Which colours are most visible in the water?

Flow Kayaks launches ‘See and Be Seen Day’ to spotlight life-saving colours on the water

October brings about some of the most popular weather for seasoned kayakers, but with daylight dimming and daylight savings looming, many find themselves caught out when paddling on longer sessions, and this can lead to some pretty dangerous outcomes out on the water. 

Despite this, kayaking and other water sports are some of the best activities you can engage in, so keeping safe as the nights draw in is essential. This is why we are highlighting ways you can keep yourself safe with the launch of national ‘See and Be Seen Day’ on the 24th of October; aimed at generating awareness about safety at sea and the colours you can wear to keep visible. 

What is the most visible colour to wear when paddling? 

Would you know the answer? We asked our customers and the wider UK public their opinion on which is best and to select the top 3 from the below. Of the 100+responses, there was a clear preference towards red, pink, yellow, and light green, which makes sense. 

Yellow and neon pink are often touted as some of the most visible items of clothing to wear, red was an interesting one. Perhaps the psychological contrast with the blue of which red is often seen as the antithesis of?

So we know what the survey respondents think, but what does the data say? We took a look and found some great analysis done by Alive Solutions (based over in the United States). They had some great research looking into the visibility of colours in different contexts, so what did the results show? 

Research reveals the most visible colours for the waters 

Looking at the analysis from Alive Solutions, we can see that some of the popular colours are actually some of the least visible, whilst some less obvious ones show up much better: 

• Neon Yellow, Light Green, and Orange were the top-performing colours, standing out the most in visibility tests and proving once again that bright, contrasting shades are the most effective for maximum impact.

• White ranked in fourth place, but the results showed it was mostly caused by reflections or clouds on the surface. It blended in too easily and would not stand out in a crowd, so it is not recommended as a top option.

• Neon Pink did not perform well this time, unlike in previous tests, where it stood out in a white-bottomed pool. In this setting, it lacked visibility and faded more quickly than expected.

• All other colours lost visibility almost immediately, disappearing much faster than anticipated, even in just 18 inches of water, which highlights how quickly most tones lose contrast underwater.

In summary, the respondents were pretty accurate in their estimations with yellow, orange and light green, but it is concerning that red and pink received such a large number of votes, given their lack of performance within the Alive Solutions study. So, if you want to be seen on the water as the days get shorter, focus on the most visible colours.

24th of October: See and Be Seen Day 

We have chosen 24th October for our first national “See and Be Seen Day” to mark the seasonal shift when British waters are still busy, but daylight hours are shorter and visibility becomes more challenging. It is the perfect moment to remind paddlers how important it is to stay visible on the water as autumn sets in.

The research from Alive Solutions really struck a chord with us. It showed that bright colours such as fluorescent lime, orange, and yellow are visible from much greater distances than darker tones. It is a simple finding, but one that highlights how the right choice of kayak or clothing colour can make a real difference to safety.

With this in mind, we have expanded the Flow Kayaks range this year to include high-visibility products and some that also feature reflective strips, giving paddlers an extra layer of protection during the darker months. As the evenings begin to draw in around 4:30 pm after the clocks go back, we are encouraging everyone to show their colours and wear bright, safe shades with pride.

Additional comments from our owners Jake and Tamsyn: 

"We feel staying seen on the water is important for both personal safety but also for the safety of other water users. British waterways can get busy at times as paddlers, rowers, narrow boats and powerboats take to the water in the evenings for training, travel, work and leisure. As much as it’s paramount to be visible in the event of a personal emergency, it’s also key to be seen by other water users to help prevent accidents too and avoid any unexpected collisions. We hope paddlers will enjoy their time on the water well into the autumn and winter months and feel more confident in knowing they gain the attention of passers by, other water craft and of course stand out in some awesome pictures."

You can tag us in your photos on Instagram with @flow_kayaks for us to share!