CMG Sonic AAA flashlight from Gerber Legendary Blades
Itty Bitty Booklight LED Edition from Zelco
Freeplay windup flashlight from Coleman
Light up your mobile life with the following new products, which may be available in stores. All items have been tested by the author.
1. ARMED FOR DUTY: At first glance, the Squid Light looks like a plastic flower or some colorful sea creature. But click the "on" button and you'll find it's actually a flashlight with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on each of three flexible arms, so users can point light in multiple directions at once. Stand the Squid on end for a table lantern, suspend it from its included hang-cord for a tent or area light, click the LED heads into the forward locked position for a traditional flashlight, or point the three arms in different directions for more versatile illumination. The 5-inch-long light has two brightness settings, is water resistant and floats. It runs on three AAA batteries (not included) that will provide about 20 hours of continuous light when set on high or seven days if set on low.
Squid Flexible Light is $29.95 from Montane at toll-free 1-877-666-8263; www.squidlight.com
2. SUN IN A BOX: Gray days are nothing to make light of for people who suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, which has been found to be a source of sleep disorders, depression and other ills. Light boxes, which reflect high-powered beams that are free of harmful ultraviolet rays, can ease the suffering when used 30 minutes to an hour a day. The Sun Touch Plus from Apollo provides effective 10,000 lux light intensity in a compact portable light measuring 13.5 inches high by 9.5 inches wide by 6 inches deep. The light has a built-in timer so it shuts off after the desired length of session. I found the light cheerful on sunless days and indeed mood enhancing.
Sun Touch Plus is $249 with free shipping for a limited time from Apollo Lights; toll-free 1-800-545-9667; www.apollohealth.com
3. LIGHT AND EASY: The tiny 3-inch-long CMG Sonic AAA flashlight emits a bright beam on just one included AAA battery. Made of anodized aluminum in a variety of colors, it weighs only 1.5 ounces, is waterproof to 10 feet, and has an unbreakable LED bulb. The Sonic has a 10-hour burn time on one battery and comes with a 1.5-inch double-sided lanyard with a clip on each end. It's a natural for a keychain or purse strap, or just stash it in a pocket.
The CMG Sonic AAA flashlight is $20 from Gerber Legendary Blades; toll-free 1-800-777-6805; www.cmgequipment.com
4. LED-ING THE WAY: In the competitive world of book lights, Zelco always seems one beam ahead. Witness the new LED version of the company's pioneering Itty Bitty Booklight. The dual heat-free LED bulbs cast a shadow-free white light that's easy on the eyes. With the bulbs guaranteed to last 100,000 hours, you're more likely to lose the light than to have to replace the bulbs. Powered by four AAA batteries (not included), the light will last 12 to 14 continuous hours. The light, which turns on when the lamp arm is extended, measures just 4.5 inches long (7 inches when extended) by 1-inch square, and weighs just 2.5 ounces with batteries. It comes with a pouch and book clip, and has a jack for an AC adapter (not included).
Itty Bitty Booklight LED Edition is $30 from Zelco; toll-free 1-800-431-2486; www.zelco.com
5. WIND AND SHINE: No matter how many flashlight batteries you load up on, Murphy's Law ensures you'll be out of stock or unable to find your stash when you need it most. That's no problem with the Freeplay windup flashlight. Crank the arm for 30 seconds and you'll get five to eight minutes of light from the internal rechargeable batteries. More cranking gets more illumination time. If you have electricity, use the included AC adapter to get 30 minutes of ultra-bright light or five hours of regular light. The Freeplay measures 6.5 inches by 2.5 inches by 2 inches deep and weighs 12 ounces.
The Freeplay windup flashlight is $35 from Coleman; toll-free 1-800-835-3278; www.coleman.com
- Judi Dash is a freelance writer living in Beachwood, Ohio.
