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Clever devices light your way

The latest lighting products provide some brilliant assistance on the go. All items have been tested by the author and may be available in stores. - JUDI DASH

By JUDI DASH
Published February 26, 2006

Stand and deliver

The folks at Stanley Tools must have had fun designing the new MaxLife 369 Tripod Flashlight. The 11-inch-long light has a built-in, pop-open tripod for hands-free operation as well as a pivoting head for directing light higher or lower. The flashlight can function on three, six or nine AA alkaline batteries (not included), which stack in the tripod legs. The more batteries used, the longer the flashlight can run, from 75 to 200 hours. A four-position push-button switch controls the intensity of the beam from the six permanent LED bulbs. The flashlight has a slip-resistant rubber grip and a low-power indicator that lights up when the power remaining is about 3 percent capacity - six to eight hours of light - and the batteries should be replaced. Keep one in your car.

MaxLife 369 Tripod Flashlight is about $30. Toll-free 1-800-262-2161; www.stanleytools.com.

Bright idea

If you can get your hands on a 9-volt battery, you've got yourself a flashlight, thanks to the new Pak-Lite. The 1-inch by ¹/₂-inch by ⁵/₈-inch device is an LED semiconductor encapsulated in a little plastic cap that snaps onto any 9-volt battery to produce an instant flashlight. Just flip the minuscule switch on the side of the cap, and light flows out of two tiny bulbs at the top. When the battery is expended, snap it off and replace it with another 9-volt battery (a standard 9-volt or an alkaline or long-life lithium 9-volt). The Pak-Lite comes with a battery in place and is available in a variety of configurations, from a basic model with a standard battery and an on/off switch to a flashing model with a flash/off/high switch.

Pak-Lite LED Flashlight is $12 to $29.99 from Pak-Lite in Grants Pass, Ore.: (541) 660-0349; www.9voltlight.com.

Camp lamp

Wouldn't it be nice if your tent knew you were on your way and on dark nights lit up to help guide your approach and settling in? Yours can do just that if it's equipped with Coleman's Remote Control Tent Light. The battery-powered light secures to the tent with a strong built-in magnet, without damaging the tent's fabric (the metal mounting plate is on one side of the tent material, the magnet-backed light on the other.) With the push of a button, the matchbook-sized remote control unit turns the light on and off within a 20-foot range. The light operates on six AA batteries (not included). The remote control runs on one included 12-volt battery and comes with a key chain. The metal mounting plate has nail holes at both ends, so it can be mounted on a shed or RV, as long as it's under cover. The unit is water resistant but not waterproof.

Remote Control Tent Light is $17 from Coleman. Toll-free 1-800-835-3278; www.coleman.com.

Hamburger helper

Brookstone sheds new light on outdoor grilling with its new Handle-Mount Grill Light. The polycarbonate weather-resistant light clamps onto the handle of the grill cover and can be left on year-round. The pivoting head holds two 8-inch-long cathode bulbs that illuminate the entire grill area. The light shuts off automatically after six minutes to conserve battery power. Runs on four D batteries (not included). Works with most grills, but check ahead to be sure. A great item to keep at a vacation home or to give as a gift when traveling to friends' and relatives' homes.

Handle-Mount Grill Light (item 439794) is $50 from Brookstone. Toll-free 1-866-576-7337; www.brookstone.com.

De-light-ful cushion

Any pillow can provide comfort on the road. But how many can provide entertainment as well? The Light-Up Pillow from Cepia has an internal, battery-powered lighting system that, when initiated, glows through the almost translucent fluffy white outer fabric. With the push of a button nestled in the fabric, the light slowly changes hues through the full color spectrum, providing a continuous illuminating show until the power button is turned off. The pillow is available in square, tubular and heart-shaped models, as well as in a 15-inch-long teddy bear or puppy dog - which should enchant the junior set in the back seat or on an airplane. The darker the environment, the more dramatic the show.

Light-Up Pillow is $19.99 from Cepia. Toll-free 1-800-225-9319; www.cepiallc.com.

[Last modified February 26, 2006, 08:28:08]