Little Lights Can Be a Big Convenience on the Road

Shedding a little light on the subject is easier, thanks to the following items. Items may be available in area stores. Prices do not include shipping.

Good read: Most book lights provide a narrow spotlight from a little bulb and rapidly consume batteries. Not the Fluorescent Itty Bitty book light from Zelco, the company that pioneered mini-book lights. This light, which clips to a book’s back jacket, has a 2-inch-long permanent fluorescent tube that casts white light over an even, wide area. And it’s no battery hog: When I tested it, the light stayed on for nine hours on two AA batteries. It folds down to 6 by 11/4 by 1 inch and weighs 4 ounces.

Zelco Fluorescent Itty Bitty book light is $40. For information: (800) 431-2486, www.zelco.com.

Head trip: Hikers and campers value miner’s-style headlamps for hands-free illumination. The Moonlight Headlamp from Black Diamond Equipment is a small, lightweight variation that provides 70 hours of light from four LED bulbs, powered by three AAA batteries. A swivel lets the wearer direct the beam, and the headband is adjustable. The Moonlight is as useful for navigating on dark streets or changing a tire at night as it is for outdoor adventures.

Moonlight Headlamp is $34.50. Information: (801) 278-5533, www.blackdiamondequipment.com.

Taskmaster: About the size of a matchbook, the 0-4 Mini Task Light provides something many key-chain lights do not--a switch to keep the light on. The light, waterproof to 10 feet, will shine for 12 to 14 hours on two replaceable lithium batteries. It’s available in graphite black and in bright colors, and it comes with a key ring for attaching to a key chain.

0-4 Mini Task Light is $16. For information: (888) 699-0622, www.cmgequipment.com.

Beam team: A mini flashlight is one of the 16 items that make up the versatile little Midnite MiniChamp II, the newest Swiss Army knife from Victorinox. Also housed in the 21/2-by-1/2-by-5/8-inch-thick base are a blade, scissors, flat and Phillips screwdriver, nail file, ruler, wire stripper, cap lifter, cuticle pusher, retractable pen and more. The tiny light, which operates on a button battery, turns on when you push the Swiss cross insignia. The attached key ring keeps everything handy. It weighs less than 2 ounces.

Midnite MiniChamp II in red or blue is $38. For information: Swiss Army Brands, (800) 442-2706, www.swissarmy.com.

Glowing gem: The 2-inch-long Sapphire Wearable Light shines a bright blue beam with a 180-degree viewing radius, and it is visible up to a mile away in clear weather. The light, available in red, violet, black, pewter, blue or gold, clips onto parkas, key rings or any ring. The sapphire crystal LED lamp is guaranteed for 100,000 hours.

Sapphire Wearable Light is $14.95 from the Container Store. For information: (888) 266-8246, www.containerstore.com.

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