Clip On Reading Light
The clip on reading light has been a godsend in my house. Because of where we live, we experience more than our share of power outages – especially in the winter. My family likes to read and we got to the point where these outages were becoming very frustrating.
So, rather than having to sit around waiting for power to be restored all the time, we decided to make a very nominal investment in clip on reading lights. As it turns out, our investment in a clip on reading light was a very smart one. These lights have saved our bacon on more than one occasion.
After doing some research online and reading all the reviews, we settled on two models – the Great Point Light-Flex-neck and a Flex Light made by Fulcrum. Each model has it’s positives and negatives. The best one for you is going to depend on what your exact needs are.
We’ve found that the Fulcrum light is much brighter than the Great Point unit and covers a much larger area. The on-off switch on the Fulcrum is better in my mind because it slides. With the Great Point clip on reading light, you’ve got to press down fairly hard. This can cause issues in getting it to stay on. There have been times that one of us reading and the light will simply shut off for an unknown reason. In checking with others that have this light, it seems that it must be a design issue because others have had a similar issue with it. Doesn’t happen all the time, but certainly enough to be a pain in the neck at times.
With the Fulcrum, you’ll need 3 AAA batteries with are housed in the base of the light. This makes the unit heavier by an ounce over the Great Point light. As a result of this extra weight, we’ve found the clip to be much bulkier to deal with. The good news with the Great Point is that this light is powered by lithium batteries which are much lighter. The bad news is that they are more difficult to find in stores.
If you are looking for a light to attach to a paperback, the Fulcrum isn’t the one you want. It’s simply too heavy and bulky for this task. This also goes for a hardcover as well because the weight of the book and light will become heavy very quickly. We’re only talking ounces here, but a few extra ounces can make a big difference. However, if you are going to be reading on a desk or table where you can attach the light to a fixed object, the Fulcrum will indeed make a good choice because it is brighter. Another benefit is the fact that it takes easily located AAA batteries.
I’d suggest the Great Point if you are looking for a clip on book light that you are going to be attaching to a paperback or other small hardcover book. This light is perfect because it’s not only lighter, but it doesn’t project as much light, so you won’t bother others that may be nearby – in bed for example.
In any case, these lights do their job very well. Which one you decide upon will depend on what your planned uses are for the light. They are both reasonably priced, so going with one of each may not be a bad idea, or perhaps one for each room. Sure beats reading by candlelight!