The Ridgemonkey Base Lite IR scores 8.4 overall, delivering 400 lumens of adjustable lighting with creative RGB options in a compact, rotating design. It's brilliant value for anglers who want maximum brightness and versatility without spending premium money.
For the money, the Base Lite IR feels surprisingly solid. The polypropylene body keeps the weight down to just 155g but doesn't feel flimsy. That gunmetal grey finish matches the Vault IR180 and gives it a more premium look than you'd expect at the price.
The IP64 rating means it's weatherproof for bankside use, though not submersible like the Vault's IP67. In practical terms, it'll handle rain and damp conditions fine, you just don't want to drop it in the margins.
I've had mine out in some heavy downpours and it's never missed a beat.
What really impresses me is the 360-degree rotating magnetic end caps. They feel smooth but stay in position once you've angled them.
The magnets are strong enough that the light won't fall off your backing plate when you're moving about the bivvy, but you can still pull it off easily with one hand.
The 360-degree rotating magnetic end caps let you angle the light exactly where you need it
At 400 lumens maximum output, this is genuinely bright for a bivvy light. At full brightness you've got more than enough light for tying rigs, cooking, or sorting tackle. You can dial it right down for subtle ambient lighting too.
The switchable white temperatures are a nice touch. 3k warm white is softer on the eyes for extended use, while 6k cool white is brighter and better when you need to see clearly. I tend to use warm white most of the time and switch to cool white when I'm doing fiddly rig work.
Beyond the whites, you've got red, green and blue individual colours, plus the flash and transition modes. The smooth brightness control on every colour means you can set it exactly how you want it.
The mixed spectrum modes are more experimental than practical, but they're there if you want to get creative with your bivvy lighting.
The 2000mAh battery is the trade-off for the compact size and lower price. Ridgemonkey claim 1.5-12 hours depending on brightness, and that's pretty accurate from my experience. At low brightness you'll get through an overnight session comfortably.
At full 400 lumen output you're looking at closer to 2 hours.
In practice, most anglers won't run it on maximum brightness constantly. Set it at medium brightness for general bivvy use and you'll get a good 5-6 hours, which is enough for most evening and overnight sessions.
The two hour charge time is quick, so you can easily top it up between trips.
The USB-C charging is fast and the cable's included in the box. No powerbank function on this one though, unlike the Vault IR180. It's purely a light, not a phone charger as well.
The Base Lite IR is cracking value. You're getting 400 lumens of adjustable brightness, two white temperatures, full RGB colours, and that brilliant 360-degree rotating mount. That's a lot of features for not much money.
The battery life isn't as long as pricier options, but for the price it's more than adequate for overnight sessions. If you're doing quick overnighters or fishing venues with electric hookups, the shorter runtime won't bother you.
For longer multi-day trips you might want something with a bigger battery.
Compared to the Vault IR180, you're getting more colour options and that brilliant 360-degree rotating mount, but losing the torch function, powerbank, and higher waterproof rating. For anglers who just want a versatile bivvy light without the extras, this is the better choice.
For a complete lighting and charging solution, the Vault wins.
Want to see how the Base Lite IR compares across the full range of bivvy lights? Check out our complete bivvy light buyer's guide.
