminates guesswork. This small, yellow multi-function tool has a U-shaped cutout that fits perfectly over the nock. With the tool in place, simply apply even pressure to seat the nock fully into the arrow shaft. This ensures you won’t damage the nock by pushing unevenly with your fingers or using an improper tool.
Perfect Indexing for Flawless Arrow Flight
Here’s where attention to detail separates average archers from those who demand perfection. Once your nock is seated in the shaft, you need to properly index it for optimal vane clearance.
The same yellow Nockturnal tool that helped with installation serves double duty here. Place the U-shaped cutout over the nock and rotate it until you’ve got perfect alignment with your vanes. I always recommend looking down the shaft from the nock end to visually confirm proper indexing.
What you’re looking for is alignment that will ensure your vanes clear the arrow rest and bow cables without contact. This might seem like splitting hairs, but I can tell you from decades of experience that proper nock indexing is critical for consistent accuracy—especially at longer ranges where any fletching contact magnifies downrange.
With the nock properly seated and indexed, you’re ready for the most impressive feature of the Nockturnal system.
Activation: Foolproof When It Matters Most
What really sets Nockturnal nocks apart is their linear switch activation system. There’s no pre-shot preparation required—no twisting, no pulling, no hoping you remembered to activate your nock before drawing on that buck of a lifetime.
The internal mechanism uses a piston-driven switch that activates automatically when your bowstring drives forward during the shot. The pressure of the string pushes the internal linear switch, completing the circuit and illuminating the super-bright LED. This happens instantaneously at the moment of release, meaning your arrow is lit from the second it leaves your bow until you recover it at the target or your harvest.
This system works flawlessly in any weather condition—rain, snow, extreme cold—when other activation methods might fail. I’ve put these nocks through absolute hell in hunting situations across multiple continents, and they’ve never let me down when I needed to track an arrow’s flight or locate my shaft after the shot.
Deactivation: Extending Battery Life for Multiple Uses
Nockturnal designed these nocks to be reusable, not single-use items that drain your hunting budget. Once you’ve recovered your arrow, turning off the nock is just as straightforward as the installation.
Look for the small recessed hole on the side of the nock. Take the pointed end of your Nockturnal tool, insert it into this hole, and gently lift upward. This action pushes the linear switch back to its original position, breaking the circuit and turning off the LED. The nock is now reset and ready for your next shot without any battery drain in between uses.
This reset function allows you to get maximum life from each nock—I’ve had some that have lasted through multiple hunting seasons when properly maintained.
Why Nockturnals Rank Among the Best Lighted Nocks
I’ve tested virtually every lighted nock on the market over my career, and Nockturnals consistently outperform the competition in the areas that matter most to serious bowhunters:
- Reliability – The activation is truly foolproof, working every single time without fail
- Brightness – The LED is intensely bright, making arrow tracking possible even in midday conditions
- Battery life – When properly deactivated between uses, these nocks last through multiple hunts
- Durability – They stand up to hard impacts, foul weather, and the general abuse of hunting
- Simplicity – No complex activation sequences or special tools required in the field
When I’m at full draw on a target animal, the last thing I want to worry about is whether my accessories are going to perform. With Nockturnals, that’s one less concern in the critical moment.
Comparison: How Nockturnals Stack Up Against Other Best Lighted Nocks
| Feature | Nockturnal | Brand X | Brand Y |
|---|---|---|---|
| Activation | Automatic on release | Manual twist | Pull-tab |
| Battery Life | 20+ hours when deactivated | 24+ hours non-deactivatable | 15+ hours when deactivated |
| Available Colors | Red, Green, Blue, Pink, Strobe | Red, Green | Red, Green, Blue |
| Price Range | $24.99-$34.99 (3 pack) | $29.99-$39.99 (3 pack) | $19.99-$29.99 (3 pack) |
| Weather Resistance | Excellent | Good | Good |
| Tool Required | Yes (included) | No | No |
Nockturnal offers several models to fit different arrow shaft sizes:
- Nockturnal-GT: For Gold Tip, Carbon Express and similar diameter arrows
- Nockturnal-X: For Easton, Carbon Express Maxima and similar diameter arrows
- Nockturnal-S: For smaller diameter shafts
- Nockturnal-H: For Easton Axis, DEEP SIX and other micro-diameter shafts
Final Thoughts on the Best Lighted Nocks
The best bowhunting gear solves problems without creating new ones. Nockturnal lighted nocks embody this principle perfectly—they provide brilliant illumination for tracking shots and finding arrows without adding complexity or unreliability to your setup.
The installation is straightforward, the operation is automatic, and the performance is consistent. That’s why, from the moment these hit the market, they’ve been a permanent addition to my hunting arrows.
Whether you’re trailing a blood trail in fading light or just want the added confidence of seeing your arrow’s flight path clearly, these nocks deliver exactly what serious archers need. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective, and Nockturnal has absolutely nailed it with their fool-proof design, earning their place among the best lighted nocks available to today’s bowhunters.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lighted Nocks
How do the best lighted nocks affect arrow flight? Quality lighted nocks like Nockturnal add approximately 15-20 grains to your arrow weight. For most hunting setups, this minimal weight addition at the rear of the arrow actually improves Front of Center (FOC) balance slightly without noticeably affecting trajectory.
How long do Nockturnal batteries last? With proper deactivation between uses, Nockturnal batteries can last for 20+ hours of illumination time, which typically translates to an entire hunting season or more for most bowhunters.
Are lighted nocks legal for hunting in all states? While most states now allow lighted nocks for hunting, regulations vary. As of 2023, the vast majority of states permit their use, but always check your local hunting regulations before heading afield.
Can lighted nocks be used in archery competitions? Most traditional archery organizations and competitions prohibit lighted nocks. However, some 3D tournaments and modern archery competitions do allow them. Check the specific rules of your competition before using them.
Do I need different sized Nockturnals for different arrows? Yes. Nockturnal offers several models designed for different arrow shaft inner diameters. Always check compatibility with your specific arrow shafts before purchasing.
massmonopoly