Items That Can Light Up Your Vacation

A little illumination is always a good thing. Following are items that offer such aid to travelers. Prices do not include shipping. Some products may be available in area stores.

Illuminating double-take: The Kangaroo Light is a plastic lantern with a detachable mini-flashlight nestled into its underside--hence the kangaroo image. The larger (9 inches by 4 1/2 inches by 3 1/2 inches) light can convert from a hand-held flashlight to a table lamp (the head swivels up from the body) or a flashing light for road emergencies. The baby light (4 inches by 1 1/4 inches by 1 inch) adds an extra direction of light--downward--when attached and, when detached, can be hooked onto a belt or pocket via the built-in clip. The main light runs on four “C” batteries, the mini-light on two “AA” batteries. Batteries are not included. The Kangaroo Light comes with a detachable 8-foot cord with a cigarette-lighter plug, as well as a clip-on frosted filter for more subtle lighting when used as a table lamp and an amber filter for emergency flashing.

Kangaroo Light is $35 at stores. For a nearby store, call the manufacturer, Zelco; telephone (800) 431-2486.

Multitalented flash: For an 8-inch-long flashlight, this lightweight packs some surprises. Built in are a digital clock, a blinker and emergency siren, and an AM/FM radio. The clincher is a weather band, which broadcasts temperature, wind and sea conditions within a 50-mile radius--the better to know if you should pop some Dramamine before the day’s fishing jaunt.

Flashlight/Clock/Radio/Siren is $19.95 from the Traveler’s Shoppes catalog; tel. (800) 868-8444.

Sorting winning photos: Professional photographers organize and weed out their slides and negatives using high-quality--and often high-priced--fluorescent light boxes. Now tabletop, 12-inch-by-18-inch light boxes give amateurs a reasonably priced entree into better photo management. The boxes come in two versions, a standard light box and a slide sorter, which has six tiers of tracks that secure slides so the box can be stood upright. Both models have collapsible metal viewing stands as well as pockets for stacks of slides and an enlarging loupe (not included). The light boxes run on standard household current.

SlideSorter (ESS) and LightBox (ELB) are each $54.95 from Sima; tel. (800) 345-7462.

Lighthearted lock: If you have ever tried to manipulate those little combination locks in the dark--or with aging eyesight--you know how frustrating trying to make out the tiny numbers can be. Zelco’s LumiLock has a tiny built-in red LED light that illuminates the three dials with the push of a button. Instead of a standard metal bar, the lock has a 4-inch-long retractable metal cable that can extend around luggage handles.

Zelco LumiLock is $15 at stores. For a nearby store, call (800) 431-2486.

Beaming in on notes: The FlashPad is a Leatherette pocket secretary that incorporates a push-button, credit-card-size FlashCard to light up a 3-inch-by-5-inch note pad (included). Flip the FlashPad’s cover and you have an instant flashlight. The FlashCard can be removed from its pouch for use separately.

FlashPad is $19.95 in stores. For a nearby store, call Lumatec; tel. (800) 586-2832.

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