| Feature | What this means |
|---|---|
| 400 Lumens Maximum Brightness | Significantly brighter than the Vault IR180's 180 lumens. At maximum output you'll have more than enough light for any bivvy task, from tying rigs to cooking. You can dial it down for ambient lighting, but having that extra brightness available when you need it is brilliant. |
| Switchable White Temperatures (3k Warm & 6k Cool) | Two different white light options. 3k warm white has a softer, yellowy tone that's easier on the eyes for extended use. 6k cool white is brighter and more clinical, better for tasks where you need to see clearly. You can switch between them depending on what you're doing. |
| Vibrant RGB Set Colours (Red, Green, Blue) | Individual red, green and blue colour options alongside the whites. Gives you more choice than the standard three-colour setup on most bivvy lights. Each colour has variable brightness so you can set it exactly how you want it. |
| RGB Flash & Transition Modes | Flash mode makes the colours pulse on and off, transition mode smoothly cycles through different colours. Not essential for fishing but they're there if you want them. Some anglers use flash mode as a visual alert when combined with bite alarms. |
| Mixed Spectrum Modes | Blended colour combinations that mix multiple RGB colours together. Creates different ambient lighting effects beyond single colours. More experimental than practical, but gives you creative options for setting the mood in your bivvy. |
| Smooth Brightness Control | Variable dimming lets you set any brightness level rather than being stuck with preset low/medium/high options. Hold the button and it gradually dims or brightens. Useful for getting exactly the right amount of light without it being too harsh or too dim. |
| 2000mAh Battery (1.5-12 Hours Runtime) | Smaller battery than the Vault IR180's 5200mAh, but still decent for the price. At low brightness you'll get around 12 hours, at full 400 lumen output closer to 1.5 hours. Fine for overnight sessions if you're not running it on maximum brightness constantly. Charges fully in about 2 hours. |
| USB-C Rechargeable with Cable Included | Modern USB-C charging port and cable comes in the box. Faster than old micro-USB and the cable plugs in either way up. If you've got a USB-C plug adaptor or powerbank you can charge it easily. Two hour charge time is quick enough to top up between sessions. |
| 360° Rotating Magnetic End Caps | The magnetic ends rotate a full 360 degrees so you can angle the light exactly where you need it. Mount it on the backing plate or metal surface, then twist it to point the light in any direction. Really useful for directing light precisely rather than having it fixed in one position. |
| Ferrous Backing Plate Included | Metal backing plate attaches to your bivvy fabric so you can magnetically mount the light anywhere. Works with bivvies that don't have metal ribs. The plate stays put while you can easily remove and reposition the light whenever you need to. |
| Universal Tripod Thread Fittings | Standard camera tripod thread on the end caps means you can mount it on a tripod, bankstick adaptor, or any bracket with tripod threading. Gives you more mounting options beyond just magnetic attachment. Handy if you want to position it outside the bivvy. |
| IP64 Dust and Water Resistant | Protected against dust and water splashes from any direction. Not submersible like the Vault IR180's IP67 rating, but still weatherproof enough for bankside use. Will handle rain and damp conditions without issues, just don't drop it in the lake. |
| Compact Dimensions (40mm x 40mm x 200mm) | Square profile that's 200mm long. Smaller and more compact than cylindrical bivvy lights. Takes up less space in your bag and the flat sides mean it won't roll around. Weighs only 155g which is lighter than most phones. |
| Gunmetal Grey Finish | Same hardwearing coating as the Vault IR180. Looks smart and resists scratches better than plain plastic. The darker colour won't show dirt as easily as lighter finishes. Polypropylene body keeps the weight down while maintaining durability. |
See how the Ridgemonkey Base Lite IR compares with other bivvy accessories on overall score and current price.
| Name | Price | Overall Rating |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgemonkey Base Lite IR | £29.99 | |
| Century Stealth Graphex Spod/Marker Rod | £595.00 | |
| Ridgemonkey Vault Bivvy Lite IR180 | £59.98 | |
| NGT Bivvy Light & Powerbank | £14.95 | |
| Fox Halo Multi-Colour Strip Light | £29.99 | |
| Trakker Nitelife Bivvy Light | £29.99 | |
| Nash Powerbanx Inflatable Lite | £39.99 | |
| Fox Halo Bivvy Light | £18.10 | |
| Sonik Hero X Bivvy Light | £23.95 |
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It is a bivvy accessorie, chosen for the situations that style of fishing calls for.
Significantly brighter than the Vault IR180's 180 lumens. At maximum output you'll have more than enough light for any bivvy task, from tying rigs to cooking. You can dial it down for ambient lighting, but having that extra brightness available when you need it is brilliant.
Two different white light options. 3k warm white has a softer, yellowy tone that's easier on the eyes for extended use. 6k cool white is brighter and more clinical, better for tasks where you need to see clearly. You can switch between them depending on what you're doing.
Individual red, green and blue colour options alongside the whites. Gives you more choice than the standard three-colour setup on most bivvy lights. Each colour has variable brightness so you can set it exactly how you want it.
Flash mode makes the colours pulse on and off, transition mode smoothly cycles through different colours. Not essential for fishing but they're there if you want them. Some anglers use flash mode as a visual alert when combined with bite alarms.
Ridgemonkey Vault Bivvy Lite IR180 
Sonik Hero X Bivvy Light 
Fox Halo Bivvy Light 
Nash Powerbanx Inflatable Lite 
